Processing and Packaging

The cost of sugar is soaring: What does this mean for food manufacturers and consumers?

06-Feb-2024 By Donna Eastlake

From confectionery to cakes, breakfast cereals to beer, sugar is a huge part of the modern diet, but why is the cost of one of our most indulgent ingredients increasing and how will this affect both food manufacturers and consumers?

Ireland introduces Deposit Return Scheme

05-Feb-2024 By Rachel Arthur

Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) – a nationwide money-back initiative for plastic bottles and aluminum cans – launches this month in a bid to improve recycling rates.

3 start-ups boosting food quality in Europe

05-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Food quality technology plays a vital role both in ensuring that food is safe to eat, therefore reducing food waste, and providing insights around its health and composition. Three European start-ups tell FoodNavigator how technology can help them understand...

'Vegan' labels don't always mean free from animal products

02-Feb-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Despite common public understanding that the word ‘vegan’ means free from animal products, there is no legally binding definition for the term in the UK and EU. This means that products labelled ‘vegan’ can contain trace amounts of eggs or dairy. Furthermore,...

Novonesis: Chr Hansen and Novozymes merge to form €3.7bn ‘biosolutions’ major

02-Feb-2024 By Flora Southey

Just over a year after announcing plans to merge, Danish enzyme and cultures suppliers Novozymes and Chr Hansen have joined forces under a new company name: Novonesis.

Fighting food waste: Finnish foodtech company is innovating to upcycle seafood side streams

02-Feb-2024 By Donna Eastlake

Foodtech company, Hailia, is taking a ‘waste not want not’ approach to seafood production by utilising more of every fish caught and repurposing what might once have been cast off.

Tackling trans fat: WHO awards top 5 countries for elimination

01-Feb-2024 By Donna Eastlake

World Health Organization partners with Resolve to Save Lives to recognise countries working to remove industrially produced trans fat from their national food supplies.

NPD Trend Tracker: From blank drinks cans to regenerative agriculture bread

29-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we have a range of bread made with regenerative agriculture-derived flour. We also have desserts, Valentine's Day doughnuts, a new range of fully loaded brownie tray bakes, and a new version of that classic...

How MAP packaging can extend mushroom shelf life to two weeks

29-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Mushrooms have a very short shelf life. But with a range of MAP packaging specially designed to keep out moisture, a packaging company has managed to extend it from a few days to over two weeks.

How Upfield made paper tubs for oil-based spreads: ‘It took 4 years and over 300 prototypes’

19-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

Paper and oil may be an unlikely match, but margarine major Upfield has managed to marry the two in developing the ‘world’ first’ plastic-free, recyclable tub for plant butters and spreads.

How will food additives’ reputation fare in 2024?

15-Jan-2024 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Off the back of shifting political landscapes, evolving biotech-led categories and regulatory changes in 2023, we look at how these influence food additives in 2024 and what further changes we can expect to see.

Bottled water can contain thousands of particles of nanoplastics, research suggests

11-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Microplastics, which research suggests could be harmful to human health, are well-known infiltrators of a wide variety of food and beverages. Now, researchers have found that nanoplastics, the even smaller offspring of microplastics, are present in stratospheric...

Using the PEKILO process to produce mycoprotein: Start-up taps updated version of 50-year-old fermentation technique

10-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Finnish biotech start-up Enifer will open its first factory in order to develop its mycoprotein ingredient, following its receiving of €12m in funding. To develop these ingredients, it will use PEKILO fermentation, a process developed in the 1970s by...

Processed plant-based meat: Clearer communication on the horizon, predict experts

09-Jan-2024 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

European producers in 2024 will focus on informing consumers about processed and ultra-processed foods and drinks, potentially lowering content in formulations to encourage plant-based meat or dairy alternatives uptake.

Growing appetite for edible packaging? The innovations hungry to replace single use plastic

21-Dec-2023 By Flora Southey

The edible packaging market is projected to take a bigger bite out of single-use plastic sales in the coming years. Which packaging innovations – fit for human consumption – are turning heads?

The benefits of food processing for preservation, bioavailability and food security: IFT

20-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Negativity around processed foods does not tell the whole story according to a new paper published by the Institute of Food Technologists

Producers boost plant-based meat’s nutritional value

19-Dec-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Plant-based meats role in public health will be boosted by the addition of ingredients such as vitamin B12.

EFSA tool predicts food risk for coeliac patients

19-Dec-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Exposure to foods that are harmful to coeliac patients can be reduced using the new preDQ tool

'A disruptive solution': A closer look at Tetra Pak’s aseptic carton with paper-based barrier

19-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

From recyclability to carbon footprint and shelf life, we find out more about the properties of Tetra Brik Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf, Tetra Pak’s new aseptic carton with a paper-based barrier.

NPD Trend Tracker: From LeBron James-backed tequila to Harry Kane crisps

18-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

As Christmas approaches, we have the launch of a Harry Kane-fronted crisp product, the UK listing of a LeBron James-backed tequila, and the release of plant based chicken nuggets to celebrate the release of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. We also have...

Are new IGD guidelines on eco-labelling misleading? Organisations raise concerns about potential to cause ' unintended environmental outcomes'

15-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Food and farming organisations including CLEAR and its member organisations, Sustainable Food Trust and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), have raised concerns regarding newly released eco-labelling guidelines from the IGD, which have recently been delivered...

‘Towards making coffee the first net-positive commodity’: Green energy coffee roasting plant developed by Sucafina and CEE

13-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Sucafina and CEE have partnered to develop a continuous sustainable coffee roasting plant, which is powered by green energy and, according to them, has a significantly higher energy efficiency rate than the industry standard.

Finding microplastics with AI: A boon for the food industry?

12-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic debris which are often found in food. When consumed, they can lead to negative health effects. A recent study has developed a way to use artificial intelligence to help find microplastics more efficiently, which...

‘Essentially real meat, just grown differently’: Ivy Farm’s CSO on cultivated meat production and commercialisation

01-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

UK-based Ivy Farm, which produces cultivated meat, began as a spin-off from Oxford University. Now, says its new CSO, Dr. Harsh Amin, commercialisation is in sight.

Nestlé invests £7 million into new hard-to-recycle plastics plant

28-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

Global food and beverage conglomerate Nestlé injects multi-million-pound investment into Impact Recycling’s pioneering facility to progress hard-to-recycle plastic management and create positive environmental change.

Returnable packaging needs scale to lower emissions, Ellen MacArthur Foundation report suggests

24-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

A recent report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an organisation working to develop a circular economy, emphasises the importance of reusable and returnable packaging in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared with the use of single-use plastics,...

EU moves to ban ‘forever chemicals’ and light plastic bags, but throwaway packaging ‘still a long way off’

23-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

The European Parliament has voted in favour of banning BPA and ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging, and MEPs want to eliminate ‘less necessary’ packaging such as very lightweight plastic carrier bags. But the plastic industry is concerned the vote is...

Beverage giants in hot water over plastic bottle recycling claims

14-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Environmental and consumer rights organisations are taking legal action against Nestlé, Danone, and The Coca-Cola Company, over recyclable claims made about their plastic bottles. They have raised an external alert to both the European Commission and...

Chr Hansen bets on bubbling growth for alcohol-free trend: ‘We expect the taste and quality of beers to advance’

14-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

The quality of non-alcoholic beer is on the up. So too is the number of consumers opting for alcohol-free tipples for different drinking occasions, observes Chr Hansen, who is expanding its offerings for the non-alcoholic brewing industry.

NPD Trend Tracker: From peanut butter stout to Christmas chocolate nut mix

13-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

This week in our NPD Trend Tracker, we have new products from Baileys, which is releasing a nut mix for the Christmas period, and Brixton Brewery, which has teamed up with ManiLife to create a peanut stout. Furthermore, Freedom Brewery, Milliways and...

Exports of livestock for slaughter on the chopping block in UK

10-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Among the legislation announced alongside the King’s Speech on Tuesday was a ban on the export of UK livestock for fattening and slaughter. The decision, if it gets through Parliament, will have a keen impact on both animal welfare and animal agriculture...

Big Food likely to miss plastic targets, while ‘large part’ of industry yet to take action

31-Oct-2023 By Flora Southey

Although efforts show progress on plastic pollution is possible, the world is ‘not on course’ to eliminating plastic waste and pollution, stresses the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Crop-free liquor: Meet the start-up repurposing CO2 into alcohol ‘made from air’

30-Oct-2023 By Flora Southey

Finnish start-up Aircohol is working to decarbonise the alcohol industry by producing drinks from carbon dioxide released during alcohol fermentation. The result? A crop-free liquor with up to 50% reduced carbon footprint.

AI-driven environmental product management platform inks deal with Norway’s largest online grocer

26-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Austrian start-up inoqo, which uses AI to help grocery retailers and food and beverage brands to reduce the environmental impact of their food supply chains, has announced a tie-up with Norway-based online grocery delivery provider Oda.

‘It has the potential to improve sustainability across the supply chain’: UK mulls regulatory changes to allow insects to eat your food waste

25-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Food companies can potentially cut their volumes of waste up to 75% using insect bioconversion, whilst at the same time creating valuable new revenue streams, FoodNavigator hears.

Why manufacturers shouldn’t overlook the visual element when aiming to enhance the inclusivity of their products

18-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Pringles has just announced that new technology will be added to cans to make them more accessible to blind and partially sighted people. Other brands are being encouraged to follow suit.

‘This stuff is so abundant’: The benefits of using side streams in food production

17-Oct-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Using side streams in food production has a wide range of benefits. They can help cut down on the environmental impact of operations. They are neglected but often highly nutritious. Lastly, because of the breadth of food companies who have side streams,...

How next-generation refrigerants hope to fight climate change

17-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Refrigeration and insulation technologies can be employed to save both food waste and energy, Honeywell Advanced Materials tells FoodNavigator.

Identifying some foods as addictive could bring health benefits, scientists say

12-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

An international team of researchers, writing in the British Medical Journal, have called for a global rethink of food choices.

Fresh calls for ban on ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging

11-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

European consumer group BEUC is urging for its calls for a ban on so-called ‘forever chemicals’ in food packaging to be adopted ‘as quickly as possible’ after a new compilation of recent product tests by its members found that everyday consumer products...

Quorn, mycoprotein and the push to grow a ‘third kingdom of fungi proteins’

10-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Mycoprotein and fungal proteins hope to offer a solution to the negative impact to the environment associated with industrial farming, heard FoodNavigator’s recent Climate Smart Food​​ digital summit.

‘Synthetic vs natural’: Start-up targets fortification category disruption with organic plant-derived nutrients

06-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

UK-based BIOVIT is poised to launch plant-derived nutrient blends targeting fortified food and meal-replacement markets. Its vitamins and minerals, extracted from leaves, flowers, roots and fungi extracts, guarantees nutrient content, it claims, to boost...

BENEO targets ‘scale, cost and timing issues’ as key to plant-based counterattack

06-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The category’s current woes are a ‘temporary hiccup’, the ingredient supplier tells FoodNavigator.

Branston’s race to net zero in the potato supply chain

05-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Branston, one of the UK’s largest suppliers, has begun trials to assess the viability of creating net zero potatoes. Field Technical Manager Andrew Blair shares his insights into the methods the company is following and how it hopes to establish a process...

Most of it comes from our homes… so what role, if any, can food manufacturers play in helping to minimise food waste?

05-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Thanks to collaboration, education and labelling innovation, brand influence can pass over the threshold to help shift consumer behaviour, Danone tells FoodNavigator’s Climate Smart Food​​ summit.

England bans range of single use plastics to tackle ‘scourge of plastic pollution’

02-Oct-2023 By Michelle Perrett

Single-use plastics, including plates and cutlery, have been banned in England as part of the Government strategy to tackle what it calls “the scourge of plastic pollution.”

Food producers take controlled environment agriculture to space

29-Sep-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

New research and ongoing projects are growing food in space-mimicking conditions to develop new controlled environment agriculture (CEA) approaches.

‘More than mylk’: Alternatives to coffee, cocoa, salt and sugar on the table at Mylkcubator 3.0

27-Sep-2023 By Flora Southey

The Mylkcubator programme has largely focused on next-gen dairy innovation to date. But for the incubator’s third edition, dairy-major Pascual wants to expand its focus to alt coffee, cocoa, salt, sugar and more.

‘You've got to do it as an evolution rather than a revolution’: PepsiCo on adapting sustainability in field and factory

26-Sep-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

For a big company such as PepsiCo, sustainability is not only complex, but also a multi-layered process. Tackling sustainability across different geographies, in both factories and in agriculture, and across scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, requires a multi-pronged,...

BPA above acceptable levels across Europe, EU warns after assessing 11 countries

15-Sep-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The presence of Bisphenol A (BPA) in humans is above acceptable levels for health in many European countries, the EU's European Environment Agency (EEA) reports.