Halal round-up
A brief tour around Asia-Pacific for the latest halal news
Aussie fast-food favouring halal, Pinoy calls for certified food in schools, Taiwan courts majority-Muslim markets.
Archives for June 13, 2013
More information needed to improve European meat market performance, says report
European consumer knowledge and understanding of the meat market is low, which is contributing to a low Market Performance Index (MPI) compared to other goods markets, according to an EU report.
FAO asks: Could quinoa become a worldwide staple?
Quinoa’s relatively high price compared to staple grains may restrict consumption to health-conscious consumers in high-income countries for now – but it could play an important role in food security in the long term, according to the FAO.
Case study
World slowly waking up to what Asia has known for years
It is no secret Malaysia has a strict halal verification process and its certification is accepted across all Muslim countries, including the Middle East. But why did the country embark on a policy to tame the standards beast.
Natural & Clean Label Trends 2013
Natural colors: In conversation with LycoRed on why tomatoes trump bugs and beets
If you’re looking for a natural red food color, carmine can deliver. It’s vibrant, but stable, and prices have recently returned from the stratosphere after hikes in 2010/11. The only problem is that it’s made from crushed insects, and once they find...
Ankush at large
India’s halal story is one of missed opportunities
The impression I have always had when travelling abroad is that people overseas think of India as a Hindu-dominated country with a minority sprinkling of other religions. While that its true in essence, it is a fallacy when you talk in numbers.
Chobani's strained (not Greek) yoghurt gets UK revamp
Greek yoghurt giant Chobani has reintroduced its ‘strained’ yoghurt in the UK after a court ruled that it was misleading consumers by calling its US-produced yoghurt ‘Greek’.
Snapshot: China
Hui halal hub bringing back Silk Road trade between China and Gulf
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China is home to 10% of the country’s 20m Muslims. While by no means does it have a majority Muslim population, the strong Islamic tradition by the ethnic Hui people of this Silk Road region dates back to its...
What are the top 10 natural and organic food trends that will influence the mainstream? From novel nut butters to purple corn
Gourmet nut butters, pea protein, purple corn, yogurt for men and more chewy drinks? Sterling-Rice Group identifies the top 10 natural and organic food trends that are starting to influence the mainstream grocery market.
UK omega-3 heart attack revision 'disappointing and somewhat misguided'
A public body that advises the UK National Health Service (NHS) has revised its position that heart attack patients can benefit from omega-3 consumption to prevent further attacks, in a move labeled “misguided” by the omega-3 sector.
EU releases fourth tranche of out-of-quota sugar
The European Commission has released a fourth round of out-of-quota sugar for the current marketing year at reduced levies in a bid to boost EU supplies as prices soar above world levels.
SGS lab receives SANAS accreditation
An SGS food and feed laboratory has gained accreditation by SANAS (South African National Accreditation System) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2005.
Ukraine ban takes toll on Brazilian pork exports
Brazilian pork exports have continued to plummet in the face of an import ban imposed by Ukraine.
SNACKEX 2013: FROM THE FLOOR
Counterintuitive? Healthy snack reformulation claims are decreasing, Mintel
Claims like low sodium, low fat and low calorie on snacks are decreasing which seems counterintuitive given action is being taken by manufacturers, said the director of innovation and insights at Mintel.
EU health claims for fructose and alpha-cyclodextrin become law
Two ingredients – fructose and alpha-cyclodextrin – can now carry claims that they lead to a lower blood glucose rise, as the European Union adopts its latest batch of article 13 health claims.