Archives for September 22, 2013

FDA steps in at facility with “widespread” rodent and insect infestation

Widespread rodent and insect infestation has prompted Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent distribution of food products at two Virginia companies.

UK food and beverage exports pick up after Q1 stumble

UK food and non-alcoholic beverage exports are up by 2.5% after a disappointing first quarter, according to a report by the UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF), yet industry must do more to stop from "slipping behind".

Special report: Part I

Indonesian plantation monopolies under threat

The Indonesian Government is planning to crack down on further expansion of groups in the powerful palm oil plantation industry and, indirectly, foreign conglomerates.

Beer hits a 66-year low as Aussie taste for wine continues to grow

Australians might have been developing a taste for wine over beer, but on the whole the country is drinking less alcohol, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

International Congress of Nutrition: Big food booed for coming…but rude not to?

Thousands of nutritionists gathered in Granada, Spain, last week for the 20th International Congress of Nutrition. It was a huge event with eight simultaneous streams of seminars over a full week.

Industry Voices - The Gum Doctor

Fortified chewing gum can protect against the common cold, claims Immuno Gum creator

Immune health chewing gum is a cheaper and more portable way to guard against the common cold than dissolvable vitamins, according to an emergency room doctor who has created his own anti-flu chewing gum.

Pyure Brands introduces first organic & non-GMO verified erythritol sweetener for commercial applications

Pyure Brands is launching a commercial-grade USDA certified organic and non-GMO Project verified erythritol as an alternative to sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners.

Do 2 out of 3 really prefer it? A primer on count-based advertising claims

What better way to assert a product’s superiority than to actually demonstrate that consumers prefer it over the competition? 

FN+

Basic aromas? Researchers define ten categories of smell

While there are currently five recognised 'basic tastes', there are likely to be ten basic categories of odour - and identifying them could benefit industry, according to a new study.

Want a winning energy bar? Go heavy, go rough, and take a pass on the fruit pieces

Connecting subtle cues consumers use to judge the quality and taste of a food with the context in which they experience those cues can help companies more closely align their products with consumer expectations, new research shows.

Slow Food to tackle welfare and meat consumption

A survey of members of the Slow Food movement has revealed 90% feel that animal welfare is not given enough attention across the world and half feel the movement should campaign on the issue.

Ireland awards agri-food grants

Enhancing lamb flavour through diet and salmonella control in pork are among projects to be undertaken by Irish research bodies as part of a €6m investment aimed at boosting the sustainability and competitiveness of the agri-food sector in the Republic...

Consequences of foodborne infection need further research, finds review

The long term consequences of foodborne infection need further studies, according to the lead author of a review article looking at the latest threats and emerging issues.

Behind the brand: Agency talks challenges of Mondelēz gum rebrand across Europe

Mondelēz International invested in a European-wide revamp of its regional gum brands this year and the agency involved said consistency demands were the biggest challenge.

EU welcomes return of beef from Chile

Chile is expected to resume exports of fresh beef to the European Union by the end of the month, according to industry sources.

Bitter taste perception: It's not just genetic variation, say researchers

Variations in levels of mRNA expression in bitter taste receptors may also affect how we perceive tastes, according to new research from Monell.

ADM to set up new global HQ; Decatur to become North American HQ

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is scouting around for a location suitable for a new global headquarters and customer center.

Cargill opens poultry plant in Anhui

Cargill has opened a new poultry operation in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui that will cover each stage of the poultry supply chain.