Six Evol Foods employees sickened by carbon monoxide
Half a dozen staffers at the company’s frozen food processing plant have been sickened by carbon monoxide emissions.
Archives for July 21, 2014
UN tightens regulation on lead in infant formula lead and arsenic in rice
The United Nation’s food standards body has adopted new maximum levels for lead in infant formula and arsenic in rice.
Finnish tests find no horse meat sold as beef
No products containing horse meat not listed on the product packaging have been found after an investigation in Finland.
Cinnamon found to control non-O157 E.coli STEC
Cinnamomum cassia oil has the potential to be used as a natural antibacterial agent to control non-O157 STECs in food, according to Washington State University scientists.
Documentary attacks meat’s environmental impact
A new documentary has been launched this month that claims to expose the meat industry’s environmental destruction and the lack of a challenge from green groups.
Patent Watch
Wrigley discovers ‘pectin surprise’ for gelatin-free chewy candies
Wrigley has filed a patent to develop chewy confectionery products without animal-derived texturizing agents such as gelatin.
Guidance developed for atypical BSE
A laboratory protocol for studying unusual ‘atypical’ cases of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) has been developed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Firm wins Nova water bottle deal in Saudi Arabia
Sidel grows its customer services in high ‘at risk countries’
Sidel has partnered with Health Water Bottling (HWB) in Saudi Arabia to install two of its next generation Matrix PET lines, which will start operations in February 2015.
Shanghai meat processor investigated after TV exposé
Chinese authorities are reported to be investigating claims a Shanghai-based meat processor has been re-cycling expired meat products.
New Zealand
Experts highlight big gaps in healthy food policies
Healthy food policies to promote childhood health and reduce obesity are lacking, according to a panel of more than 50 New Zealand public health professionals, medical practitioners and NGO leaders.
Monster Energy 'truly sorry' for teen’s heart attack injury but denies responsibility
Monster Beverage Corporation has moved to quell investor disquiet as a jury trial starts to decide if it is liable for injury suffered by a teen whose mother claims its drinks caused his heart attack.
‘Coke's Mini Can Can!’ Muhtar Kent salutes small package 'romance'
The Coca-Cola Company CEO Muhtar Kent says the ‘romance of the smaller package’ is critical to building more romance around brands such as Coke in the US.
China lifts Brazilian beef ban
Brazilian producers are hoping to recapture lost ground after China announced it was lifting its ban on the country’s beef, imposed following the discovery of BSE in 2012.
Find out what's hot and what's next in the beverages aisle
From almond milk to tea for kids: Last chance to register for FoodNavigator-USA's beverage entrepreneurs forum!
Will tea replace 100% juice in your child's lunchbox? And what's the next $1bn beverage brand? Find out what our panel of beverage entrepreneurs thinks at our free-to-attend online forum kicking off at 11.30am EDT tomorrow.
PATENT WATCH
Frito-Lay snack patent: It’s baked, but tastes fried
Frito-Lay has been granted a US patent for its manufacturing process to bake snacks that maintain the taste and texture of a fried product using a hydration step.
The RD's perspective
Mexico restricts junk food ads; time for rethink on advertising?
Mexico announced last week that it was restricting television advertising on high-calorie food and soda in an effort to stem the rising tide of obesity. Registered dietitians weigh in on the impact of the measure, which is the farthest any country has...
Sysco penalized $19.4m for unrefrigerated food storage
Food distribution giant Sysco has been ordered to pay nearly $20m in restitution for keeping perishable food in unrefrigerated storage.
Naturex appoints Olivier Rigaud as CEO
26-year food ingredients veteran Olivier Rigaud is the new CEO of French herbal extracts leader Naturex, moving from tate & Lyle, where he has been the chair of Specialty Food Ingredients since 2010.
Premier Foods’s sales fall in ‘challenging market’
Premier Foods has reported sales down by 6.1% due to “challenging market conditions” in half-year results to June 30.
PHE updates Campylobacter and Salmonella methods guidance
Public Health England (PHE) has published standard methods for the detection and enumeration of Campylobacter and Salmonella species.
Strong Scottish food & drink brands will instil referendum confidence, says Scot food minister
Retail sales of Scottish food and drink brands in the UK rose by £513m from 2007 – figures the Scottish government says will deliver clout in the upcoming independence referendum.
Australia
Power paradox: Gas export growth will hammer domestic food output
The recent surge in the price of domestic gas will lead to a long and deep malaise for Australia’s food production and processing industries, according to an authoritative cross-industry report on the impact of fuel costs on the country’s economy.
Philippine food major buys New Zealand snack firm Griffin’s
Universal Robina Corporation (URC) has snapped up New Zealand snack giant Griffin’s Foods for NZ$700m ($606.6m) in a move it says should bolster its presence in the Asian snack sector.
Big Interview: Ibotta CEO Bryan Leach
Ibotta CEO: loyalty won’t come from a one-shot coupon; we're a truly social app
Bryan Leach, a law firm partner turned founder of mobile savings app Ibotta, has a different idea of how advertising should work in an increasingly mobile world.
Walmart cranberry pomegranate juice is mostly grape & apple juice, says lawsuit
Walmart sued over juice labels; echoes of POM Wonderful v Coke?
Six weeks after the Supreme Court gave POM Wonderful the green light to sue Coca-Cola over its juice labels, Walmart has been targeted in a consumer class action lawsuit making near-identical allegations.
Commentary
Only 2% of Indian produce stored in adequate warehousing
Almost none of India’s fresh fruit and vegetables are stored in suitable conditions after harvest, leading to wastage of produce worth almost half a trillion rupees each year, logistics experts have been warned.