Regional conflicts cost Nestlé $220m
Nestlé Middle East has lost around US$220m in the last three years due to regional conflicts, but insists it will not withdraw from troubled markets.
Archives for May 31, 2015
Impact of avian flu set to continue throughout 2015
The global trade and price of poultry is likely remain under pressure for the remainder of this year, due to the fallout from avian influenza outbreaks across the world.
Yemen facing food supply catastrophe
Conflict in Yemen has pushed even more people into food insecurity, and growing shortages of food, water and fuel mean the country is facing imminent catastrophe, according to aid agencies.
Nestlé CEO stresses private sector’s role in sustainable development
The private sector has a role to play in delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, said Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke at the EAT Stockholm Food Forum this morning.
Chobani refreshes Simply 100 Greek yogurt range; appeals to ‘thoughtful weight managers’
Dollar sales of Chobani’s Simply 100 Greek yogurts have grown 25% in the first five months of 2015 vs the same period last year, while unit sales are up 28%, says the firm, which is re-launching the range with ‘blended’ formulations (rather than...
Driving consumer demands for chocolate includes nuts, dried fruit
Chocolate marketers likely will gain more traction if they appeal to consumers emotionally and emphasize the health benefits of inclusions, such as nuts and dried fruit, suggest the results of a recent survey conducted by the Almond Board of California.
The future of tofu: pressed, baked and vacuum-packed
Vitasoy USA Inc., the maker of Nasoya products, hopes its new vacuum-packed and ready-to-eat baked tofu products will bring new consumers into the category by making tofu easier to prepare and showcasing its versatility.
BEUC: Health claim ‘adjustments’ need caution and nutrient profiles
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has urged the European commissioner for health and food safety to practice caution when making ‘adjustments’ to health claim and botanical rules.
Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe, Geneva
Europe’s energy drink market needs a shot of energy: Nergia
Energy shots are a big market in the US, but the potential in Europe is yet to be realized, says America’s Naturals.
Japan
Fukushima locals confident of produce as neighbours raise inspections
Eight out of 10 residents of Fukushima prefecture are comfortable buying local produce four years after the nuclear accident in 2011, according to a survey by local consumer groups.
From hemp and turmeric to artisan dairy-free ‘cheese’: Nine natural food trends for 2015
From veggie powders to sprinkle on your food to artisan dairy-free ‘cheeses’ made from nuts, Sterling-Rice Group (SRG) selects nine natural food trends it predicts will inspire packaged foods and foodservice menus in 2015.
Snyder’s-Lance teams up with hummus maker: ‘The next frontier is meal solutions’
Snyder’s-Lance has joined forces with Mediterranean Snacks to create a co-branded snack pack containing hummus and pretzels as part of its drive towards meal solutions, its marketing head says.
Food defense action being taken ahead of regulation - TycoIS
Major brand companies are aware of the threat posed by deliberate contamination and are taking mitigating food defense steps ahead of regulation but the risk is greater from smaller companies, according to Tyco Integrated Security.
Al Ghurair to boost UAE food security
UAE conglomerate Al Ghurair Investment has pledged to help improve the country’s food security with foreign investments and improved domestic production facilities.
FQN'S Food Fraud Forum
Experts discuss challenges and opportunities around food fraud
FoodQualityNews gathered four industry experts for an online forum to talk about food fraud last week. Below is a taster of what they said.
Almarai to spend $5.6bn, double revenue by 2020
Saudi dairy and food producer Almarai will invest US$5.6bn on capital projects and aims to double its current revenue by 2020, the firm revealed.
Beetle concerns in pre-packaged salads
Beetles have been found in imported leafy vegetables, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Green tea supplement backed for prostate cancer reduction: RCT findings
Consumption of a green tea extract has been suggested to reduce rates of cancer in certain indiviuals while reducing levels of the cancer biomarker prostate-specific antigen (PSA), say researchers.
Chinese scientists create ‘healthier beef’ with added Omega-3s
Chinese scientists have managed to rear cattle containing five times the amount of health-giving Omega 3 fatty acids normally found in the meat, which could help the beef industry to better compete in the future with other so-called ‘healthier’ forms of...
Supplement launches that aims to help people prone to Type 2 diabetes make healthy lifestyle switch
Type 2 diabetes continues to stalk the US population. It’s a public health crisis that has created market opportunities, and one of the companies rushing to fill that breach is Glucose Health, Inc. which has launched a supplement of the same name.
Nano focus: Are protein nanostructures safe for the food industry to use?
While many foods already contain naturally occurring nanostructures that are perfectly safe to consume, the potential to develop new nanoscale proteins for foods may carry unexplored risks that must be dealt with on a ‘case by case’ approach, say...
Russia pushes for new regional Halal exports
Russia’s Halal industry is working to grow its exports to the Middle East, as the country signs a meat-for-grain deal with Iran, and Belarus is set to start UAE beef shipments.
Mondelez’s sustainable palm oil plan: “We want the whole supply chain to transform”
Mondelez International is on track to meet its goal of sourcing 100% traceable palm oil by the end of the year after reaching 70% traceability in 2014, says global director of sustainability Jonathan Horrell.
More than half Similac Organic ingredients 'not allowed in organic foods': US lawsuit
Three US consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories, claiming its Similac Advance Organic infant formula contains 26 ingredients not permitted in organic food.
London Deli Co plans Kuwait store
British snack maker The London Deli Company is planning to open its first Middle East store and is ramping up its operation to cope with increased regional demand.