German company unveils ‘enhanced’ automation technology
Bosch Packaging Technology of Germany has unveiled what it claims to be an “enhanced” robot designed for picking and placing a range of food products.
Archives for June 13, 2017
New satellite data used to give long-lead warning of locust swarms
Information from satellites is being used in a new way to predict favourable conditions for swarms of desert locusts, as part of an early warning collaboration by scientists.
UK supplier creates low morphine poppy seed blend after drug test alarm
A UK-based specialist ingredient maker has launched a poppy seed blend which contains low morphine content, amid a number of recent cases in which individuals have failed drug tests after eating poppy seeds.
Triple Ion Source will improve productivity - Shimadzu
Shimadzu and Phytronix have signed an agreement to offer the industry’s first Triple Ion Source.
ISO 22000 revision reaches DIS stage
Revision for ISO 22000 on food safety management systems has reached Draft International Standard (DIS) stage.
Saudi minister: Qatar action is a boycott, not a blockade
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has clarified that what was perceived as a multinational blockade of Qatar is actually a boycott, and stated that his country is willing to provide food aid if needed.
Rising butter price “causing a panic” among bakers, biscuit, cake and pastry makers
French bakery associations, La Fédération des Entrepreneurs de Boulangerie (FEB) and Les Fabricants de Biscuits et Gâteaux de France, have risen the alarm over the relentless upward drive of the butter price and the slippery slope now facing the industry.
Speakers include Chobani, PeaPod, Sir Kensington's, Geltor, Miyoko's Kitchen, Terra's Kitchen, Sun Basket, VMG
FOOD VISION USA 2017: What’s for dinner tonight?
With more Americans only starting to think about what to have for dinner a few hours – or even minutes – before they plan to eat, but at the same time becoming more demanding and health conscious, retailers and manufacturers are under pressure to offer...
Ferrero opens first Asian innovation centre in Singapore
Ferrero has opened its first Asian Innovation Center in Singapore to develop and test new products ‘in a market of strategic importance’.
Kantar Retail: 'Lidl is going to take significant market share away from a lot of folks'
Given that Lidl is only opening its first US stores this week, it’s impossible to predict with certainty what its future looks like, but it could be a significant force in US food retailing in just five years, predict analysts at Kantar Retail.
Sri Lanka mulls soda tax, raises duty on sugar imports
Sri Lanka has become the latest country to consider the introduction of a specific tax on sugar.
EFSA defends independence as new data shows 46% of experts have conflicts of interest
The European Food Safety Authority has been urged to rethink its new independence rules after new research showed that more than one in four of its experts have direct financial conflicts of interest.
Saudi: Energy drinks prices double overnight
Prices of energy drinks have doubled in Saudi Arabia this week after a sin tax was introduced last Sunday. Health warnings have also arrived in stores and on cans.
Algae may help reduce emissions on pig farms
Adding algae to wastewater may reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help pig farmers become more environmentally friendly, the Australian Pork Cooperative Research Centre (Pork CRC) claims.
Heart health and weight management: Which fruit juices offer the most benefits?
The types of fruit juices that appear to offer the most help in tackling cardiovascular disease and aiding weight management have been highlighted in a new academic review.
Fruit freshness ripe for innovation with use of coated fabric
A quick and reliable way to test the freshness of fruit is the focus of a study that adapts a coated fabric, which soaks up chemical compounds in the fruit juice, to indicate ripeness.
Sweden’s Real Stevia to bring sweetener back to its roots with Paraguayan plant
Swedish supplier The Real Stevia Company will open a processing plant in the sweetener's native Paraguay, adding to its portfolio an 'origin' stevia that is sustainably sourced and Paraguayan from farm to fork.
NGS is recognized method for species authenticity - SGS
SGS experts are leading projects and part of working groups looking at standards for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques.
Minerva to reopen beef plant closed in 2015
Brazilian meatpacker Minerva SA will reopen its Mirassol D’Oeste cattle slaughterhouse in July, nearly two years after it shut the plant and axed hundreds of jobs.
Biena raises $3.75m to fuel chickpea snacks empire; unveils plan to 'reinvent what a chocolate snack can be'
Boston-based Biena has raised $3.75m to expand its chickpea-fueled snacking empire from a series of high profile investors as it prepares to roll out its first major line extension: chocolate coated roasted chickpeas, new territory for pulse-based...
Al Islami tops list of influential halal food companies
A UAE company has been named the world’s leading halal food vendor in a new report on the global market for food acceptable to Muslims.
Needs for targeted quantitation evolving each day - Thermo
Thermo Fisher has introduced two triple-stage quadrupole (TSQ) mass spectrometers for applied markets.
UPDATE
European Court of Justice says purely plant-based products can’t use dairy names
The Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg today announced purely plant-based products cannot, in principle, be marketed with designations such as ‘milk’, ‘cream’, ‘butter’, ‘cheese’ or ‘yogurt’, which are reserved by EU law for animal...
Beetroot, mango and pumpkin trump tomatoes in ketchup
Traditional tomatoes are being shunned by manufacturers looking to make the classic condiment appeal to more sophisticated palates with mangoes, beetroot or pumpkin.
UAE team moves to next stage of project to source gelatin from camels
Researchers in Al Ain are nearing their goal to identify a new halal source of gelatin for food and pharmaceuticals.
Morinaga eyes South East Asia growth with probiotics and blood pressure product
Morinaga has revealed plans to target the South East Asia market to boost sales of its functional ingredients such as its Bifidus BB536 probiotic strain.
Opposition to fair play rule raised – again
US poultry industry representatives have redoubled opposition to government proposals scrapping the need for farmers to prove competition harm in order to claim compensation.
IFT 2017 Preview
Ingredion’s new rice flour to launch at IFT17, marketed as ‘clean label’ texture ingredient
Ingredion’s new rice flour ingredient—designed to meet consumer demand for smooth, silky, gluten-free products—will premiere at this year’s IFT show in Las Vegas.
Cross-contamination a cause of huge US meat recall
Newly Weds Foods has confirmed it is involved in the massive tranche of recalls issued by 10 US meat businesses, which fear their products may contain undeclared allergens.
Gut health & sleep: Is there potential for pre- and probiotics for sleep improvement?
The potential link between the gut microbiota and sleep is emerging, so could prebiotics and probiotics find a lucrative place in the booming natural sleep aid category?