Gleditsia triacanthos seeds from the Americas could present a new
source of hydrocolloids for the food industry, says a new study
that investigated their functional properties depending on
extraction methods.
Environmental group Friends of the Earth (FOE) has called for a
moratorium on the use of nanotechnology in the food chain, claiming
insufficient research has been carried out into its effect on human
health and the environment.
Greencore has indicated that it is working closely with its
convenience foods customers this year to offset the impact of food
inflation, and still expects growth in this market.
A food industry initiative launched this year is promoting one
standard, easily recognisable symbol to aid identification of
healthy foods across the world and encourage manufacturers to
reformulate products along healthier lines.
Scientists from the University of Nottingham have reported that
adding an ingredient that induces the sensation of cooling could
boost the perception of fruit flavours, fundamental research that
could have implications for product...
Here we go again. Yet another technology in its infancy is likely
to be introduced into the food supply, while industry remains
cautious and consumers divided.
As a youngster I was brought up on a healthy diet of tuna fish
sandwiches and Disney - making my new year's resolution for 2007
the toughest yet. That's right, I'm giving up tuna and who knows,
even cod.
Food industry and consumer groups are poles apart over the question
of mandatory nutrition labelling with government opinion somewhere
between the two.
US ingredients firms Bunge and DuPont are to expand their soybean
partnership to include industrial applications and biofuels, but
the development is unlikely to affect their supply to the food
industry.
A UK Government forecast is to predict that almost one third of the
British population will be dangerously fat, with junk food and lack
of exercise to blame, according to reports in The Independent.
Food scientists are becoming a rare species in Britain, and things
won't change unless schools and food firms start telling young
people there is more to food than a supermarket depot.
A US paediatrician has said that childhood obesity is due to the
high-calorie, low-fibre Western diets that cause hormonal
imbalances that encourage children to overeat.
Last week's comment on the food industry's role in the rising
obesity epidemic has generated a flood of responses from readers
agreeing with or disputing our position that the industry deserves
a break. Some of the comments...
Britain is failing to recruit enough world-class scientists because
the country's education system is not up to the job, the UK's
Confederation of British Industry has warned.
Laying the blame for a fatter world at the feet of the food
industry has become a convenient mistake, and until this is
recognized there is little chance of controlling the growing
obesity epidemic.
The food industry must face up to the challenges of modern
communication if consumer confidence is to be regained - and costly
mistakes are to be avoided, writes Keith Taylor.
The obesity issue is not going to solve itself, concluded
participants in a CIAA debate this month who advocated an EU-wide
approach to tackling the problem, with the food and drink industry
forming part of the solution.
In the US, the role of court action in defining limits not set by
regulators is generating a flood of costly court cases for the food
industry: much unnecessary, and all damaging.
Sustainable development will steadily advance over the next 10
years according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers report - an issue
that the food industry must positively address.
The EU's food industry yesterday called on political leaders to get
behind a proposed economic growth programme for the bloc,
especially in relation research, small and medium-sized businesses,
energy policy and social reform.
Consumer confidence in food safety in the UK is recovering from the
low levels it had reached last year after the Sudan 1 food scare,
according to a new survey.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA)'s proposed Multiple Traffic
Light system is 'too simplistic, twenty years out of date, dreamt
up by administrators rather than nutritionists and likely to
confuse consumers', according...
Consumers are demanding more fair trade food products than ever
before, but can the food industry adapt its free market sourcing
policies in time to maintain brand respect?
Law firm Eversheds tells FoodNavigator why Europe's food
industry needs a voice in the ongoing debate over labelling, and
outlines some of the battlegrounds to come.
The UK food industry has been slammed by consumer groups for its
rejection of an industry-wide colour-coded labelling scheme, just
as consultation on a voluntary front of pack labelling scheme ended
yesterday.
A European Commission programme designed to promote EU food
products outside the bloc has been welcomed by the food industry,
though criticism over European bureaucracy remains a recurrent
theme.
Ten mega trends stretching from age to individualism will determine
the success and shape of any new products to hit the market in the
near future, claims market analysts Datamonitor.
Food makers and ingredients firms will benefit from a new European
platform that will prioritise research and development initiatives
to keep the €800 billion food and drink industry
competitive,reports Lindsey Partos.
Adding fuel to the already heated debate on GM foods and
ingredients, the UN's World Health Organisation claims genetically
modified foods can contribute to enhancing human health and
development.
The UK government must introduce a compulsory new supermarket code
ofconduct if it is to make up for past mistakes and save the food
industryfrom a spiral into anti-competitive practices.
UK food agency launches 'the largest research project to date', to
establish the clearest route for food makers to use food labels to
flag-up healthy foods.
A mineral and vitamin mixture that cuts the browning and extends
the shelf-life of sliced apples could encourage consumers to eat
more fruit, say researchers, Lindsey Partos reports.
As the Indian processed food market soars with high double digit
growth across convenience and health positioned products, the
Indian government will pour millions of rupees into improving food
laboratories to sharpen food safety.
The publicity craze surrounding nutritional content and labelling
has helped these two issues replace BSE as the biggest food
concerns among an increasingly sceptical British public - warning
the food industry to stay on its toes,...
EU accession has been the Czech food industry's biggest challenge
since the fall of the Communist regime in 1989, bringing with it
new challenges and threats, writes Anthony Fletcher.
New voluntary labelling initiatives, a tighter advertising code and
increased investment in innovation could be on the way for food
manufacturers as the European Commission, along with a dozen
stakeholders, launches a platform to...
As players in the food ingredients industry strive to add value to
their portfolio and fight off pressurised margins, a new initiative
in the US aims to bring a raft of new solutions to food makers.
The UK food watchdog has extended the already massive recall of
food products contaminated by the harmful, and illegal, red food
dye sudan 1: but the tailing off of figures suggests the recall may
have reached its peak, reports Lindsey...
Equipment giant Buhler is set to demonstrate how nanotechnology
could lead to complete contamination-free food processing and
superior printing, writes Anthony Fletcher.
In addition to evident best practice in food safety across the food
chain, the food industry needs to establish better channels of
communication to tackle food recalls and avoid a blow to consumer
confidence, conclude the authors...
Industrial food processing systems provider FMC FoodTech has
launched a new batter mixer that offers greater capacity, easy
maintenance and improved hygiene resulting in increased
productivity and lower costs.
A new study reminds food manufacturers that the distinct €14
billion children's food and drink market must not be "overlooked",
with opportunities still ripe in a host of product sectors,
reports Lindsey Partos.
