Energy drinks have the potential to cause liver damage, heart
failure and even death and should carry warnings for certain
population groups, according to a German body.
Recent figures published by Datamonitor suggest that over 35 per
cent of European kids aged 5-13 will be overweight or obese by
2012, giving an extra spur to strategies to reduce waist lines,
including food reformulation.
Borregaard is increasing prices for its vanillin products across
the board due to the drastic oil price increases and is looking at
ways to improve efficiency at its plants.
Milk Link, a UK-based dairy cooperative, has announced it has
completed a major investment at its Oswestry cheese-packaging
plant, which its claims will become one of the most advanced sites
of its kind in the country.
The European Union has slapped anti-dumping duties on Chinese
imports of citric acid after an investigation concluded two
European producers have been injured by unfair competition.
The hype surrounding stevia has been ratcheted up another notch
after the US's largest supplier announced it is launching the
natural sweetener beyond the dietary supplements aisle for the
first time.
The UK National Health Service (NHS) has published guidelines
advising doctors not to recommend omega-3 food supplements and
plant stanol and sterol functional foods to patients who are at
high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given a natural baked
goods manufacturer 15 days to provide information on changes made
to its allergen labelling policy for some of its bread products or
face a possible injunction.
Faster new product development is likely after Associated British
Foods (ABF) announced yesterday the merger of its Ryvita business
with natural food company Jordans to create one of the biggest
player in the healthy snacks and cereals...
A new integrated, aseptic carton packaging line offers processors reduced costs, as well as increased equipment reliability and capacity, claims manufacturer Tetra Pak.
NutraCea has today launched its stabilized rice bran (SRB) RiBran
Isolate as a cost-effective meat enhancer, and simultaneously
announced a new distribution agreement.
New labelling guidelines were issued this week by the UK Food
Standards Agency (FSA) to help manufacturers in present vital
product information in a clearer way.
As the decision on patent infringement allegations in the US is
pushed back by three months, UK sucralose supplier Tate & Lyle
confirms its confidence in the outcome of the case, while Chinese
sucralose competitors affirm their...
French sugar and food solutions company Tereos has confirmed it is
hoping to acquire Danisco's sugar business, and that it is bidding
against Germany's Nordzucker.
Sensible, nutritious, snacking twice a day combined with three
small meals can form a healthy, balanced diet, claims Kellogg's
Smarter Snacking Report published earlier this month.
The swell of the tide against trans fats has reached new levels in
recent months, as fast food group McDonalds has switched to using a
blend of canola, corn and soybean oils to cook fries and other deep
fried products.
New opportunities are opening for the US bakery industry as
consumers become more health-conscious mirroring trends in Europe,
according to a recent report by consultancy Frost & Sullivan.
UK-based ingredients giant Tate & Lyle has dipped into its independent €30+m venture capital fund to the tune of €3.5m to partner with a Belgian start-up researching the gut health and antioxidant properties of bran fibres.
The Irish food industry and the Department of Environment have
together launched a training initiative to achieve a reduction in
packaging amid growing environmental concerns.
There is evidence that European potato starch suppliers are losing
out to Chinese competitors, as anti-dumping measures drive rampant
growth for leading Chinese starch maker.
Ingredients company Alfred L Wolff is vigorously denying
accusations against two of its US executives who were arrested for
allegedly importing honey from China mislabelled as coming from
Russia and the Ukraine.
Many UK biscuit and cake products have reached their salt-reduction
limit, thanks to bakers' efforts to cut salt components, according
to Barbara Gallani, manager of the Food and Drink Federation's
Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate...
US-based food producer Heinz has unveiled ambitious plans to reduce
its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2015 by using energy
generated from potato peel.
Food makers to see alternative supplies for sucralose as new
manufacturer for this booming sweetener hits European markets for
the first time, launching today in Amsterdam.
Efforts to reduce salt in packaged foods involve more than just
salt replacers and flavour enhancers, as suppliers contribute to
overall efforts by tweaking processes to make lower sodium
ingredients.
Tough questions on the central issue of biodegradability will be answered at a plastics packaging conference in Prague next month, claims the event organiser.
The perfect wholemeal sandwich is moving closer to the plate thanks
to research into bubbles in bread at the School of Chemical
Engineering and Analytical Science at Manchester University in the
UK.
A new anti-theft tag can be inserted into the packaging of moist, fresh products such as cheese and meat to reduce the percentage of stolen produce in retail outlets, according to developers Sealed Air Cryovac and Checkpoint Systems.
Leading sugar and starch producer in Central and Eastern Europe,
Agrana has announced it has acquired, subject to regulatory
authority approval, 50 per cent of the shares in the sugar sales
operations of the Studen Group, Vienna.
In recent years there has been an increasing trend towards healthy
and premium confectionery products, aimed at making consumers feel
better about the treats they eat and giving them a taste of luxury
and sophistication.
A new conveyor belt designed specifically for food manufacturing
allows for more user-friendly maintenance without reducing the
product's strength, its manufacturer says.
NutraCea has received approval from the US Department of
Agriculture (USDA) to supply stabilized rice bran as an enhancer
for pulverized meat and poultry products.
Ingredient group Sabinsa has adopted a new technology that allows
it to 'solubalize' a range of botanical extracts, thereby making
them easy to incorporate into beverage applications, said the firm.
Fresh evidence that supports the potential protective health
properties of wine with a US study suggesting a glass of red wine a
day could actually protect against liver disease.
Paragon Print and Packaging, which manufactures and supplies optimised permeable films for fresh and chilled food sectors, has been accredited with three responsible packaging certifications.
Ulrick & Short's ready to use Eziglaze for bakery products
offers a clean label alternative to egg- and milk-based
ready-to-use glazes, and can help a baker's bottom line, according
to the company.
Latest figures from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
suggest that there will be a rise in world production of cocoa
compared to last year and a rise, though smaller, in world
grindings.
Manufacturers are getting more adventurous over erythritol use since it gained EU-wide approval this year, says Cargill, but the real boom will come when they can make a low-calorie claim in Europe.
Two UK food processing and packaging equipment manufacturers, Wright Machinery and Double D Food Engineering, are to join forces with US companies to extend their global reach.
Tetra Pak is stumping up €26m for an upgrade of its Italian
packaging materials plant that will significantly increase its
printing and lamination capacity, and boost the quality and speed
of its service.
The consumption of popcorn is associated with a substantially
higher intake of whole grains and dietary fibre, says research,
indicating its benefits as a healthy snack.
A major UK dairy and ingredients supplier has completed a facility
renovation after being awarded a Welsh government grant to upgrade
its plant while making it more environmentally friendly.
Robotics and automation will help food processors offset higher raw material and energy costs, claims the Centre for Food Robotics and Automation (CenFRA), as it prepares to open its new site in Doncaster, Northern England this week.
BioTAK S100 adhesive, developed by UK company Berkshire Labels for its BioTAK label range, has been accredited with the biodegradable and compostable packaging standard EN13432, following a two-year testing period.
The salt content of vegetarian sausages and burgers can often be
the same as, or even higher than, their meaty equivalents,
according to a recent survey.
Rules authorising enzymes need to be updated and simplified, and
enzymes should be authorised only where the consumer benefits, said
Europe's Environment committee, clearing the next hurdle in a
new legal framework for enzyme...