The recent spate of 1000s of E. coli infectionsin Europe – with no known treatment – that sprang from contaminated vegetables could be reduced in occurrence and severity by probiotics, in vitro trials demonstrate.
Research conducted by stevia partners Cargill and Associated British Foods subsidiary Silver Spoon has found UK consumers are keen for natural alternatives to artificial low-calorie sweeteners.
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has announced that it will expand its cocoa processing capabilities at its facility in Singapore to enable it to keep pace with growing demand for cocoa and chocolate products from Asian markets.
Ulrick & Short (U&S) has introduced a range of clean label products for seafood processors looking to replace phosphates and artificial additives with more natural ingredients.
Kerry Ingredients & Flavours is taking the lid off its R&D work to reveal some of the meat solutions it has in the pipeline for clean label, salt and fat reduction, coatings developments and taste enhancement.
Space-saving and error reduction are two benefits the new combined check weighting and metal detection machine can bring to food and beverage manufacturers, according to Mettler-Toledo.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has backed lactic acid as a decontaminant in beef processing and said there were no safety concerns as long as its use complied with current food additive regulations.
A new naturally-occurring preservative that could be added to food during processing has the potential to kill deadly pathogens and extend shelf life, said the US scientists behind the discovery.
Russia today lifted import requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables from the European Union imposed in the wake of the E.coli outbreak in May that killed 46 people and sickened almost 4,000.
UK-based food and ingredients company EHL claims to have seen a “sharp increase” in sales of its allergen-free curry powder, which were up 35 per cent over the last year.
The Ukraine has followed US, UK and German authorities by OKing Diamond Foods €1.6bn takeover of the Pringles business from Procter & Gamble that will make it the second biggest snack maker globally after PepsiCo.
Ocean Spray saw price fluctuations compared to May auction levels as the cranberry leader sold 148,750 gallons of concentrate at its eighth auction since switching to the sales system in 2009.
Kraft, in its second quarter results, reports continuing challenges ahead for its gum and candy division in developed markets, and claims the Cadbury takeover is a fundamental earnings driver, with its global chocolate earnings up 9 per cent.
Unilever refused to comment on City speculation that its food businesses may be up for sale as it announced better-than-expected half-year results yesterday.
There will be no dramatic drop in cocoa prices in the coming months as forecast by numerous speculators hoping to cash in on a downward trend, reports a cocoa market specialist.
Kraft Foods has said it intends to split into two companies, in a move that would create a global snacks powerhouse separate from its North American grocery business.
UK market researchers Mintel report a shift in young people’s drinking habits with a trend towards greater ‘in the home’ consumption, while analysts also note an increasing preference for premium alcohol brands overall.
Flavour and fragrance firm Givaudan’s first half net profits crashed by 40 per cent as raw material costs and record currency rates take their toll on the Swiss company, despite good local growth in its flavours businesses.
Food giant Unilever saw net profits grow 10% to €2.235bn in the first half of 2011, with its brand equity allowing it to weather severe raw materials price hikes in some cases.
Researchers from Monell and Givaudan have discovered a ‘taste terminator’ protein inside taste cells, which may control the way we perceive bitter taste signals.
Kraft Foods Europe is “delighted” to have become only the second company to win an article 13.5 health claim but is focusing now on how the opinion will be viewed by the European Commission and member states.
Analysts at investment bank Liberum Capital said they expect Unilever to sell its food arm, excluding the ice cream and beverage category, for an estimated figure of €14bn.
An application to allow an extract from the combs of cockerels to be used in dairy products is nearing the end as it is said to pose no significant safety concerns.
Food quality and safety testing group, Intertek, has gained a food testing presence in the UK for the first time through the acquisition of Food Analytical Laboratories (FAL) for £6m.
Dutch sucrose ester specialist Sisterna says ice cream cone wafers can benefit from employing emulsifiers like sucrose esters because they give a better cone.
Seventy per cent of eight-month-old babies have a salt intake higher than the recommended maximum level, due to being fed salty and processed foods, says new research.
Reports that a company owned by Cargill and ABF bought all the available UK feed wheat last month has renewed calls for tighter regulation of commodity markets.
Freeze-dried salmon could be the latest thing among health-conscious astronauts and military types and mountain climbers, thanks to work at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).
Waste fibres from the agricultural and food processing industry could be used for the nano-encapsulation of bioactives such as probiotics, according to new research.
Commentary in The Lancet, along with a new analysis of the data, has slammed the recent Cochrane review that claimed salt reduction had no effect on strokes or heart attacks.
Half-portions of fruit and vegetables in processed and other composite foods will count towards the target of ‘five-a-day’ under a new UK industry scheme.
Japanese ingredients supplier Ajinomoto has seen Q1 sales drop 2.6% to ¥296.3bn, with slow global economies and the aftermath of the March natural disasters in Japan affecting the results.
Researchers are developing a cost efficient method for the identification of microbial communities present in food, in the hope they can identify changes that lead go spoilage.
Dupont, which earlier in the year warned that its May $6.49bn acquisition of Danisco would dent its yearly profits, has defied expectations in second quarter results published today.
Firmenich and the renewable products company Amyris are expanding their joint collaboration to work on three “key” ingredients but they continue to keep the industry guessing about what they are.
An association representing European small and medium-sized businesses is calling on its members to consult on draft guidance for submitting applications to the EU for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings.