Research into a nitrogen isotope-based testing system being
pioneered in Britain could provide a vital new tool in ensuring
valid organic certification for food and drink products.
All almonds originating from California will have to comply with strict new pasteurization regulations, implemented last week by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to recent salmonella outbreaks.
Furcellaran, a co-polymer of beta and kappa-carrageenan extracted
from red algae, has been identified as a novel new encapsulation
material, researchers from Estonia report.
A new washing system lifts large vats used in meat and poultry
processing into the cleaning chamber, then returns them to the
plant floor ready for use, its manufacturer claims.
Consumer watchdog Which? has hit out at confusing labelling of
sugar content in foods, placing the onus on manufacturers to put
full nutritional information on packs after a survey found high
levels in savoury foods that were not...
Encapsulation of peppermint essential oil as a model flavour in a
variety of modified starches is helping scientists fill in
knowledge gaps that could further enhance encapsulation of flavours
and aromas.
Arla Foods is establishing a new joint venture with Russian
distribution partner Artis, which will allow it to better tap
opportunities in the country's growing cheese and butter market.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to revise
its labeling regulations for irradiated foods and supplements,
suggesting that some irradiated foods could be labeled as
"pasteurized".
Danish ingredients manufacturer Palsgaard has developed a new
instant cake emulsifier which safeguards cake quality throughout
the stresses inflicted on batter during processing.
The ongoing battle between Monsanto and dairy producers who do not
use the firm's milk-producing hormone rBST has stepped up a notch,
with the biotech and chemicals giant requesting action to stop what
it calls "deceptive...
Niche fragrance provider IBI has launched what is claimed to be the
first ever 'spiritual' perfume, a product that its creators claim
has been formulated and marketed to remind wearers of God.
Aquaculture and technology group Neptune Industries has come one
step closer to completing its insect-based dietary protein for
fish, which the firm claims will be key to addressing the imminent
shortage of world fish stocks.
The European market for lycopene as a functional food ingredient
looks to be opening up, since Vitatene gained novel foods approval
for its ingredient derived from the Blakeslea trispora
fungus last year.
The trend towards food manufacturers outsourcing their chocolate
ingredient needs translated into impressive volume and sales growth
for Barry Callebaut's industrial business segment for the first six
months of the fiscal year.
The UK poultry processor at the centre of the avian influenza
outbreak earlier this year will not face criminal prosecution, the
national food regulator has confirmed.
The Canadian canola industry has said it expects to more than
double production of the crop by 2015, and is counting on increased
demand for heart-healthy oils to help it reach its objectives.
The trend for 'clean label' foods containing few E-numbers is
emanating from the UK market but it is not yet a keen priority for
consumers, retailers and manufacturers in every country, says GC
Hahn.
Modified whey protein could be the additive of choice for processed
meat, with Canadian researchers reporting it is the most
functionally effective and cost-efficient of five dairy proteins
tested.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to extend its
comment period on a proposal to allow meat and milk products from
cloned animals into the American food supply.
The identity of the mystery multinational with which Provexis has
been exploring new formats of its Fruitflow technology is unveiled
as Unilever; and the two companies also plan to collaborate over
new IP on related products and processes.
Big hitters in the food industry, including Danone, Unilever,
Nestle and Coca-Cola, have announced they plan to roll out a
nutrition labelling system based on Guideline Daily Amounts in
France.
German fragrance and flavours group Symrise saw a strong increase
in sales and profits for its Flavours and Nutrition Division in
full year 2006, largely attributed to innovations like its 'and'
range of products.
Safety and innovation were on the agenda this week, when the head
of French dairy group Lactalis met with the Croatian vice president
to discuss the company's plans for rejuvenating the country's dairy
sector.
A study from the US has raised the hackles of the meat industry by
reporting a link between male fertility and their mother's high
beef consumption during pregnancy - an observation researchers say
may be down to growth hormones...
A new a way to seal flexible film packaging, partially developed by
a supplier to UK retailer Marks & Spencer, reduces the amount
of material required and extends the shelf life of products,
according to results of recent trials.
Slovenian plant extract supplier Vitiva is extending its line of
SyneRox 4 rosemary-based ingredients with an oil-based formulation
aimed at extending the shelf life of high-fat meat products such as
chilled pâtés.
Fonterra has developed a technique that allows colostrum to be
added to ready-to-drink beverages with a longer shelf-life, opening
up opportunities for new kinds of products and building sales of
the ingredient in Asia.
Tate & Lyle and Italian sugar producer Eridania Sadam have
formed a joint venture for the marketing and sales of all sugar
products to the Italian market, seen as an important step in
developing new sugar markets following EU...
An Indian pharmaceutical firm has completed a new sucralose
facility and is ready to begin production of the popular sweetener,
using what it claims to be a non patent-infringing process.
Alcoholic drinks makers could benefit from a new range of enzymes
that claim to increase production at the same times as
significantly reducing operating costs.
The 'slow progress' of the UK government to provide funding for
research into the potential risks of nanotechnology has been
criticised by a high-level advisory group.
Frutarom has signed an agreement to acquire flavours firm Belmay -
a strategic move said to position it as the leader in UK flavours
and bolster its global position in the market.
Flavours giant Givaudan has entered into a research and licensing
agreement with taste technology developer Redpoint Bio Corp, which
is expected to build the company's TasteSolutions programme for
health and wellness.
An Indian pharmaceutical firm has completed a new sucralose
facility and is ready to begin production of the popular sweetener,
using what it claims to be a non patent-infringing process.
The modified gum arabic product 'Super Gum' could stabilise
water-in-oil-in-water emulsions, opening up opportunities for fat
reduction and novel encapsulation, researchers from New Zealand
have reported.
A research laboratory has developed new tests that enable
processors to identify pine nuts and chestnuts in food, which could
help protect consumers with allergies.
Using commercial household steam cleaning can provide smaller
processing plants with a low cost method of decontaminating beef
and hog carcasses, according to a recent study.
DSM Nutritional Products is emphasising quality as the crucial
point of differentiation between the vitamin C it produces in the
green hills of Scotland - now known as Quali-C - and cheaper
material from Asia.
An epidemiological study in Italy concluded that there is no
indication of an association between sweetener consumption and
cancer risk - findings that lend some support to EFSA's conclusions
on the safety of aspartame.
Converting food and beverage product labels from US to EC
format requires an in-depth understanding of European labeling
legislation, which is more complex than it often appears to be,
regulatory experts at consultancy firm Leatherhead...
A sweetener industry body claims the current US sugar policy is
harming the nation's food and beverage industry by driving prices
up and sending production oversees.
Scientists from Danisco have identified peculiar regions of a
starter culture's genome that allow the bacteria to be resistant to
infections by bacteriophages (bacterial viruses).
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified the source
of a recent GM contamination in rice, and has said that it poses no
food safety concerns.
Watermelon juice may provide a novel source of the essential amino
acid arginine, says a new study that shows the juice is a rich
source of its metabolic precursor.
An SMS text message service set up to alert subscribers about food
allergy scares in the UK, could provide an example processors could
use in preventing contaminated products from reaching the dinner
table.