The rise of organic food is a knee-jerk reaction to consumer health
fears, and threatens to unhelpfully steer us away from improving
the quality of food generally.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission has set new
internationalstandards on maximum allowed levels of contaminants,
including lead, cadmium,and aflatoxins.
Blue Pacific Flavors has entered into an exclusive partnership with
nano processing firm MicroFluides, a move the company says will
allow it to create new food solutions that combine the science of
taste receptor technology and nano...
International food giant Mitsui is to acquire fruit ingredient firm
Hartog, in a move designed to strengthen its newly created
ingredients division, it emerged last week.
The US gluten-free market has soared in recent years, according to
a new report, and is likely to receive another significant boost as
the nation's mega food firms jump on the bandwagon after the FDA
definition of 'gluten-free'...
The UK government is coming under fire from the Conservative party
for failing to have recommendations for a two-tier system of upper
levels for vitamins and minerals heard by the EC.
Troubled UK supermarket group Wm Morrison's could become the latest
acquisition target for a private equity consortium, as the firm
struggles to overcome last year's problematic takeover of rival
grocer Safeway.
New technology has ramifications for food formulators as Japanese
scientists are pioneering the use of functional near-infrared
spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor brain responses to flavour.
There is not enough evidence to say that certain foods can benefit
children's ability to learn, says Britain's food safety watchdog,
underlining the case against Dairy Crest's omega-3 milk adverts.
Ahead of today's Tesco annual general meeting - which will analyse
ten environmental and social pledges set out by its CEO in May -
Friends of the Earth has accused the grocery chain of misleading
shareholders and customers with...
China's biggest domestic cheese producer, Bright Dairy, has
invested in a new production line for sliced cheese to increase its
profits from this growing, niche market.
A consumer advocacy group has released the names of poultry
processors whose plants failed federal standards for Salmonella,
faulting the industry and regulators for not doing enough to reduce
the foodborne pathogen.
The European Commission has launched an online database and a
journal to help regulators and processors share information on the
EU's new hygiene regulations as they are applied across the bloc.
UK manufacturer Premier Foods has said it expects to deliver strong
half-year profits as sales of household names Branston and Ambrosia
perk up and the newly acquired Quorn brand enjoys a double-digit
rise in demand.
Scientists in Australia are "dragging food science into the 21st
century" by using neutrons to probe the molecular structure of food
and ingredients, and changes that occur during processing.
A coalition of UK food, soft drink and advertising industries have
signed and submitted a response to Ofcom's consultation on food
marketing to children.
The health and wellness trend in foods has moved well beyond the
niche sector to become a major driving force in mainstream foods,
according to Chr Hanson, but a recent survey showed that a quarter
of companies are missing out for...
The globalisation of the food industry is driving the harmonisation
of ingredient regulations, though its still a jungle out there, as
IFT conference delegates learnt last week.
DSM has launched a new clarification pectinase for the apple and
pear juice industry, which it claims promises a faster and more
complete soluble pectin breakdown.
The Chinese ingredients industry, which is bursting with potential,
remains a confusing place. An IFT seminar provided the opportunity
for businesses to navigate this key market.
Associated British Foods, owner of British Sugar, yesterday
announced the closure of two sugar beet processing factories in
northern England, but insisted it can still increase UK sugar
output through efficiency gains.
Limited recourses when it comes to monitoring food safety could
pose a threat to public health, while some consumers also put
themselves at risk through the food choices they make, according to
scientists who spoke at the IFT in Orlando...
A fair trade certified pure vanilla is due to hit the US market, as
a collaboration between flavor firm David Michael and fair trade
certifier TransFair USA taps into the growing consumer interest in
social responsibility.
Ailing British food manufacturer Northern Foods has engaged the
services of Stamford Partners investment bank to oversee the sale
of its pudding and pies divisions, as the firm struggles to offset
plummeting profit margins.
The Indian government looks likely to obstruct proposed foreign
direct investment (FDI) concessions, choosing to support its
fledgling domestic supermarket sector instead, according to local
press reports.
Fundamental research from the US suggests that an enzyme could
convert sugars in the presence of olive oil to form 'nano
organogels' - potentially leading to novel delivery systems for
food preservatives, flavours, and bioactive...
Chocolate has a nice feeling to it - tasty, fun, luxurious and
slightly sinful. This is comfort food, accessible to all and
epitomised in the recent film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Leading chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has reported an
increased operating profit (EBIT) of 14.6 per cent for the first
nine months of fiscal year 2005/06.
Delegates at last week's IFT conference heard why aromas are of
such critical importance to consumer decisions - and how new
technology could improve sales.
Adding a touch of rosemary to minced meat before high-pressure
processing could stop the flavour loss associated with this
anti-microbial treatment, say Brazilian and Danish researchers.
The US is pushing to insert a special clause in trade negotiations
in Geneva this week that would make its use of farm subsidies
immune from prosecution, according to Oxfam.
MGP Ingredients is set to start full production of its fibre
enhancement product FiberRite RW, which has so far been available
in limited supply during a period of market testing, said the firm.