Biodegradable packaging material made up of paper impregnated with
wheat gluten boosts the shelf life of cultivated mushrooms,
according to research conducted by scientists in Montpellier,
France.
Iconic chocolate and snacks brand Hershey has announced
disappointing sales figures, but posted a seven per cent rise in
quarterly profit as the company works on product innovation and
cost minimisation.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this week announced his
opposition to legislation that would standardize food safety
labeling requirements throughout the US.
Tyson Foods revealed Wednesday that plummeting demand for beef and
chicken has impacted sales, as international BSE, arsenic and avian
flu scares dent consumer confidence.
Number one dairy producer Danone has recorded strong results for
the first quarter of 2006, bolstered by a focused leadership and
continuing record sales in Asia.
Sheep's milk has a higher content of essential vitamins and
minerals than cow's milk and could be used to cater to consumers'
appetite for healthy products. But presently it seems only
small-time producers are sizing...
Some commercial processors are testing a probiotic bacterial
culture that can sharply reduce pathogens such as Salmonella and
Campylobacter says the University of Arkansas.
Researchers from Florida State, armed with cutting-edge technology,
are undertaking the largest and longest clinical trial to study the
effects of calcium in postmenopausal women.
Representatives from around the world will meet next week in the
Hague, the Netherlands to hash out a common agreement on
international standards on food additives and contaminants.
Plant sterol (PS)-enriched yoghurts better lower cholesterol levels
when consumed at mealtimes than between meals, regardless of the
fat content of the drink, says research from Unilever.
Malaysian palm oil prices are expected to edge up by 2-5 per cent
in the near future on the back of growing demand in Europe for
alternative fuels, suggests a report.
Swiss biotech giant Syngenta has attributed a fall in reported
first quarter sales of 5 per cent, or 1 per cent in constant
exhange rates (CER), to a strengthening of the dollar.
Kraft Foods has recorded stable first quarter results, masking
falling operating income with a favourable tax settlement and
raising prices to combat spiralling production costs.
Leading manufacturer Heinz, which put its frozen foods business up
for sale last autumn, may have found a buyer for the vegetarian
frozen food range McCartney's.
A new slicer can stack, offset stack, fan, shave and portion foods
while allowing manufacturers to select a range of special shapes as
a means of marketing their products.
Associated British Foods (ABF), owner of British Sugar, has
reported a first-half profit fall of 13 per cent and warned that
earnings would likely be affected by continued difficulties in the
sugar sector.
Bharti Enterprises is in talks with several international
supermarkets interested in arranging Indian partnerships to get
around restrictive branded retail laws.
Palatinit today announced that it has achieved GRAS notification
for its sugar replacer Palatinose, a certification the company
hopes will provide food manufacturers with "complete
assurance" in the product.
A new test should more accurately show the amount of benzene in
soft drinks on shop shelves, but that does not mean there is no
problem, says the scientist behind the new procedure to
BeverageDaily.com.
The European Commission has approved genetically modified (GM) food
despite having serious doubts about the health and environmental
implications, according to a pressure group.
A review of 19 studies has concluded that kids do not benefit from
calcium supplements and fortified foods, despite many not meeting
recommended daily intakes of the mineral.
Strong demand for cranberry-based ingredients for functional foods
has led co-operative Ocean Spray to double production capacity at
its plant in Middleboro, Massachusetts.
Incidents of many foodborne illness have declined since statistical
collection began in 1996, with rates for some of the most common
pathogens falling by up to 32 per cent.
The announcement that eating too many bitter apricot kernels
presents a possible health hazard has led to a voluntary withdrawal
of the ingredient in the UK.
Finnish company Valio is continuing R&D into fruit juice-based
probiotics, with a study in the journal LWT reporting
excellent stability, survivability and tolerability of two strains.
Events over the past few months might have shaped the future of GM
food in Europe for decades to come. FoodNavigator looks at the
decisions that have influenced the proliferation of this
controversial technology.
On the other side of the debate, environmental activists remain
committed to ensuring that Europe's food supply remains GM free
even if that means breaking the law.
BASF's plans to invest $320 million over the next three years in
the development of what it calls 'next generation' GM crops
underlines where food technology is headed.
DSM Food Specialties has introduced a new cheese ripening enzyme
that it claims accelerates flavor development while also
eliminating the bitter off-taste often formed during cheese
maturation.
The UK's National Osteoporosis Society has issued a stark warning
that fad dieting is leading women to put their bones at risk by
consuming less calcium-rich foods than they did 20 years ago.
Following talks between Britain's GMB workers' union and Asda
bosses yesterday, a union ballot to decide on strike action over
working conditions has been called off.
Irish firm Kerry this week further confirmed its growth plans in
the US ingredients market with the acquisition of two North
American businesses- Custom Industries and Nuvex Ingredients.
The high presence Campylobacter in poultry and methods to defeat
the pathogen are the subject of two scientific studies published in
the April issue of the Journal of Food Protection.
Israel-based flavour firm Frutarom has received official organic
certification for the second year running from Quality Assurance
International (QAI) in the US.
A number of new products are targeted to bring an unusual end to
this year's month of fasting - from 'ancient' chocolate to
beetroot-flavoured coffee and vinegar-based alcoholic drinks.
The UK regulator responsible for testing for bird flu defended its
methods today after scientific experts raised the possibility that
they may be flawed.
Weak and stagnating prices for food, agricultural raw materials and
manufactured goods in 2005 could mean further bad news for
exporters this year, according to a World Trade Organisation
report.
Importing new foods and beverages into China could be speeded up by
this month's changes to the registration system but importers say
the new procedure raises fresh concerns of its own.