Manufacturers of oat-based products in the UK can now position them
alongside cholesterol-lowering foods, following the approval of a
health claim by the country's voluntary claims body.
The primary food agency in Europe responsible for assessing risks
to the food chain concludes that more information on the potential
adverse reaction of peanut oil, used in food production, to peanut
allergic consumers is necessary...
Research by DSM Nutritional Products provides further evidence of
the mechanism behind lycopene's protective role against prostate
cancer, giving extra support for its use in functional foods and
supplements.
Unilever Bestfoods UK will change the formulation of its 100 year
old Bovril food product replacing the product's core beef
ingredient with a yeast mix, reports Lindsey Partos.
Obesity could impact brain tissue and play a role in the onset of
dementia in older women, say researchers in the US, adding a new
study to the growing body of science that suggests this physical
condition can be detrimental to overall...
Fundamental science identifies a further piece in the puzzle of why
humans are allergic to peanuts, tracking proteins from the gut to
the immune system, writes Lindsey Partos.
Health benefits of chocolate continue to grow with UK researchers
isolating an ingredient present in this popular foodstuff that
could help stop persistent coughs.
Food makers can expect to see the price of hydrocolloids continue
to move upwards as suppliers, knocked by squeezed commodity
supplies coupled with higher energy and transport costs, pass rises
onto the market.
Fortification is a growing trend in soft drinks and the dairy
sector, and played a role in 8 per cent of all new food and drink
products introduced last year, according to David Jago, director of
Mintel's Global New Products...
Azerbaijan's largest dairy company is set to double its production
capacity after securing outside funding worth nearly €4.4 million
to help the firm hold off competition from imports and safeguard
domestic farmers' incomes,...
New techniques to minimise the risk of harmful food pathogen E.
coli in fermented dry sausages could be on the way as scientists
find acidic conditions encountered during the digestive process may
not be enough to inactivate some...
Job cuts and production consolidation for the number four flavours
group Symrise as the equity fund-owned firm says nearly 600 jobs
will go by the end of 2006.
Food makers can expect to see the price of hydrocolloids continue
to move upwards as suppliers, knocked by squeezed commodity
supplies coupled with higher energy and transport costs, pass rises
onto the market.
Italian plant extracts firm Indena has added a new standardised
olive fruit extract to its range, introducing the product at Health
Ingredients Europe in Amsterdam this week.
Italian firm Chemi is moving production of the nutraceutical
ingredient phosphatidylserine to its pharmaceutical actives plant
in Brazil, allowing it to increase capacity and become more
competitive on price.
The ingredients division of Danish cultures and colours firm Chr.
Hansen pulled in a DKK 369 million (€49m) profit for the year on
sales of DKK 3.4 billion (€460m), a slight dip on the previous year
on rising costs.
Biodegradable plastic bags have been developed in Canada, but
evidence from Ireland suggests that the most effective means of
cutting down on plastic bag pollution is to introduce a tax.
Anthony Fletcher reports.
Leading food science body the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)
defends the oft-criticised use of food irradiation in food
production, brushing away criticisms that this technology could
harm human health.
A soaring premium beer market in Russia and growing consumption in
Poland and Romania are driving forward a major international
brewer's European profits by offsetting problems in Hungary and
Slovakia, writes Chris Mercer.
Hungarian food canner Globus has dropped into the red in the third
quarter of 2004, with pressure on prices and the sale of a
production facility contributing to the poor performance. But a
steady move in Hungary towards higher added-value...
International Flavors & Fragrances says it is planning the
construction of a new specialty ingredients manufacturing plant in
China, in a move that aims to boost global production capacity.
Falling pasta sales at leading US company American Italian Pasta
reflect an industry-wide problem and demonstrate how a low-carb
legacy may still undermine foods with a higher carbohydrate
content, as Chris Mercerdiscovers.
Traffic light labelling would be a primitive, unworkable and
pointless way of highlighting unhealthy foods according to the UK
food industry, speaking in reaction to the newly published
government policy paper on public health. Chris...
Ochakovo has became the first Russian brewing company to enter the
Latin American market, exporting a range of products to Ecuador as
the first phase of a continent-wide rollout, writes Angela
Drujinina.
Emerging soft drink markets in Russia and Romania have helped the
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company to post steady third quarter
profit increases, despite problems elsewhere in eastern Europe.
An EU-funded congress will provide a platform for discussions on
future research on organic - with a particular focus on organic
farming, food quality and human health.
UK snack manufacturer Ginsters has installed a package coding
management system (PCMS) in order to increase packaging and coding
accuracy and protect its lucrative brand name.
Danisco Flavours has said that it will double its flavour
production in Asia with the construction of a brand new production
facility at its existing emulsifier and functional systems plant in
Penang, Malaysia.
A potent antioxidant abundant in apples and some other fruits and
vegetables appears to protect brain cells against oxidative stress,
a tissue-damaging process associated with Alzheimer's and other
neurodegenerative disorders.
Russian juice brand Dobriy was one of just a handful of food and
beverage products to win an award at this year's Brand of the Year
ceremony held recently in Moscow. Despite a somewhat old fashioned
image, the brand continues...
Russia's Sedmoi Kontinent has become the country's first retail
group to float on the stock market - a move widely seen as a bid to
raise cash for expansion before the expected influx of western
chains, as Chris Jones reports.
The British government is expected to release a long-awaited policy
paper on public health today with plans to curb public smoking,
tackle obesity and address the way food companies target children
through advertising.
Ambitious Israeli flavours firm Frutarom has doubled its net profit
in the first nine months of the year after bolt-on acquisitions
brought rapid growth to a company that has clear ambitions to
become one of the top ten flavour firms.
Red wine has potent bacteria fighting properties, suggests new
research from scientists in the US that examined the impact both
red and white wines could have on a range of common food pathogens.
A leading distributor of alcoholic drinks in Poland has announced a
strong third quarter sales rise driven by wine and spirits imports
and a less regulated Polish market. But figures must get even
better for the company to achieve...
Carrefour, the giant French retail group, has extended its presence
in the Polish market with an agreement to buy 13 stores formerly
operated by Dutch rival Ahold, writes Chris Jones.
Innovation pushed from flavour firms operating in this competitive
sector brings food developers new opportunities to improve the
final product as ICI flavour subsidiary Quest International,
streamlined in May this year through the...
Increasing competition on the xanthan gum market leads Danish
ingredients firm Danisco to cut jobs at the recently acquired
Rhodia Food activities in France.
Agribusiness Bunge last week announced the formation of an alliance
with Procter & Gamble and Peter Cremer North America to produce
and market cholesterol-reducing phytosterol ingredients for
pharmaceuticals and foods.
A slump in international sales means that Coca-Cola is set to
switch its focus to the China market in an effort to sustain
growth. The company said that with current economic growth
continuing apace, China should be its third biggest...
UK food watchdog pinpoints the potentially carcinogenic red dye
Sudan IV in more palm oil products this week as the roll call of
recalled food products tips the 250 mark.
The new interest in protein, one of this year's biggest food
formulation trends, has been supported by ingredient innovation,
with proteins stealing the majority of nominations for the Health
Ingredients Europe awards presented...
Germany's two largest dairies have terminated an agreement to
merge. Nordmilch, Germany's leading dairy co-operative, and Humana
Milchunion were set to merge in January 2005, but since have cited
"timing" and "restructuring...
Rising prices and transport costs are looming for UK millers and
bakers as final results on the rain-drenched UK grain harvest
confirm that yields are up but quality is at its lowest for 10
years in some regions, reports Chris Mercer.