As scientists warn the western world about the health implications
of eating too much sugar, food manufacturers and food/beverage
processors are reconsidering the additives they use in their
products and what alterations need to be...
Ahold's much publicised financial concerns have prompted
speculation that Europe's second largest food retail group could
become a potential takeover target. Both Carrefour and Tesco have
been linked to the Dutch group,...
Leader Price discount stores and Monoprix city centre supermarkets
were among the main drivers of growth for Casino, the French food
retailer, in 2002. They will also drive growth in 2003, but a
recovery at Dutch unit Laurus is also...
Commenting on last month's request from the European Commission for
feedback on proposals to amend legislation on nutrition labelling,
the British Nutrition Foundation highlights the fact that the
current list of vitamins and...
New legislation to tighten the 'origin of labelling' for food
products in the US continues to incite reactions with a coalition
of consumer and agricultural organisations this week claiming that
the United States Department...
Food manufacturers are reconsidering the additives they use in
their products and what alterations need to be made to meet
consumer demand for something sweet that is low in calories, or is
non-carbohydrate.
MicroFoss has recently been awarded the AOAC-RI validation for its
Coliform dairy product testing kits, some two years after it was
launched on the market.
As promised last year, the European Commission is now offering
online access to a new database that compiles research efforts on
several topics related to the issue of acrylamide in food.
In a bid to limit the contamination of food crops by pharmaceutical
plants the US Department of Agriculture has issued a new guidance
to tighten the rules covering the permittance process for companies
to plant and produce plant-made...
With legislators across the world currently discussing the issue of
food allergens and labelling, scientists are busy in the labs
investigating solutions to this increasing health problem. But new
research released this week could...
Ahold, the Dutch retailer at the centre of a massive accounting
scandal, has appointed an interim CFO to try and stabilise the
business. But claims that it knew of the US accounting
irregularities as early as 2001, and that other...
Producers, wholesalers, caterers and retailers in the UK are to
work with the government on a joint strategy to improve the food
and drink industry's economic, environmental and social
performance, so announced the government...
Speciality chemicals company Cognis reports that it increased its
returns from sales in 2002, despite flat sales, a difficult
economic environment and the US dollar exchange-rate.
Brits may have the sweetest tooth in Europe but new evidence
suggests that health and diet concerns are pushing the UK consumer
towards healthier sugar and gum confectionery options.
Exports of Spanish wine grew by less than 1 per cent last year in
both volume and value, according to the latest data. And at home
the situation is even worse, with consumption there continuing its
unrelenting decline.
Cranberry co-operative Ocean Spray voted on Saturday for a clean
slate - replacing most of its board with a brand new set of faces -
in the wake of lagging cranberry prices and a bid from rival
Northland Cranberries.
Last week we reported on the distinctly sloth-like installation of
the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), but newly installed
executive director of the EFSA, Geoffrey Podger, reports that the
first meeting of its Advisory Forum...
German supermarket group Tengelmann has taken 100 per cent control
of its Iberian subsidiaries Supermercados Plus after finally buying
out its long term partner, businessman Juan Abello.
Evidence continues to mount in favour of the consumption of white
and green tea with the publication of findings from a new study
that suggest these teas provide as much protection against colon
tumours as the well recognised, and...
Celsis International has said that Nestle's global R&D site in
Konolfingen has invested in the new Celsis CellScan system for
testing its milk and cream based products after its evaluation of
available ATP based testing systems.
The new European Food Safety Authority is still without a home and
under the menace of a reduced budget. A decision on the location is
urgently needed otherwise credibility is at risk, claims Lasse
Skovby Rasmusson, vice president...
On the same day that we report on the slow installation of the
European Food Safety Authority - suffering from a lack of unity at
a European level - the UK Food and Drink Federation (FDF) gives a
clear sign that it believes unity...
The food industry could shortly be using a new, bio-based approach
to manufacturing mannitol - the minty-tasting sugar alcohol used as
a powdery coating on chewing gum, confectionery and pills - as
scientists report on new method...
The world's first fino wine made exclusively from organic grapes is
set to be launched this year by Spain's Bodegas Robles, one of the
country's leading producers of organic wines.
Danish speciality fats company Aarhus Olie yesterday reported mixed
results for 2002 revealing strong market share growth in supplying
the chocolate industry but increasing pressure on the bulk oil side
of the business. 2003 will...
Health is fast becoming a major selling point in the food and
drinks industry, with new products being launched every month
targeting specific ailments or simply promoting a general sense of
wellbeing. Last month was no different,...
US supplier of applied protein sciences Proliant and Trega Foods, a
manufacturer of cheese and dairy-based ingredients, have announced
a joint venture for the production and marketing of whey protein
isolates.
Consumers in Europe are increasingly concerned about risks derived
from genetically modified (GM) foods. New proposals tabled by the
European Commission aim to meet these concerns and propose to
regulate the labelling of food products...
After a 12-week trial of a self checkout system at Marks &
Spencer last year, Tesco has become the latest British food
retailer to investigate the self-scanning option. The company will
trial an ACM 700 machine from PSI at one...
Europe's biggest supermarket group Carrefour has reported a 15 per
cent increase in pre-tax profits in 2002 and said it had met its
target for sales growth - albeit when currency devaluations are
ignored.
Scientists at the food research body MTT Agrifood Research in
Finland, in collaboration with University of Liège in Belgium, have
located the gene that regulates total yield, protein and fat
content of milk.
People should get no more than 10 per cent of their calories from
sugar - including sugar from honey, syrups and fruit juices -
experts say in a major new report published yesterday from two
United Nations agencies on how to stem...
Fat can function as a signal substance in the body and activate a
receptor in the cells of organs like the heart and liver, say
Swedish researchers from Lund. They maintain that this research
offers new opportunities for understanding...
Are organic foods really better for us? The debate continues this
week with new findings from food scientists in the US that suggest
fruits and vegetables grown organically have higher levels of
antioxidants than conventionally grown...
Acquisitions helped US colour, flavour and fragrance manufacturer
Sensient Technologies boost its revenue by 15 per cent to a record
for $939.9 million (€861m) for the year ended December 31, 2002.
A European study aims to understand the impact of heterocyclic
amines - developed in some heated foods - on the development of
cancers. Preliminary findings suggest that plant foods could
provide protection.
As the GM debate takes to the road in the UK this week with
promises of consumer feedback via conferences and meetings, here
below we have selected an article by Lyndsey Greig of market
analysts Frost & Sullivan that takes a closer...
The UK's first strawberry vodka has been launched by Stolichnaya,
the Russian vodka brand at the centre of an ongoing trademark
dispute. Stoli Strasberi contains real strawberries, and is being
marketed as an excellent cocktail...
For food and beverage companies, testing water samples for the
presence of coliforms is one of the most important preventative
measures in the battle against outbreaks of harmful bacteria. In
response to growing demand for solutions,...
Australia's food supply is one of the safest and cleanest in the
world, according to results of the 20th Australian Total Diet
Survey released last Friday. The survey, conducted by the
Australian food agency Food Standards Australia...
Is the quest for healthier foods affecting quality? Leif Kjærgaard
from Danish ingredients company Danisco suggests food ingredients
quality is much more important than if the food ingredients are
natural or not.
The consumer desire to reduce salt intake, combined with increasing
criticism of the food industry with regards to the generous use of
salt in processed foods, is leading ingredients companies to
develop low salt alternatives.
Arla Foods has launched two new flavours for its Yoggi Yalla
yoghurt drink, the leader of the fast-growing Swedish market. But
the company also faces a lawsuit over its delay in marketing
products containing the sweetener tagatose.
Lock Inspection Systems' 3f triple frequency detector for food
processing applications will be making its first appearance at
Anuga Foodtec this year. The Triple frequency detection is the
latest in several hi-tech features introduced...
US cranberry juice producer Northland Cranberries has expressed an
interest in making a bid for the juice business of rival Ocean
Spray. But the latter group has chosen to see the bid as just that
- an expression of interest - rather...
The CP Crop Integration Business Group (CPCI), a subsidiary of
Thailand's largest conglomerate, the Charoen Pokphand Group, plans
to switch to producing UHT corn milk, instead of pasteurised corn
milk, aiming to extend shelf...
Spanish supermarket group Mercadona has reported a 28 per cent
increase in sales during 2002 as its policy of investment in new
and exisiting stores continued to pay off - but plans for expansion
into Portugal have been shelved.
