The grounding of airplanes throughout much of Europe has put the brakes on imports of some fruit and vegetable products, although trade groups and supermarkets are downplaying the impact of the Icelandic volcano on food stocks.
Political decisions encouraging biofuel production from palm oil is causing deforestation in Indonesia and not the low tonnage sourced by Kit Kat maker Nestlé, according to the chairman of the Swiss based food company.
The UK and other developed countries’ food supplies could be badly affected by global water shortages – and exacerbate the problem, according to a new report from an alliance of engineering bodies.
Spanish vegetable oil processor Lipidos Santiga (Lipsa) is expanding its refining capacity after receiving its first shipment of sustainable segregated palm oil in January.
Stevia suppliers have welcomed EFSA’s positive scientific opinion on the safety of stevia-derived sweeteners, saying it paves the way for generating more consumer interest in the natural sweetener.
Many British consumers still regard sweeteners with suspicion, although in practice, very few actively avoid products that contain them, according to research commissioned by the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF).
Organic food brands are turning to sustainability in an effort to justify their price premium and combat declining sales, according to Organic Monitor.
EU approval for natural sweeteners from the stevia leaf has moved one step closer after scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave them a clean bill of health.
UK sales of organic food fell 13 per cent last year but some categories still bucked the trend, according to a new report from the Soil Association on the state of the organic market during 2009.
The food industry is encouraging the new generation of food technologists by running competitions for students come up with new product formulations – which also help manufacturers spot the best new talent.
Pulverised lime is being added to bleaching agents used in Chinese flour in a bid to cut production costs and boost profits, China state media has reported this week.
Groupe Casino’s plan to remove palm oil from its own brand food products for environmental and health reasons are misguided, according to a RSPO representative.
World Vision Australia said it has taken the decision to pause campaigning activities aimed at chocolate-based product manufacturer, Arnott’s, for a six month period in response to the company publicly committing to addressing potential labour exploitation...
Segregated sustainable palm oil will be available on the European market in the coming months, as IOI-Loders Crokaan and New Britain open dedicated refineries. The news marks the latest step towards changing the commodity supply chain.
The more food companies work with different levels of the food supply chain and network with external partners, the more innovative they are likely to be, a study of the Danish food industry has found.
Rectory Foods has added a new slate of beef and pork products to its ingredient offering for food manufacturers, in a new step to expand from its solid base in poultry.
A new initiative is underway to develop to supply chain for oil from the African Allanblackia tree oil in food and personal care products by devising a verification scheme for sustainable and ethical trade.
Excessive levels of dioxins were detected in eight per cent of thousands of foods sampled over a nine-year period, said EFSA. But the food safety watchdog has challenged the significance of its own findings.
Corporate responsibility is now accepted as a major part of doing business, even when the economic climate is less than ideal. FoodNavigator.com rounds up the main messages of some of the world’s biggest food and beverage companies.
Implementing the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommendation that makers of soft drinks with added sugar should introduce 250ml cans and bottles could cost the industry upwards of £10m, according to the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA).
A consultation is underway to gauge how the lowering of maximum levels of lycopene as a food colour, under proposal by the European Commission, could impact food manufacturers.
No race should have rules that favour the strongest competitors. But unless the capabilities and interests of SMEs are taken into consideration before the starting gun is fired for new food regulations, they will struggle to keep up and may have to drop...
SpringThyme Oils has developed a new range of infusions that combine butter fats and oils with herbs and spices to add new flavours to dairy-based foods.
France’s Group Casino has pledged to remove palm oil from all its own brand products, starting with 200 by the end of this year, for environmental and health reasons, and use only certified sustainable palm oil in non-food products.
Cargill has opened a new flavour facility in China, which is expected to enable it to better address regional demand and taste in Asia in a timely fashion.
The collapse of oil well drilling means there is an excess of xanthan gum on the market, pushing prices even lower. But while suppliers are urged to differentiate to stay in the gum game, the gum is now being used in products where it was previously too...
American researchers have identified specific genetic markers in the grape genome to improve the fruit quality, and disease and pest resistance, and could quicken the development of better grapes.
A UK parliamentary inquiry has outlined ways to strengthen agricultural co-ops after concluding that the Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFB) sowed the seeds of its eventual collapse by spending too much for tired processing assets.
Leading UK manufacturer of biscuits and snacks United Biscuits said it is reappraising its water efficiency, transport carbon emissions, food waste and packaging reduction targets, as its progress to date on these commitments, it claims, has exceeded...
Food companies must ensure their supply chains are transparent and socially responsible in order to prevent backlashes from consumer activists and non-governmental groups on Facebook or Twitter, which could have costly brand repercussions.
Irish supplier Carbery Ingredients has debuted a whey protein concentrate (WPC)-omega-3 combination ingredient it says is the result of “extensive development work” in the area.
The European organisation for specialty food ingredients has introduced a new structure, a new name, and new members, as the landscape of the sector is changing and new regulatory and technological challenges are coming into play.
Archer Daniel Midland is proposing to close its cocoa processing plant in Hull, UK, this summer because there is overcapacity in the market place and demand for semi-finished cocoa is shifting to Central and Eastern Europe.
A new ranking of major food and beverage companies by their corporate social responsibility is published today, with Unilever, Nestle and Danone occupying the top three spots.
The UK’s chief medical officer has joined calls to consider effects of modern diets on climate change, and suggests reducing consumption of animal products could have a beneficial effect on both public health and the planet.
Not again! It emerged last week that Basic Food Flavors, the company behind the ongoing HVP recall, knew its products were tainted with salmonella but carried on shipping them anyway. Déjà vu anyone?
French flavour firm Mane is launching a new line of natural seafood flavours, derived largely from-the-named-food and with a high levels of transparency.
An investigation into what the term ‘natural’ means for consumers has concluded that manufacturers wanting to position products as natural should use ingredients that have undergone physical rather than chemical processing, process less, and label chemical...
Danisco is introducing a new culture to make industrial production of ryazhenka easier and more consistent, and is expecting the traditional Russian milk drink to garner interest worldwide in the future.
Frutarom has developed a new strawberry flavour that is said to be closer to the natural profile of the real fruit, by identifying a berry that has precisely the organoleptic properties required.
Danisco is starting a new four-year research project to investigate potential uses of enzymes produced by spiders, snakes and carnivorous plants as processing aids for food and other industrial uses.
