Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Spain and Estonia to tax sugary drinks

07-Dec-2016 By Niamh Michail

Spain and Estonia are the latest EU countries to announce plans for a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

ARCHIVE ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

‘Yo-yo diet’ weight gain may be caused by gut bacteria

06-Dec-2016 By Nathan GRAY

Rapid post-diet weight gain, often referred to as yo-yo dieting, could be a result of obesogenic gut bacteria which remain even after weight loss, say researchers who hope their findings could help to stop weight gain after dieting.

Findings point to risk from saturated fats outside some reduction guidelines

Harvard-Unilever study confirms link between sat fats, heart disease & importance of reformulation

28-Nov-2016 By Nathan Gray

There is an association between intakes of individual saturated fats and the risk of coronary heart disease, according to a new analysis of data that underlines the importance of switching out saturated fats for healthier alternatives.

EU still tops Britain's export ambitions - but it is looking further afield

22-Nov-2016 By Niamh Michail

The UK's action plan to increase post-Brexit exports over the next five years sets its sights on China, India, the US and Latin America - but it wants to see the biggest growth coming from exports to neighbouring Germany.

Made in Switzerland 'Swissness' law to enter in force 1 January 2017

'Unfortunate': Nestlé to lose Swiss cross on 80 brands

21-Nov-2016 By Niamh Michail

Nestlé will be forced to drop the Swiss cross from 80 products manufactured in Switzerland following a new law on 'Swissness' set to come into force in January next year. "This is very unfortunate," the head of Nestlé Switzerland has...

Study finds UK packaged food sales have declined steadily throughout past decade

Has UK packaged food gone past its sell-by date?

17-Nov-2016 By Louis Gore-Langton

Packaged food sales in the UK have reached their lowest growth rate in a decade due to an increase in discounter stores, innovation fatigue, and an increase in eating out due to economic improvements, according to Euromonitor.

Brexit bites, or the price of a low pound

15-Nov-2016 By Mark Jones, food and drink solicitor

What will the impact of rising food prices in post-Brexit Britain be on manufacturers, retailers and consumers? Food and drink solicitor at Gordons law firm Mark Jones takes a closer look.

DSM prepares to bring fermented stevia to EU market

14-Nov-2016 By Niamh Michail

Ingredient supplier DSM has asked EFSA scientists to complete a scientific opinion for its fermentation-derived stevia.

Palm oil industry under fire as Indonesia’s haze drama continues

09-Nov-2016 By Rick Beckmann & Kresna Panggabean

Haze from slash-and-burn agricultural has returned to Southeast Asia this year. Is it enough to wait for regulators to bring the (mainly palm oil) culprits to justice? Asian resource legal experts Rick Beckmann and Kresna Panggabean enter the storm.

‘Socially irresponsible’: UK agency bans Diet Chef advert

03-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The UK’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has banned an advert from diet plan company Diet Chef after 26 viewers complained the advert exploited women’s insecurities about their bodies.

Halloween horror: yogurt drives growth as chocolate confectionery declines

31-Oct-2016 By Jim Cornall

While trick or treaters this Halloween might be anticipating bags full of the traditional chocolate, gum and candy, according to the latest research from Euromonitor International, these ‘treats’ have seen a global decline in consumption as yogurt becomes...

EC called on to fast-track impact assessment

MEPs vote to limit trans fats in EU

26-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

MEPs have overwhelmingly voted to adopt a resolution pushing for a European limit on industrially produced trans fats, something industry has said it supports at 2%.

Sensory satisfaction seduces people to choose smaller portions

26-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

It’s a case of quality over quantity as research suggests people will pay more for smaller portions if the food can successfully appeal to their sense of taste, smell and texture.

Under-12s seeing 88% fewer ads for non-nutritious products, says industry

Game over for food marketing to kids, says consumer group

26-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

Food and drink companies need to turn their words on marketing to children into action, says European consumer rights group BEUC, as it calls 'game over' on marketing unhealthy food to kids.

Guest Article - Trend Report

Digital tech to change confectionery travel retail space

25-Oct-2016 By Tina Thompson, digital projects director from retail marketing agency HRG

Technology is set to enrich the travel retail segment, where confectionery is already the most purchased category, says retail marketing agency HRG.

Option paralysis: Consumers were confused by 'Choices'

Dutch ditch healthy eating logo for an app

25-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

The Dutch government has ordered the industry-led healthy eating logo to be phased out and replaced with an app that allows consumers to scan products for nutrition information.

Euromonitor Quarterly Statement Q3 2016

‘Post-Brexit consumers may move to lower-priced confectionery, reversing premium chocolate trend’

21-Oct-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Brexit is unlikely to have a dramatic effect on confectionery sales, with the quarterly update showing a 2% reduction in volume sales by 2020, according to Euromonitor.

Scots call for reformulation as majority admit they ignore advice

18-Oct-2016 By David Burrows

The majority of Scottish consumers say they have clear advice on what they should and shouldn’t be eating but many tend to ignore it, according to new research.

X-ray fat for formulation wins?

14-Oct-2016 By Natalie Morrison

Food scientists are X-raying fats in a bid to understand how saturated and trans-fats can be replaced by healthier versions without compromising taste or texture.

Unilever & Tesco close 'Marmitegate'

14-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

Unilever and Tesco have resolved their dispute over price increases for brands such as Marmite, but both are remaining tight-lipped over details of the deal.

Good palm oil is possible. This is what it looks like, says Palm Done Right CEO

07-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

At a time when the conversation around palm oil centres on deforestation, fires and habitat loss – and global demand shows no signs of abating – several companies have come together to create Palm Done Right, a new standard for ethical palm oil production....

Private label success secrets: Come together or die unsatisfied

05-Oct-2016 By Tracy West

Retailers and suppliers need to collaborate more closely if they are to be successful in providing private label products that consumers really want, according to a private label management firm, TraceOne.

Time to cap trans fats in Europe, ENVI politicians tell Commission

29-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

Health and food safety politicians today backed a motion for a resolution to protect the health of Europeans by setting legal limits on the use of artificial trans fats.

Is all fair in love & war, logos & lobbying? France begins nutrition label trial

26-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

Amid cries of conflicts of interest and fierce industry lobbying, France will test out four different nutrition labels for a trial period to see which is the most efficient in encouraging healthier food choices.

Ireland launches national obesity plan

23-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

The Irish government has launched an ambitious national obesity plan which proposes a sugary drinks tax, maximum portion sizes, marketing restrictions and reformulation targets - but the lack of funding to implement the policy has led to criticism from...

'Academics are not angels'

Bitter feud: Sweetener industry says review accusing it of bias is itself biased

21-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) has rejected the findings of a review which found industry-funded research into artificial sweeteners to be skewed in favour of industry as “misleading and biased”.

UK traffic light labelling should be mandatory: LGA

20-Sep-2016 By Natalie Morrison

UK traffic light labelling should be mandatory for all food manufacturers, the Local Government Association (LGA) has urged the British government.

EFSA OKs titanium dioxide but nano concerns remain

15-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

EFSA has said white food colouring titanium dioxide poses no health concerns despite data gaps, but campaigners have raised doubts over the safety of nanoparticles.

Xylitol anti-cavity debate settled, says DuPont

13-Sep-2016 By Natalie Morrison

Consuming xylitol does prevent cavities despite recent uncertainty over its anti-caries properties, according to a DuPont study.

UK youngsters still consuming twice as much sugar as they should be

12-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

Young children are drinking more than double the amount of sugar they should be – although consumption of sugary drinks has fallen, according to a UK-wide dietary survey.

Scotland launches hard-hitting snack campaign as government confirms 2017 obesity strategy

08-Sep-2016 By David Burrows

Scotland will publish a new strategy on diet and obesity next year, as new research shows that the average child aged between four and 10 eats around 110,000 calories through “unhealthy, unnecessary snacks” annually.

Do kids make better food decisions than their mums when choosing snacks?

06-Sep-2016 By Will Chu

Children’s acceptance of healthy food is underrated by their mothers as a study finds kids choose a higher number of healthy foods for their mothers than for themselves.

Cornelius’ future suite-smelling as new lab opens for business

06-Sep-2016 By Will Chu

Ingredients distributor Cornelius has opened its new research and development facility which the company said would add ‘insight’ and ‘inspiration’ to new product development (NPD).

Alternate day fasting may be as effective as traditional diets for weight loss

02-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

Skipping food every other day is safe and may be as effective for weight loss as traditional calorie-restricted diets, say US researchers.

Dolce consortium to develop 'mystery' natural sweeteners

31-Aug-2016 By Niamh Michail

French ingredient supplier Roquette has teamed up with a German biotech company and a natural product specialist to develop and bring to market natural sweeteners and sweetness enhancers.

Scottish food boss suggests UK obesity strategy won’t work

31-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

The head of Scotland’s food regulator has claimed that the UK’s childhood obesity strategy doesn’t go far enough.

British exports to non-EU countries 'beyond expectations': FDF

30-Aug-2016 By Niamh Michail

British food and drink exports were up 6.2% in the first half of 2016 thanks to a weak pound while exports to non-EU countries grew “beyond expectations” in the pre-Brexit period, says the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Bon Bon Buddies to produce Chewits Easter egg

23-Aug-2016 By Oliver Nieburg

UK confectioner Bon Bon Buddies is to produce a Chewits Easter egg for brand owner Cloetta under a two-year licensing deal.

TIPA seeks partnerships for compostable plastic packaging

19-Aug-2016 By Natalie MORRISON

TIPA is seeking new partnership deals for its eco-friendly compostable packaging, CEO Daphna Nissenbaum said.

Confectionery industry open to pan-EU 250 calorie cap per portion

16-Aug-2016 By Oliver Nieburg

Nestlé, Mars and Mondelēz are willing to discuss setting an industry-wide 250 kcal limit on confectionery portions across Europe.

Food rewards may create unhealthy eating habits in kids: Study

11-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

Negative feeding practices such as using food as a reward or to regulate emotions could be setting up children with unhealthy eating habits that could impact on health in later life, a study predicts.

Analysis: Is Olympics sponsorship all pain for little gain?

11-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

Performance enhancing drugs have been the media focus in the run-up to the Olympics in Rio. But as the Games got underway last Friday in Brazil it was food and drink brands that were in the spotlight as campaigners and industry engaged in a heated spat...

Food industry under fire over Olympic sponsorship deals

10-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

The Olympic Games in Rio has been branded a “carnival of junk food marketing” as campaigners published new research on advertising tactics used by Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Mars brand M&Ms. Kellogg’s were also singled out as sponsors of Team Great...

UK retailers pushing unhealthy foods most, finds watchdog. Industry cites 'value'

08-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

Supermarkets in the UK are promoting more unhealthy products than healthy ones, according to new research carried out by consumer group Which?

PEZ partners with Zappar for its next gen augmented reality app

05-Aug-2016 By Jenny Eagle

PEZ has partnered with Zappar to offer consumers augmented reality (AR) codes in packets of its refill sweet dispensers to interact with characters using the PEZ Play app.

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