Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

A storm in a tofu teacup? Dairy industry should focus on innovation not plant alternatives, says analyst

02-Aug-2017 By Niamh Michail

The dairy industry should stop patrolling supermarket shelves for crimes such as 'soy milk' or 'tofu butter' and focus on innovation in its own sector, according to Packaged Facts analyst David Sprinkle.

Mediterranean diet benefits reserved for the rich, Italian study says

01-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

The cardiovascular benefits of the Mediterranean diet appear only to apply to higher socioeconomic groups despite similar adherence as a study points to other influencing factors.

Does Europe need a legal definition of natural food?

31-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

With the US considering a legal definition of ‘natural’ food, does Europe need one too? It would increase clarity for a complex concept, but defining 'degrees of naturalness’ for origin, ingredients and processing may be better, say the researchers...

From kefir to kvass: What's in store for Europe's fermented food trend?

27-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

From do-it-yourself kefir kits and lacto-fermented vegetable juices to kvass and spreadable cheese-style tempeh – what’s trending and what's next for the fermented food trend in Europe?

French people eat too much salt and not enough fibre: ANSES

26-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

The French population is consuming more processed foods, too much salt, and - “most importantly” - not enough fibre compared to ten years ago, according to a survey by the country’s food safety agency ANSES.

EU agri-food exports on the rise

25-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

The total value of EU agri-food exports increased by 9% in May this year compared to 2016, according to trade figures from the European Commission.

Does healthy food need a marketing makeover? 'Indulgent' descriptions make people eat more vegetables

24-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

‘Hold the green beans but pass the sweet sizzlin’ ones.’ Using indulgent words to describe vegetables makes people eat more of them – even if there is no difference in the way they are prepared, say Stanford scientists.

'We're the first product that dreams of impeaching the US president'

German start-up Smuus mixes food, politics & tongue-in-cheek marketing

21-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

German start-up Smuus has an original concept with its fruit and vegetable smoothies for yoghurts, desserts, bread, meat and cheese. But the campaign for its peach-flavoured product, which promises to donate 10% of profits to charities fighting the policies...

FDE: Act now before Commission considers maximum levels

Mandatory acrylamide action could be in place by spring 2018

20-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

An EU vote backing the Commission's proposal to reduce acrylamide in food and drink could see mandatory mitigation action and benchmark levels in place by spring next year, with maximum levels to follow.

Desert King banks on plantations for sustainable supply of quillaja and yucca

18-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

Investing in quillaja and yucca plantations, rather than relying on wild harvests, will guarantee a more sustainable supply of these natural foaming agents, says international supplier Desert King.

Does the future of sustainable eating lie in plant-meat blends?

13-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

Could be the future of sustainable eating be plant and meat protein blends? We put the question to three experts at this year's IFT. "There’s an untapped market there," says one R&D scientist at DuPont Nutrition & Health.

Trade, skills and innovation have ‘untapped export potential,’ says FDF report

12-Jul-2017 By Will Chu

Improving the UK's efforts in trade, skills development and innovation are key recommendations in a Food and Drink Federation (FDF) - commissioned report that outlines ways to boost the country’s 2.2% share of the global food and drink export market.

Givaudan to acquire dairy, meat and plant extract supplier Vika

11-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

Flavour house Givaudan is to acquire Dutch supplier of cheese ingredients, meat and plant extracts Vika in line with its 2020 target to expand its natural portfolio.

Ingredient exports to benefit under EU-Japan trade deal

10-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

Last week the EU and Japan agreed to a bilateral trade agreement, which will set significant duty-free quotas on EU exports of ingredients such as starch, butter, whey and processed foods.

More fruit and fish and less soda: A recipe for better colorectal health?

05-Jul-2017 By Nathan Gray

Load up on fish and fruit, and cut back on soft drinks for better colorectal health, finds ‘Med diet’ study.

EU pledges further €70 million for fruit farmers hit by Russia ban

04-Jul-2017 By Will Chu

Existing measures designed to aid fruit producers affected by the Russian import ban are to be extended by a further year until the end of June 2018.

Dateline Southeast Asia

Del Monte buries the hatchet ahead of retail and NPD joint-venture

28-Jun-2017 By RJ Whitehead

Philippines-based Del Monte Pacific has entered into a joint-venture with Arab-owned Fresh Del Monte Produce to expand its refrigerated fruit-based lines.

No meat and less salt: Salt of the Earth’s Mediterranean Umami is changing the meat alternative space

28-Jun-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

A sodium-reduction solution that mimics the taste of meat has been created by Israeli supplier, Salt of the Earth Ltd.

Eat plants to stay slim, say Spanish researchers

22-Jun-2017 By David Burrows

People with diets that favour plants over meat can cut their risk of developing obesity by almost half, according to research being conducted in Spain.

'We will react and respond to any discriminatory measures against Malaysian palm oil,' warns minister

21-Jun-2017 By Niamh Michail

With a recent European resolution calling for tariffs and trade barriers against any palm oil linked to deforestation, Malaysia's minister for plantations and commodities warns: "We will react and respond accordingly to any discriminatory measures...

Project TRUE gets bean counting to boost EU pulse cultivation

20-Jun-2017 By Will Chu

A €500,000 project aims to expand the cultivation of pulses in Europe to use less fertilisers, promote sustainability and rely less on imports, whilst promoting the health benefits of the protein-rich plant.

Sugar-free quinoa breakfast cereal finds success as creative consumers blur categories

20-Jun-2017 By Niamh Michail

A breakfast cereal made from French popped quinoa with a one-word ingredient list (quinoa - and that's it) is finding success as consumers use it for croutons and salad toppings thanks to the lack of sugar. "We're targetting intelligent...

Palm oil sector moves to save orangutans and put child rights into RSPO standards

19-Jun-2017 By David Burrows

Three major new initiatives have been launched to tackle human rights, wildlife conservation and concessions’ data across the palm oil supply chain.

A 10% fruit and vegetable subsidy can save lives, new study finds

16-Jun-2017 By Adi Menayang

Fruit and vegetable subsidies can literally save lives, according to researchers at the University of Liverpool, who analysed how different food policy models may reduce deaths caused by cardiovascular disease in the US.

Eight companies chosen for PepsiCo Nutrition Greenhouse

15-Jun-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

PepsiCo announced today the eight European nutrition start-ups it has chosen for the first Nutrition Greenhouse programme, offering one winning company €100,000.

Fruit freshness ripe for innovation with use of coated fabric

14-Jun-2017 By Will Chu

A quick and reliable way to test the freshness of fruit is the focus of a study that adapts a coated fabric, which soaks up chemical compounds in the fruit juice, to indicate ripeness.

Beetroot, mango and pumpkin trump tomatoes in ketchup

14-Jun-2017 By Niamh Michail

Traditional tomatoes are being shunned by manufacturers looking to make the classic condiment appeal to more sophisticated palates with mangoes, beetroot or pumpkin.

Sweden’s Real Stevia to bring sweetener back to its roots with Paraguayan plant

14-Jun-2017 By Niamh Michail

Swedish supplier The Real Stevia Company will open a processing plant in the sweetener's native Paraguay, adding to its portfolio an 'origin' stevia that is sustainably sourced and Paraguayan from farm to fork.

UK supplier creates low morphine poppy seed blend after drug test alarm

14-Jun-2017 By David Anderson

A UK-based specialist ingredient maker has launched a poppy seed blend which contains low morphine content, amid a number of recent cases in which individuals have failed drug tests after eating poppy seeds.

FREE FROM FOOD EXPO

Vegan-friendly eggs? Just add water, say New Food

13-Jun-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

A range of animal derivative free products were unveiled at this year’s Free From Foods Exposition in Barcelona, from Polish company New Food.

Lost in processing? Organic’s ‘halo effect’ blunted in processed food

12-Jun-2017 By Will Chu

Organic claims for processed foods may not be particularly advantageous in promoting the benefits of the product, a study reckons.

Enzymes key to improving plant-protein stability, study finds

09-Jun-2017 By Niamh Michail

Plant protein uptake is still being hampered by poor solubility and limited functionality, but the right kind of enzymes can boost stability and foaming properties, say Finnish researchers.

Roquette to invest €40m in French pea protein plant

08-Jun-2017 By Niamh Michail

Roquette will invest €40 million to increase the capacity of its Northern France pea processing site in Vic-sur-Aisne in a bid to meet growing global demand for plant-based protein.

Nanomaterial’s growth in food use reined in by health risks: Review

06-Jun-2017 By Will Chu

The use of organic and inorganic nanomaterials (INMs) in food applications is growing, a review concludes, yet its short history has not completely revealed the associated risks.

Women more prone to food allergies, study suggests

02-Jun-2017 By Will Chu

Food allergies are on the rise with the highest rates of intolerance recorded among women and the Asian population, a study concludes.

Freshfel calls for minimum fruit content to use fruit images on-pack

02-Jun-2017 By Niamh Michail

Manufacturers are misleading consumers with images of fresh fruit on packaging when the actual fruit content is minimal or even zero, says trade group Freshfel, as it calls for a legal minimum threshold.

Clash of the Seitans: Lobbies locked in plant-based stalemate but near EU definition of vegetarian

24-May-2017 By Niamh Michail

As Europe’s processed meat lobby presses the Commission to ban vegetarian products from using meat names, FoodDrinkEurope (FDE) and the European Vegetarian Union (EVU) are close to agreeing on a definition of vegetarian and vegan.

Does a high-fibre claim on premium ice cream still sound indulgent? Absolutely, says Koupe

24-May-2017 By Niamh Michail

Dutch start-up Koupe's high-fibre, high-protein ice cream is more than just a 'healthy' product, says its founder, who aims to compete with premium brands Häagen-Dazs and Magnum.

60,000 foods to be analysed

Germany in crucial data drive to understand radioactivity risk in food

19-May-2017 By David Anderson

The German government is hoping to garner crucial data to help it better understand the risks involved from the consumption of radiation-emitting radioactive elements in foods such as uranium in a major study.

Rabobank launches investment initiative to promote innovation

18-May-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

In an effort to promote innovation, Rabobank announces launch of the Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund (RFAIF), allowing companies to receive up to €3 million.

Western diet increases gout risk, Harvard team warns

15-May-2017 By Will Chu

A diet plentiful in nuts, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low in salty, red, processed meats and sugary soft drinks may lower the incidence of gout, a BMJ study has concluded.

Smells like teen spirit? Different age groups have specific food smells - and that's important for tailored NPD

26-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

Vanilla is associated with children, roasted nuts with seniors and floral notes with adults, and the findings will provide "a deeper understanding" for tailoring new product development (NPD) to age groups, according to a recent study.

RSPO issues first ever RSPO Next palm oil certification

25-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has issued its first RSPO Next certification, a stricter voluntary add-on, to Colombian-based agribusiness Daabon Group.

IFE 2017

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