Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

EU court annuls Commission GM potato approval

16-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

A European court has annulled approval of BASF’s genetically modified (GM) Amflora potato in the European Union, saying the Commission had not followed proper procedures.

Imported fresh basil source of Norwegian Shigella outbreak

16-Dec-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

Basil pesto sauce was the source of a Shigella outbreak that sickened 46 people, according to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

When is a colour not a colour? When it’s a food…

13-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

New guidance on colouring foods clears up a problematic question for the food industry in Europe: When is a colour a food additive, requiring an E number, and when is it a food extract with colouring properties?

When 'natural' is not enough: Colouring foodstuffs in the spotlight

06-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

In many cases, it's no longer enough for a food colour to be natural: Increasingly companies are seeking colouring foodstuffs, concentrated from foods themselves. FoodNavigator explored the evolving natural colours sector at FIE in Frankfurt.

UK firm seeks novel food approval for chia seeds

05-Dec-2013 By Nathan Gray

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has asked for views on Nutrisure Ltd's application of standard equivalence for chia seeds grown in South America.

Dispatches from FiE

Is the next generation of fruit functional?

27-Nov-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Fruit may have its own stand alone functionality but Taura Natural Ingredients says fortification with milk and pea proteins, green coffee and grains will bring the ingredient into new areas.

Food allergy death less likely than murder

27-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Food allergy sufferers are more likely to be murdered than to die from a severe reaction – but allergen labelling is about much more than fatality risk, says an allergen expert.

This year’s almonds ‘smallest in 40 years’

26-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

This year’s almond crop has produced the smallest almonds in 40 years, meaning potential problems for food manufacturers that rely on a particular size of whole or sliced almond, according to Blue Diamond Growers.

FiE video: Almond Board of California talks global supply and demand

22-Nov-2013 By Staff Writer

The Almond Board of California talks pollination, global supply and Chinese demand at this year’s FiE event in Frankfurt.

live from #FIE2013

FoodNavigator at FIE: Team round-up – day 1

20-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

FoodNavigator reporters joined 1000s scouring the show floor from the moment Europe’s biggest food ingredients show opened yesterday morning.

European food industry backs ‘comprehensive free trade’ between EU and Japan

15-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Representatives of European food industry organisations have come out in support of a strong free trade agreement between the EU and Japan, ahead of talks in Tokyo next Tuesday.

Dietary acid load may increase diabetes risk: Study

12-Nov-2013 By Nathan Gray

A high overall acidity of the diet, regardless of the individual foods making up that diet, may be linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to new research.

WRAP: Households throw away 4.2 million tonnes of food and drink annually

07-Nov-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

UK households are throwing away 4.2 million tonnes of food and drink annually worth £12.5bn, according to Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Blackberry juice stops pathogen growth

06-Nov-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

Diluted blackberry juice can be used as a natural antimicrobial to prevent the growth of foodborne pathogens.

Mediterranean diet may protect against cognitive decline, depression and stroke: Meta-analysis

29-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet may contribute to the prevention of a variety of conditions linked to the aging brain, including cognitive decline, depression and stroke, say researchers.

EU-Canada free trade agreement ‘unacceptable’

22-Oct-2013 By Fiona Barry

The signing of a trade agreement establishing tariff-free European access to the Canadian dairy market has been welcomed by the European Dairy Association but roundly condemned by Canadian dairy stakeholders, who branded the deal “unacceptable” and demanded...

EU highlights top ten foods at risk of fraud

21-Oct-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Olive oil, fish and organic foods are at the highest risk of food fraud in Europe, according to a new draft report from the European Union – but meat is not in the top ten, despite this year’s high-profile horse meat scandal.

Nestlé pledges zero waste in Europe by 2020

18-Oct-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Nestlé has said it intends to eliminate all waste from its 150 European factories by the end of the decade.

Using maths to make the most of bees for improved food production

16-Oct-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Global food production and bees are closely interrelated – but optimising how honeybees pollinate food crops could help improve yields, despite declining populations.

Soil Association chief: “I want us to be known for what we are for, not what we are against”

15-Oct-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Organic food advocates gathered at the Soil Association conference in London last week with a programme that extended well beyond organics in an effort to “start where people are” on their journey toward healthier eating, according to chief executive...

Mediterranean diet may have cognitive benefits, review finds

07-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet may be associated with better cognitive functions and lower rates of cognitive decline, a systematic review of the evidence reveals.

WIDE-RANGING NATIONAL REPORT WARNS 'VULNERABLE' GROUPS including children

French safety agency ANSES warns of energy drinks exercise risk

02-Oct-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

French food safety agency ANSES recommends that the nation stop drinking energy drinks together with alcohol and during physical exercise due to the risk of adverse effects from caffeine.

DRINKTEC 2013: US TREND TOWARDS NATURAL BEVERAGE COLORS

LycoRed promises juice brands ‘significant’ beta-carotene cost saving

30-Sep-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Lycored claims its new Lyc-O-Beta Intense coloring system will bring significant cost savings for producers of beverages such as orange juice, and says US interest in such natural colors is growing.

Sensient Flavors taps ‘local fruits’ beverage trend in central Europe

26-Sep-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Sensient Flavors says it expects its new premium, natural soft drinks concepts with a higher fruit content to perform well in all central European countries where consumers are fond of traditional local fruits.

Wasted cassava stem starch could help feed 30 million

25-Sep-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Utilising wasted cassava stem starch could provide food for an extra 30 million people without using additional arable land, researchers say.

drinktec 2013: live from the show floor

Tate & Lyle has high European hopes for Splenda-based water enhancers

20-Sep-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Abigail Storms, global marketing director, sweeteners and beverage, Tate & Lyle, insists Splenda sucralose perfectly suits liquid water enhancers as an emerging European category, against the backdrop of success for products such as Kraft Foods'...

Danish Food Cluster aims to put Denmark on the food innovation map

20-Sep-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Leading Danish food companies have joined with universities and regional government in an effort to highlight Denmark’s world-class food industry innovation – setting it on a par with The Netherlands’ Food Valley.

Unilever and Nestlé biggest improvers in Oxfam sustainability report

18-Sep-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Many major food companies are slowly improving their sustainability policies but all still have a long way to go, according to an updated ‘Behind the Brands’ sustainability report from Oxfam.

Reduce, reuse, recycle: FAO says food waste costs $750bn a year

17-Sep-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The FAO has issued a toolkit for reducing food waste, as it reveals the direct economic cost to food producers stands at $750bn (€561bn) a year, in a new report.

Trigon Snacks likely to be snapped up by UK firm: Analyst

17-Sep-2013 By Kacey Culliney

Nut manufacturer Trigon Snacks, the maker of UK Planters, will likely be bought out of administration by another domestic player, an analyst says.

Big interview: Josh Tetrick, founder and CEO, Hampton Creek Foods

Plant egg entrepreneur: ‘We’re not in business just to sell products to vegans in Northern California’

13-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Egg replacers have been around for years, acknowledges the entrepreneur who has persuaded everyone from Bill Gates to the co-founder of PayPal to part with some serious cash to fund his plant-based egg alternatives. “But wait till you try ours.”

‘Fear of the unknown’ prevents African adoption of GM crops, says African ag group

10-Sep-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Widespread opposition to genetically modified (GM) crops in Africa has been described as a farce, based on fear of the unknown, by an African agriculture organisation chaired by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.

The market for after school snacks is untapped, says Mintel

10-Sep-2013 By Kacey Culliney

UK food makers have been focused on the lunchbox trend but have failed to notice a gaping hole full of promise – the after school snacking occasion, a Mintel analyst says.

Wild teams with Limkon for Turkish beverages venture

06-Sep-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Wild Flavors has partnered with Turkish fruit processing firm Limkon to sell ingredients for high juice content beverages in Turkey.

The Lipton Factor: Unilever spend doubles size of Tanzania tea business

04-Sep-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Unilever is partnering the Tanzanian Government to reinvigorate the tea industry and ‘at least double’ its tea output in the country, where the leaves are used for top brands Lipton and PG Tips.

UK organic market lags behind rest of Europe

03-Sep-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Organic sales in Europe have grown by 25% over the past five years – but have slipped 1.5% in the UK, according to the Soil Association.

PepsiCo examines potential of unripe bananas, plantains as natural gluten substitutes, sugar replacers, binders, fibers

03-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

PepsiCo has been experimenting with ingredients from unpeeled heat-treated green bananas and plantains to serve as everything from a gluten substitute to a sugar replacer in products from oatmeal to smoothies, crackers, bars and cookies, a recent patent...

EU pesticide ban will block 'profitable' vegetable oil crushing, says Raisio

02-Sep-2013 By Nathan Gray

The EU decision to ban widely used neonicotinoid insecticides from December 1st will seriously damage profit potential for vegetable oil crushing in Finland, says Raisio.

Food fraud: Which ingredients are most vulnerable?

23-Aug-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

You can’t paint a horse like a cow and expect people not to notice – but grind their meat into patties and it may be a different story. So what makes an ingredient vulnerable to food fraud?

Young Germans increase organic food purchases

22-Aug-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Younger consumers increasingly are driving organic food sales in Germany, according to new figures from the German ministry of food, agriculture and consumer protection (BMELV).

Many organic farmers may be failing to label products: Study

21-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

New research from Greece suggests that many farmers are following organic farming rules and guidelines, but fail to provide the market with organically labelled goods.

Mediterranean and low carb diets backed for diabetes prevention: EPIC data

20-Aug-2013 By Nathan Gray

Consumption of a Mediterranean-style diet and diets low in available carbohydrates can offer protection against type 2 diabetes, according to the findings of new research.

Accessing FoodNavigator on the move? Check out our new app

19-Aug-2013

FoodNavigator’s new app for Android and iPhone is now available (and free) to download, allowing you to keep up with the latest food and beverage industry developments, even when you’re not connected to the internet.

SWISS MULTINATIONAL TAKES CASE TO COURT OF APPEAL

Nestlé fights UK High Court Nespresso patent ruling

07-Aug-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Nestlé says it will fight a UK High Court ruling in favor of smaller rival Dualit that one lawyer says is an 'open door' for copycat manufacturers of Nespresso compatible coffee pods.

Pungent coffee ground spirit has 'remarkable coffee aroma'

Scientists create 'pleasant' alcoholic drink using spent coffee grounds

06-Aug-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Scientists have invented a novel alcoholic drink made using spent coffee grounds and say tasters consider the spirit a 'pleasant beverage' with the smell and taste of coffee.

Fairtrade: Scaling up with integrity is ‘a difficult and arduous task’

06-Aug-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Fairtrade International today works with more than 3,000 companies and represents a global network of farmers and workers in 70 countries – but scaling up to this level has been a long, difficult journey, says the organisation’s CEO Harriet Lamb.

Food sustainability needs a triple focus: Supply, demand and distribution

24-Jul-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Food sustainability may depend on changing the way we produce food, or our demand for different kinds of food, or how it is distributed – but we need to find ways to approach sustainability that address all these issues, according to a food climate expert.