‘Natural’: The most meaningless word on your food label?
Consumers, the marketers all tell us, want foods that are ‘wholesome’, ‘authentic’, and above all ‘natural’, although few of them can articulate what this means.
Archives for February 28, 2012
Tea makers call for crisis cuppa with government
Indian tea makers have sent an SOS to the central government after a prolonged period of market losses and estate closures with an aim to rejuvenate the industry.
Australia: New report flags retail giant dominance
A government report in Australia has highlighted how heavily the two top supermarkets - Woolworths and Coles - are dominating the country’s food supply chain right up to the consumer’s grocery basket.
Irish research group applies for GM potato trial licence
The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Teagasc, have applied to field test genetically modified, blight resistant, potatoes as part of a new EU research project.
Research reveals effect of flax on acceptability of ‘functional’ bagels
When it comes to bakery products, industry need not compromise on health and taste, say researchers who reveal that the use of flax could create ‘healthy, tasty, and convenient’ products.
PepsiCo: US dairy products market is ‘nowhere near its full potential’
The US market for dairy“remains largely untapped”, according to PepsiCo, which is pumping $206m into a new US facility to make yogurts and other dairy products as part of a joint venture with Müller.
US beef production to decline further
American beef production is expected to go down by 4% in 2012, hindered by record low cattle numbers, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revealed.
Chinese burns, bans and booms: The new food business paradigm
China’s food and beverage sector is booming but underpinned by a painful past that continues to influence consumer sentiment and government regulations, says an author whose book is banned in the country.
Schmallenberg virus meat processing sector impact: ‘Only time will tell’
The true impact of the livestock-related Schmallenberg virus on the meat processing industry will not be known for a few more months, according to the British Meat Processing Association (BMPA).
Funding boost for technologies to rapidly detect food pathogens
Two US-based companies aiming to use technology to improve the speed of food pathogen detection have received a funding boost from a food protection organisation.
Rousselot announces gelatine price increases
Ingredients manufacturer Rousselot has announced a price increase on its gelatine portfolio to balance out spiralling raw material costs.
Fonterra presents probiotic and dairy lipid research in Moscow
New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra has presented what it claims is significant research showing that its proprietary probiotic strains reduce childhood disease and childhood allergy rates, while the addition of dairy lipids to formula aids infant...
Avian influenza haunts Asian poultry sector
Key Asian poultry producers in Vietnam and India continue to be hit by bird flu outbreaks.
OmniActive focused on Lutein supply chain in India
Indian natural ingredients company, OmniActive Health Technologies is focused on the entire production chain for its lutein ingredient production in the country.