Patent Watch
Hershey develops pill-like film coating for confectionery
Hershey has filed a patent for an alternative to conventional coating and robing of confectionery products that uses film coating normally used to encase medical pills.
Archives for December 18, 2012
Australia reports beef and veal export boost
Australia has reported a jump in beef and veal exports, with poor performance in Japan offset by increasing demand in other markets.
Red Bull welcomes French court action to strike out energy drink tax
Red Bull has welcomed a ruling from France’s highest constitutional court striking-down the government’s plans to tax caffeine and taurine-rich energy drinks from 2013.
Eurofins expands Nordic testing portfolio
Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA) has acquired a 92.5% majority stake in a Finnish food safety testing firm.
Processed ready meals are healthier than TV chef recipes, UK study finds
Industry produced ready meals have come out on top in the nutrition stakes after researchers in the UK found recipes produced by TV chefs are on the whole ‘less healthy’ than supermarket bought, private label foods.
Around Australasia
SA won't review GM, beetroot linked to lower blood pressure
A round-up of the big new stories to come from Australasia over the last week.
State of the industry
Bottled water amounting to big bucks in Indonesia
Indonesia's bottled water market may be one of the most high valued markets in the world, but there are still plenty of opportunities for growth, new research from UK-based research firm Mintel said.
E.coli contamination top issue for Canadians, says survey
E.coli contamination is top of the agenda for Canadians, ranking above all other food safety issues, including GMOs and pesticide use, according to a survey.
General Mills: We’ll only solve global food security challenge if we embrace open innovation
Can we feed nine billion people by 2050? Only if we embrace the principles of open innovation, says Jeff Bellairs, senior director of the General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network (G-WIN), in this exclusive article for Foodnavigator-USA.com and...
Special edition: Reformulation
New flavors can broaden product line's appeal, but won't supplant old standbys
Introducing a new flavor can be one way to reinvigorate a brand or to extend a line, but consumers will always return to their core flavor preferences, says an expert.
Hershey, Mars and Nestlé to face $727m chocolate ‘price fix’ case
Hershey, Mars and Nestlé may be liable for $727m in damages for alleged conspiracy to raise chocolate prices in the US between 2002 and 2007.
If you like it then you should have put a ring (pull) on it... CSPI to Beyonce: Stop promoting Pepsi Cola, you're 'literally sickening Americans'
Non-profit watchdog the Center for Science in the Public Interest has urged Beyoncé to reconsider her $50m endorsement deal with PepsiCo so her image is not used “to promote Pepsi-Cola, a product that contributes to obesity, diabetes, heart disease,...
Special edition: Reformulation
How to save cash, boost nutrition and clean up product labels…Tate & Lyle on win-win reformulation
Retail buyers, as every food and beverage manufacturer knows, want it all. Cleaner labels, an improved nutritional profile (lower fat, sugar and salt), great taste and texture - and an even keener price.
Philippines looking towards India for growth
The Philippines government has urged Filipino exporters to look for opportunities in India as a means to mitigate the current downturn in key markets like the United States and Europe.
Cargill invests $20m in South African business
US meat processor Cargill has announced plans to invest $20 million into its animal nutrition facilities in South Africa.
Cheese recalled due to metal contamination
Two types of cheese have been withdrawn from three UK supermarkets after being found to be contaminated with pieces of metal.
editor's comment
‘Drinkifying snacks’: PepsiCo mush or master stroke?
Despite giving us object lessons in corporate word wash, can PepsiCo pull off what seems like a slightly puzzling mission, namely a long-term plan to ‘drinkify' snacks and vice versa under its Power of One banner?
Innovation key ingredient in cost-cutting recipe, says expert
Food companies are looking for new ways to appeal to frugal consumers while cutting their own costs – and ingredient companies are coming up some innovative answers.
How vulnerable is your supply chain? Food defense, FSMA, Big Brother and virtual ‘hot zones’
Stopping a truly determined bioterrorist - or just a disgruntled employee - from maliciously tampering with a high-profile food brand will always be extremely difficult.
FSANZ takes action on carbon monoxide as fish processing aid
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions to draft fish processing aid regulation on carbon monoxide after reports it is being used despite being banned.
‘Snack foods’ linked to even higher cancer risk in susceptible people
Consumption of junk food and snacks could significantly increase the risk of certain cancers in people with a pre-defined high risk due to a genetic condition, warn researchers.