Nestlé files all-natural heat resistant chocolate patent
Nestlé has filed a patent for heat-resistant chocolate made by adding fibre from sources such as wheat or citrus fruits.
Archives for April 22, 2015
Mixed prospects for EU beef sector in 2015
Recent EU reports on prospects for the beef sector this year paint a mixed picture, with supplies expected to be up, but profitability a continuing problem.
‘Bust the myth’ of physical inactivity and obesity, urge researchers
Public health messages intended to tackle obesity should focus on unhealthy eating rather than physical activity, which does not promote weight loss, according to an editorial published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Australia
Labelling reform champion forms alliance to support family businesses
Two powerful influences in Australian industry, Family Business Australia and the Australian Made Campaign, have joined in partnership at a time when labelling is a cause of heated debate.
China
China could be self sufficient in grain by 2024, say officials
An official report has predicted that China will develop its own "rice bowl” to remain close to self sufficiency in the main crops at a time of great food uncertainty around the world.
New Zealand
Government accused of backing adulterators after butcher convictions
New Zealand’s food ministry has been accused of “dereliction of duty” by the opposition for what the Labour party called its failure to monitor toxic chemicals in red meat.
Firms want to save cleaning time – Foamico
Food and beverage firms are looking to save time on total cleaning, meaning more production time, according to the CEO of Foamico.
When companies try to be cool: A lesson in 'wackaging'
Wackaging – using cute and quirky language on a product’s packaging – seems to be everywhere. But with consumers becoming increasingly cynical, should manufacturers stop trying to be cool?
Health experts debate the role of exercise, food and marketing in the obesity epidemic
An editorial in an academic journal has reignited the debate over the extent to which a poor diet – and the marketing tactics employed by the food industry – is responsible for America’s obesity epidemic.
Antimicrobial strip curtain ‘additional measure’ to tackle bacteria
Strip Curtains Direct has created a PVC strip curtain with an antimicrobial additive as an additional measure to prevent the spread of bacteria in food factories.
Anacail raises funding for ozone technology
Anacail has raised £2m to continue development of its ozone technology for the food processing industry.
Concerns raised over cloned foods in Denmark
Denmark’s Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (MFAF/Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri) is investigating whether meat (and dairy) products sourced from the offspring of cloned farm animals have found their way onto supermarket...
Coconut oils and spreads on trend in Europe
Coconut oil could be on trend in Europe as saturated fats are no longer regarded to be as harmful for heart health as they were, a Mintel report has said.
Brussels spends extra to promote EU meat sales in face of Russian ban
The Polish, Scottish, Austrian and Belgian meat sectors are significant winners in the latest announcement of European Union (EU) marketing finance, designed to help food companies seize more sales within and outside the EU.
EU food and drink trade growing – but could be better
Food and drink trade increased in most of Europe last year – though production in a few member states could have been better, said a representative at FoodDrinkEurope.
Which new food and beverage products had the highest purchase intent scores in March?
M+Ms Easter peanut butter eggs, Pillsbury Funfetti spring cake mix and Jif’s new creamy almond butter all garnered high marks in the latest shelf score ranking from Instantly, which measures purchase intent for new products.
'70% of the products labeled as extra virgin olive oil are not extra virgin at all'
Extra virgin olive oil exec: You wouldn’t buy rotten meat or stale bread, so why are you buying rotten olive oil?
Claims that much of the extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) sold in US supermarkets is not ‘extra virgin’ at all are hardly new. But the fact that many retail buyers are effectively turning a blind eye to such widespread fraud is immensely frustrating for...
Organic and non-gmo trends
Congress should strengthen FDA’s oversight of GMOs, CSPI leader says
Congress needs to strengthen FDA’s oversight of genetically modified organisms before foreign countries, with potentially lower safety standards, begin genetically engineering crops used in finished products that are imported to the U.S., argues an...
Dispatches from Asia Choco Cocoa Congress in Singapore
State-owned plantations could rouse Vietnam’s cocoa industry
Vietnamese state-owned companies plan to convert some coffee and rubber plantations to cocoa, delivering a significant boost to the country’s annual output, says Vietnam’s principle cocoa buyer Puratos Grand-Place.