Nuts: A ‘five-a-day’ food?
The Nut Association has filed a paper to Public Health England in the UK calling for nuts to be included in the country’s five-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendations.
Archives for May 10, 2015
Moldova sees meat production rise despite cuts in state support
Meat production in Moldova increased by 7%, to 35,000 tonnes (t), in the first quarter of 2015, according to a recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics.
Nanoparticles in consumer products significantly alter normal gut bacteria
Exposure to metal oxide nanoparticles at levels that could be present in foods and drinking water could lead to measurable changes in the gut microbiota, say researchers.
Study suggests biodegradation-promoting additives for degrading PE and PET are not effective
The Food and Beverage industry has seen increasing interest in adopting biodegradable plastics to use biodegradation as a disposal route. However, most of the commercial polymers from the polyolefin and polyester families are not biodegradable, according...
Kids with ADHD at risk of ‘binge eating’ and obesity, study finds
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could be at risk of disordered eating patterns that can lead to obesity and other health problems, say researchers.
DuPont signs agreement with Eurofins on food protection service
DuPont Nutrition & Health has signed an agreement with Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories to provide analytical testing services as part its DuPont Detect + Protect offering.
French poultry industry hit with €15.2 million fine
The French competition authority, l’Autorité de la Concurrence, has imposed combined fines of €15.2 million on a number of poultry companies and organisations for conspiracy on pricing and market shares.
Bumper Chinese maize crop to have 'bearish' impact on global feed grain market
Chinese imports of maize are expected to be cut from three to two million tons in 2015/16, reports the grain market analysis division of a UK agriculture research agency.
US pork producers continue to press on dietary guidelines
The US Pork Checkoff and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) have submitted additional comments to US secretaries in a bid to change the outcome of the USDA’s 2015 Dietary Guidelines.
Sprouts Farmers Market pursues 5-prong plan to drive traffic even when produce suffers
Sprouts Farmers Market is accelerating expansion of its deli and prepared food offerings to help drive traffic and mitigate the impact of a tightening supply of high quality produce, which currently drives the majority of store visits.
Food prices ‘drive’ obesity epidemic
The price of vegetables has risen by a whopping 199% in the past 30 years in the UK while the cost of an ice cream has fallen by 50%, driving the UK’s obesity epidemic, a new report has claimed.
Is consumer scepticism stifling industry innovation?
It is time for the food industry to demonstrate that the natural, healthy food we eat is the result of food science and innovation, says one expert – but opinion is divided over how to achieve this.
Heinz Q1 sales drop 11.5%; North America frozen meals post double-digit declines
Net sales at Heinz fell 11.5% in the first quarter, which bosses blamed on tough comparatives, currency impacts, double-digit declines in its North America frozen meals business, and ‘category’ declines in the UK and Italy.
Canadian maple water firm SEVA weighs in on standards debate: ‘We all want the same things’
Canadian brand SEVA has weighed into the debate over maple water standards ahead of a meeting in New York on Friday (May 15) where key stakeholders from across the industry will gather to discuss labeling conventions in the rapidly-growing industry.
Ferrero wins Brazil trademark case: A Tic Tac is a mint - not a biscuit
Ferrero do Brasil has won its battle for the Tic Tac trademark on its small, flavored hard mints.
Murray Goulburn dairy farmer owners back plans for AU$500m IPO
Murray Goulburn shareholders have voted in favour of listing the dairy cooperative on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
Asia-Pacific
UN bodies putting smallholders' livelihoods at risk
With two-thirds of Asia’s farmland now owned by just a handful of landowners, United Nations-backed policies to promote corporate agricultural production have been blamed for displacing farmers.
Keurig brings back My K-Cup reusable pods even though they conflict with DMR technology
Coffee company Keurig Green Mountain will bring back the reusable My K-Cup pod at the behest of a small, but passionate group of consumers in a move that ostensibly undermines its high-tech efforts to force consumers to use only licensed pods.
FAO: Global food import costs to hit five-year low
Global food import costs are set to reach their lowest level in five years during 2015, even as volumes remain the same or rise slightly, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Coffee by-products may have prebiotic, antimicrobial and antioxidant potential
More than 2 billion tons of coffee by-products that are currently thrown away could have applications in the food and nutrition sector, say researchers.
Australia
Gender stereotype holds true: Mothers do most of the shopping
In the wake of Mother’s Day last weekend, it is worth reflecting on research that has confirmed how many more women than men buy their household’s groceries, with mothers the most likely of all to do so.
Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2015
Indena refines Boswellia bioavailability; shifts compound focus
Italian botanicals giant Indena has debuted a version of the Indian Ayurvedic herbal extract Boswellia serrata it says offers boosted bioavailability via a lecithin delivery system.