Qatar could see ‘sin tax’ once VAT is introduced
Qatar could see the introduction of “sin taxes” as the government seeks new ways to fund spending over the next three years, according to a ministerial report.
Archives for July 26, 2016
YouGov names Almarai as Saudi’s favourite brand
Local dairy major Almarai was named Saudi Arabia’s favourite brand in the YouGov 2016 Mid-year BestBrand rankings, alongside Emirates airline in the UAE and Facebook in Egypt.
special edition: Rapid pathogen detection
F Cubed pushes ahead with launch of pathogen detection tech
F Cubed will launch its pathogen detection technology initially to test surfaces in the next few months.
MEP questions whether Italy and Spain are illegally bleaching seafood
An MEP has questioned whether Spain and Italy’s use of hydrogen peroxide to process some seafood such as squid is in breach of EU law by bleaching the food to make it seem fresher.
Gulf multinationals commit to phase out trans fats by 2019
Several Gulf-based global food and beverage companies have have embraced a commitment to phase-out trans-fat in their Middle East products.
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER: Rapid pathogen detection
Preventing false-positive results in your pathogen food safety program
Costly and tedious to follow up on, false-positive results in pathogen detection can be minimized with phages that reduce the occurrence of cross-reacting bacteria in pathogen tests.
Bimbo takes Eureka national as US organic bread category soars 18%
Bimbo Bakeries has rolled out its Eureka brand nationally as US demand for organic bread continues to grow.
Meat smuggling undermines livestock trade in Southeast Asia
The common market launched on 1 January by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has so far failed to promote a sustainable increase in legitimate intra-ASEAN meat and livestock trades.
Food service industry now India’s third biggest service segment
India’s food service industry must face up to a variety of issues from multiple taxation to limited foreign exchange benefits if it is to capitalise on its position as India’s third-biggest service industry, according to a report commissioned by its...
Predator-free New Zealand is critical to the dairy industry: Fonterra
Fonterra has welcomed the New Zealand Government’s ambitions to make the country predator free by 2050, saying the ‘hugely significant goal’ is shared by the dairy industry.
Delayed Indian monsoon causes guar gum prices to rise
Indian guar gum prices have risen 17% month on month, supported by the delayed arrival of the monsoon, which in turn has delayed sowing of the new guar crop.
Soy-based protein could boost hunger for elderly & anorexic patients: Study
A new soy-based protein could boost appetite for hunger-suppressed patients, researchers have suggested.
Consumers to test black ice cream 'that changes the color of your tongue'
Rossi Ice Cream is trialing a Black Vanilla Ice Cream that tastes like vanilla, but is black in color, and changes the color of your tongue, this weekend.
Researchers unlock secrets of making high-quality breads with teff
Bakers need to carefully select ingredients - and adjust bread-making processes – if they aim to produce high-quality breads with wheat and teff flour, say researchers.
Silicon Valley’s ‘bloody’ veggie burger enters New York
Impossible Foods has launched a plant-based burger that bleeds, begging the question as to whether the Silicon Valley firm has fired the starting gun on an era of meat-free meat?
Madécasse monkeys around with branding to make chocolate more memorable, accessible
A ring-tailed lemur will be the new ringleader for Madécasse chocolate and vanilla, which will undergo a brand refresh this fall with new packaging designed to make the difficult-to-pronounce company’s products more accessible and memorable.
special edition: rapid pathogen detection
‘My biggest food safety challenge is effectively managing my environment’
To run a successful program, integrated, real-time data capture, reporting and action should be coupled to fast and comprehensive testing, according to Sample6.
Preparation key to cutting calories and adopting healthier eating habits: Study
Impulse food purchases almost always leads to an unhealthy selection when compared to meals ordered an hour or more in advance, a series of studies have determined.
Hard water can boost sweetness and cut costs: study
Using certain types of water could allow drinks manufacturers to cut back on sweeteners, according to a new study.
special edition: Rapid Pathogen detection
Parameters to assess performance of dPCR assays
Guidelines and performance parameters for acceptance and validation of digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) assays have been proposed.
‘Chemical origami’ could customise chemicals for functional foods, study says
A form of ‘chemical origami’ may result in a new generation of compounds that could be used in food to enhance its nutrition and treat conditions such as high cholesterol, say researchers.
It's time to put whey and casein back together, exec says
Cutting milk proteins apart has been all the rage in recent years. But Benoit Turpin of Milk Specialities Global said the market is now starting to come around to the idea that Mother Nature did a pretty good job with the original protein and using it in...
AIS claims Middle East’s biggest food plant after opening extension
One of the Middle East’s biggest food importers has unveiled the region’s largest production factory. The new Arab & India Spices plant in Ajman was built with an investment of AED350m (US$95m).
IFT 2016 in review
Replacement ingredients fail to fulfill full functionality of eggs across platforms, AEB funded research shows
New research showing the superior function and flavor of eggs compared to replacement ingredients in baked goods is part of a larger effort by The American Egg Board to win back manufacturers that reformulated recipes with fewer eggs during the Avian Flu...
Are Americans eating more candy?
Are Americans eating more candy? Well they’re certainly spending a bit more – Nielsen data shows US retail dollar sales rose a modest 2.4% in the 52 weeks to May 28, although unit sales were down 1.6%, suggesting shoppers are trading up to more premium...
Mazola signs UAE distribution deal as GCC consumption grows
Global cooking oil major Mazola is placing its focus on expanding even further into the Middle East’s growing non-retail sector by appointing Farm Fresh as its new distributor for food-service business in the UAE.
special edition: Rapid Pathogen Detection
DNA Diagnostic’s Salmonella test backed by NordVal
DNA Diagnostic A/S’s test to detect Salmonella spp has been certified by NordVal International.
ConAgra cuts the fat with double divestment
US food company ConAgra has sold two of its subsidiaries, JM Swank and Spicetec Flavors & Seasonings, generating nearly $500m from the deals.
special edition: rapid pathogen detection
PathoGenetix to launch low cost model of Resolution system at IAFP
PathoGenetix will introduce a low cost model of its pathogen detection machine at the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) meeting next week.
UK and US edging closer to lamb trade deal
UK politician George Eustice will announce today (27 July) that the Obama administration wants to relax import barriers on lamb, a move that could generate £35m for Britain’s economy.