Business

13-May-2008 - Stability in a range of food and beverage formats and a nutritional payload that includes omega-3, 6 and 9 oils as well as antioxidants are being pushed for a cranberry seed oil recently granted GRAS status.

Health and prices dominate hydrocolloids debate

13-May-2008 - The trend towards healthier products and price pressure dominated discussions at IMR International's Hydrocolloids Conference last month, mirroring concerns of the food industry at large.

FDA seeks opinions on communication of spinach recall

13-May-2008 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hopes to improve communication with consumers by seeking comments on its handling of 2006's spinach recall.

Coca-Cola brand value tops $58.2 bn, claims report

13-May-2008 - Strong brands drive business growth and beat market turmoil for food and drinks sector, as a new report on top 100 global brands confirms firms are recognizing that brands are among their most valuable assets.

Weekly comment

Innovation: the fast before the feast

12-May-2008 - Last week's Vitafoods trade show highlighted a drop in ingredient innovation with many companies placing the blame at the door of Europe's evolving health claims legislation.

R&D agreements perk up Redpoint's finances

12-May-2008 - Taste modulators Redpoint Bio have reported strong Q1 results on the back of its R&D collaborations with Coca-Cola and flavor and fragrances company Givaudan.

Tighter seaweed supplies push up prices at FMC BioPolymer

09-May-2008 - Food manufacturers face further price rises for ingredients as the world's largest producer of carrageenan, FMC BioPolymer, announces a global 7 percent step-up in price for its carrageenan and food/specialty grade microcrystalline cellulose products as costs start to bite.

Burma cyclone could further cut back rice supply, FAO

09-May-2008 - The effects of Cyclone Nargis, which ravaged Burma (Myanmar) on May 3, are now expected to spread to rice markets and further squeeze dwindling supplies, the UN Food & Agriculture Organization said Thursday.

Major HFCS users unlikely to ditch it for sugar, expert

07-May-2008 - Some food and beverage manufacturers may switch from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to sugar as a result of high corn prices, but this is only likely to be the case for relatively small scale users, according to a consultant.

FDA looks to improve safety with 1,300 new staff

07-May-2008 - The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is beginning a multi-year hiring scheme that could ease strain on its ability to react in times of crisis, though the initiative does not likely go far enough for detractors both within and outside the agency who say it is dangerously under funded.

Canadian labeling system undermines competitiveness

07-May-2008 - Canada's food labeling system jeopardizes industry innovation and competition, according to the former head of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Cargill opens innovation centre for bakers

06-May-2008 - Cargill has opened a new bakery product innovation centre in Minneapolis which is aimed at helping clients develop differentiated bakery products and reducing time to market.

Opportunities for heart health on FDA soluble fibre amendment

06-May-2008 - Fresh opportunities for food makers to tap into soaring heart health market are opening up as FDA extends use of soluble fibre health claim to include certain whole oat products previously ineligible due to fat content.

Nutrition message still not reaching Americans, FDA survey

06-May-2008 - The findings of FDA's latest survey on health and nutrition underscore that while US consumers have good health intentions, this does not carry through to their dietary habits.

Weekly comment

Adjusting to Mars' centre stage ambitions

05-May-2008 - While in the Hollywood stratosphere, it seems that you are not anyone these days unless you're a duo, in the glamorous world of food manufacture, the team-up route to success may not be quite as simple.

Purac opens lactic acid plant in Thailand

05-May-2008 - Purac has officially opened its new lactic acid factory in Thailand, where it hopes to build on lactic acid growth in Asia as well as cutting production costs.

USDA long term forecast tempers price fears

05-May-2008 - Commodity food prices are not going down anytime soon according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), though it expects them to plateau as preventative measures are implemented and markets stabilize.

GLG signs 10-year stevia supply contract with Cargill

02-May-2008 - Chinese ingredients company GLG Life Tech has signed a 10-year agreement to supply Cargill with extract from the stevia plant to make its rebiana sweetener.

Asoyia gains funding to expand trans free soy production

02-May-2008 - Asoyia has secured a $4m agreement with two venture capital firms to expand the marketing, research and development of its low linolenic, trans fats free soy products.

GMA launches food safety website

02-May-2008 - The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has launched a new website to guide policy debate on the issue of food safety for decision makers in the field, as well as with media and consumers.

Desire for satiating breakfasts opens doors for soy

30-Apr-2008 - Consumers increasingly seek filling breakfasts that release energy slowly, expanding opportunities for manufacturers of soy products, according to US-based Solae.

US politicians weigh in on biofuels vs. food debate

30-Apr-2008 - The debate over whether biofuels are a major factor in rising food prices lugged on this week, with the Bush administration for the first time acknowledging there may be some truth to this.

Risk management tools for commodities bring strong gains to ADM 3Q

29-Apr-2008 - Risk management tools benefiting from volatile commodity markets bring strong gains to US ingredients giant ADM in the latest quarter, but profit for starch and sweeteners impacted by higher corn prices.

Symrise completes its drive into US flavors with Chr Hansen purchase

29-Apr-2008 - Symrise has finalized its acquisition of Chr Hansen's flavorings business in a move that will bring the company broader market coverage in the US as well as a more diverse ingredients portfolio.

Export bans would further fuel food crisis

29-Apr-2008 - Countries should not use export bans to cope with the current food crisis as it would place further strains of the global situation, said the World Bank.