Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - North AmericaEU edition | Asian edition

GMA blames biofuels for spike in food prices

17-Apr-2008 - The Grocery Manufacturers Association is pinpointing food for fuel as a major factor in US food price hikes as indexes this week showed finished food prices are rising at twice the rate of all other finished goods.

New BPA evidence piles pressure on FDA to set exposure limits

17-Apr-2008 - Pressure is growing on the US Food and Drug Administration to set new restrictions on the use of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging following a new safety study.

Senomyx and Nestle collaborate beyond savory flavors

16-Apr-2008 - Senomyx has announced a two-year extension to its collaborative research and license agreement with food and beverage giant Nestle, focusing on developing new flavor ingredients for use in dehydrated, culinary and frozen foods.

Cargill benefits from commodity price surge

16-Apr-2008 - Cargill has reported strong growth for its third financial quarter, largely due to increased demand for agricultural commodities in developing countries as well as swelling global energy needs.

New technology driving US food safety sales

16-Apr-2008 - New products designed to help food processors verify the safety of their products at every stage of the food production process are driving sales in a buoyant US market, a new report states.

US consumer group warns against GM sugar beets

16-Apr-2008 - Citizens for Health, a US consumer advocacy group, has launched an online campaign to warn consumers about the dangers of genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets in food products.

Canada and China accused of citric acid dumping

15-Apr-2008 - Three major ingredients companies are alleging that Canadian and Chinese citric acid producers are 'dumping' the ingredient onto the US market at unfair prices, causing damage to the US industry.

Sabinsa's coconut ingredient gets patent protection

15-Apr-2008 - Ingredient firm Sabinsa has been granted a US patent for its branded coconut ingredient, which the firm says can be used in functional foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics to support healthy cell growth.

Food prices bring aid agencies to their knees

15-Apr-2008 - If governments do not step up to the plate and increase funding to food aid projects in light of global commodity price hikes, aid agencies say the effect will cripple them.

US salmonella outbreak linked to cereal

14-Apr-2008 - A salmonella infection spreading through states in the US could be linked to a recently recalled batch of cereal, the nation's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said.

Food vs fuel debate shakes Canadian breadbasket

14-Apr-2008 - Rising food prices are exacerbating the food versus fuel debate in Canada's breadbasket region, where critics say ethanol is diverting valuable commodities away from food markets and proponents say market economics will prevail.

Cadbury to remove artificial colors by end of 2008

14-Apr-2008 - Cadbury Schweppes has pledged to remove all artificial colorings from its confectionery products by the end of the year in response to concerns over their possible effects on behavior.

Danisco US expansion increases DVI capacity

11-Apr-2008 - Danisco has invested $9m in its Wisconsin cultures plant to expand capacity and meet the growing demand for low-cost frozen Direct Vat Inoculants (DVI) cheese cultures.

Incidences of foodborne illnesses stagnate

11-Apr-2008 - The numbers of foodborne infections in the US have stagnated after a period of decline, indicating the need for further prevention efforts, a new report claims.

European food groups edging past US rivals in obesity focus

11-Apr-2008 - European-based food groups are generally ahead of their US rivals in providing health and wellness products to consumers, though they must do more to ensure the focus is a core part of their business, a new report claims.

New bread products focus on health

10-Apr-2008 - Most new bread and bread product launches over the past two years have been positioned in the health and wellness category, according to research from Mintel's Global New Product Database (GNPD).

GM lactoferrin manufacturer criticized over food plans

10-Apr-2008 - A Californian rice and barley ingredient developer has been criticized by organic and sustainable agriculture advocate, the Center for Food Safety (CFS), over attempts to introduce specialist GM proteins into the US food supply.

High grain demand boosts CHS profits

10-Apr-2008 - Grains company CHS has reported record profits for the first half of tax year 2008, although higher sales costs led to a slight loss of margins.

Cargill builds first sugar refinery

09-Apr-2008 - Ingredients firm Cargill yesterday announced the construction of its first ever sugar refinery in the US, as part of the company's plans to provide all possible sweeteners or sugars to the food industry.

Global consumer conscience to boost fair-trade sales

09-Apr-2008 - Increased consumer sensitivity to ethical shopping will send the UK fair-trade market rocketing to over £800m (€1,000m) by 2012, according to a new report.

Higher budget needed so FDA 'can do its job'

09-Apr-2008 - A dramatic increase in the FDA budget is needed to maintain a strong global position and encourage consumer confidence in the industry, said the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).

Solae raises soy protein prices globally

08-Apr-2008 - US-based Solae has said it will raise prices of its soy protein ingredients around the world by as much as 30 percent in order for it to be able to maintain its R&D activities.

Potatoes seen as 'food of the future'

08-Apr-2008 - Potatoes, and ingredients derived from the crop, are set to experience growing demand as cereal prices continue to soar.

Weekly comment

HFCS and the battle for natural

07-Apr-2008 - It is hard for food companies not to get drawn into the temptation of using attractive label claims that may be shrouded by a veil of doubt. But the real risk comes when the 'if you don't know, don't ask' question is finally answered.