Business

18-Sep-2007 - Jungbunzlauer has announced price increases affecting citric acid, sodium citrate, gluconates and xanthan gum as it offsets its own costs, an adjustment seen as aiding economic stability in the marketplace.

Brazil mill buy puts Bunge on sugar production map

18-Sep-2007 - Agri-giant Bunge is making its first entry into the sugar and sugar-derived ethanol market with an agreement to acquire a sugar mill and ethanol production facility in Brazil.

Preservative free snack bar with two-year shelf life

18-Sep-2007 - A snack bar which can stay moist and chewy for up to 24 months without the need for artificial preservatives has been developed by scientists in California.

FDA gives isomaltulose health claim green light

18-Sep-2007 - The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a non-cariogenic health claim for the carbohydrate sweetener isomaltulose.

Penford introduces new gluten-free starch

17-Sep-2007 - Carbohydrate company Penford Food Ingredients has launched a new gluten-free starch product for use in bakery applications targeting the growing free-from market.

Monsanto, Dow join forces for new GM corn

17-Sep-2007 - Biotechnology companies Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences have teamed up to launch what they claim to be the industry's first eight-gene stacked combination in corn, which the firms say will further expand their presence in the GM market for the crop.

Intensive meat production a danger to food supply, warns FAO

17-Sep-2007 - A report, issued today by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) about the increased risk of pathogen contamination in industrial meat production, serves as an advance warning to processors of a growing problem.

New probiotics council aims to guide US industry

14-Sep-2007 - The National Yogurt Association is creating a probiotics council - another signal the active cultures have achieved mainstream status in North America.

Cereal growth slows as challenges continue, says Mintel

14-Sep-2007 - The US breakfast cereal market is "moving very slowly", as manufacturers in this sector continue to face challenges such as low brand loyalty, market saturation and increasing competition from other channels, says Mintel.

Ohly shores up US yeast extract

14-Sep-2007 - ABF-owned Ohly has completed the expansion of its yeast-extract facilities in the US and now claims to be the only company offering the triumvirate of baker's, brewer's and torula yeast extracts to the market.

'HFCS-free' emerging as new health claim, says Datamonitor

13-Sep-2007 - High fructose corn syrup is increasingly being blacklisted by food and beverage manufacturers as they attempt to market products that are perceived as 'better-for-you', says Datamonitor.

Banana prices rise again, says Chiquita

13-Sep-2007 - Banana firm Chiquita is continuing its price increases for the fruit, citing squeezed margins as cost pressures continue.

ADM, Cargill announce leadership shifts

12-Sep-2007 - The two leading US agricultural processors, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Cargill, yesterday announced new appointments and leadership reshuffling.

CP Kelco to close xanthan plant as market pressures mount

11-Sep-2007 - Hydrocolloid supplier CP Kelco has announced it is to shutter its xanthan gum plant in the UK, which has been squeezed by cost pressures into an unprofitable market.

Asia-Pacific heads into food safety battle

11-Sep-2007 - In light of global publicity over food scares originating in Asia-Pacific, the region is now fighting back, both internally and globally, by making food safety its top priority.

Monsanto expands corn presence in Brazil with acquisition

11-Sep-2007 - Biotechnology firm Monsanto has carved itself a larger slice of the Brazilian corn market, announcing today the acquisition of a leading corn seed company in the country.

Weekly comment

Hooked on Es

10-Sep-2007 - This comment was amended to correct a statement about bans of additives in other countries. Some of the chemicals were previously banned by Norway, Austria and Australia but those bans have since been removed. Allura red AC, tartrazine and sunset yellow are allowed in the US, while quinoline yellow, carmoisine and ponceau 4R are not. None of the colour additives are currently banned by Australia, which lifted a ban on quinoline yellow in 2003. The country does not permit tartrazine to be used in medicines.

Frutarom adds to US focus with ISO recommendation

10-Sep-2007 - Frutarom USA has further enhanced its profile in North America by going through ISO certification hoops for its quality management systems.

Climate change: FAO urges changes to ensure food security

10-Sep-2007 - Climate change is emerging as a major threat to food security, and governments need to find "creative solutions" and "alternative approaches" in order to deal with the challenge, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Chr Hansen continues refocus activities with US sale

10-Sep-2007 - Chr Hansen has announced the sale of its excipients and coating division in the US, in a move designed to further focus its business on its core food ingredients activities.

'Latin fever' drives US Hispanic market, says report

10-Sep-2007 - Manufacturers targeting the US Hispanic food and beverage market should position their products within one of the category's three major segments, depending on the type of consumer targeted, according to a report by Packaged Facts.

Price, taste remain challenges for healthy foods in schools

07-Sep-2007 - Less than half of school districts that pledged to provide healthy food and beverages for sale in schools have managed to implement the policies, due in large to the high costs of healthy products, and to students being reluctant to accept these, says a new report by the School Nutrition Association (SNA).