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Asia

Asia is on the agenda of the biggest food and beverage companies – not just as a market hungry for Western-style products but also as a source of inspiration, ingredients and knowledge.

In this special edition FoodNavigator-USA examines the promise of the main Asian markets.

General Mills taps into ‘frugality fatigue’ as Americans tuck in to affordable treats

As the economy remains in the doldrums, Americans are showing signs of “frugality fatigue” while food is increasingly “playing an important role in helping consumers cope”, according to trend watchers at General Mills.

Average US milk consumption slumps 8 percent in past decade

Average milk consumption in the US dropped eight percent from 22.4 gallons per person a year in 2000 to 20.6 gallons in 2009 and will continue to slide over the next decade, according to Tetra Pak’s Dairy Index report for 2011.

Looking East for salt reduction

Reducing salt is a major mandate for companies all over the world, but some of the latest science on salt replacers is coming from the East.

Food flavourings in Southeast Asia see 'enormous' growth but remain cost-driven

Although the food and drink flavouring market in Southeast Asia is “growing enormously”, consumer tastes are still cost-driven and traditional, according to top flavour producer IFF.

Untapped ingredients from Japan may have potential worldwide

Green tea, soy and CoQ10 are some of the best known ingredients for supplements and functional foods from Japan, but a wealth of lesser-known foodstuffs are also the subject of inquiry into their potential health benefits.

Facing the challenges of Chinese ingredient sourcing

China’s reputation as an ingredient supplier has suffered from a spate of food safety problems – but the food industry should not paint all China-based companies with the same broad brush, says stevia supplier GLG Life Tech.

India’s nutrition boom produces contract research boon

As the need for scientific support for potential health claims for healthy foods increases, India is leveraging its pharmaceutical expertise to take a bite of the functional foods pie.

Korea: 'Stringent' regulations promote functional food potential

The Korean functional food market hinges on obtaining the nation’s precious ingredient claim approval, but breaking that barrier opens the floodgates to huge market potential, according to an industry expert.

Japan: Functional foods, fads and food scares

In the first part of this Asia-focused special edition, we look to the innovation hotbed that is Japan. Japan is well known as the world’s functional foods birthplace when Yakult kicked into life there in the 1950s with its little bottles of immune boosting, probiotic drinking yoghurt and is now a global blockbuster brand.