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Manufacturers use numerous tools for positioning their products on the market, including on-pack symbols and claims, innovative advertising campaigns, and social media. The focus of food marketers may be firmly on the bottom line - but they are under increasing pressure to keep an eye on ethics too.

FDA launches probe on 'inhalable' caffeine shot

22-Feb-2012 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to investigate the safety of an inhalable caffeine shot called AeroShot, which only hit US shelves last month.

Celebrity role models and personalized messages for better food safety

22-Feb-2012 - Food safety experts need to do a better job of communicating the consumer’s role in keeping food safe, by using personalized messages and the example of kitchen role models, says a consumer food marketing specialist.

‘Post-holiday pressure’ to blame for weak consumption in US grocery, says Campbell Soup

20-Feb-2012 - “Post-holiday pressure” is to blame for lackluster sales figures across most packaged food categories in January according to Campbell Soup boss Denise Morrison.

POM under fire again in class action suit over deceptive claims

20-Feb-2012 - POM Wonderful has come under fire again for allegedly misleading and deceiving consumers about the health benefits of its antioxidant-packed wares in a new class action lawsuit.

Ralcorp ups the ante in row with PepsiCo over Frito-Lay Tostitos Scoops

16-Feb-2012 - Branded snacks giant Frito-Lay and store-brand specialist Ralcorp have become embroiled in a legal battle over corn chips designed to scoop up salsa and dips.

Online grocery shopping on the rise: Survey

13-Feb-2012 - Shoppers increasingly are looking to the internet for better deals on foods and beverages, according to a new survey from the Integer group and M/A/R/C Research.

How does Walmart’s new logo fit with other front-of-pack claims?

08-Feb-2012 - Walmart’s new front-of-pack label might have stricter nutrition criteria than many others currently in use, but how does it fit in with other logos in the grocery store?

Sugar industry claims corn refining companies are ‘running away’ from false advertising charges

08-Feb-2012 - Attorneys for the Sugar Association have accused individual member companies of the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) of running away from charges of false advertising, in papers filed in a federal court.

Non-GMO Verified sales hit $1bn

07-Feb-2012 - Non-GMO Project Verified has become the fastest growing food eco-label in North America, as sales of certified products hit $1bn in 2011, according to findings unveiled at Organic Monitor’s Sustainable Foods Summit in San Francisco last month.

Walmart unveils new “Great For You” logo

07-Feb-2012 - Walmart has unveiled its new on-shelf and front-of-pack logo to highlight healthy choices among its own-brand products, including fresh and packaged fruits and vegetables.

General Mills plans Quick Response on cereal boxes, despite commentator's scepticism

07-Feb-2012 - General Mills is the latest company to experiment with QR (quick response) codes and plans to add them to its cereal boxes, but one well-known technology commentator is sceptical about their benefits.

US eating patterns see growing Hispanic influence, says NPD

06-Feb-2012 - Hispanic influence on overall American eating habits is growing – and marketers should pay attention to US Hispanics’ dining traditions to stay ahead of the curve, according to market research organization The NPD Group.

Walmart Get On The Shelf competition: Gimmick or marketing genius?

06-Feb-2012 - Ever wondered how to get some face time with the decision makers at Bentonville?

US and Canada compromise on organic equivalency for certain meats, dairy

02-Feb-2012 - The United States and Canada have taken another step toward organic equivalency, with US organic standards for dairy, beef, sheep, goat and bison now considered equivalent to Canadian requirements.

Bakers on sodium reduction: We can’t afford to make products consumers won’t buy

02-Feb-2012 - Reducing sodium is expensive and difficult, and many bakers are beginning to wonder whether it is worth investing millions into reformulating products that consumers do not want to buy, according to the Association of Bakers (ABA).

Just a matter of time before canola protein enters the major league, says BioExx

30-Jan-2012 - "At least 12 major players in the food industry" are testing canola protein from BioExx, while a tie up with Century Foods to develop canola-protein-based sports products is also progressing well, claims the veggie protein specialist.

Coupon use is now ‘a way of life’: Report

30-Jan-2012 - Coupon use continued to increase in 2011 as money-saving habits adopted during the recession have become a way of life for many Americans, according to media and marketing services company Valassis.

Nestlé wages war with Mead Johnson over nutritional drinks bottles design

30-Jan-2012 - Nestlé and Mead Johnson - two of the biggest guns in infant nutrition - have become embroiled in a row over the design of bottles used by both firms to package their nutritional drinks.

New opportunities for food marketers as American eating habits shift

27-Jan-2012 - Economic uncertainty is changing the way America eats, creating a series of “virtually untapped” opportunities for food marketers, according to a new report.

Traffic light-style labeling could encourage healthier choices: Study

25-Jan-2012 - Color-coded labeling and rearranging products in-store could lead consumers to make healthier choices, according to a new study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers.

Simple nutrition information could be ‘powerful marketing tool’, says Nielsen

24-Jan-2012 - Food marketers have an opportunity to help consumers seeking healthy foods by providing easy-to-understand nutrition information on-pack, according to a new report from Nielsen.

Healthier processed food on the menu in 2012, says Packaged Facts

23-Jan-2012 - Processed foods are likely to get a health kick this year, with more whole grains, lean poultry and seafood, vegetables, and mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, according to a new report from Packaged Facts.

Corporate reputation as important as product brands, survey suggests

23-Jan-2012 - More than two-thirds of consumers avoid buying products if they dislike the parent company, according to the results of a new survey from Weber Shandwick and KRC Research.

NAD review challenges Gerber over ‘immune support’ and ‘natural’ claims

20-Jan-2012 - Industry-backed ad watchdog the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (NAD) has taken issue with Gerber over its use of the terms ‘natural’ and ‘immune support’ on products for toddlers.

Almond milk catching up with soy as favorite non-dairy milk alternative

20-Jan-2012 - Almond milk was the fastest growing non-dairy milk alternative in 2011 in sales and popularity, as consumer awareness of plant-based milk health benefits has grown, according to a new report from Packaged Facts.