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

Nanotech risk assessment bill introduced in US

A bill under scrutiny in the United States Senate would create a new nanotechnology risk assessment program within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Green and Black's go 100 per cent Fairtrade

Organic chocolate maker Green & Black's said it is bolstering its commitment to sustainability by moving its entire global food and beverage range worldwide to Fairtrade.

ADM publishes first corporate responsibility report

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has joined the CSR revolution with its first ever corporate responsibility report highlighting its latest social and environmental initiatives.

Natural beta-carotene gains GRAS status

A new range of natural carotenoids destined for human consumption moved a step closer to sale recently with GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) notification from the Food and Drug Administration for Microbia’s bio-based beta-carotene for food and beverage applications.

Fats of any kind may boost prostate cancer risk: Study

Increased intakes of fats, from saturated to polyunsaturated fats, may increase the risk of prostate cancer, says a new study.

Special edition: Salt reduction

Sea salt rises on wave of premium tasting

In the fourth part of our series on salt reduction, we look at the rise of sea salt-flavoured products, predominantly in the snack-food area.

Cost saving gum arabic replacer strong on texture, says TIC Gums

A modification to a fast drying shell coating system for sugar and sugar alcohol syrups used in confectionery coating and hard panning boosts the sensory appeal of the final product, saves on processing costs and time and can replace gum arabic, says TIC Gums.

Study highlights increased sugary drink consumption

A new study measuring changes in beverage consumption trends in the US concludes that public health measures are needed to address increases in sugar-sweetened beverages, alcohol and juices, and patchy switches to reduced fat milk.

Sugar vs HFCS: What's in a name?

A consumer group has accused the Sugar Association of playing “confusing word games” in pursuit of a narrow commercial agenda.

Acrylamide formation higher in dry fat-rich foods: Study

Dry food containing low amounts of carbohydrates are at risk of increased acrylamide levels, says a new study sponsored by the European Science Foundation.

Americans fall out of love with imported beer

Americans are drinking less imported beer in the recession but Mintel research suggests that blame cannot be leveled at the economy alone.

New natural chew aims to boost kids’ oral hygiene

Improved oral hygiene for children aged between 3 and10 is the aim of a new probiotic-based natural chew, designed to fight harmful bacteria and help to maintain tooth health, from Florida-based biopharmaceutical company Oragenics.

Food and drink product launches plummet in 2009

Companies shied away from launches in 2009 as the number of new food and drink products to hit US shelves dropped 30 percent, according to Mintel.

News in brief

Yogurt named food trend of the decade

The Dairy Council of California has named yogurt as the food trend of the decade, with its convenience and multiple health benefits funding its rising popularity.

Mocon unveils 'one stop' food and packaging testing system

A new one-stop testing service will speed up trial times of the analysis of food and beverages along with their related packaging - from raw material to transport to shelf life, said Mocon.

Canadian food safety system slammed

The Canadian food safety system is a fragmented patchwork of regional structures that has failed to keep pace with advances in knowledge, according to research published this week.

News in brief

Obama finally moves to fill food safety role

President Obama has nominated Dr Elisabeth Hagen as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety.

Special edition: Salt reduction

Moderate salt cuts could save billions in healthcare costs

In the second part of our focus on salt reduction, we look at startling new data from the US that suggests a modest nationwide reduction in salt intake could save about $24 billion in healthcare costs a year.

Antioxidant uptake from coffee unaffected by milk: Nestlé study

Adding milk to coffee does not reduce the bioavailability of antioxidants, says a new study from the Nestlé Research Center.

Special edition: Salt reduction

Science: Salt reduction benefits beyond the heart

In the first part of our series on salt reduction, FoodNavigator looks at the potential health benefits of salt reduction beyond heart health.

Fresh New York soda tax plans stir up the obesity debate

Michael Bloomberg, the New York City mayor, has lent his support to fresh plans for a penny-per-ounce soda tax in the city.

Study questions sucralose stability in bakery

Bakery formulators who use ingredients like glycerol or fats should exercise caution when using sucralose, suggests a new study from Canada.

Dean Foods to fight Justice Department’s anti-trust lawsuit

Food and beverage giant Dean Foods has pledged to fight the anti-trust lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice requiring the company to sell the dairy processing plants it acquired from Foremost Farms in April 2009.

Heartland vows to defend natural sweetener claims

Heartland Sweeteners has promised to fight an advertising watchdog ruling recommending the removal of natural claims from its Ideal sweetener.

Comment

Cheesed off – jingoism takes the spoils in the Cadbury battle

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, quipped Mark Twain. Predictions of the demise of Cadbury following the approval of Kraft’s offer are premature and are flawed by knee-jerk anti-Americanism.

IFF scientists probe improved citral stability for beverages

A common flavour solvent may boost the stability of citral, one of the most important flavour compounds in citrus oil, and enhance formulations of beverage concentrates, says a new study.

News in brief

Event on soy for emerging countries

A conference in August will furnish business leaders with insights into production, sourcing and use of soy in emerging markets.

Special edition: weight management

Regulation: Claim making and claim taking

In a world with a chronic ‘globesity’ problem spreading beyond western shores to places like India and China, products that promise to help individuals manage their weight via calorie control, fat burning, satiety, or some other mechanism, enjoy rampant demand.

Campaigners attack General Mills on palm oil policy

General Mills is facing accusations that the palm oil used in its food products is sourced unsustainably, and is strongly linked to deforestation in Southeast Asia.

Hershey will not bid for Cadbury

Kraft will not face competition from Hershey to buy UK confectionery company Cadbury, it is confirmed today. But a major Kraft shareholder has come out in opposition to this week’s raised bid.

Common thickener may mask polyphenol bitterness

Formulating foods with the common hydrocolloid carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) may mask the bitter flavour of health-boosting polyphenols, says new research.

News in brief

Flood moves to Wisdom Natural Brands

Stevia personality Angus Flood has been appointed EVP of strategic development at Wisdom Natural Brands, tasked with developing corporate strategy and building the company’s market share.

Obesity rates in US steady over past 10 years

New data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that obesity rates have not increased, but remained steady over the past 10 years.

New salt database may ‘inform future innovation’

Australian researchers have produced a new database detailing the sodium contents of hundreds of processed foods, which may help for future research on sodium consumption and reduction in foods.

News in brief

Burcon closer to phytic acid reduction patent

Plant protein specialist, Burcon NutraScience Corporation, has announced an allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a patent application that reduces phytic acid in the manufacture of protein isolates.

Walmart plans product data scorecard for suppliers

Walmart has announced plans to introduce a scorecard to monitor the accuracy of product data given to the company by its suppliers.

Rosemary extract beats synthetics for edible oil preservation

A carnosic acid-rich extract from rosemary may extend the shelf-life of sunflower oil, and perform better than synthetic preservatives, says a new study.

GLG launches lower cost stevia sweeteners

GLG Life Tech is preparing to capitalize on the market potential of natural sweeteners with a new range of lower cost stevia-based ingredients.

Burcon files for GRAS for canola extracts

Canadian functional protein developer, Burcon NutraScience Corporation, has taken another step to commercializing its canola protein extracts by filing for GRAS (generally recognized as safe) with the Food and Drug Administration.

Flavor and texture improvements needed for low fat cheese success

Producers of low-fat cheese need to improve the flavor and sensory aspect of their products if they are to achieve widespread consumer acceptance, says a new study.

Timeline: Cadbury and Kraft do battle

Kraft has struck an £11.7bn deal to acquire Cadbury in a move that could bring to an end months of fierce corporate battles, and Confectionerynews.com has constructed a timeline of key events in the takeover saga.

Nestle USA heat-treated flour switch planned for months

Nestle USA said the switch to heat-treated flour in the production of its Toll House dough has been planned since late summer and confirmed it had yet to find the source of the E.coli detected in its samples.

Cadbury recommends acceptance of new Kraft takeover bid

Kraft has struck an £11.7bn deal to acquire Cadbury in a move that could bring to an end months of fierce corporate battles.

News in brief

Dairy industry joins USDA and NFL to fight obesity

The USDA, the National Dairy Council and the NFL have launched the Fuel Up to Play 60 campaign to tackle childhood obesity with the help of $250m from US dairy farmers.

Cosmetic fears drive concern about sodium intake, says survey

A new US survey has suggested that a large number of consumers are only concerned about salt for cosmetic rather than health reasons.

Ethnic food tastes gain US following

Foods from Peru, Japan, Morocco and Korea have the potential to become food trends, offering formulators a new range of ingredients to play with, says a new report from Packaged Facts and the Center for Culinary Development.

Low-salt ready meals beat ‘the real thing’ in taste test

Commercial lasagne produced with reduced salt levels and salt substitutes scored higher on consumer tests than the ‘normal’ salt version, says a new study from Ireland.

Could non-nutritive sweeteners boost energy intakes?

Consuming beverages sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners may lead to an increase in food consumption, and contribute to weight gain, says a new study from Purdue University.

Comment

Why Haiti must stay on the CSR agenda

50,000 and counting. We'll probably never know exactly how many perished in the 7.0 earthquake that brought Haiti, quite literally, crashing down last Tuesday, 12th January 2010, just before 5pm. But for those who survived and who make it through the hard days, weeks and months ahead, getting enough to eat will be a long term challenge.

Monsanto case against alfalfa ban reaches the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has agreed to review a court order that halted the planting of genetically modified alfalfa made by Monsanto.

Datem may boost gluten-free formulations

Datem emulsifiers with carefully chosen gums like xanthan may enhance the formulation of rice bread for the gluten-free market, says new research.

Kraft set to raise Cadbury offer, report

Kraft Foods will raise its bid for Cadbury to at least 820 pence per share, according to a report in the UK’s Sunday Times.

Freezing Florida temperatures add to citrus disease woes

The freezing temperatures in Florida this month added to the woes of citrus fruit growers and processors already struggling to fight the spread of crop disease.

Apple pulp may help salt replacement in chicken

Apple pulp with a salt substitute blend may help reduce the salt of chicken formulations by up to 40 percent, suggests new research.

Salted foods may increase cancer risk: Japanese study

Increased intake of salt may boost the risk of heart disease, while increased consumption of salted foods may increase the risk of cancer, says a new study from Japan.

Tyson agrees to pay $5m in ‘antibiotic-free’ chicken settlement

Meat giant Tyson has agreed to pay $5m to settle a class action law suit brought by US consumers over claims its processed chicken was antibiotic free.

Mapping soybean genome promises designer plants

Improved soybean plants able to produce tailor-designed proteins and oils will be available in three or four years, according to the US team which recently mapped the plant’s genetic sequence.

Cargill earnings slump but food ingredients grow

Cargill claims its food ingredients business performed strongly in the past quarter although overall net earnings fell 59 percent.

New cassava-based flour boost for gluten-free bakers, says AKFP

A cassava-based wheat flour replacement will appeal to bakery manufacturers keen to develop a wide selection of gluten-free products when it becomes available later this year, claims the US ingredient supplier.

Swedish salt study calls for clearer rules for food industry

Young Swedish men are consuming twice as much salt as recommended, says a new study which increases pressure on the food industry to curb the salt content of its products.

News in brief

Obama fills key food safety post

The Obama Administration has filled a key role within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in its bid to bolster US food safety.

Cadbury shares up on reports of Hershey bid

Cadbury shares rose today on the back of media report that indicated that US chocolate maker, Hershey’s could be set to make a counter-bid for the UK confectioner, already the focus of a hostile bid from Kraft Foods.

News in brief

PureCircle signs new stevia deal

PureCircle last week signed a new deal with Cooperativa Colonias Unidas in Paraguay signed a contract for the production and supply of stevia leaves, expanding the crop area of 25 hectares.

Merisant exits bankruptcy

Sweetener company Merisant has completed its financial restructuring and emerged from bankruptcy after one year, having slashed its debt and interest expense.

Protein and bakery perform for Penford

Penford has seen a strong quarter for its protein and bakery ingredients, but coatings sales have dipped by four per cent and the divestment of its dextrose business means sales are below last year’s levels.

Dairy trade body says FDA labeling study is too narrow

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has criticised a planned Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study into front of pack nutrition labels for not having a wide enough scope.

Soy protein innovation may lead to functional food gel advances

Hydrogels made from soy protein could protect functional food ingredients through the gut, tapping the ever-growing health and wellness segment.

Sweetness enhancer is Reb C, says Redpoint

Redpoint Bio has revealed that is RP44 sweetness enhancer is in fact Reb-C, a component of stevia and a side stream of Reb-A production. It could be used in conjunction with Reb-A and sugar to lower calorie levels further than previously possible.

Orange juice prices plunge as frost thaws

Citrus groves in Florida have narrowly escaped decimation at the hands freezing temperatures this week, prompting a sharp fall in juice prices.

Cadbury worth more than Kraft bid - analysts

US based market analyst firm Bernstein Research claims that there is more value for Cadbury shareholders in the UK confectionery giant remaining a standalone company should a higher bid from Kraft does not materialise.

Erythritol may boost whey-sports drink formulation

Adding common ingredients to whey-based sports beverages may improve the clarity of the finished product and allow greater consumer acceptance of this type of sports beverages, says a new study.

New York leads plan to cut salt intake and save 0.8m lives

New York City is leading a partnership of cities and national health organizations to promote a voluntary program of salt reduction in packaged and restaurant foods.

Melamine scandal 'potentially very damaging' to Chinese ingredients industry

A leading food analyst has warned that the latest Chinese melamine scandal could have a major impact on global trade in food ingredients.

Neotame seeks a slice of the saccharine market

NutraSweet is positioning its neotame sweetener as a better-tasting alternative to saccharine, and expects it to compete with the world’s most used sweetener on cost.

Comment

Cold snap could last longer for food sector

“More snow on the way.” So say the weathermen, and Europe is stocking up and hunkering down for a long, cold winter. But while the fluffy flakes will halt, at least come Spring, for the food sector the chill could be felt throughout 2010.

Calcium may boost flavour of low-sugar, -salt foods

Compounds that activate calcium receptors on the tongue may enhance the flavour of low-sugar or low-salt foods, thereby reducing the need for extra flavourings, says a new study from Ajinomoto.

Oat-based flavor modifier for meats to boost shelf life, fiber

Wixon has released a new oat-based flavor modifier for meat products, designed to extend their shelf life and mask undesirable flavors, particularly the reheated taste of some precooked meats.

Obesity overtakes smoking as America’s biggest health problem

The health burden of obesity in the United States has overtaken that of smoking, according to a new study examining the relative effects of the two problems on quality of life, mortality and morbidity.

Peanut processor facing fines for safety breaches, worker death

Birdsong Corp peanut processing company is facing fines of $137,250 after being cited for 41 health and safety violations by authorities in the United States.

Rye has lower acrylamide risk than previously thought: Study

Rye’s reputation as a cereal particularly at risk of acrylamide formation could be unfounded, according to a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Oats may boost nutritional profile of gluten-free diets

Adding oats to a gluten-free diet may enhance the nutritional values of the diets, particularly for vitamins and minerals, as well as increasing antioxidant levels, say two studies from Scandinavia.

News in brief

Burger King releases ‘gluten-sensitive’ menu list

Rising demand for gluten-free foods has seen an increasing variety on the market, as well as gluten-free labels appearing on products that always were gluten-free.

Foodborne disease threat to global health security - WHO

Foodborne diseases are a risk to global health security and any solutions to bolster food safety must be international ones, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report has said.

Fenchem to introduce stevia sweetener in US

Chinese ingredients supplier Fenchem has said it intends to make its stevia-based Reb A sweetener available in the United States.

Nu-Tek develops organic soy extract for better meat yields

Nu-Tek Products has developed a natural, organic soy extract for holding water and fat in meat products to improve yields.

Overeating could be linked to hormone, claim scientists

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern claim that a hormone related to hunger could provide clues as to why some continue to eat even when they are full.

News in brief

EFSA, FDA, Health Canada to discuss health claims

The European Food Safety Authority, US Food and Drug Administration, and Health Canada will share a platform at an upcoming Cantox-hosted health claims conference.

Artificial sweeteners may trigger fullness hormones

The artificial sweetener sucralose may work together with glucose to stimulate the release of a protein that promotes a feeling of fullness, says new research from the US.

Kraft’s largest shareholder votes against Cadbury bid

Kraft’s largest shareholder Berkshire Hathaway, run by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, has voted against the issuance of up to 370m shares to acquire Cadbury, it said on Tuesday.

Low-calorie foods could contain more energy than labels state

Reduced-calorie versions of packaged foods could contain significantly more calories than stated on nutrition labels, according to a new study from the American Dietetic Association.

News in brief

Lundberg products verified as ‘non-GMO’

Lundberg has announced that 66 of its products have been verified as free from genetically modified (GM) ingredients under the Non-GMO Project’s Verification Program (PVP).

Mississippi to consider soda tax

Mississippi state representative John Mayo has introduced legislation to tax the syrup used to sweeten soda at a distribution level, according to local reports.

Phthalate action plan draws industry fire

The publication of US Government action plans on how to manage risks posed by a range of controversial substances, including phthalates, has drawn stinging criticism from the chemical industry.

Meat not linked to prostate cancer recurrence risk

Consuming processed and unprocessed red meat, fish, total poultry, and skinless poultry does not affect prostate cancer recurrence or progression, says a new study from Harvard.

No evidence for sugar addiction in people, claims professor

There is no evidence that sugar-addictive behaviors suggested by animal studies exist for humans, claims the author of a new scientific review published in Clinical Nutrition.

Companies buying into sustainability to boost value

The number of top publicly-traded US companies reporting on sustainability climbed by more than a third in the past 12 months, according to a report by the Social Investment Forum (SIF).

Kellogg’s settles Rice Krispies immunity claims dispute

The Kellogg Company has settled a dispute with the Oregon Department of Justice and Attorney General John Kroger over immunity claims it was making for its breakfast cereal, Rice Krispies.

Kraft sells pizza business to Nestlé to fund Cadbury offer

Kraft has sold its frozen pizza business to Nestlé to help fund its offer for Cadbury after Nestlé pulled out of the bidding for the British confectioner.

News in brief

Bunge expands Brazilian sugar presence

Food and agribusiness firm Bunge has said it has entered an agreement to acquire a Brazilian sugar company with an annual crushing capacity of 15.4 million metric tons.

Californian trans fat ban takes effect

California has become the first state to ban the use of trans fat-containing cooking oils, as a law signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2008 came into effect on January 1.

Is food addiction responsible for obesity?

A commentary published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has renewed the controversial concept of food addiction, claiming that it could be at least partly responsible for the obesity epidemic.

Egg foam may enhance gluten-free sourdoughs

Egg white foam may boost gluten-free sourdoughs enhance the structure of the resulting baked goods and extend the range of gluten-free products, says a new study.

Beef recall sparks tenderization debate

A multi-state beef recall in the US has led to renewed focus on mechanical tenderization as a possible cause of increased E. coli risk in beef and pork products.