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

Whole Foods commits to ethical sourcing

The nation's largest organic food retailer has launched a new trade program designed to source socially responsible products from developing countries, a move that highlights the growing importance of ethical goods in the US market.

February peanut stocks down from last year, says USDA

US peanut stocks reported in commercial storage at the end of last month were down on last year's stocks, according to statistics released yesterday by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

California produce safety bills pass first test

Three bills designed to implement tougher food safety rules for growers and handlers of spinach and other leafy greens were this week approved in California by the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Slimming Ingredients get serious

The first international conference on slimming ingredients kicked off in Berlin with industry and academia exploring the huge potential for potential weight managing and weight reducing ingredients.

ARS develops steps to retain bioactives in food samples

Scientists in the US have developed a set of procedures for the extraction, preparation and preservation of food samples to be analysed for their nutrient content, in order to reduce the impact of these processes on the bioactives to be measured.

Growth in snack market must stem from innovation, report

All-round innovation remains key to keeping the US snack market vibrant, according to an annual snack industry report, which identifies a number of growth opportunities at a time when consumers are striving to snack less.

Report reveals candy, snacks as most advertised kids products

Food is the top product seen advertised by children, with American kids watching an average of 17 food ads every day, according to a new study.

Humidity during heat processing reduces salmonella

Processing beef at low humidity reduces the effectiveness of killing salmonella through cooking, according to a recent study.

Beef-fertility study seeks to raise awareness of chemicals in meat

A study from the US has raised the hackles of the meat industry by reporting a link between male fertility and their mother's high beef consumption during pregnancy - an observation researchers say may be down to growth hormones and other chemicals in beef.

McCormick expects 'record' year after strong Q1

Spice firm McCormick has reported first quarter sales rises throughout its business operations, and predicts a continued strong performance in 2007 as its restructuring actions begin to bring in results.

India moves in on Tate & Lyle sucralose monopoly

An Indian pharmaceutical firm has completed a new sucralose facility and is ready to begin production of the popular sweetener, using what it claims to be a non patent-infringing process.

Super Gum 'wows' as delivery system for food

The modified gum arabic product 'Super Gum' could stabilise water-in-oil-in-water emulsions, opening up opportunities for fat reduction and novel encapsulation, researchers from New Zealand have reported.

Conference highlights cancer-fighting foods

The American Chemical Society brought the cancer-fighting potential of food to the forefront Sunday as part of its national meeting.

Scientists cook up antioxidant-rich pizza

US scientists have produced a pizza with enhanced antioxidant content in the crust, aimed to boost antioxidant defences and protect against oxidative stress.

USDA expands on nutrition goals

The US government is to invest in improving the nation's nutrition and conducting obesity studies, according to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, who this week expanded on the Administration's farm bill nutrition proposals.

Guest article

EC food labeling format: guide to conversion

Converting food and beverage product labels from US to EC format requires an in-depth understanding of European labeling legislation, which is more complex than it often appears to be, regulatory experts at consultancy firm Leatherhead Food International tell FoodNavigator-USA.com.

Organic kiwis healthier than non-organic?

The nutritional profile of kiwi fruit grown organically is healthier than conventionally grown fruit, American researchers have reported.

Grape seed extract may protect against skin cancer

Proanthocyanidin-rich extracts from grape seeds may prevent skin cancer by boosting the immune system, says a new study that used hairless mice to model human sun exposure.

SunOpta expands supply of organic fruit

SunOpta Fruit Group has announced new agreements with players in the South American fruit industry, which the firm says will expand its supply of organic and natural frozen fruit.

Chiquita execs could face extradition for terrorist funding

Senior management executives of banana firm Chiquita may face extradition to Colombia to face criminal charges after the company recently pleaded guilty to funding terrorist groups in the country.

Weekly Comment

Swallow your tongue

Fluffy language is increasingly clogging up the information air passages, and the food and drink industry must accept blame like everyone else.

Government child obesity efforts lacking, say advertisers

Childhood obesity is being comprehensively tackled by all sectors of society, including media, advertising and food companies, but the US government remains lacking in its response, according to the Association of National Advertisers (ANA).

Grapefruit supply rebounding, say Florida growers

Florida's flagging grapefruit industry is showing signs of rebounding, after the market was hit by a sharp drop in supply, says a grapefruit grower cooperative.

Citrus pigment waste could offer cheap sweeteners for industry

Researchers in Italy have developed a process to produce high purity sugars from citrus processing waste that could offer natural and inexpensive sweeteners for the food and beverage industries.

Trade group calls for reform to US sugar policy

A sweetener industry body claims the current US sugar policy is harming the nation's food and beverage industry by driving prices up and sending production oversees.

Snack industry trade show kicks off in Florida

The US snack industry's annual conference will open its doors tomorrow in Florida, bringing together players from every level of the industry for three days of seminars, educational sessions and business meetings.

Health Canada approves Denomega oils for food

Denomega Nutritional Oils has announced the Health Canada approval of its omega-3 ingredients for use in most foods, thereby opening up another market to the company.

Danisco breakthrough could boost cultures' resistance

Scientists from Danisco have identified peculiar regions of a starter culture's genome that allow the bacteria to be resistant to infections by bacteriophages (bacterial viruses).

USDA identifies rice in latest GM contamination

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified the source of a recent GM contamination in rice, and has said that it poses no food safety concerns.

FDA confirms GRAS status of Suntheanine

Ingredients supplier Taiyo International said it has received a 'letter of no objection' from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the self-affirmed GRAS status of its L-theanine brand Suntheanine.

Novozymes recognised for sustainable practices

Novozymes has been recognised by the United Nations for its efforts to further integrate sustainability into its business.

Minister sees hope in US-Korean trade dispute

South Korea's assistant agriculture trade minister is confident that a proposed free trade agreement between the country and the US will go ahead, despite further disagreements over agricultural issues relating to the deal.

Mangosteen juice is here to stay, Xango

In 2006, Datamonitor categorized the mangosteen juice category as one of the top ten trends to watch in its online ProductScan, and according to manufacturer and marketer Xango, the category is here to stay.

FDA's cloned food risk assessment flawed, claims review

The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) risk assessment on meat and milk from cloned animals is based on "flawed assumptions and misrepresented findings", according to an independent review released yesterday.

New task force targets child obesity

A new childhood obesity task force was yesterday launched in the US, with the aim of promoting responsible marketing to help curb the rising epidemic.

Bacteria effective against fresh cut fruit contamination

Harmless bacteria can be used to fight illness-causing pathogens that form on fresh cut fruit, according to the results of scientific tests published this week.

Banana prices continue to rise, says Chiquita

Fruit supplier Chiquita has said its banana prices have continued to rise globally, an announcement that comes in the midst of the firm's terrorist funding scandal.

California calls for suspension of GM rice testing

Government regulation for GM contamination of rice is clearly not working, according to the California Rice Commission, which has called for a moratorium on GM field testing in the state.

Reducing coffee's acrylamide may also hit flavour, antioxidants

A study by the European Commission and Nestlé Product Technology reports that efforts to reduce the acrylamide content of coffee also negatively affect flavour and nutritional benefits.

Monsanto, BASF team up to fund new pipeline

Biotechnology firms Monsanto and BASF have entered into a research and development agreement that aims to pool the companies' resources in an effort to bring a greater number of traits to the market at a faster speed.

Functional stabilisers nanoengineered for foods

Dairy proteins and polysaccharides can be nanoengineered as new functional stabilisers for foods and packaging, according to scientists working on a project in Finland.

Sugar crops improve after hurricane losses

Sugar production in Florida increased during the last crop year, reaching "more normal" production levels after significant losses during the string of hurricanes in recent years.

Industry responds to fructose-obesity study

The Corn Refiners Association has responded to the recent research linking fructose consumption to obesity, stating that fructose cannot be related to high fructose corn syrup.

Probiotics may protect against food poisoning

Irish scientists report that a combination of five probiotic strains may reduce food poisoning by salmonella, if results of their pig study can be translated to humans.

New industry body aims to quell consumer food fears

A group of US food industry bodies has launched a new organization designed to promote consumer understanding and trust of the country's food system.

Weekly Comment

Rise and shine: the GM wake-up call

News that a variety of GM corn produced signs of liver and kidney toxicity in rats should be a wake-up call for better testing and more transparency from biotechs, if GMOs are to be accepted by increasingly sceptical consumers.

Bunge eyes edible oil sector consolidation

Bunge appears set to consolidate its position in the edible oils market in order to meet growing demand amongst Eastern European consumers and processors.

Biscuit giant Burtons poised to expand after takeover

The UK's second largest biscuit manufacturer, Burton's Foods, has been acquired by British buy-out firm Duke Capital from US group HM Capital Partners for what is believed to be around a £200 million (€292.3m) sum.

Climate change leads to food crop losses

Warming temperatures have caused annual losses of roughly $5 billion for major food crops, according to a new study.

Americans not eating enough veggies - study

Americans are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, according to two recent studies.

Wrigley targets teens with tastebud-tingling gum

Leading US gum manufacturer Wrigley is to launch a new sugar-free chewing gum with mouth-freshening and long-lasting flavour properties and designed to target the big-spending teen market.

US-FAO accord targets fairer agriculture system

The US has signed an agreement with the FAO in order to enhance cooperation in the promotion and support of a viable, sustainable global agriculture system.

Mechanism proposed for fructose syrup-obesity link

Scientists studying the effects of ingesting fructose syrup have reported a possible mechanism that may explain the alleged link between rising obesity and sweetened beverages.

US food spending report uncovers trends and tastes

The USDA's newly published report on American food spending could give regulators and industry a better picture of consumer trends and tastes.

Wal-Mart suppliers on track to reduce packaging

Wal-Mart said this week that enough suppliers has signed on to its online "green" rating system, to keep the giant retailer on track toward achieving a five percent reduction in packaging by 2013.

Cadbury to split drinks and confectionery businesses

Cadbury Schweppes has said it will separate its confectionery and US soft drinks businesses, sending ripples of speculation across the financial sector about the firm's motives.

Ajinomoto acquisition targets Asian supply chain

Asian food giant Ajinomoto will use its latest acquisition to leverage its Knorr brands into emerging markets.

Coca-Cola pinched by high HFCS prices

Drinks giant Coca-Cola is feeling the squeeze of higher corn prices, but the impact on its soda formulations - largely sweetened with high fructose corn syrup in the US - remains unclear.

Chiquita pays price for funding terrorists

Banana and fruit supplier Chiquita said yesterday that it would plead guilty to doing business with a terrorist group, resulting in the company forking out a $25m fine.

Cargill announces GRAS status for non-animal glucosamine

Minneapolis-based Cargill has announced that its Regenasure ingredient, the only non-animal glucosamine available on the market, has been determined generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

Court upholds DuPont soybean patents

A US District Court has found that agricultural firm DuPont holds valid patents for a soybean market technology, a ruling that concludes a patent infringement dispute with Genome and Agricultural Biotechnology (GAAB).

Report examines top flavors and ingredients for 2007

Ethnic flavors are expected to expand this year, together with an increased consumer demand for bigger, bolder tastes, according to a new flavors and ingredients report.

David Michael pushes cocoa extenders as shortage looms

The anticipated drop in cocoa production this year has prompted US flavor firm David Michael to renew a marketing push for its line of cocoa extenders, which claim to help manufacturers cut costs.

Serious concerns raised over Monsanto GM maize variety

Monsanto's genetically modified maize MON863, authorised for human consumption since 2006, showed signs of liver and kidney toxicity in a rat study, raising concerns about its safety.

Fresh cut produce advisory calls for safety standards

Fresh-cut produce processors should immediately implement international food safety standards to prevent the contamination of their products, according to a new regulatory guidance.

Food industry M&As rebounding, says new report

Mergers and acquisitions in the food industry in 2006 took a turn up compared to the year before, with almost one third of all activity occurring in the food processing sector, according to a new guide by the The Food Institute.

US judge orders injunction against Monsanto seed

A federal judge yesterday overturned the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval of a biotech alfalfa variety, ordering a preliminary injunction to ban the sale and planting of the seed.

Scientists develop palm-like oil from non-tropical plants

Using GM techniques to change the activity of a plant enzyme could convert unsaturated oils in the seeds of a temperate plant to the more saturated kind usually found in tropical plants like palm oil, new research suggests.

USDA accused of lax food safety measures

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been accused of failing to protect the nation's food supply, following last week's withdrawal of a long-grain rice seed after possible contamination with genetically modified material.

Weekly comment

GM: A healthy debate

The development of genetically modified crops to improve human health could be the golden ticket for advocates to persuade the wary public that GM is not a wholly nefarious idea after all. But will a new, healthy spin be enough to counter deep-rooted fears that genetic modification, by its very nature, poses an equal and opposite threat to human health?

Emulsion oil concentration affects flavour release - study

The release of flavour from food is dependent on the oil content of the emulsion, says new research from Canada that offer insights into better formulation and flavour.

CP Kelco restructures into regional business units

Hydrocolloid firm CP Kelco has announced a complete overhaul of its business structure, in a move designed to boost its regional operations.

Energy drinks outperform all other beverages, report

Energy drinks last year stormed the US beverage market, outperforming all other categories, while one sports drink inched its way into the nation's top five trade marks by displacing a popular soda brand, according to a new report.

ARS awards scientists for technology tranfers

The development of seedless grapes and a new approach to safeguarding the flavor and texture of stored apples have been recognized as major scientific achievements by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Monsanto, Solae joint forces for omega-3 from GM soy

Monsanto and The Solae Company have announced a collaboration over the development of omega-3 from genetically-modified soy beans, which could speed up the availability of the healthy ingredient from new non-marine sources.

Bill aims to set nutritional standards for school vending

A bill designed to set nutritional standards for foods sold in schools was last week re-introduced, after gathering strong support from scientific and education communities.

BASF withdraws rice after GM contamination

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is preventing the planting and distribution of a long-grain rice seed from BASF because it may contain genetic material not yet approved for commercialization.

Pectin, fish skin and flour make a good film

Pectin, fish skin and soybean flour could be used to produce tough and versatile food packaging films that were biodegradable, according to new research.

Discovery Center to boost Tyson's innovation

Tyson foods, the world's largest protein processor, is set to boost its new product development with the opening of a new "Discover Center" in Arkansas for R&D.

Obesity could prevent appetite regulation

Obese consumers could be physically unable to stop eating, according to new research, which reveals that obesity causes a breakdown in the system that regulates appetite.

Opinions on MSG safety updated

The 1997 Hohenheim consensus on the physiological effects and safety of monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been updated.

Do shopping lists promote healthy choices?

A new study has examined a quirky aspect of consumer behaviour: Do shopping lists promote or prevent healthy choices?

ARS to broaden cucumber genetic base

A project to make the humble cucumber more interesting could have implications for this versatile vegetable.

Atkins diet best for weight loss - US study

Women following the Atkins diet, the once bright star in the galaxy of diets, lost more weight than women following other diets, with no concerns expressed over cardiovascular risk factors.

Breakthrough technology

It's all about me! Nutrition gets personal

Imagine if I could purchase a product that is exactly suited to disease prevention for my own, individual genetic make-up. Sounds like something from science fiction, but with the twin areas of nutrigenomics and personalised nutrition developing apace, the mass availability of tailored foods and supplements may not be too far in the future.

Cocoa may reverse blood vessel damage, study

Smokers should be encouraged to indulge their sweet tooth, judging from the results of a new study into how daily consumption of a specially-prepared cocoa beverage benefits blood vessel function.

Consumer preferences show organic ingredient potential

Consumers are willing to pay premium prices for organic foods, even products that contain some non-organic ingredients, says new research.

USDA outlines future prospects for agriculture

Global population growth, higher global per capita incomes and new product markets such as energy are shaping the prospects for US agriculture.

New non-GM breeding could lead to healthier oils

A new non-GM plant breeding technology is expected in the next two years to result in the launch of 'environmentally friendly' trait-enhanced crops, such as canola, sorghum and rice.

GM tomatoes to provide daily folate needs?

Tomatoes, genetically engineered to contain high levels of folate, could provide the recommended daily amount in one standard serving, says new research.

New Wild umami flavor targets savory applications

A new taste modification platform from Wild Flavors claims to allow manufacturers of savory goods to add the distinct umami flavor - and mouthfeel - to their products.

Human genes in rice spark new GM row

Genetically modified rice containing human genes has received preliminary approval in the US, sparking new concerns and fears on both sides of the Atlantic.

USDA sets date for meat labeling changes

The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) has said that January 1, 2010 will mark the enforcement date of any new meat and poultry labeling regulations announced over the next two years.

ISO approves pasteurisation test

A test used worldwide to ensure pasteurisation has been completed properly has been officially endorsed by the International Standards Organsiation.

Weekly Comment

No excuses for illegal labour

There is no legitimate defence as to why some companies continue to use illegal labour. This isn't the vice trade, this is the food industry: no excuses.

Wholegrain breakfasts linked to lower heart failure risk

Eating a bowl of wholegrain cereals every day could reduce the risk of heart failure by 27 per cent, researchers from Harvard have reported.

Monsanto intervenes in GM alfalfa lawsuit

Biotech giant Monsanto is to file a motion to intervene in a case asking for a permanent injunction to stop planting of the firm's genetically modified alfalfa.

Med diet symbol set for launch in US

A new Mediterranean diet symbol is set to be launched in coming months, allowing US manufacturers to flag up products that fit into this increasingly influential diet plan.

Enzymatic modification to boost vegetable protein gelling

Modifying vegetable protein with transglutaminase enzymes improves the gelling properties, claim German researchers - a result that may offer value-added solutions for a wide range of food products.

Pomegranate leaf extract may be novel appetite suppressant

An extract from pomegranate leaves may offer promise for weight control after an animal study showed the extract suppressed appetite and reduced food intake for high-fat diets.

New salt claims to slash sodium, keep taste

A sea salt that claims to reduce more than half of the sodium content of food products is due to enter the US market, after enjoying significant success with food makers in the UK, according to its manufacturer.

Nutritionists call for national school food standards

More than 600 school nutrition professionals will next week call on Congress to adopt national food and beverage standards for 'competitive foods' sold in schools.

CNI launches functional, nutritional texturiser

A new 'nutritional texturiser' combining Acacia gum fibres and wheat fibres has been launched on both sides of the Atlantic.

Lactococcus strain may offer end to food allergies

Non-pathogenic gut bacteria, bioengineered to produce a compound that regulates immune response in the gut, may offer significant potential for beating food allergies, if results from an animal study can be translated to humans.

Cargill, Diversa expand cost-cutting enzyme agreement

Ingredients giant Cargill and biotech firm Diversa have expanded their collaboration agreement to develop novel enzymes designed to cut costs and promote health.

Schools prevent - not encourage - child obesity, study

US school children are less susceptible to gain weight during school term than on vacation, according to a recent study.

Science builds behind pomegranate extracts for health

Standardised pomegranate extracts lead to increased levels of bioactive compounds in the blood and boost antioxidant levels, says new research that could see the extracts start to rival the juice for boosting health.

Moisture-releasing ingredients may boost acceptance of other fish

Amid fears of falling fish stocks, adding moisture-releasing ingredients like diced vegetables or milk could boost acceptance of less desirable but abundant fish to consumers, suggests new research.

FDA publishes standardized ingredient definitions

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a list of consistent definitions for food ingredients, providing a concise point of reference for food and beverage manufacturers.