FoodJobs: People on the move

FoodNavigator-USA presents a photo gallery illustrating new executive appointments at major food manufacturing and ingredient companies over the past month.

Low-cost, fat-free fish protein facility gets go ahead

Bluewave Marine Ingredients’ new food-grade facility in Peru will soon start production of its fat-free, membrane-refined fish protein and fish peptide products, offering the food industry ‘new opportunities and applications’.

Americans embracing global premium bakery

Convenience, global flavors, and premium products are leading new trends in the bakery sector, according to a new report from the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) and market research organization...

ADM cocoa powder cuts bakers’ costs with “less is more” approach

A new dark cocoa powder aims to deliver an indulgent rich taste for bakery goods, but also cut costs by reducing the product’s overall cocoa content, claims ADM.

USDA ups forecast for dairy retail prices

The USDA has once again increased its yearly forecast for dairy retail prices but economists believe an end to price hikes is in sight.

News in brief

Hershey’s and Mars drop trademark infringement case

Hershey’s has dropped a trademark infringement case against Mars, in which it had accused the rival candy maker of using packaging for Dove peanut butter Promises similar to that of...

Reduced fat intake may cut diabetes risk without weight loss

Reducing the proportion of fat in the diet could significantly reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, even without weight loss, according to a new study.

Tate & Lyle to resume sucralose production in US as demand soars

Tate & Lyle is planning to re-start production at its mothballed sucralose plant in the US, as hot demand for the sweetener means it needs more capacity from two global...

Men's and women’s grocery habits not so different, finds Symphony IRI

An increasing number of men is responsible for grocery shopping – and marketers should educate themselves on how to connect with them, says a new paper from market research organization...

Plaintiffs hail dismissal of appeal in GM sugar beet case

A US court of appeals has said that Monsanto must produce further studies examining the environmental impact of its genetically modified (GM) sugar beets before they can be planted on...

Consumer groups sue FDA over antibiotics in animal feed

A coalition of consumer advocacy groups has filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), claiming it has failed in its legal responsibility to address overuse of antibiotics...

News in brief

ChromaDex offers new complete stevia reference standard

Reference standards firm ChromaDex has added a new complete standard for testing stevia to its offerings, using the latest JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) standard.

Syngenta invests $71m in expanded biotech research

Syngenta has said it intends to invest $71m in building a new biotechnology research facility next to its existing research campus in North Carolina, to advance development of new crop...

House Republicans propose $285m in FDA cuts

House Republicans have proposed a $285m cut to FDA funding in fiscal 2012, 11.5 percent less than 2011, although the agency is seeking additional funds to pay for new food safety legislation.

Dispatches from the ISA conference

Low-cal sweeteners can help to fight obesity, say experts

Increasing the use of sweeteners in foods and drinks will help to reduce the current epidemic of obesity, according to experts.

News in brief

Runaway grain prices demand policy solutions, IFPRI

Better policies, new agricultural research and techniques, and social investments are crucial to safeguarding global food security as grain prices are expected to rise by 48% on 2000 levels by...

Major league sugar players join ‘corn sugar’ lawsuit

Five companies and two trade organizations have joined a lawsuit against members of the corn refining industry in an attempt to stop them from claiming that high fructose corn syrup...

News in brief

Cooking sauces and marinades up 20% as shoppers prepare more meals at home

US retail sales of cooking sauces and marinades are expected to surge 19 percent between 2010 and 2015 as consumers continue to save cash by preparing more meals at home,...

Globalization increases risk, but imports are industry responsibility

Industry, not government, should take ultimate responsibility for the safety of imported ingredients, said a presenter at the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) general meeting in New Orleans.

Coca-Cola sets up new division to address global sustainability goals

Beverage giant Coca-Cola is setting up a new division in North America to oversee the company’s global sustainability vision, strategies, and goals for 2020.

Steps to ensure Gulf seafood safety have worked, says CFSAN official

A year after the Gulf oil spill caused a fishery disaster in the region, FDA’s Don Kraemer of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) says steps taken...

Campbell’s profits rise on snack sales, as soup sales slump

Higher sales of snack foods offset declining soup sales at the Campbell Soup Company contributing to an 11 percent boost in third-quarter profits, the company said on Monday.

Most Americans prepared to pay more to fund food safety, survey suggests

Most Americans would be prepared to pay more for food in order to fund new food safety measures, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Pew Charitable Trusts.

Kraft Foods to pay $8.1m in pollution lawsuit

Kraft Foods has said it will pay $8.1m to settle a class action lawsuit over air and groundwater pollution from an Attica, Indiana facility, which was caused by the site’s...

Localized food production should be a strategy, not a goal, says UCSB professor

The current approach to locally produced food in the United States may not cut greenhouse gas emissions or improve nutrition, a UC Santa Barbara professor has suggested.

DuPont keeps existing food business chief as head of expanded unit

DuPont has appointed the existing head of its Nutrition & Health unit to lead the business as it takes on the task of joining up with Danisco Food Ingredients.

High-protein breakfast may reduce food cravings, study suggests

Eating a high-protein breakfast may increase satiety and reduce food cravings, according to results of a small study published in the journal Obesity.

FDA’s Michael Taylor: Preventive approach ‘may seem obvious’ in hindsight

The Food Safety Modernization Act’s preventive approach to food safety may seem obvious in hindsight – and it is already a food industry norm, FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods said...

Senator Durbin urges FDA action on ‘relaxation’ brownies

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has asked the FDA to clarify its regulatory position on dietary supplements and food additives on the back of widespread concerns about the marketing of melatonin-containing...

Domino Foods enters stevia market in collaboration with Sunwin and Wild

Domino Foods, Wild Flavors and Sunwin International have entered a collaborative agreement to produce naturally-derived sweeteners and sweetening systems, the companies have said.

Bad weather could reverse sugar price dip, warns Rabobank

Rabobank has warned that the recent sharp dip in international sugar prices could easily be reversed if bad weather hits key producer countries.

FSIS halts testing for E. coli strain in dried sausages

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has said it is suspending testing of dry and semi-dry fermented sausages for E. coli O157:H7 after not finding a single positive...

GAO criticizes FDA seafood import safety program as ‘limited’

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has criticized the FDA’s program to oversee the safety of imported fish and seafood as ‘limited’, in a new report issued this week.

General Mills signs Yoplait acquisition agreements

General Mills has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a 51 percent controlling interest in French yogurt maker Yoplait and a 50 percent stake in a related entity that holds...

Global salt review may offer reduction ‘framework’

Learning from current salt reduction strategies may help to produce a better framework for developing future initiatives, according to a global review of current methods.

News in brief

Cargill resumes Ivorian operations

Cargill has resumed is cocoa and chocolate operations at its production facility in the Ivory Coast following the resolution of the recent political crisis in the West African cocoa powerhouse.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERPACK 2011

Sustainability: A key opportunity for US food packaging firms

Environmental sustainability offers a key opportunity for the United States food packaging sector, a US executive told delegates at a seminar at the Interpack trade event in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Odor boosting technology ‘useless’ if salt level is high: Study

Salty odors used to boost the flavor perception of reduced salt foods may only work if salt levels are low, and show little potential in high-salt food, according to new...

Microbial enzymes may boost chocolate flavor: Study

Enzymatic treatment of cocoa almonds may improve flavor profiles by up to 50 per cent, leading to improved chocolate flavors from low quality almonds, according to new research.

Researchers develop revenue calculator for soda taxes

A penny-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks could generate $79bn over a five-year period, according to a revenue calculator developed by researchers at Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity....

Industry execs ‘cautiously optimistic’ about profitability, market share

Food industry executives expect to see increased profitability in the sector this year, although many think it may be difficult to sustain, according to a new survey from KPMG International.

GLG Life Tech widens Q1 loss on higher costs

Stevia supplier GLG Life Tech has reported a wider loss in the first quarter of 2011 on higher costs, the company has said.

FDA seeks injunction against Tennessee ingredient firms

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking a permanent injunction against two Tennessee food ingredients firms and their owner, claiming that food from their facilities may have been contaminated.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERPACK 2011

PMMI upbeat as opportunity knocks for US firms at Interpack

The Interpack trade show currently being held in the German city of Dusseldorf is a truly global event that has attracted around 2,700 exhibitors from 60 countries.

‘Forgotten molecules’ may have potential in sweetener research: Review

Previously discovered sweetener molecules which have been ‘lost or forgotten’ in the scientific literature may have a place in the future of sweet taste research, according to a new review.

News in brief

Co-founder of McCain Foods passes away, aged 81

Co-founder of McCain Foods and chairman of Maple Leaf Foods Wallace McCain has passed away at the age of 81 following a 14-month struggle with pancreatic cancer.

One-third of global food production goes to waste: FAO

About one-third of the food produced globally for human consumption each year is wasted, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

NutraSweet welcomes Chinese crackdown on food additive counterfeiters

NutraSweet has welcomed a recently announced Chinese crackdown on food additive counterfeiters, amid fears that substandard versions of its patented neotame sweetener are being sold on the Chinese market.

Caravan produces calorie-cutting ingredient system for English muffins

Caravan Ingredients has developed a new ingredient system that can produce English muffins with as few as 85 calories without impacting volume or eating quality, the company claims.

Strong results boost Imperial Sugar shares to 52-week high

Imperial Sugar saw its share price jump to a 52-week high in after hours trading on Wednesday, following better than expected profits in Q2, partly due to higher sugar prices.

Different sweeteners may have different effects on satiety: Study

Different sweeteners may affect the release of satiety hormones in the gut in different ways, claim researchers writing in Food Chemistry, who suggest their work could lead to development of...

Who's responsible for nutrition? Nearly half say food makers

Although most consumers think they are responsible for making sure the food they eat is nutritious, nearly half hold food manufacturers and processors responsible, according to a new survey.

Senomyx granted US patent for bitter blockers

Flavor ingredients firm Senomyx has been granted a US patent for two bitter blocker flavor modulators intended to mask bitter notes associated with several common food and beverage ingredients.

Beta-glucan could reduce salt in high pressure processed chicken: Study

Beta-glucan could be used to partially replace salt while retaining taste and texture in high pressure processing of chicken breast meat, according to a new study in Food Chemistry.

Encouraging Q1 prompts Dean to increase 2011 profit forecast

Dean Foods has upped its profit forecast for the full year on the back of better than expected first quarter results.

California Assembly votes to label GM fish

Genetically modified fish in California would have to be labeled as such according to a bill approved by the California Assembly Health Committee last week.

News in brief

Packaging experts to give confectioners free rein

US confectioners and snack makers can get sector specific advice on processing and packaging projects through a new ‘Ask the Experts’ feature at Pack Expo in Las Vegas, said the...

New research supports difficulty of setting upper limits for harmful nutrients

New research suggests that even though there is enough evidence to suggest a causal link between intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol and heart disease risk, it is...

News in brief

Coke and Pepsi settle trademark lawsuit

The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo have settled a trademark lawsuit over PepsiCo’s Trop50 juice packaging design, which Coca-Cola had claimed was too similar to that of its Simply juice range....

Sales to stagnate for US energy drinks, survey

Sports and energy drinks sales could flatline in the US over the next 12 months, according to a new survey by AlixPartners.

News in brief

Nestle Waters buys up organic and natural tea company

Nestle Waters has agreed to buy Sweet Leaf Tea after investing $15.6m in the Texas-based iced tea company in 2009.

Elliott may block Danisco deal as deadline looms

Elliott International has increased its Danisco shareholding to 10.01 per cent and has not yet given any indication of tender plans, despite the Friday deadline for 80 per cent...

Energy drinks boost functional beverage category

Energy drinks are becoming more popular in the United States as younger consumers move into their prime consumption years – and energy drinks continue to deliver a distinctive benefit, says...

News in brief

UAS Labs provides probiotic research scholarship to SDSU

Probiotics player UAS Laboratories will provide two scholarships to students at South Dakota State University (SDSU) to support probiotic research efforts.

American Beverage Association tops NY lobbying expenditure list

Money spent in an effort to influence New York legislators surpassed $200m for the first time last year – and spending by the American Beverage Association topped the list, according...

Pass trade agreements quickly to boost US exports, industry urges Congress

Fourteen major food and beverage organizations have written to Congress urging swift passage of free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama in order to protect and expand US...

New icing shortening for 25% less sat fat

A new non-hydrogenated icing shortening product for bakery goods contains 25 per cent less saturated fat than high palm content alternatives, claims manufacturer Richardson Oilseed Limited.

Americans less concerned about diet and weight, finds IFIC survey

The number of Americans concerned about their weight and making efforts to lose weight has hit a new low, according to a new survey from the International Food Information Council...

Global dairy prices take a dip in March

Global dairy prices were down 2.4 per cent from March after seven months of steady growth, according to the latest figures from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

News in brief

GLG enters stevia distribution agreement for Brazil and Argentina

 GLG Life Tech has signed a three-year agreement with Brazil-based Grupo M. Cassab for distribution and marketing of its stevia extracts in Brazil and Argentina, the company has said.

Price hikes underpin strong growth at Kraft during Q1

Kraft Foods has reported strong sales and profit growth in the first quarter as it increased prices and advertising efforts for core brands to tackle higher commodity costs.

High fat diet may boost functioning of damaged hearts: Study

Eliminating or severely limiting fats from the diet may not be beneficial to heart health, according to new research.

Kellogg reports profit drop, flags up challenging EU market

Kellogg’s said it expects Europe, and the UK in particular, to be its most challenging operating environment this year, as it reports first-quarter net income drop of 12 per cent...

Food Stamp soda exemption in NYC is discriminatory, says industry

The beverage industry has accused New York City officials of unfair discrimination in a proposal to prevent food stamp benefits from being used to purchase sugary beverages.

FDA issues first food safety regulations under new law

The Food and Drug Administration has issued its first regulations under the Food Safety Modernization Act – providing stricter control of food imports and giving FDA authority to detain potentially...

Callebaut expands supply deal with Hershey

Reflecting the continuing industry trend toward outsourcing, Barry Callebaut said a new supply deal it has agreed with Hershey will put its annual deliveries beyond the current 80,000 metric tonnes.

Ralcorp rejects ConAgra’s $4.9bn takeover bid

Ralcorp’s board of directors has unanimously rejected ConAgra’s $4.9bn takeover bid, saying that it is not in shareholders’ best interests and that the board is committed to Ralcorp’s independence....

Sargento reduces its cheese sodium content by up to 40 per cent

The sodium content in Sargento’s processed cheese brands can now be reduced by up to 40 per cent, without adding substitutes or affecting the flavour, the company claims.

News in brief

Viterra opens Montreal marketing office

Canadian agri-business firm Viterra has opened a marketing office in Montreal, Quebec, in order to strengthen its presence in eastern Canada, the company has said.

ConAgra makes $4.9bn offer to acquire Ralcorp

ConAgra has made a $4.9bn cash offer to acquire Ralcorp, in a bid that would expand its presence in the private label packaged foods sector, the company said on Wednesday.

Aflatoxin levels in almonds warrant ongoing scrutiny, US study

The frequency of aflatoxin contamination was high in almonds from southern California when compared to that from central or northern California, claims a new US study.

ISC program aims to calibrate stevia purity testing methods

The International Stevia Council has launched a new, independent proficiency testing program (PTP) for stevia products, which is intended as a benchmark to ensure analytical methods used to determine...

Study questions benefits of low salt diet, experts quick to dismiss

Research suggesting a low salt diet may increase the risks of cardiovascular disease has questioned current drives to reduce salt intakes, however experts from the UK and US have been...

Food and agricultural policy needs compromise, says new organization

Stakeholders in the food and agriculture industry have formed a new coalition organization intended to bring together groups that have not traditionally worked together to tackle long-term policy issues.

ADM’s oilseeds and corn processing contribute to 37% profits boost

Grain processing giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has reported a 37 percent rise in profits in the third quarter on the back of strong growth in its oilseeds and corn...

Branded cereals fuelling Ralcorp growth

Branded cereals contributed nearly $60m to US cereal and pasta maker Ralcorp’s positive earnings for the second quarter of its 2011 fiscal year.

Brazil: Kraft capitalizes on chocolate and cookie growth

Kraft Foods is leveraging the growing market for chocolate and cookies in developing markets with the opening of a new $80m production facility in Brazil.

Consumer survey finds growing food safety concerns

Nearly three quarters (73 percent) of Americans are more concerned now about the food they eat than they were five years ago, according to a Deloitte survey that gives a...

Antioxidants may reduce trans fat levels in edible oils: Study

The addition of antioxidants to oils may control the formation of trans-fats during the processing and heating of edible oils, according to new research.

News in brief

DSM tenders Danisco shares after new DuPont offer

DSM has tendered its 4.95 per cent stake in Danish ingredients firm Danisco, after buyer DuPont raised its offer to DKK700 on Friday following discussions with major shareholders.

Corn Products’ profits triple in Q1

Corn Products International has seen profits more than triple in the first quarter after passing on higher prices for its products and receiving a payment from the Mexican government to...

News in brief

SunOpta divests Mexican frozen fruit assets

Canadian natural and organics group SunOpta has sold its frozen fruit processing assets in Rosarito and Irapuato, Mexico to Fruvemex Mexicali for C$3.15m, the company has said.

Senomyx narrows loss in first quarter

California-based flavor ingredients firm Senomyx has narrowed its net loss in Q1 and increased revenues, as the company continues to discover, develop and commercialize new flavor ingredients.

DuPont raises Danisco offer and sets final deadline

DuPont has increased its bid for Danish ingredients firm Danisco by 5.3 per cent to DKK700 per share, and has set a final deadline of May 13 for 80 per...

Brain’s taste centre also senses texture, suggests study

Areas of the brain that interpret our sense of taste may also provide a representation of oral textures such as how fat feels in the mouth, according to new review.

Kids seeing fewer food and beverage ads on TV, survey finds

The number of food and beverage advertisements on children’s programming fell by 50 percent from 2004 to 2010, according to a new poll sponsored by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).