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Sixty-four percent of American consumers think that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is “okay in moderation” but there is still widespread confusion about the ingredient, according to data from Mintel.
Eleven US Senators have signed a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg urging the agency to find another way to assess the safety of genetically engineered (GE) salmon.
Armed with a war chest from the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research (CFDR), University of Guelph will seek to understand the factors behind the functional food consumption habits of older adults.
American Key Food Products (AKFP) has applied for a patent for the production process of its gluten-free cassava flour and has begun initial production at its manufacturing facility in Brazil, the company has said.
Consumption of high levels of processed red meat is associated with higher risks of developing metabolic syndrome, according to new research.
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.
Many children and parents mistakenly associate sugary sports drinks with a healthy lifestyle, claim researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (UTHealth).
Stevia-based ingredient producer Wisdom Natural Brands is opening a new plant processing facility in Chile that it says will increase its output fivefold.
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.
The Italian dairy sector is starting to look up after a long period of restructuring that forced more than 30,000 farmers to shut down but tensions remain between producers and processors over prices, according to a USDA report.
Abbott said its recall of five million cans of Similac powdered infant formula because of possible contamination with beetles is likely to cost US$100m in lost revenues.
ConAgra Foods has reformulated its two most popular Healthy Choice brand soups to contain 15 percent less sodium, the company has said.
An internal audit of Canadian food import safety systems has found deficiencies that heighten the risk of contaminated products entering the food supply, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has said.
The Federal Trade Commission legal action alleging POM Wonderful made unsubstantiated claims for its pomegranate products, adds to a stream of claim actions the increasingly active agency has taken this year.
Ben & Jerry’s has said it will phase out use of the words ‘all natural’ on its ice cream and frozen yogurt labels after a complaint from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) last month.
The incidence of celiac disease has doubled every 15 years since 1974 and is becoming more prevalent in the elderly, claims new research from the University of Maryland’s Center for Celiac Research.
Once upon a time sugar was sugar, and sugar was most definitely not good for you. So the Corn Refiners Association move to rebrand high fructose corn syrup as corn sugar is a daring move – but should do little to sweeten its reputation.
A lack of plausible scientific evidence means that no general conclusions can currently be drawn on the safety of food and packaging derived from nanomaterials, said Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS).
Soy specialist Solbar USA has snapped up Nebraska-based Green Planet Farms for $7.75m as part of an effort to grow its sales and soy processing capabilities in its target market.
Agrifoods giant Cargill is to acquire the tomato sauce and paste business of Unilever in Brazil for around R$600m, bringing leading brands into the fold as well as solidifying its supply relations with Unilever.
The effects of imposing taxes on soft drinks to curb growing waistlines in the nation’s youth may be weaker than expected as kids turn to other sources of calories, says a new study.
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.
The addition of adjunct bacteria cultures is a “promising strategy” in the production of new artisan cheeses with more diverse flavours, say researchers.
Younger consumers aged 18 to 29 are likely to play an important role in US economic recovery due to optimism and a willingness to try new things, according to a new report from Packaged Facts.
Sara Lee has become the latest food manufacturer to join the voluntary Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) that aims to restrict advertising of junk food to children.
Neogen yesterday posted first quarter net income of just under US$6m – a year-on-year jump of 33 per cent.
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.
Purple bamboo salts may improve the chemical and sensory properties of meat products - whilst reducing sodium content, according to researchers.
Storing packaged lettuce salads at 5°C (41°F) or below is critical for reducing food safety risks such as E.coli 0157:H7, according to new research.
Stevia producer PureCircle has announced its third new European alliance in a week, teaming up with Nordzucker to develop and market stevia-sugar combos.
Nestle is investing around CHF50m in a new R&D centre in Gurgaon, India, as it expects 45 per cent of its global sales to come from emerging markets within a decade.
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.
Loders Croklaan has introduced a new range of trans-fat free shortenings for donuts, which the company says can eliminate oil migration and improve eating quality.
Sierra Mist Natural, PepsiCo’s reformulated carbonated soft drink product, may indicate a swing towards the use of sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, say two industry analysts.
One in 13 Canadians suffers from a food allergy, according to researchers who claim to have conducted the first nationwide study to determine the prevalence of severe food allergies in Canada.
The addition of starch to sorghum dough could improve certain negative characteristics of gluten-free sorghum bread, according to researchers.
PICO Holdings has entered into definitive agreements to build a new canola processing plant in Minnesota to help meet growing demand for canola oil, the company has said.
Researchers at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have said they are developing a method to more accurately identify salmonella strains – which could help scientists identify the source of an outbreak sooner.
A leading scientist honoured for his research into bisphenol A (BPA) has urged regulators to take immediate action on the chemical after a new study indicated human exposure to the substance is higher than previously believed.
PureCircle has launched a joint venture with the sugar company Tereos to provide sugar/stevia blends to the European market and gain a stronger international presence through Tereos’ Brazilian facilities.
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.
After two days of hearings, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has called for more research to decide whether genetically engineered salmon is safe for consumption.
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.
Senator Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) has called for the Food Safety Modernization Act to be brought to the floor for “a full and open debate” after Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) accused him and other Republicans of obstructing the bill.
DD Williamson has introduced a USDA-certified organic version of its class one acid-stable dark caramel color for use in beverages with pH below 2.5, the company has said.
Frequent chocolate consumption was associated with a lower prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in men and women independent of traditional risk factors, according to a review of a national US based heart, lung and blood study.
Oxidation products from unstable antioxidants may remove acrylamide in high temperature food processing, according to new research.
Campbell Soup Company said it aims to cut salt in around 80 per cent of its Pepperidge Farm range of breads, rolls and bagels by early next year.
There’s something incongruous about the hi-tech modern food industry sniffing around the Palaeolithic era for the next big consumer trend. But hold the side order of cynicism. There might just be some logic to good old-fashioned instinctive eating.
The Senate has voted to appoint Dr. Elisabeth Hagen as Under Secretary for Food Safety at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the agency has said.
Developing the habit of reading nutritional information on food packages can significantly help with weight loss whether or not someone exercises, according to a new study published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs.
Egypt is not facing a bread shortage as it has sufficient wheat stocks put by, the trade minister has assured, reducing the risk of civil unrest.
Experts from a US food safety watchdog are training scientists from Bangladesh on techniques to help eliminate health hazards from the country’s burgeoning aquaculture industry.
This year is set to be the biggest ever for US whole grain product launches, according to market research organization Mintel – with more than 3,700 new products carrying the claim since 2005.
Sugar imports and increased domestic production more than offset the growing shortfall under the raw sugar tariff rate quota (TRQ), according to the USDA’s latest sugar and sweeteners outlook report.
Increased competition from private label products means that food and beverage manufacturers must focus on innovation in order to maintain market share, warns a new report.
Land O’ Lakes has released its second corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, detailing its sustainability efforts, community service and international development goals.
Researchers have created a new form of soybean oil using traditional plant breeding that contains significantly elevated levels of oleic acid for trans and saturated fat replacement.
Canada’s snack consumption is higher than the US rate, but better for you products dominate when adult consumption patterns are tracked, finds a new report from the US based NPD Group.
Stevia supplier GLG Life Tech has signed an exclusive supply agreement with Fengyang Xiaogangcun Yongkang Foods High Tech Co. Ltd. (FXY) for distribution of its stevia products in China.
A white paper from the Innovation Center for US Dairy has warned that Hispanic consumption of dairy products could go into decline.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the Michigan-based Penguin Juice Company that its products are considered adulterated as they are not pasteurized, despite being labeled as such.
Nearly the entire US population fails to eat a diet in line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, according to new research published in the Journal of Nutrition.
Unilever said its deal with leading supplier, Unimills, for segregated certified sustainable palm oil represents a small start for the Dutch food and personal care group but takes the company in the right direction in terms of its 2015 total palm oil usage sourcing pledge.
The orange pulp ingredient firm Fiberstar has spun off its R&D division into a new business, and announced a $12m investment in a new manufacturing plant in Brazil.
Fruits from the Basella alba L. plant could provide the food industry with a new source of natural red pigments, according to new research.
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has said he intends to hold up food safety legislation that has been stalled in the Senate since last November, as there is no indication of how it would be funded.
The protective effects of cranberries toward urinary tract health may also extend to men’s prostates, according to a new study from the Czech Republic – the first of its kind to report such benefits.
DD Williamson has introduced a food coloring competition aiming to develop student awareness of natural colorants for beverage applications.
Kraft has said it expects to make an additional $1bn in revenue by 2013 because of better access to global markets and distribution networks following its takeover of Cadbury earlier this year.
Stevia supplier GLG Life Tech has become the latest company to receive a letter of no objection from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) saying that its stevia sweetener is generally recognized as safe (GRAS).
Avoidance of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is likely to increase among American consumers as the economy improves, suggests a new report from market research organization Mintel.
Raising the levels of ‘good’ potassium salts in foods could reduce heart disease risk by up to 11 per cent, according to new research.
Hershey lags behind its competitors when it comes to purchasing cocoa that has been certified to meet certain labour, social, and environmental standards, argues four non-governmental organisations in a highly critical report about the US confectionery maker.
The Corn Refiners Association has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking it to allow the term ‘corn sugar’ as an alternative label declaration for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Researchers at the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) claim to have developed a system to grow vegetables for a proposed lunar base.
The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) has called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to update foodborne illness data that it claims is out of date.
A new survey of government scientists and inspectors has suggested that parts of the food industry influence and withhold food safety data to protect their business interests.
Improved powder consistency and reduced bulk density without the need for premixing are the benefits claimed for a new dispersible grade of protein concentrate from California-based Cyvex Nutrition.
An innovative technique that employs a unique combination of already established instrumentation can significantly reduce the time taken to detect E.coli 0157:H7 in ground beef, said a new study.
Kids are not going to stop liking chocolate, pizza, ice cream, or fries. Heck, neither am I. So why is industry so afraid of mandatory restrictions on marketing to children?
Food industry R&D professionals have been slow to catch on to social media as a means of networking, according to the results of a new survey conducted on behalf of cheese ingredient company Sargento.
Biosynthesized pigments from fungi could be used as a reliable source of natural colorants, according to a new review.
India has called on Canadian companies to invest in the country’s rapidly growing food processing industries.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said that the 2010 Californian walnut yield is expected to come in at 510,000 short tons – 17 percent more than last year’s crop and double the 2000 harvest.
Cargill said its planned investment of $5m over the next three years in sustainable cocoa initiatives will help address the worst forms of child labour in cocoa growing communities in the Ivory Coast and Ghana.
As the market for premium products continues to evolve, a new report examines different premiumization strategies, aimed at helping food and beverage marketers successfully position their products in the luxury aisles.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is again requiring companies to disclose information about how they market their products to children and adolescents, the agency has said.
A Norwegian company has developed a new method that claims to be 90 per cent effective in reducing acrylamide formation during food production.
General Mills is forecasting ongoing volume growth for the ready-to-eat breakfast cereal category in the US despite the fact that market penetration involves about 90 per cent of US households.
A coalition of environmental and farming groups has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) accusing it of sidestepping a ban on the planting of genetically modified (GM) sugar beets.
Chinese supplier Fenchem reports moves into cosmetics and feed have helped it increase Q2 sales by 30 per cent year-on-year, along with strong performances in vitamin E and stevia.
The FDA is too lenient regarding health claims and should follow EFSA’s lead and hold foods “to the same scientific standards as those for drugs”, according to the editors of Scientific American.
Growth of gourmet and premium foods may have slowed from previous double-digits, but consumers are unwilling to give up some luxuries and marketers have found ways to respond to the changing demand, according to a new report.
The Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board has requested comments on a proposed definition of candy for tax purposes, which excludes confectionery that requires refrigeration or contains flour.
Foodborne illness survivors and consumer organizations met in Washington on Wednesday to urge senators to vote on the food safety bill that has been awaiting consideration since November.
Many store brand foods could fare just as well as their name-brand equivalents in taste tests, according to a new study from Consumer Reports.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has said it is seeking comments from interested parties to help develop new regulation for food imports.
Brand loyalty depends on consumer perception of company attributes that are similar to those we look for in people, claim researchers at Princeton University.
Vitamin D, calcium and iron come top of the list of nutrients used in fortified kids’ foods around the world, according to a new report.
Consumers tend to misinterpret front-of-pack low-carbohydrate claims as having greater health and weight loss implications than indicated by the Nutrition Facts panel, suggests new research.
A coalition of honey producers and importers has called on industry to question its sourcing of honey in light of the recent crackdown on honey smuggled from China.
A senior FAO official has argued that current instability in food commodity markets is unlikely to unravel into a crisis but warned that turbulence is here to stay.
Expense is the top reason given by North Americans for not eating as healthily as they intend, along with unwillingness to sacrifice taste, according to a new survey from The Nielsen Company.
Stevia supplier PureCircle has received a US Notice of Allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office for the production process of its stevia-derived sweeteners, the company has said.
A new intelligent technology that gives a running countdown of a product’s shelf life by analysing time and temperature data could replace traditional ‘use by’ dates on food labels, said the Norwegian company spearheading the development.
Enhancing bread formulations with buckwheat flour could create high quality, antioxidant rich products for the gluten-free sector, says new research.
Systematic and sustained action is needed to eliminate food insecurity in the United States, according to a new position paper from the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
The launch of a chewing gum containing resveratrol is expected to be greeted with “great interest” in the US, say the Danish makers of the gum.
The prevalence of both diabetes and obesity has grown significantly in California, according to new research from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that genetically engineered (GE) salmon is safe for human consumption in documents released ahead of a public meeting on the issue due later this month.
A new all-natural, edible nanostructure could be used to produce safe and sustainable food technologies, according to new research.
Californian organic strawberries could be more nutritious than conventional strawberries, according to a new study published in the online journal PLoS One.
A request from US snack manufacturer General Mills for a further hearing over a product shape trademark ruling has been denied by the Israeli Supreme Court.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said that temporary rules will be worked out for the planting of genetically modified (GM) sugar beets by the end of the year after a federal judge blocked their planting last month.
In tests conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), most candies, snack foods and breads were found to fall short of composition claims such as ‘low in fat’, ‘sugar free’ or ‘100 percent whole wheat’, according to a Postmedia report.
Six companies and eleven individuals have been arrested on charges of participating in an international honey smuggling operation, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said on Wednesday.
A Kansas State University professor has said he aims to prove that eating junk food does not necessarily lead to weight gain – by spending a month on a calorie-controlled diet of high-fat snacks.
‘Counterfeit' pine nuts may be the reason why consumers have been experiencing ‘pine mouth’, according to a statement made by the Danish food authority Fødevarestyrelsen.
PepsiCo is planning to begin distributing its Gatorade sports drinks direct to stores from its own and independent bottlers in the US and Canada.
The recall of more than half a billion eggs linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak highlights a need for better traceability in the food system, according to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
Italian researchers have optimised the extraction of the mushroom flavor compound 1-octen-3-ol from a flower, highlighting the potential of a natural alternative.
New research from the US shows that some flavours of chewing gum are effective in reducing the negative effects associated with nicotine withdrawal such as anxiety.
PepsiCo-owned Tropicana has introduced a new Trop50 apple juice sweetened with stevia, following on from the success of its Trop50 orange juice, launched in April last year.
S&W Seed Company, which entered into an agreement to supply domestically grown stevia to PureCircle in May, has reported a 36 percent surge in revenue during fiscal 2010.
Over 40 US and Canadian organizations have said that a Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) proposal to label farmed salmon as organic does not adhere to the principles of organic food.
The FAO has revised downward its forecast for 2010 world wheat production levels and reports that wheat market dynamics drove international food prices up in August by 5 per cent - the biggest month-on-month increase since November 2009.
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