Breaking news

FDA not ready to start FSMA registration process

The Food and Drug administration announced via e-mail alert late Friday that the procedure for food facility registrations will not be ready to be implemented by Monday, Oct. 1, the...

Mars and Hershey: beneficiaries of US Halloween candy glut, says analyst

US Halloween candy spending is projected to rise this year and the major players Mars and Hershey will be raking in the profits with seasonal variants of popular brands, according...

News in brief

JBF to build giant bio-glycol plant in Brazil to help Coca-Cola meet PlantBottle 2020 target

JBF Industries will build a giant new plant in Brazil dedicated to the production of the recyclable PET material used in Coca-Cola's PlantBottles to help the soft drinks giant meet...

Group asks Trader Joe's to sell only antibiotic-free meat

A group delivered a petition to Trader Joe’s via a news conference outside one of the food retailer’s stores in New York City yesterday to ask that the chain stop...

Frito-Lay and Innovia Films settle film patent dispute out of court

Frito-Lay and Innovia Films have reached an out of court settlement over patent rights for a biodegradable film used in packaging for crisps and snack bags.

Stevia set to be a ‘mass volume, mainstream ingredient’, says PureCircle after striking deal with Coca-Cola

PureCircle says it is one step closer to establishing its high-purity stevia as a “mass volume, mainstream ingredient” after signing a joint development and supply agreement with soft drinks giant...

September 2012 in pictures: Prop 37, Greek yogurt overcapacity, pink slime fights back and the birth of ‘New Kraft’

The food industry has rarely been out of the headlines this month, with NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s super-size soda ban getting the green light, a defamation lawsuit filed vs ABC News...

FoodJobs: Who’s on the move in fall 2012? Coke, Pepsi, Hormel, Flowers Foods, McCormick, Ingredion…

With changes at the top at beverage big guns Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, and new appointments at Hormel, Flowers Foods, McCormick, Ingredion, Caravan Ingredients and the GMA, we have an action-packed...

Big interview: Russ Moroz, VP Research Development & Quality, Kraft Foods

Kraft VP: There is no silver bullet on sodium reduction

Kraft Foods has made significant cuts in sodium across its portfolio - and is currently working on “proprietary approaches to take this work to the next level” - but there...

US gum sales below expectations for Rev7 degradable gum makers

British polymer firm Revolymer, the creators of Rev7 degradable gum, has suffered a loss in its first half results as US sales were lower than expected.

Fiber-rich yogurt success: Hide the fiber for greater consumer acceptance

Market success of yogurts formulated to be high in fiber and low in sugar could depend on how visible the fiber is in the formulation, suggests data from 700 young...

Aurora Algae: ‘There is a lot more recognition of the standalone EPA story now’

There is a “unique opportunity for high purity EPA as a standalone ingredient” as the omega-3 market becomes more sophisticated, says algal omega-3 specialist Aurora Algae as it prepares to...

Special edition: Life stages 2012…

BASF: Millennials love new delivery formats… Above all, they love snacks!

We’ve heard from the branding experts and the market researchers. But what do ingredients firms working with some of the biggest names in food, beverages and supplements think about how...

PepsiCo savors $363m US tax triumph over IRS

PepsiCo has won a US Tax Court judgment against the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which claimed the firm owed it circa. $363m in unpaid tax relating to operations in...

Delivery format key to reaching Gen Y supplement users

Kids don’t listen to the music their parents did.  When they got their driver’s licenses, they didn’t drive the family Buick, unless there was no choice.  And now that they...

Breaking news

Dean Foods seeks buyer for Morningstar

Dallas-based dairy giant Dean Foods is inviting potential buyers to cast a slide rule over its Morningstar warehouse delivery business - the smallest of its three divisions - as it...

Could quinoa have stomach health benefits?

The potential benefits of quinoa may extend to gut health, suggests the first study to report that polysaccharide fractions from the seeds may have anti-ulcer activity.

Judge: No reasonable consumer would be misled by Benecol’s claims

A judge has dismissed a proposed class action lawsuit vs Johnson & Johnson and McNeil Nutritionals over the labeling and marketing of cholesterol-busting spread Benecol.

ConAgra to create 80 new jobs in plant expansion for PF Chang’s and Bertolli products

ConAgra Foods is pumping $100m into expanding its facility in Russellville, Arkansas, to make Bertolli and P.F. Chang's frozen meals in a move that will create 80 new jobs.

‘Breakout hit’ Satiereal expands NA IP & readies for fight against trademark infringements

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has granted Patent # CA 2648985 to INO’Réal and company founder Cédric Bourges for the saffron extract Satiereal, as the company builds and defends its...

Multistate venture aims to boost food safety research

Three US universities have joined forces in a bid to strengthen food safety research and ensure experts state-wide work together.

Special edition: Life stages 2012…

Datamonitor: Millennials have a love-hate relationship with private labels…

Do consumers in their early 20s care as much about brands as their parents and grandparents? And if not, can retailers do more with private label ranges to attract young people?...

Special edition: Life stages 2012…

How to sell more products using, totally, like, mind-blowing arcade games and you know, facebook…

What do teenagers want? Kraft, which has just launched a gum targeting this demographic, believes it has the answer.

Danone settles Canadian Activia health claims lawsuit

Danone has settled a class action lawsuit in Canada relating to claims made on labels, packaging and advertisements for its Activia yogurt and DanActive probiotic drinks products.

Medic: I have never seen any of my patients become ill due to arsenic in food

The recent report from consumer watchdog Consumer Reports about arsenic levels in rice is” troubling and worrisome, but not for the reasons you may think”, says a leading dietitian.

Sodium reduction: Scientists produce cheddar with ‘large reductions in sodium’

Potassium chloride can successfully reduce the use of sodium chloride in cheddar cheese, with taste profiles similar to full-sodium versions, says a new study from the University of Minnesota.

Kellogg-Wilmar JV should target China's $13bn snack sector, not cereal: Analysts

Kelloggs’ 50:50 joint venture with agribusiness giant Wilmar must target the lucrative snacks sector as Western breakfast cereals remain unpopular in China and local competition is strong, say analysts.

Cardiologist: High fructose corn syrup is 'one of the most misunderstood food ingredients'

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is “one of the most misunderstood food ingredients”, and continues to be lambasted in the media and on the internet long after the scientific debate...

Kellogg strikes cereal and snack joint venture with Chinese monopoly Wilmar

US cereal giant Kellogg has struck a 50:50 joint venture with Chinese agribusiness monopoly Wilmar International that will manufacture and sell cereals and snacks across the country.

Downsize me: Will NYC-style portion curbs help battle the bulge?

The row over Mayor Bloomberg’s controversial plan to curb sales of super-size sodas in New York City has intensified with the publication of new research debating the role that sugary drinks play...

PepsiCo back in the firing line over all-natural claims as new class action targets Frito-Lay

PepsiCo has been targeted by the latest in a string of class action lawsuits alleging big brands are misleading consumers by labelling products as ‘all-natural’ when they contain genetically modified...

Silliker opens new Solutions Center as food safety awareness increases

Silliker’s new flagship food safety testing facility has opened its door in Illinois, as the company maintains its commitment to meet the food industry’s testing demands.

New global chocolate firm carved out of Callebaut plant sale

A new player has entered the global chocolate market after Barry Callebaut sells its final consumer goods factory, based in France.

Goddess Energy flirts with hoodia in energy drink

US firm Goddess Energy has launched an energy drink for women called Flirt, which is on East Coast sale as a dietary supplement with one interesting appetite-suppressing bioactive, Hoodia Gordonii.

Top analyst predicts FDA wriggle room in supplement-beverage guidance

With the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) poised to publish guidance on distinguishing between beverages and liquid dietary supplements, one analyst tells BeverageDaily.com he doesn’t see the agency cracking...

Coca-Cola Refreshments hails 'confidence' in management as union tastes Texas defeat

Coca-Cola has hailed a 'vote of confidence' in management, after staff voted against making its Fort Worth bottling site the firm's first corporate-owned unionized plant in the South.

Online event to explore opportunities and challenges of marketing to different life stages

What is a life stage and why are they important to food manufacturers? There are the obvious ‘stages’ like pregnant women, infants, children and seniors. But what about millennials? Teens?...

Guest article

The challenges of ‘natural’ and ‘bumpy road’ tests: Efficient troubleshooting in action

Dealing with problems that may arise in the formulation of food and beverage products is vital for manufacturers. In the second part of his look at troubleshooting, Leatherhead Food Research’s...

Sunsweet teams up with CreAgri to develop beverages packed with olive polyphenols on new anti-inflammatory platform

Californian co-operative Sunsweet Growers has tied up with olive polyphenols expert CreAgri to develop a new range of juices containing Hidrox, a potent anti-inflammatory ingredient from olive juice.

How easy - and how expensive - is it to source non-GMO ingredients?

With the debate over Prop 37 heating up, a new class action lawsuit over ‘all-natural’ claims on products containing GMOs filed every week, and Monsanto in the firing line following...

ConAgra Foods: ‘We believe in frozen, we have an innovation machine’

While higher ticket prices have dented volumes of its Banquet brand, ConAgra is predicting a steady rebound in the frozen case this year as innovative new products gain traction.

Scientists propose packaging from trout skin

Trout skin could be used to create edible packaging for the food industry, suggests fresh research.

Food labels may help consumer battle obesity: Study

Reading nutritional information placed on food labels works to help fight obesity, according to new findings confirming that people who read labels are generally thinner than those who do not.

Wrigley files patent on texture and flavor enhancing gum composition

Gum titan Wrigley has filed a patent for a gum formulation containing soluble fiber that it claims improves flavor and texture while increasing the healthiness of the product.

‘Safe’ levels of Monsanto herbicide and GM crop linked to cancer

Long term exposure to even relatively low levels of Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup and a genetically modified resistant crop strain could result in a ‘greatly increased’ risk of tumors’ and premature...

News in brief

Nestlé invests in new production line for Supligen in Jamaica

Nestlé has invested almost $8m in a new production line at its factory in Jamaica which makes Supligen, a milk-based nutritional meal supplement popular in the Caribbean.

Guest article

Expert outlines top 10 tips for efficient formulation troubleshooting

As foods become ever more complex, the need to be able to efficiently troubleshoot problems becomes even more critical. In this guest article, Wayne Morley, PhD, head of food innovation...

General Mills: New Nature Valley protein bars will be as big as Fiber One brownies in year one

New Nature Valley protein bars will be as big as Fiber One brownies in their first year, General Mills has predicted as consumers replace “mindless munching” with healthier snacking options.

Bakers: US sugar prices are still 50-75% higher than world prices

The American Bakers Association (ABA) says it is only a matter of time before “some form of a [sugar] reform amendment passes in the House”, although sugar producers say the US...

DuPont antibacterial protein partnership targets E.Coli first

DuPont Nutrition & Health aims to boost food safety, quality and shelf life by developing bactericidal proteins in partnership with US firm AvidBiotics Corporation.

FDA nearing decision on federal standards for arsenic in rice

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering new standards for the levels of arsenic in rice but said yesterday that it does not have enough evidence yet.

Teen girls the likeliest US gum consumers, says NCA

American teenage girls are two times more likely to consume gum than the average US consumer, according to the US National Confectioner’s Association (NCA).

Rice bran shows potential to enhance gluten-free formulations

Adding rice bran to a rice flour-based gluten-free bread recipe could boost fiber content and improve the sensory acceptance and shelf life, according to researchers.

News in brief

Walmart offers 5% savings on Great For You products via new incentive scheme

Walmart has ramped up its commitment to healthy eating and raised the profile of its new ‘Great for You’ front-of-pack labels with the launch of a new initiative that will...

Taste, local and health hold keys to success for sorghum products

The success of sorghum grain products could be dependent on emphasizing health benefits, local sourcing, and the sensory profiles, suggests new data from Kansas State University.

Natural antioxidant offers shelf-life boost for extruded cereals

Rosemary extracts can deliver a significant reduction in the formation of hexanal - a marker for oxidation in foods - without the bitter off-flavors associated with other natural antioxidants, tests...

Hostess seeks to impose bankruptcy-exit deal in court after union rejects ‘outrageously unfair’ final offer

Hostess Brands is seeking a legal means to force members of the union representing a big chunk of its staff to accept a deal they have rejected by an overwhelming...

Multibillion-dollar food manufacturer seeks solution to egg white protein problem

A leading food manufacturer is looking for potential partners to pitch technologies that will help inhibit the aggregation and clouding of proteins when egg white is heated.

R&D challenge: Developing texture-modified foods for the elderly

Texture-modified foods for the elderly are likely to become an important area for R&D in the coming years as the population ages – but there are many challenges to producing...

COMMENT

Dr Pepper draws Creationist Christian fury with flavor 'evolution' poster

Dr Pepper has incited fury among Creationist Christians, after posting a Facebook poster showing the ‘evolution of flavor’ for its flagship brand, in a tongue-in-cheek twist on the evolutionary 'March...

Making connections with young adults: ‘A new area for most European food companies’

Young adults in Europe are communicating with food brands in new ways – and expect an emotional connection through multiple online and offline media, according to director of innovation and...

Dannon slams ‘poorly informed and frivolous’ Activia yogurt identity lawsuit

Dannon has dismissed a class action lawsuit alleging that its Activia yogurts do not meet FDA-approved standards of identity as “poorly informed and frivolous”.

Hershey opens doors at the ‘world’s most technologically advanced’ choc factory

Hershey has officially opened its expanded chocolate factory in West Hershey, PA, unveiling “technology never before used in the manufacture of confectionery”.

News in brief

PepsiCo pumps $38m into Frito-Lay plant in Connecticut

PepsiCo plans to invest about $38m on a new high-tech warehouse distribution system for its Frito-Lay factory and distribution center in Killingly, Connecticut.

Private label sales surge but lackluster retail pizza market is going backwards, says Packaged Facts

The US retail pizza market is going backwards, with 2012 sales of frozen and refrigerated pizza predicted to slump by 0.9% to $4.91bn, according to market researcher Packaged Facts.

Tate & Lyle: Expect a significant uptick in monk fruit launches in six months

There will be a “significant uptick” in US product launches containing Purefruit in the next six months, while the monk fruit-based sweetener is also moving towards price parity with stevia...

Game-changing emulsifier can slash beverage process costs, claims Ingredion

A new starch emulsifier developed by Ingredion can deliver four times the emulsifying power of traditional beverage emulsifiers, enabling manufacturers to slash production and distribution costs, claims the ingredients giant.

Red hot: Could this be the coolest ingredient production facility on the planet? Cyanotech, Hawaii in pictures

It’s a factory Jim, but it sure doesn’t look like one. It’s also housed on one of the prettiest places on earth, which by happy coincidence provides near-perfect growing conditions...

Minnesota grant to boost food safety

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has won $600,000 in grants from the US Food and Drug Administration to enhance the state’s food safety capabilities.

‘Dynamic’ market spurs novel research to boost red wine quality

Spanish researchers have developed a novel process that involves adding dehydrated waste grape skins to red wines before bottling to improve their color, aroma and phenolic content.

Some customers are interested in reintroducing finely textured beef post ‘pink slime’ debacle, says Cargill

Some customers have expressed an interest in re-introducing finely textured beef (FTB) to their ground beef products after a media storm over ‘pink slime’ prompted many to drop it earlier...

Soft drinks giants mull legal options as NYC soda ban gets green light

Beverage makers have blasted New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “discriminatory ban” on sales of super-sized sodas, while supporters have dismissed the industry’s “professionally manufactured outrage” and urged other states...

Beef Products Inc: We were an American success story… until March 7, 2012

The true extent of the financial and human catastrophe that engulfed lean finely textured beef (LFTB) maker Beef Products Inc (BPI) as a result of the 'pink slime' media storm...

Itochu in talks for Dole’s Asian operation

Japanese trading major Itochu has disclosed that it is in advanced talks with Dole Food over the purchase of the American company’s processed foods business and Asian fruit and vegetable...

News in brief

Hain Celestial calls for EU-style GMO labeling

Hain Celestial has issued a statement calling for EU-style labeling of food products containing genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) in the US.

Beef Products Inc files defamation lawsuit v ABC News over 'pink slime' reports: 'Our world was turned upside down'

Lean finely textured beef maker (LFTB) Beef Products Inc. has filed a defamation lawsuit against ABC News alleging its “false and disparaging" news reports about ‘pink slime’ defamed its products...

Durbin, Blumenthal send second letter to FDA seeking action on energy drinks

Sens. Dick Durbin and Richard Blumenthal have sent another letter to FDA inquiring about the regulation of energy beverages.

‘Virtue not vice makes a dull beverage nice’: US research finds

US academics have found that exposing college students to stories of moral transgression or virtue prior to tasting a mixture of Gatorade and water affected perceptions of disgust and delight...

News in brief

Campbell Soup opens $30m innovation center at Pepperidge Farm HQ in Connecticut

Campbell Soup Co has opened a new $30m, 34,000-square-foot innovation center at its Pepperidge Farm HQ in Norwalk, Connecticut.

New product development at Kraft Foods Group: ’The days of spray and pray innovation are gone’

The days of “spray and pray innovation at Kraft are gone” with “big bet” new products expected to meet more rigorous standards before they are launched in future, says the...

Food safety ultimately the producers responsibility, says professor

The ultimate responsibility for food safety lies with producers and not auditors, inspectors or government agencies, according to Doug Powell from Kansas State University.

US private label market could double in five to six years, predicts PLM boss

The US private label market has the potential to double its sales in five to six years, the boss of a firm supplying some of the food retail sector’s biggest...

‘Angel’s Share’ sees Kentucky city serve Diageo air pollution notice

Diageo Americas Supply has been sent an air pollution ‘notice of violation’ letter by city authorities in Louisville, Kentucky, which alleges that excess ethanol emissions from warehousing used to age...

Could soy protein boost frozen dough quality?

Adding soy protein to the formulation recipe for dough may enhance the quality of the product after freezing, suggests new research from Ohio State University.

News in brief

Non-GMO verified sales up 21% in natural foods channel

Sales of non-GMO Project Verified products in the US natural channel surged by 21% in the 12 weeks to August 4, according to new data from SPINS.

Could galectin-3 inhibition create a completely new category of functional foods?

Scientists studying pectins that inhibit a protein called galectin-3 - elevated levels of which are associated with a higher risk of heart failure - say their work could create a...

PepsiCo president seizes 'once in lifetime' chance to fly new firm

PepsiCo says it feels sadness after the sudden resignation of president John Compton, who has left the firm to pursue a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity as CEO of Pilot...

Stevia in transition: Reb A accounted for 40% of PureCircle revenues in 2012 v 90% in 2009

Further evidence that steviol glycoside Reb A is no longer the only game in town when it comes to delivering high intensity natural sweetness has emerged in PureCircle’s full-year results,...

Tate & Lyle says new stevia sweetener ‘won’t turn off bitter-sensitive consumers’

Tate & Lyle has developed a new stevia sweetener, which it claims does not have the bitter flavour associated with many stevia sweeteners on the market.

Snyder’s-Lance gains innovation and retail entry points via Snack Factory

Snyder’s-Lance has gained a sturdy innovation platform and access to new retail entry points following the purchase of Snack Factory, its CEO said.

Researchers seek food industry help to develop next generation of brain foods

The researchers behind Emulin - a blood glucose control ingredient attracting interest from some of the biggest brands in food and drink - is asking food manufacturers to help it...

Hain Celestial hails success of Greek Gods yogurt brand

Organic and natural foods specialist Hain Celestial has continued to generate strong growth in the US market while more mainstream consumer packaged food companies have suffered volume declines, says its...

Attorney: FSMA delay no reason to bury your head in the sand. Get your house in order now!

Just because food manufacturers are still waiting for the devil to emerge from the detail of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) does not mean there is nothing they can...

Coke takes first steps in bold new US beverage world

As the Coca-Cola Company launches a new range of water flavor enhancers under its Dasani brand from October allowing US consumers to personalize tastes, a top drinks analyst suggests it...

News in brief

Food and beverage jobs accounted for two thirds of job growth in US in August

The food and beverage industry was a critical driver of jobs in August according to new figures released by The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, adding 4,800 food manufacturing...

JM Smucker on the rise and rise of the K-cup

Jif peanut butter to Folgers coffee maker JM Smucker says K-cups have added almost $180m to its top line in just two years from a standing start and now represent...

Will capacity surge put pressure on prices as big guns invest in the Greek yogurt boom?

The rush to build new capacity in the US yogurt sector - largely driven by the Greek yogurt boom - could put pressure on prices in the short term, although...

THE MONDELEZ SERIES – Chocolate strategy

Mondelez sets global chocolate vision

Four power brands, three priority markets and two innovation platforms will drive growth for Mondelez’s chocolate segment, according to the firm’s category head.

Fat but fit: Obese people can still be ‘metabolically healthy'

A large subset of people can be obese yet remain but metabolically healthy and fit, with no greater risk of developing or dying from heart disease or cancer than normal...

Processed food clause in Prop 37 would kill off 'natural' category in California, warns NPA

The Natural Products Association (NPA) has come out against California’s Proposition 37 GMO labeling proposal, in part because it would prohibit members from marketing thousands of foods as ‘natural’ -...

Hershey sets up Indian subsidiary after ending Godrej joint venture

The Hershey Company has agreed a deal to buy Godrej Industries 49% stake in the two companies’ Indian joint venture and has announced plans to set up its own subsidiary:...

B&G Foods: ‘We are very, very good at executing on acquisitions’

Packaged foods specialist B&G Foods is in search of shelf-stable brands or groups of brands with “defensible, niche positions” in their categories and sales of less than $100m, says chief...

Don’t write off the US ready-to-eat cereals category, says General Mills

Declining volumes in the $9.51bn US cereals market can be blamed on “cyclical not structural” issues, and do not mean the category has peaked and will carry on going backwards,...

The Mondelez Series - New confectionery powerhouse

BRIC markets to drive growth for Kraft’s Mondelez spin-off

The developing markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China will drive sales for Kraft’s global snacks business Mondelez International, according to CEO Irene Rosenfeld.

GRAS approval will aid commercial push of acrylamide-preventing yeast, says developers

GRAS approval of Functional Technologies' yeast strain should drive the push towards commercialisation and aid bakery and snacks manufacturers in the plight against acrylamide reduction, says developers.

Ben & Jerry’s suing adult film maker over Ben & Cherry’s parallels

US ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s has filed a lawsuit against the makers of the ‘Ben & Cherry’s’ X-rated DVD series, claiming that the films are smearing its reputation....

Greek identity crisis? Cabot Greek-style yogurt is not a yogurt at all, claims plaintiff

The second class action lawsuit in six months to question whether a Greek yogurt brand meets the legal standard of identity for yogurt in the US has been filed in...

Investment will see WikiCells edible food packaging ready by 2013, claims developer

WikiCells, a food packaging technology that could eliminate the need for plastic containers, has secured a $10m investment to launch its product next year.

News in brief

2012: The year of fewer, bigger, deals in health & wellness, and a sharp rise in financing

The number of mergers and acquisitions in the US nutrition, health and wellness market was down by almost 40% in the first half of 2012*, according to Nutrition Capital Network (NCN).

Regulation change could help turn bread into key source of vitamin D

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended food additive regulations to allow bakers to significantly increase levels of vitamin D in bread and make ‘High’, ‘Rich In’ or ‘Excellent...

Double emulsion technology backed for salt reduction

The use of duplex emulsion technology could help to boost the perceived saltiness in reduced sodium processed foods, according to new research.

Would consumers benefit from changes to the way HFCS is labeled?

As the row between sugar and corn refiners heats up this week, advocacy group Citizens for Health has entered the fray with a citizen’s petition calling for the FDA to...

Comment

Organic nutrition: Does it really matter?

Yesterday a large scale scientific review revealed that organic produce may not be more nutritious than ‘conventionally’ produced goods. But since that isn’t the main reason people buy them, does...

US COMMODITIES CORNER

August milk prices show significant increases

As a result of increased and unexpected US demand for cheese and butter in recent weeks, milk prices in the country have jumped by more than a dollar per hundredweight....

Sugar and corn giants trade insults as high fructose corn syrup row heats up

Leading corn refiners have accused sugar producers of conducting a “systematic campaign” to vilify high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in a counter claim filed in California yesterday as part of...

Kraft seeks ingredient solution to lower water activity - without adding sodium or sugar

Kraft Foods is inviting potential partners to pitch ingredients that could help its product developers lower water activity in foods without adding sodium or sweetness.

News in brief

Why do 80% of US adults think they are healthy when all evidence points to the contrary?

Eight out of 10 US adults describe themselves as “extremely” or “very” healthy - despite the fact that two thirds are overweight or obese and just 20% eat a very...

Campbell Soup CEO: ‘The pace of our progress needs to accelerate’

Campbell Soup impressed investors with higher-than-expected earnings in the fourth quarter but admitted that its turnaround “is taking us longer than we anticipated”.

Cargill builds science for new high-intensity Monatin sweetener

Extracts from the South African plant Sclerochiton ilicifolius are amongst the ‘most potently sweet naturally occurring substances known’, report scientists from ingredients giant Cargill.

Organic produce is no healthier or nutritious, finds review

Organic produce offers no benefits over conventional farming methods when it comes to nutrition and health, according to the findings of a new wide ranging review of the evidence.

Jamba Juice all-natural lawsuit moves into new phase

A California judge has granted in part a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed against Jamba Juice over ‘all-natural’ claims, but has given the plaintiff the right to...

FoodJobs: People on the Move

FoodNavigator-USA brings you this latest photo gallery round-up of food industry moves, promotions and new hires.

Massive Campari takeover exploits ‘underdeveloped’ premium rum

Gruppo Campari today announced a US $414.7m deal to acquire Jamaican rum company Lascelles (LdM) de Mercado and said it planned to use its new heritage brands to spur 'underdeveloped'...

USDA urged to update nutritional guidelines on Greek yogurt

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been urged to update its nutritional guidelines to differentiate Greek from other traditional types of yogurt and reclassify it as a high protein...

Candy tax approved in US city as levy for other foods ditched

The city of Lakewood in Colorado has implemented state laws to tax candy and soft drinks at 3% while repealing earlier rules to tax a wider variety of foods.