New Cargill sweetener targets dairy desserts and baked goods

Ingredients giant Cargill has launched a new line of sweeteners designed to reduce the number of calories in frozen dairy desserts and sweetened bakery products such as cake, muffins and...

Natural flavor enhancer promises greater shelf stability

Blue Pacific's new functional flavor system offers health-minded beverage makers the promise of shelf stability without the threat of ringing or separation.

Italian gourmet sector targets US consumers

An ambitious Italian gourmet food promotion programme could transform the fortunes of a revitalised sector - as long as EU bureaucracy doesn't ruin everything.

Rice ingredient launched as nutritional dairy replacer

A new ingredient made from rice could allow ice cream, yoghurt and protein bar manufacturers to make grain claims on their products, say scientists at food research company CRM.

Trans fat unease moves to food service sector

Eat'n Park Hospitality Group's company-wide shift to trans fat-free cooking oil reflects growing unease within the food service sector that it could be the next target of the health crusaders.

Flavor and fragrance sales continue to fall at IFF

International Flavors & Fragrances saw a further drop in sales in its third quarter, as it still struggles to overcome the impact of the sale of one of its businesses...

Anheuser sales slip marrs waste award

Anheuser Busch's waste-cutting focus may have got it into the Environmental Protection Agency's hall of fame but another slip in beer sales looks like making 2005 a year to forget.

Monsanto, Solae to create new soy protein line

Biotech giant Monsanto and soy ingredients supplier Solae are to develop a new line of soy proteins that they claim will have a better taste and higher level of solubility...

Potato plugged as new lactic acid source

Potato waste could offer the food industry a cheap, renewable and as yet underutilised source of chitin and lactic acid, according to a university scientist.

Age and habit influence cereal choice, says study

Age and habit are key influencing factors when it comes to the type of cereal US consumers choose to buy, according to a recent study by Zogby International.

ConAgra ties fortunes to rising nutritional awareness

ConAgra's attempt to inextricably link itself with current health trends is evident in the launch of its latest range of products under the "Eat Well, Live Well, Choose Well" slogan....

New studies confirm TV-obesity link

Television viewing is a key factor in the nation's growing obesity epidemic, according to two studies published in this month's Journal of Pediatrics.

Recovering Florida citrus hit again by hurricane

Up to 15 percent of Florida's citrus crop was destroyed when Hurricane Wilma hit the southern part of the state on Monday, according to preliminary estimates by Florida Citrus Mutual,...

Microencapsulation and ingredients firms share common challenges

Innovation must be a priority for microencapsulation and food ingredients companies to meet the challenges in today's competitive market, says a new study.

FDA crushes cherry claims

The FDA is unconvinced that cherries pack as much of a health punch as some marketers of cherry-based products are claiming. It has issued warning letters to 29 companies, telling...

Weekly Comment

Putting a premium on substance over style

Food producers are flogging the term 'premium' for all it's worth, threatening to flood a market that relies on exclusivity for its success with well-packaged tat.

Food industry demands quicker pathogen testing

Growing demand from food companies for quicker pathogen testing to free up both time and inventory should benefit microbiology firms, according to a business consultant.

Portion size drives food intake, confirms study

The body's biological signal for controlling hunger and fullness does not step in to regulate intake in the face of huge food servings, according to a Penn State researcher.

Tuna industry challenges validity of mercury lawsuit

A successful lawsuit against the tuna industry would lower the threshold for mercury so low that every US seafood product would require a warning, claim canners.

Functional foods could solve health crisis

Functional food could present a solution to the crisis of chronic diseases that is crippling health care systems across Europe, but the emphasis should be on action over education, according...

Florida citrus faces slow, uncertain recovery

An upbeat forecast for Florida's 2005-06 citrus crop is good news, but it still leaves the industry a long way from fully recovering from devastating disease and natural disaster.

Senomyx taps flavor potential with sweet taste patent

A patent covering the use of the human sweet taste receptor to screen for compounds could give Senomyx a significant edge in the race to identify new sweet flavor ingredients.

Food industry still wary after 'Cheeseburger Bill' victory

This week's passage of the so-called Cheeseburger Bill looks like a straightforward victory for food makers, but the industry should still be wary over the possibility of future litigation.

Acrylamide risk less with EU almonds than US version, new study

European almonds pose less of an acrylamide risk than their US counterparts, finds a new study to interest confectioners.

Further niacin price rises could be on the way

Millers and supplement makers could see prices for niacin, or vitamin B3, increasing further next year if energy prices continue to rise, says a leading supplier.

Kraft spin-off moves closer to becoming reality

Food giant Kraft, which saw earnings drop 13.5 percent in third quarter earnings yesterday, moved a step closer to being spun off from parent Altria after a $280 billion government...

CP Kelco raises pectin and xanthan gum prices

Leading pectin and xanthan gum supplier CP Kelco becomes the latest hydrocolloid firm to pass costs onto the market, announcing price rises across its biogum, carrageenan and cellulose gum range.

Battle looms over trans fats in cooking oil

Growing concern over trans fats is spilling into the restaurant sector, triggering fears that cooking oil suppliers and restaurants are not adapting quickly enough to consumer demands.

Partnership promises tight food lab security

A new partnership offering enhanced data protection and security should help firms meet stringent FDA requirements.

DecisionNewsMedia seeks a deputy editor

Decision News Media, a fast-growing international Internet company and aleader in business and science news publishing, is seeking a deputy editor.

Cargill reports earnings rise on back of acquisitions

Having largely escaped the wrath of Hurricane Katrina and vigorously strengthened its position in the pectin, lecithin and flavor sectors, Cargill has reported a two percent rise in first quarter...

Carrageenan range promises increased meat yield

A new range of specialty carrageenans designed to increase yield, prevent drip loss and ensure freeze/thaw stability for meat, fish and poultry is set to be unveiled.

Spiralling costs hit lactic acid prices at Purac

For the second time in six months, Purac raises prices for its range of lactic acids as raw material and energy costs continue to bite.

Senator demands state vetting over global trade accords

Fears that a WTO settlement could see state power drained and even supplanted by international-level trade accords has alarmed some Senators.

Burcon pulls off canola protein improvements

Burcon NutraScience Corporation has announced that it has successfully modified its canola protein extraction process to make its Puratein and Supertein ingredients suitable for a broader range of food and...

Trans-fat crusader sharpens focus for next battle

The Californian attorney who sued both Kraft and McDonald's over trans-fats tells FoodNavigator-USA.com how he forced the issue onto the front pages, and what his next plan of action is....

Beta-carotene linked to lower deaths among elderly

Intake of beta-carotene from foods is inversely associated with lower mortality, including death from heart disease and cancer, in the elderly, shows a new study across different European populations.

New gum system promises further dairy innovation

A new natural gum system designed to achieve a thick, creamy taste and appearance could help dairy food makers avoid commodification.

Promised WTO breakthrough fails to materialize

The week started with the US making a firm commitment to cut domestic farm subsidies but ended in disappointment at the WTO. Politics as normal, or is an agreement doomed?

Gluten-free the key to boost craft bakery sales?

The production of gluten-free products could be the way for craft bakeries to increase sales, which are suffering in the face of lower priced mass-produced goods from industrial bakeries, according...

Soy processor taps trans-free oil market

A North Carolina-based soybean processor has tapped into the lucrative trans-fat free oil market through a patent process that also retains the nutritional benefits of soy.

Probiotics increase protection against autoimmune disease

Probiotic bacteria could not only help fight viruses but they may also protect against autoimmune diseases like diabetes, says Swedish probiotics firm Probi.

New method to unlock secrets of beta-carotene

A fast, simple and environmentally friendly method of measuring precisely the beta-carotene and other carotenoid levels in pumpkin could help food makers achieve a better understanding of an important nutritional...

US trade offer breaks WTO deadlock

A firm commitment from the US to cut domestic farm subsidies by 60 percent within a five-year timeframe could revitalize WTO negotiations and benefit US food makers, according to the...

Tate & Lyle roadshow boosts market stature

UK sweetener supplier Tate & Lyle announces it will host a series of presentations to American investors over the coming days, news that sees the firm's shares jump.

Weekly Comment

A hungry world needs a fit FAO

The crusade to end world hunger has been a bitter failure. But with the world set to sweep away a crooked food trading system, there is a chance to get...

Cargill ramps up trans-fat reduced oil production

Cargill intends to ramp up production of Vistive, a low-linolenic soybean-based oil, following growing interest in the food industry over trans-fat reduced products.

Jungbunzlauer raises prices for citric acid

Energy costs and European supply issues herald price increases for the popular beverage ingredient citric acid, with major manufacturer Jungbunzlauer announcing a price hike for citric acid and trisodium citrate.

Salt replacers tap growing US health concerns

Wild Flavors has launched a new salt replacement product that it claims blocks the negative taste of potassium chloride while keeping the true taste and mouthfeel of salt.

CLA, full-fat dairy linked to lower bowel cancer risk

High intake of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a type of fat found naturally in cow's milk, is associated with a significantly lower risk of bowel cancer, shows a new Swedish...

Natural gas costs push up soy lecithin prices for Solae

Soy ingredients supplier Solae is the latest firm to be hit by soaring costs for natural gas as the company announces price increases for its line of soy lecithin products.

IFF settles claims with lung-damaged popcorn workers

A flavoring company has settled claims with 19 popcorn factory workers who claim that a butter flavoring led them to develop lung disease.

Monsanto leaking millions in patent revenue, claims group

Biotech giant Monsanto has lost millions in international royalty payments and is trailing its major competitor, Pioneer, in US department of agriculture genetically modified (GM)-crop field trials, according to a...

Salad E. coli recall threatens lucrative market

The urgent recall of certain pre-packaged Dole salad products has called into question the safety of a popular convenience product.

Folate may protect women drinkers from breast cancer, says study

Evidence for folic acid's ability to reduce the adverse effects of alcohol on breast cancer risk is stacking up, with the publication of a prospective cohort study in the British...

People on the move

The FDA commissioner has resigned, Cargill has a new vice president and Solvay Chemicals has a new chief executive.

Fiber products must emphasize benefits, says report

Fiber sells if intake is linked to benefits such as energy management, weight management and digestive health in popular foods such as bread, cereal and pasta, claims a new report.

WHO calls for tighter laws on food industry to tackle preventable disease

The World Health Organisation has created new guidelines for governments in the fight against a growing chronic disease pandemic, which are likely to add to the pressure already being felt...

Post Katrina, dairy producers face long-term losses

Dairy producers' losses from Hurricane Katrina could easily exceed $40m, says a US dairy association, highlighting the prospect of immeasurable long-term damage and raising questions over when disaster aid will...

School junk food ban must be extended, claims campaigner

The food industry has been hammered for making children overweight, but one Californian parent believes that banning junk food in schools is redundant unless another legal loophole is dealt with.

Weekly Comment

Junk Food Babes

If education is meant to deliver knowledge and wise choices, why are we doing so little to educate our children about food?

Tate & Lyle fights to preserve status in sucralose market

Tate & Lyle's ice cream sweetening system has been named as one of the finalists at a forthcoming trade show competition, though the company may soon face a struggle to...

Kraft launches healthy Nabisco snack line

Leading US food manufacturer Kraft Foods has taken another step in the direction of health and wellness, launching a new line of wholegrain snack products under its Nabisco brand.

FDA tightens anti-bioterrorism measures

A final ruling that requires all manufacturers to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is designed to ensure that the country's food supply remains safe from possible attack.

Public health bodies slam new fluoride tolerance levels

Environmental organizations claim that new food tolerances for the fluoride-based pesticide sulfuryl fluoride could be potentially damaging to public health.