Hurricane Sandy latest: AAK; DSM, Mondelez, PepsiCo, Dannon, Unilever

Wednesday PM: In the latest updates from food and beverage firms affected by Hurricane Sandy…

Sugar and corn refiners accuse each other of hypocrisy as HFCS lawsuit gets ugly

Both sides have accused the other of hypocrisy as the increasingly bitter legal dispute between corn and sugar refiners moved into a new phase this week.

QualiTech offers natural flavor solution for products affected by peanut recall

A natural corn-based flavor ingredient may offer a solution for manufacturers using peanut ingredients during a recall, says Minnesota-based QualiTech.

RSPO members urged to support GreenPalm until they can achieve 100% physical, sustainable palm

A group* of palm oil growers, millers and environmental organizations has called on all members of the Round Table on Sustainable Palm oil (RSPO) to support the GreenPalm certificate trading...

Sweet politics

Confectioners and US lobbying

In this ‘Sweet Politics’ special edition ConfectioneryNews.com looks at the lobbying efforts of the top US confectioners who are pumping big bucks into campaigns to influence proposed legislation in this...

Sweet Politics

Hershey backs improved US international relations ahead of global push

The Hershey Company has been lobbying for improved foreign market access for US companies as it concentrates on growing its business internationally.

Sweet Politics

Mondelēz favors sweeter US trade relations with Russia

Mondelēz International lobbied the US government to establish permanent normal trade relations with Russia earlier this year as it set its sights on the developing market.

Sweet Politics

Mars pumps bucks into sugar reform

Mars Incorporated has focused much of its lobbying on driving reform of US sugar policy in this presidential election year.

Third time's the charm: Durbin, Blumenthal call on FDA to investigate energy drinks

For the third time in 2012, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. , joined for a second time by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has sent a letter to the Food and Drug...

Private label sales hit $98 billion on 6% growth, report says

Sales of private label food and beverage products in the United States topped $98 billion 2011, according to a new report from market research firm Packaged Facts. Products in this...

News in brief

Hain Celestial seals deal to buy UK jams and peanut butter brands

Hain Celestial has completed the deal to acquire jams, spreads and peanut butter brands including Hartley's, Sun–Pat , Gale's , Robertson's, and Frank Cooper's,  from UK firm Premier Foods for...

Hershey boss: Air Delight is a terrific product, but we’re still working out how to market it…

The “communication messages” around Air Delight - the aerated chocolate range launched by Hershey last summer - still need some work, bosses have admitted.

Nutrition runs up front in the US snack bar race: Rabobank

Nutrition and energy bars head up the soaring $6bn US snack bar market, according to a new report.

Mondelēz, PepsiCo et al take precautions as Hurricane Sandy hits the East Coast

Food and beverage manufacturers with offices and factories on the East Coast have taken precautions to protect staff and keep their businesses running as smoothly as possible as Hurricane Sandy...

Beige apocalypse: Why have bread volumes nosedived in the past five years in the FDMx channel?

Pound volumes of bread & rolls, ready-to eat breakfast cereals and wheat-based cereal bars have plummeted in the past five years in the US food, drug and mass channel as...

News in brief

Non-GMO Project verified product sales surge 66% to $2.4bn

Sales of non-GMO Project verified products surged by 66% in the past year to $2.4bn, according to new data* from SPINS.

Study claims optimum soya milk chocolate method

Soya milk chocolate can be perfected by increasing the refining time, according to new research.

Dr. Oetker joins Ontario’s $39 billion agri-food sector

German frozen pizza giant Dr. Oetker has announced the construction of a new facility in Canada, the latest company to join the Ontario Food Cluster.

Soda-Lo salt ‘microspheres’ can slash sodium in bread, peanuts and microwave popcorn, says Tate & Lyle

Tate & Lyle has developed several ‘ready-to-use recipes’ helping US firms slash sodium in bread, peanuts and microwave popcorn by using tiny salt ‘microspheres’ which deliver a disproportionately salty taste...

Flowers Foods expands its bakery empire in the West Coast with Sara Lee/Earthgrains licensing deal

Flowers Foods has expanded its bakery empire with the acquisition of certain Sara Lee and Earthgrains assets and trademarks in California and Oklahoma City from Grupo Bimbo subsidiary BBU, Inc,...

Online tool seeks to evaluate impact of food production systems

A program being developed at Washington State University has received a $240,000 grant from the Clif Bar Family Foundation to develop science-based tools to evaluate the sustainability of various food...

Will the ‘processed food’ definition in Prop 37 really kill off ‘natural’ claims on pack?

The dispute over whether Californian GMO labeling initiative Prop 37 will prevent manufacturers from using the term ‘natural’ on foods that contain no GMOs at all continues to rage, with...

News in brief

PepsiCo revamps Quaker snack

PepsiCo has revamped its Quaker Quakes snacks with a new name and new look.

Amy’s Kitchen CEO: Only in America can you consume GMOs without knowing it

Bosses at Amy’s Kitchen, Whole Foods Market, UNFI, Nature’s Path and Jimbo’s… Naturally have joined forces to tackle myths they claim are being perpetuated by opponents of Californian GMO labeling...

Higher dairy intake lowers semen quality – Harvard study

Young men with a high daily intake of full-fat dairy may be risking their chance of having children, US researchers have claimed.

Experts reiterate call for calorie count reform

Caloric values – particularly for nuts and legumes – should be re-evaluated in light of recent studies suggesting commonly used calorie estimates may be flawed, according to a panel of...

CFBAI kids’ cereals: Out with the bad, in with the good

Cereal firms with products targeted at children have invested in sodium and sugar reductions and nutrient fortification in balance, according to the vice president of the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising...

‘We live and die’ in CSDs: Dr Pepper Snapple CEO nails colors to TEN mast

Dr Pepper Snapple CEO Larry Young has urged patience on the firm’s new mid-calorie TEN portfolio, as analysts quizzed him on whether the brand was cannibalizing regular Dr Pepper sales,...

SDA omega-3: The future of trans-fat-free margarine?

Stearidonic acid (SDA) soybean oil may offer a trans-fat-free base for margarine, while simultaneously boosting omega-3 intakes, suggests new data.

Unilever: Commodity costs are so unpredictable, but over the longer term, we just assume they will continue to rise

Underlying sales growth in North America dipped 3.5% at Unilever in the third quarter of 2012, although emerging markets continue to “offer outstanding growth opportunities”, said the firm.

News in brief

Walmart to expand use of sustainability index to 100 more product categories

Walmart will expand the use of an index enabling buyers to evaluate the sustainability of products to cover 200 product categories by the end of this year, bosses have revealed.

Hershey Q3 profit falls 10%

The Hershey Company has reported a profit drop in its third quarter (Q3) results after tax rate rises, commodity costs and charges related to supply chain efficiencies hit the company’s...

Hostess: Our chances of exiting Chapter 11 will ‘evaporate’ if union members strike

Twinkies-maker Hostess Brands says it hopes it will be able to exit Chapter 11 in a few months, but has warned employees in the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain...

‘How much wood would a Woodchuck chuck?’ C&C hopes cider buy will tear-up trees Stateside

After buying Vermont Hard Cider Company for $305m, C&C Group said the firm offered it strong growth prospects due to low US cider penetration, while the deal also snagged it...

‘Neurocognitivism’: Switching on creativity and marketing to values

A better understanding of personality types could help food marketers and R&D professionals in the innovation and marketing process, according to French researchers, who are the latest to offer a...

Special edition: Natural sweeteners

Novel oat-based sweetener rides crest of non-GMO wave

The first wave of products containing a new natural sweetener from oats called OatSweet have hit shelves in the US, and the firm behind it is now in talks with...

Special Edition: Natural Sweeteners

Shakeout foreseen on supply end of stevia market

The popularity of stevia as an alternative sweetener has unleashed a blizzard of competition to supply the ingredient, mostly from mainland China, raising the question of whether the market is...

‘Unique’ mood-boosting South African plant extract set for SSW debut

PL Thomas (PLT) and South African partner HG&H Pharmaceuticals are set to launch the first patented, standardized and clinically studied extract of Sceletium tortuosum, a succulent plant known by the...

News in brief

Chefs back Prop 37

More than 100 chefs have voiced their support for California GMO labeling initiative Proposition 37 via a ‘chef’s petition’ set up by Alice Waters, chef, author, and proprietor of Berkeley-based...

GMO labeling: How vulnerable is Proposition 37 to a legal challenge?

If Californians approve controversial GMO labeling initiative Proposition 37 next month, could food industry opponents challenge it on First Amendment grounds?

DISPATCHES FROM INTERBEV 2012, LAS VEGAS

Who’s the daddy? Mezcal ‘King’ tips tequila forefather to rule world

Rudi Favila, president of mezcal wholesaler and importer Premium Mezcales, tells Ben Bouckley that Oaxacan spirit mezcal can ditch its old man image to stoke spirits across the US and...

Scoular to market fish collagen ingredient in U.S.

The Scoular Company has announced a partnership with French company Weishardt to market in the United States a propriety marine collagen ingredient called Naticol.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERBEV 2012, LAS VEGAS

'Jackpot justice' legal claims: Firewall strategies for beverage brands

Renowned attorney Justin Prochnow talks to Ben Bouckley in Las Vegas about the threat class actions pose to beverage brands, from 'all natural' cases to a new wave of flavor...

Lawyer urges FDA to ban energy drink sales to minors after US teen death

The mother of a US teenager who died due to caffeine toxicity after consuming energy drinks is suing Monster Beverage Corporation, and one of her lawyers is calling on the...

Special Edition: Natural sweeteners

Monk fruit launches gain momentum while stevia cools off

There is a new challenger in the no cal alternative sweetener space. Stevia may still be king, but monk fruit is building its own power base.

Special edition: Natural sweeteners

Formulating with natural sweeteners: 'There is significant interaction between steviol glycosides and flavors'

While the latest blends of steviol glycosides do not have the same bitter, licorice and lingering off-notes associated with some earlier stevia extracts on the market, some still contain “noticeable...

Whole Grains conference day three: Meeting the school lunch guidelines… “It feels like we jumped off a cliff’

While “there is no doubt” that revamping school lunches will benefit children’s health, the speed with which schools are having to implement the new rules has made compliance extremely difficult...

ADM gears up for $2.8bn takeover of GrainCorp

Archer Daniels Midland is in talks with Australian commodity giant GrainCorp after putting forward an offer just shy of US$2.8bn (A$2.7bn) for a cash takeover.

Indulgent and personalized packaging is key to food gifting success, says analyst

There are clear opportunities for bakery and snack firms amid a soaring US food gifting trend but investments must focus on indulgence and personalization in these products, an analyst says.

'We can afford to eat healthier food, but we choose not to' - Whole Foods Market co-founder challenges healthy food cost perception

US consumers can afford to buy healthy food, but they have been ‘corrupted’ by the availability of cheap food to spend less, says the co-founder of Whole Foods Market.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERBEV 2012, LAS VEGAS

Big beverage players were ‘stuck behind the 8 ball’ on HFCS – Consultant

Martin Concannon, founder and MD of Kentucky-based consultancy, Lafayette Associates, tells BeverageDaily.com how the media firestorm that followed High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in recent years was in part whipped-up...

Special edition: Natural sweeteners

Beyond stevia: Will brazzein make the natural sweeteners premier league?

The entrepreneur behind Cweet - a natural high-intensity sweetener from a protein called brazzein- says he expects to secure regulatory approval to sell it in the US in one to...

Dispatches from the Whole Grains on Every Plate conference

Gluten-free myth busting: There is no biomarker for gluten sensitivity, says researcher

One of the liveliest sessions at last week’s Whole Grains on Every Plate conference in San Antonio was a myth-busting presentation from Pamela Cureton, clinical research dietitian at the Center...

Dispatches from the Whole Grains on Every Plate conference

Whole grains and health: Where’s the evidence?

Epidemiological studies reveal a clear association between increased wholegrain consumption and a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, elevated blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and weight gain.

News in brief

Hershey added to Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Hershey has been selected for the first time to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for its corporate social responsibility efforts.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERBEV 2012, LAS VEGAS

Showtime in Vegas! InterBev 2012 in Pictures

As Nürnberg Messe USA takes over the running of InterBev, BeverageDaily.com hits Las Vegas to snap the latest action from the 92-year-old show.

Breaking news

FSMA registration process opens today

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) registration process will be open for business on Monday, Oct. 22, it was announced Friday.

Dispatches from the Whole Grains on Every Plate conference

Whole Grains on Every Plate Day two: ConAgra on how to grow amid '50 shades of beige’

Whole grain foods might be on the up, but they are most often found in declining ‘beige’ food categories in the center of the store that are not performing well,...

IFT identifies bitterness thresholds for chocolate

The Institute for Food Technologists (IFT) has validated a method that can help manufacturers determine how much bitterness is too much in chocolate.

Nutritional value is the key, ‘sustainability not a game-changer’: Bakery survey identifies 10 mega-trends for future success

Modern consumers want the best of all worlds when it comes to bakery and chocolate products, with quality & price, local & global, tradition & innovation, and pleasures & health...

US chocolate market ‘staling’, says analyst

The North American cocoa grind has dropped 2% in the third quarter (Q3), leading one analyst to call the region’s largest nation a “staling” chocolate market.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERBEV 2012, LAS VEGAS

Coke, Pepsi face ‘massive’ future dairy sourcing challenge – Rabobank analyst

The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo and other firms riding the convergence wave marrying soft drinks to dairy face massive future commodity sourcing challenges.

Competition heating up among spore forming probiotics suppliers

Competition in the spore-forming quadrant of the probiotics sphere is heating up with a new offering from Nebraska Cultures called ProDURA, a strain of bacillus coagulans.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERBEV 2012, LAS VEGAS

Twenty-twenty vision: Analyst finds 20 words for 20 years of future beverage trends

Speaking from the show floor of InterBev in Las Vegas, Richard Hall, founder and chair of Zenith International reveals 20 words to sum up themes and trends for the next...

Dispatches from the Whole Grains on Every Plate conference

The rise and rise of whole grain: Whole Grain stamp now on 7,600+ products in 35 countries

The Whole Grain stamp now features on more than 7,600 products in 35 countries, while the number of new products featuring whole grain claims rose from 164 in 2000 to...

The power of organic: Turning snacks into health foods?

Organic snack purchases are on the rise across the US but consumers do not associate this branding with health, new research finds.

Sea salt not a viable sodium reduction strategy: New data

Using sea salt as a means of reducing sodium in food products is not viable since it contains the same sodium content as a Kosher salt, says a new study.

Powerade paces Coca-Cola's growth in North America

On Wednesday, Coca-Cola Company announced earnings of 51 cents per share in the third quarter, more or less in line with analysts’ forecasts. In a mixed earnings report, the company’s...

Emerging markets continue to drive Nestlé sales

Food and nutrition giant Nestlé has reported improved sales in its 9-month results driven by growth in emerging markets, but Q3 was a little slower than last year.

DISPATCHES FROM INTERBEV 2012, LAS VEGAS

Cott Beverages: We 'fast follow' but increasingly innovate in US private label

Cott Beverages VP of marketing, Jon Biller, tells BeverageDaily.com that his firm often 'fast follows' where big brands lead, but that retailers are now demanding innovation, as evidenced by a...

New consultancy to help companies comply with FSMA

 A new regulatory consultancy has launched to ride the wave of work sure to come out of compliance issues surrounding the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA).

Mexican energy drinks regulations could stunt innovation - Euromonitor

Strict Mexican government taxes and regulations on the sale of energy drinks could discourage new brands entering the market, Euromonitor has claimed.

Popular mobile food app adds GMO feature

Fooducate, a mobile app launched last year to help grocery store shoppers quickly look up nutrition and other product info via bar code scans, has added a GMO feature, the...

Novel process may enhance the flavor and quality of soy sauce, say scientists

Chinese researchers report that a novel two-step inoculation process with Candida etchellsii may increase the level of soy sauce flavor compounds by as much as 180%.

Mead Johnson Nutrition facing lawsuit over US meningitis death

Mead Johnson Nutrition is facing court in the US over allegations that its Enfamil brand powdered baby formula was responsible for the death of one infant and two cases of...

Peanut skins: Boosting the nutritional profile of peanut butter

The nutritional profile of peanut butter may be enhanced by the addition of peanut skins to the mix, an approach which does not affect the sensory profile of the product,...

News in brief

NutraCea changes name to RiceBran Technologies

Stabilized rice bran expert NutraCea has changed its name to RiceBran Technologies.

DuPont raises global hydrocolloids prices 10 to 15%

DuPont Nutrition & Health has said it would increase prices globally across its DuPont Danisco hydrocolloids range by an average of 10 to 15%, citing increases in raw material, energy...

Price-comparable, natural flavors driving Blue Marble Biomaterials growth

Montana-based Blue Marble Biomaterials is challenging the perception that a natural tag means more expensive, with its all-natural flavor ingredients listed as price comparable with their synthetic equivalents.

Nestlé sued over alleged phony bottled spring water

A Chicago company has sued Nestlé over claims that 5-gallon water jugs it bought for its office dispensers were advertised as spring water when in fact they were filled with tap...

What’s trending on Twitter? (And is this really an accurate measure of what most consumers think about GMOs?)

Sentiment analysis tools that trawl though posts on blogs, facebook, Twitter and other online forums to help companies find out what consumers think about hot-button issues should be applied with...

Special edition: Natural sweeteners

Forget diet soda, stevia 3.0 is all about ‘re-inventing the regular’, says PureCircle

Food manufacturers are increasingly seeing stevia as a way to “reinvent the regular” by helping them deliver incremental calorie reductions in everyday foods, rather than simply serving as a replacement...

IFT president: Open innovation will do for the food industry what open source computing has done for the IT industry

Open innovation - or collaborating with others to get more innovative new products to market more quickly - is starting to do for the food industry what open source computing...

Blended protein crisps broadens market options, says Batory Foods

New protein blend crisps fulfil a marketplace demand for wider variety and better priced options, Batory Foods says.

News in brief

Greek and Greek-style products accounted for 29% of US yogurt launches in year to June 2012

Launches of Greek and Greek-style products accounted for 29% of US yogurt launches in the 12 months to the end of June 2012, according to new data from Innova Market Insights.

Special edition: Natural sweeteners

Quality of stevia products ‘assured’, says new analysis

The addition of steviol glycosides to a variety of food does not alter the quality or shelf-life of the products, says a new study.

Industry coalition files lawsuit vs 'irrational and nonsensical' super-size soda ban

The American Beverage Association (ABA) and other opponents of New York City's proposed ban on super-size sodas have filed a lawsuit arguing that the city's health board - which voted...

Ban candy at cash counters, say researchers

Putting candy near cash registers creates an obesity risk and should be banned, according to researchers.

FNCE hot topic: Is phosphorus the new trans fat?

Dietary exposure to high levels of phosphorus could be increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to one kidney specialist.

Nestlé breakfast cereal reformulation needs tact, warns specialist

Cereal Partners Worldwide’s reformulation plan for 20 of its Nestlé breakfast cereal brands must happen gradually and unobtrusively to succeed, warns a nutrition policy specialist.

FNCE in pictures: Misunderstood HFCS, DNA diets, soda consumption myths and tackling prediabetes

Mythbusting was a key theme at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) in Philadelphia, with a parade of experts wheeled out to tackle misconceptions about everything from low...

Could chewing gum boost performance, reduce stress?

Chewing gum may improve measures of stress and lead to a more positive mood, suggests findings from a series of articles funded by the Wrigley Science Institute.

California company looking to create 'synergy' beverages category

A California beverage company called LifeAID is trying to carve out new territory between energy beverages and sugary hydration drinks with a line of products aimed at golfers, cross fit...

Private label penetration could reach 25-30% in US retail market in a decade, predicts Rabobank

Private label penetration could reach 25-30% in the US retail market in ten years, according to a new report by Rabobank’s Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group.

News in brief

US corn yields per acre predicted to be lowest since 1995, warns USDA

US corn production is forecast at 10.7bn bushels, down slightly from the September forecast and down 13% from 2011, according to a new crop report from the US Department of...

NPF hits milestone with 200th advertising warning letter

The Natural Products Foundation has reached a significant milestone with 200th warning letter issued through its Truth in Advertising campaign.

Evaporated cane juice lawsuit latest: Chobani’s ‘no sugar added’ assurances violate federal law, says complaint

Californian plaintiff Katie Kane has filed her second amended complaint against Greek yogurt giant Chobani accusing it of violating federal law by claiming its yogurts have “no sugar added” despite...

Whole Foods Market trials color-coded labels to guide healthier choices (but animal products are off the menu)

Whole Foods Market is trialing a new color-based front-of-pack labeling system designed to alert shoppers to healthier choices in its stores.

Diageo slams 'baseless' Serrallés suit as Captain Morgan sails into storm

Diageo has dismissed as 'baseless' legal action taken by Destileria Serralles (DSI) in the US, which alleges contractual breaches linked to the former's move to shift production of Captain Morgan rum from...

Kellogg’s $30m cereal recall: Consumer pains but no financial pinch

Kellogg’s recent recall of two cereal products following a metal mesh contamination scare will cost the firm between $20-30m and will hit consumer trust in the short-term, an analyst says....

Guar gum could be relisted on Indian futures market

Guar gum could be relisted on India’s futures market if a positive committee decision is reached next week, according to the country’s commodity markets regulator.

Heart health ingredient Fruitflow makes US beverage debut

Langer Juice Company has launched the first beverage onto the US market to contain tomato-derived cardiovascular health ingredient Fruitflow.

Mars North America unveils Easter 2013 lineup

Mars North America has revealed the new products that will form part of its 2013 Easter offerings.

Action needed to stop contamination as peanut butter recall expands

A US food professor has called on the peanut industry to take action against foodborne illness as the latest Salmonella outbreak has now spread to Canada.

Food industry continues to make trans-fat reduction progress: Survey

Efforts to reduce the trans-fat content of processed food are working to reduce national consumption levels, but some sections are still consuming high levels of the fats, says new survey...

Lawyer: Prop 37 will overtake Prop 65 as a source of consumer litigation in California

Prop 37 is likely to surpass Prop 65 as a source of consumer litigation in California if the controversial GMO labeling initiative gets the green light next month, predicts one...

Prop 37 voter guide has confused voters and misrepresented our position, says Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

The official voter information guide on California’s Proposition 37 GMO labeling initiative inaccurately states that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics “has concluded that biotech foods are safe”.

Unilever outlines new open innovation ‘challenges and wants’

Unilever has added new ‘challenges and wants’ to its open innovation platform, this time seeking help with a stable natural red colour for fruit and dairy, and technologies to reduce...

Salt reduction: Integrating successful methods is key say researchers

Future salt reduction efforts must focus on integrating already successful methods into one effective system, say researchers.

Eating chocolate produces Nobel prize winners, says study

Brain power equals chocolate squared according to a study that says countries with high chocolate consumption produce more Nobel Laureates.

General Mills, ConAgra: Processed food is not the enemy

Telling consumers - many of whom do not have the time, inclination or money to prepare meals from scratch - that they should steer clear of ‘processed’ foods and eat...

Chobani class action litigants join forces over evaporated cane juice complaint

Civil litigation against Greek yogurt giant Chobani over its use of the term ‘evaporated cane juice’ to describe sugar (dried cane syrup) is about to move into a new phase...

Body fragrancing functional candy set for US stores?

US importers of a body fragrancing candy are seeking a distribution partnership to take the product into retail stores.

Balancing mouthfeel: The ‘yin and yang’ of sensory perception

Research into why wine and tea pair with fatty food could offer the food industry a lesson in how to better balance fatty and astringent mouthfeels in processed foods, say...

Ultima Foods invests $22m in latest Granby yogurt plant expansion

Ultima Foods has committed an additional $22m ($22.5m, €17.5m) in an effort to increase yogurt production capacity at its Granby plant – the second investment of its kind at the...

News in brief

China wakes up and smells the new Nescafé...

Nestlé will launch a reformulated version of single-serve coffee product Nescafé 1+2 Original in China this month, and claims that consumer tastes in the nation have changed.

US cider boom offers beer bust ‘escape route’ - analyst suggests

Riding the new US cider boom is one of the few escape routes for large mainstream brewers faced with ‘hemorrhaging’ beer volume sales, a leading alcoholic drinks analyst insists.

Food safety projects receive funding boost

Ten projects aimed at answering critical food safety questions have been selected for grants by the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) at the University of California, Davis.

Aubergine peel promises provision of natural purples

Anythocyanins extracted from aubergines peels could provide a ready source of stable natural colours for the food industry, suggest researchers.

Dispatches from the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) 2012

FNCE hot topic: The percentage of American kids drinking soda has dropped noticeably since 2006

The percentage of American children drinking carbonated soft drinks has declined noticeably across all age groups since 2006, according to new data unveiled at the Food & Nutrition Conference &...

Americans playing food safety lottery, says professor

The founding director of the Mercyhurst Institute for Health has said that Americans are playing a ‘food lottery’ with the current food safety system and called for more stringent regulation.

Diamond Foods to make SEC filings ‘as promptly as practicable’

Diamond Foods has said it will file all of its late SEC filings ‘as promptly as practicable’ following a second NASDAQ determination letter threatening delisting.

Modelo Especial is ‘hottest’ US beer brand: Constellation Brands

Constellation Brands claims that Mexican brew Modelo Especial is now the ‘hottest’ beer brand in the US, and CEO Robert Sands says he expects it to become the next Corona.

Dispatches from the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) 2012

Have you had your P.L.A.Y. today? PepsiCo targets women with new protein product launch

PepsiCo is developing a novel protein-based product designed to appeal to women that “won’t show up on a shelf the way you envision it”, revealed bosses at its Nutrition Ventures...

Comment

Smell a rat? Flawed GM cancer study highlights flawed media approach

A French study on the effects of Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) maize in rats has said little about the safety or otherwise of GM crops – but it has said...

Natural surfactant opens up label benefits for food & beverage manufacturers

A natural surfactant from a South American tree matched the established synthetic Tween 80 for the formation and stabilization of emulsions, says new data from a leading emulsion scientist and...

Dispatches from the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) 2012

FNCE hot topic: Why can’t the food industry and consumer advocacy groups meet half-way?

Do consumers really want to buy the healthier products consumer advocacy groups such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) tell us food and beverage manufacturers ought...

Dispatches from the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) 2012

DNA diets: 'They're just not ready for prime time', warn experts

Commercial interest in the role genes play in our risk of developing chronic diseases - and whether we can modify that risk through diet - has never been higher. But...

Carlsberg slakes US cider thirst with Somersby first

Crown Imports will launch Carlsberg’s Somersby Hard Apple Cider into test markets across the US, as major players scramble to plug the gap left by a slump in mainstream beer...

Big Interview: Dave McLaughlin, World Wildlife Fund

WWF: Industry should buy into GreenPalm today, or it will struggle to source fully traceable sustainable palm oil tomorrow

Food manufacturers are beginning to realize that buying more GreenPalm certificates now might be the only way to stimulate enough production of sustainable palm oil to make fully traceable products...

FTC's "Green Guides" level environmental claims playing field

Marketers making environmental claims now have a much better idea of what’s allowed and what isn’t after the release this week by the Federal Trade Commission of the latest version...

How close is Walmart to meeting its 2015 sustainable palm oil deadline?

Walmart says it is confident it will reach its goal of using sustainably sourced palm oil for all of its private label products by the end of 2015, although it...

Sustainable cocoa

Hershey outlines details of cocoa child labor pledge

The Hershey Company has told this site that it plans to work with multiple organizations to meet its recent pledge to use only certified cocoa by 2020, and will communicate...

News in brief

Yoplait launches US frozen yogurt range

Yoplait is making its debut in the freezer aisle through the launch of its new Yoplait Original and Greek Frozen Yogurt range in the US.

EFSA slams GM cancer study as not ‘scientifically sound’

The European Food Safety Authority says recent research linking Monsanto’s herbicide and genetically modified maize to an increased risk of cancer and premature death is of ‘insufficient scientific quality to be...

Hostess gets green light to impose pay-cutting deal on union; insists 'there are no viable bidders'

Twinkies maker Hostess Brands has got the green light from the bankruptcy court to force members of the union representing a big chunk of its staff to accept a deal...

News in brief

Skippy on the block? Unilever explores options for peanut butter brand

Unilever has confirmed it is exploring a possible sale of its Skippy peanut butter business in the US and Canada.

Comment

Breakfast cereal in China: Snap, crackle… and flop

Western breakfast brands don’t often work in China. They need manipulating to appeal to very different tastes, packaging and format preferences and, of course, another language.

The state of the US food retail market: Slower and negative growth… and rediscovering Walmart

Does size matter? The answer is yes, if you’re supplying the US food retail market, with new data revealing that food and beverage manufacturers turning over less than $1bn have...

Sabinsa widening horizons for probiotic ingredient

Sabinsa, a  New Jersey-based supplier of botanical and other functional food ingredients, is breaking new ground with an older ingredient by placing its LactoSpore probiotic into a bread brand in...

Smart Balance changes name and HQ as part of mission to build health & wellness empire

Heart-health spreads maker Smart Balance has unveiled plans to split into two business segments, move its HQ to Boulder, CO, and change its name to Boulder Brands as it moves...

What's the next stevia? Senomyx evaluates novel natural sweeteners

San-Diego-based flavor innovator Senomyx is screening a series of novel plant-based high-potency natural sweetening compounds in a bid to find the next stevia, monk-fruit or monatin.

Child labor pledge

Hershey stuns critics with commitment to source 100% certified cocoa by 2020

The Hershey Company has surprised its critics after announcing plans to source 100% certified cocoa by 2020.

An apple a day keeps cholesterol at bay: Study data

Daily consumption of an apple or apple polyphenols could help to ‘keep the doctor away’ by lowering levels of LDL cholesterol by up to 40%, suggest researchers.

Exclusive interview

Private label chocolate gains ground in US food stores

Supermarket own brand confections are on the rise in America, according to Gertrude Hawk Chocolates chairman Dave Hawk.

ConAgra taps into comfort food trend as new data shows frozen category sales have stagnated

Volumes in the US retail frozen foods market are going backwards, according to a new report from Packaged Facts published just as ConAgra unleashed its latest innovation in the category...

Saffron Road: ‘The most successful natural food brands are built in mainstream supermarket retailers’

The serial entrepreneurs behind Terra Chips and Stonyfield Farms look set to achieve similar success with gourmet world cuisine brand Saffron Road - another niche brand that is rapidly moving...

McCormick: Pinterest offers brands ‘more authentic and compelling’ ways to engage with consumers

Spices and seasonings giant McCormick is looking for new ways to engage with consumers via an expanded presence on photo sharing website Pinterest - the third-largest social media site after...

German authorities find ‘shortcomings’ in French GM cancer study

The German food safety agency has found serious flaws in the experimental data presented in a recent study linking Monsanto’s GM maize and herbicide Roundup to cancer.

Wrigley locked in 5 Gum ‘Swerve’ trademark row

Gum titan Wrigley is engaged in a legal dispute in the US over a flavor of its 5 Gum that uses the trademarked name ‘Swerve’ belonging to sweetener makers Swerve IP.

News in brief

Three men facing cheese smuggling charges in US

Three men, including a police officer, have been arrested and charged in regards to a large-scale US cheese smuggling and distribution operation in Canada.

Judge: POM ‘hastily’ filed case vs FTC to secure ‘tactical leverage’

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by POM Wonderful against its arch nemesis the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) back in 2010 and accused it of filing the case...

News in brief

Monk Fruit In The Raw takes on Nectresse in tabletop sweetener battle

Cumberland Packing Corp is going head to head with McNeil Nutritionals’ new Nectresse tabletop sweetener with the launch of zero-calorie natural sweetener Monk Fruit In The Raw.

Vernon leads charge at ‘New Kraft’ as old Kraft officially splits into two

Kraft has officially split into two publicly traded companies: Kraft Foods Group, an $18.7bn North American packaged foods giant with a portfolio of brands including Kraft, Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer,...

Celestial seeks new generation of consumers with green tea shots

Celestial Seasonings is looking to grow its distribution footprint and to grow a new generation of customers as it extends its line of Enerji-brand shots to include a green tea...

ANH-USA seeks support for Prop 65 replacement

While many companies targeted with Prop 65 notices end up settling because they cannot afford to mount a defense, a significant proportion of cases filed by one key plaintiff have...

Nestlé partners with Chromocell for salt reduction innovation

Nestlé has entered a collaborative agreement with US-based life sciences firm Chromocell to develop ingredients for reduced-salt foods that correspond with consumer taste expectations, the company has said.

Tweens, teens, millennials, boomers and seniors: What they want, and how to give it to them…

Teenage girls need more calcium; boomers want more brain food; seniors need more high-quality protein… But how can food and supplement manufacturers develop more tailored products and targeted marketing to...