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Special edition: The year in review

As the year draws to a close, FoodNavigator-USA looks back at some of the top stories of the year and the biggest deals across the industry – and why not test your knowledge with our 2011 food quiz?

News in brief

FoodNavigator-USA wishes readers a happy holiday

FoodNavigator-USA will take its annual Christmas and New Year holiday from December 24 to January 1.

Soft drink sales stalled when clear caloric information given, Johns Hopkins study

Sales of soft drinks to adolescents in Baltimore City nose-dived when study participants were exposed to ‘easily understandable’ information about calorie content, according to a new US study.

Government agencies tout food safety efforts – but experts warn over budget cuts

President Obama’s Food Safety Working Group (FSWG) has made significant progress, reporters were told in a conference call on Wednesday – while a separate study suggested budget cuts were having an impact on food safety.

Preference for salt may begin in the cradle, scientists warn

Early dietary exposure to foods containing added salt shapes a greater preference for salty tastes throughout infancy and childhood, suggests a new study.

Ground beef recalled after multi-state Salmonella outbreak - FSIS

An unknown quantity of ground beef products potentially contaminated with a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Typhimurium has been recalled in the US, food safety authorities have announced.

FoodNavigator-USA's 2011 news quiz

So, you think you know everything there was to know about the food industry in 2011? Let’s see if you were paying attention over the past year, with our news quiz.

Canadian and US officials issue pepper Salmonella warnings

US and Canadian food safety authorities have issued separate warnings on a brand of jalapeno and Serrano peppers potentially contaminated with Salmonella.

Pile on those truckin' pounds, say Kraft and peers, as opponents cite safety fears

US food giant Kraft says it hopes that more states are allowed to follow the lead of Maine and Vermont and allow heavier 97,000-pound trucks on interstate roads, although opponents fear safety issues.

Looking back on a busy year for food industry M&A…

M&A activity increased by over a third in the past year, as food and beverage companies looked for new growth opportunities both at home and in new markets. FoodNavigator-USA looks back at some of the biggest deals of the year.

Kraft and General Mills to launch dozens of new products in the New Year

Kraft and General Mills have both announced the launch of dozens of new products for the New Year, with Kraft’s line-up including a strong focus on customizable foods, and General Mills emphasizing the growing influence of multicultural consumers.

Cadbury finalises $1.3m settlement in chocolate price fixing conspiracy

A US Federal judge has accepted Cadbury’s $1.3m (€995,863) offer to settle in class action lawsuit over its alleged part in a suspected chocolate price fixing scandal also involving Nestle, Hershey and Mars.

Korean food to influence 2012 flavor trends, says Bell

Korean food is likely to have a major influence on flavor trends in the year ahead, along with Greek and Cajun cuisines, according to Bell Flavors and Fragrances.

General Mills looks to China as profits slump 28%

General Mills profits fell 27.5% in its second quarter results as the company said it was eyeing investment in China to improve its fortunes.

News in brief

Treatt offers new FTNF black tea and hibiscus flavors

Flavor ingredient company Treatt has expanded its From the Named Food (FTNF) range of flavors with a black tea flavor and a hibiscus flavor, the company has said.

Frito-Lay hit with lawsuit on all-natural claims

PepsiCo’s snacks business Frito-Lay has been accused of misleading consumers by making all-natural claims on its products which also contain genetically modified corn and vegetable oils.

ConAgra squeezed by higher food costs, but beats expectations

Food manufacturer ConAgra Foods has reported a 14% drop in its second-quarter profits, under pressure from higher food commodity costs, despite increased sales.

In pictures: A year in the food industry

FoodNavigator-USA presents a photo gallery round-up of some of the biggest news stories of the year.

News in brief

Listeria-linked dairy recall extended again - CFIA

A voluntary recall of dairy products has been extended for the fifth time since the original recall of products potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, Canadian food safety authorities have said.

Apple juice safe but arsenic guidance still being considered - FDA

US food safety authorities are still considering setting guidance levels for inorganic arsenic in apple juice, despite reiterating its confidence in the overall safety of the beverage.

Killer listeriosis: Canadian govt draws ‘final’ line in sand as union attacks

The Canadian government yesterday sought to draw a line under the deadly listeriosis outbreak that killed 23 people in summer 2008, after publishing a final report into action taken since the incident.

Monsanto soybean trait for lower saturated fat gets USDA deregulation

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has deregulated the biotech trait in Monsanto’s Vistive Gold soybeans, allowing the production of low saturated- and trans-fat oils from the beans within the United States.

Responsible approach to GM fish is to assume escape: Committee hearing

The responsible approach to considering whether genetically engineered (GE) salmon pose a risk to the environment is to assume that the fish will escape and disregard assurances from the company that they would not, said Senator Mark Begich at a committee hearing on Thursday.

News in brief

Meat and dairy consumption to soar, predicts FAO

Meat consumption is predicted to rise by nearly 73% and demand for dairy products by 58% in the years up to 2050, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Leatherhead cites category overlap as ‘overriding’ soft drinks trend

There is an overriding trend within the world soft drinks market towards an overlap between categories, while economic unrest is expected to consolidate a trend towards cheaper products, according to Leatherhead Food Research.

X-ray irradiation of asparagus promises shelf life and safety boosts

Use of low dose x-ray irradiation on vacuum packed asparagus can increase both shelf life and microbiological safety of the product, according to new US research.

Congress requests cost-benefit analysis for voluntary marketing guidelines

Lawmakers have requested a cost-benefit analysis of proposed voluntary guidelines for restricting foods marketed to children, as part of a congressional spending bill.

Ingredient innovation central to global soft drink growth, Leatherhead

Increasing use of innovative ingredients within soft drinks is one of the most notable trends witnessed by that industry over the past few years, according to Leatherhead Food Research.

Study shows cheese cuts cholesterol compared with butter equivalent

Cheese intake lowers LDL cholesterol when compared with butter intake of equal fat content, and does not increase said cholesterol levels compared with a normal diet.

Fats and oils gaining a more positive reputation, says market researcher

Consumer perception of fats is undergoing a transformation, opening myriad opportunities for new product development, according to a new trend report from the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) and market research organization Packaged Facts.

News in brief

Horizon Milling and Cargill to build flour mill to service Canadian market

Cargill and its partner Horizon Milling have announced plans to construct a flour mill in Ontario, Canada.

Diamond shares fall to two-year low on news of SEC probe

Diamond Foods shares fell to their lowest level in two years on Thursday, after the company said it had received a formal order of investigation from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the accounting of its payments to walnut growers.

Kraft’s carbon emissions from plants ‘negligible’

The vast majority of Kraft Foods’ carbon emissions come from outside its manufacturing facilities, according to a survey mapping its environmental footprint, but the full picture may look quite different as full results are withheld.

Typical boxed chocolate buyers are health-conscious women, says market researcher

Boxed chocolate buyers are more likely to be women from the Midwest or South – and are more likely to be watching their weight than the average American, according to new data from market research organization Roy Morgan.

Looking back on 2011: How did we do with last year’s predictions?

‘Tis the season for gazing into our crystal balls and foretelling what the year ahead has in store – but how well did we do with last year’s predictions? FoodNavigator-USA looks back on its forecast for the top industry influences of 2011.

'Not about tree-hugging': Sustainability is simply good for business

Companies should be concerned about their environmental sustainability - but it has more to do with ensuring profitability than it does with saving the planet, according to president of Bluehorse Associates Sara Pax.

Admin error led to Canadian listeria recall delay - CFIA

Several dairy products, potentially contaminated with listeria, remained on the market over a month after an initial manufacturer recall because of an administration blunder, Canadian food safety authorities have revealed.

News in brief

Callebaut improves credit rating

Barry Callebaut has announced that its credit rating has been upgraded.

Report damns ‘significant weaknesses’ in FDA food safety oversight

An influential US government office has criticised the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for failings in overseeing state food facility inspections, stressing that it paid for inspections that didn’t take place and failed to ensure that ‘systemic problems’ were addressed.

News in brief

Food allergy model for fenugreek developed

A new research model that can be used to investigate allergy to fenugreek has been developed by a team of Norwegian researchers.

Kellogg momentum has slowed again in Q4, claims analyst

Kellogg might have been outpacing rivals in the cereals category in the first three quarters but its volumes have started to drop off again and it remains under pressure thanks to “weak fundamentals”, according to a new report.

Food giants accuse egg producers of a decade of price fixing

A group of the biggest packaged food companies in the United States has filed a lawsuit against major US egg producers, accusing them of fixing prices for at least a decade.

Most Americans eat like MyPlate for just a week a year

The average American diet comes close to matching up with the USDA’s MyPlate icon just 2% of the time, according to a new report from the NPD Group.

Vitafoods targets $4bn South American functional foods market with new event

The organizers of the Vitafoods trade show have announced that the first ever Vitafoods South America show will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil in March 2012.

Inventor accuses PepsiCo/Gatorade of patent infringement

An Oregon-based inventor has filed a complaint in a federal court in Illinois accusing PepsiCo of patent infringement by using his patented packaging designs in its Gatorade G Series pouches.

Childhood obesity prevention programs can be effective, review finds

There is strong evidence that childhood obesity prevention strategies are beneficial for reducing bodyweight in overweight children, particularly those aged six to 12, according to a new Cochrane Review.

Canada stalls on sodium reduction guidelines

Canada continues to stall on sodium reduction guidelines for industry, after a document detailing voluntary targets was conspicuously absent from a two-day healthcare summit with provincial and territorial ministers in Halifax late last month.

Hollywood A-list vodka brand sparks legal dogfight

An investor behind a super-premium vodka brand whose website features US celebrities such as Meryl Streep is involved in a bitter legal battle with its creators, who have called him “uneducated and unstable”.

Scientists urge manufacturers to make raw cookie dough ready-to-eat amid e-coli fears

Cookie dough manufacturers should reformulate ready-to-bake products to make them as safe as a ready-to-eat product, according to a study that has linked raw dough to an e-coli outbreak in 2009.

Romaine lettuce ‘likely’ source of E.coli outbreak - CDC

Romaine lettuce has been identified as the likely source of a US E.coli outbreak that sickened scores of people, US disease control authorities have announced.

Cargill facing hefty fine for safety ‘failures’

A US meat processor could be hit with a fine of nearly $150,000 for breaching health and safety regulations including those surrounding potentially hazardous chemicals, a statement from workplace safety authorities has revealed.

Road to the top: How the new Kraft bosses measure up

Kraft Foods is set to split into two companies next year, with Irene Rosenfeld at the helm of a new $31bn global snacks firm and Anthony (Tony) Vernon to head the $17bn North American grocery company. FoodNavigator-USA looks at the paths they each took to reach the top jobs at Kraft.

California court dismisses complaint over listing caramel color compound under Prop 65

A California court has ruled that it was lawful to list a compound found in many foods and beverages, including caramel coloring, as a known carcinogen under Proposition 65, rejecting a complaint from a food industry coalition.

Senators urge FDA to reassure public of Gulf seafood safety

A group of US Senators from the Gulf region has called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to assist them in assuring the public of the safety of seafood from the Gulf of Mexico.

Pulse flours key to ‘stealth nutrition’ projects, says Pulse Canada

Pulse-based ingredients could help food manufacturers deliver significant nutritional improvements to everything from granola bars to chicken nuggets by ‘stealth’ if formulators knew what to do with them, according to pulse industry body Pulse Canada.

Harvard insight into emulsion process could aid development of functional or nano foods

Reaching a state of physical equilibrium has always been assumed to happen almost instantly in emulsions. However, researchers from Harvard have now shown that the process may actually take months, or even years.

Industry welcomes plan to streamline US and Canadian trade

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has welcomed a joint Canadian and US initiative designed to streamline cross-border trade between the two countries.

News in brief

Robert Malcolm joins Hershey Board

Former Diageo executive Robert Malcolm has been elected to join Hershey’s board of directors.

News in brief

Deadly US cantaloupe listeria outbreak over - CDC

The worst foodborne contamination is modern US history has ended, leaving 30 dead and over 100 infected, health officials have announced.

New research programme may boost algae ingredient supply chain

A new research project led by TNO could help to create a more robust and industrially viable algae ingredient supply chain, says the Dutch research group.

Specialty pepper flavors answer demand for authentic regional tastes, says Kalsec

Kalsec has introduced a range of specialty pepper flavors as part of its Latin American culinary flavor range, responding to US consumer demand for authentic regional tastes, the company said.

Hershey to acquire Canadian confectionery firm Brookside Foods

The Hershey Company has said it will acquire Canadian confectionery firm Brookside Foods for an undisclosed sum.

CSPI urges FDA to require front-of-pack artificial color disclosure

Consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging it to require the presence of artificial colors to be highlighted on the front of food packaging.

Over $10m awarded to meet US food safety concerns

US authorities have awarded over $10m in food safety grants to universities across the country with the aim of boosting research and education and reducing concern.

News in brief

‘Vault of the Secret Formula’ sees Coke reveal secret recipe

The Coca-Cola Company has moved its 125-year-old secret recipe from a vault in SunTrust Bank in downtown Atlanta to a new home in its nearby museum, thus revealing it to visitors. Well, sort of...

Comment

Sugary cereals: Time for industry to do the right thing for kids

Kellogg’s Honey Smacks is not marketed to children, a company spokesperson told this publication yesterday. Really? Then what’s up with the big cartoon frog?

General Mills extends open innovation concept to digital marketing

General Mills has expanded its open innovation platform to encompass marketing new products as well as creating them.

New soy ingredient could re-invigorate cardio foods market, predicts Scoular

A soy-based ingredient packing four times the nutritional punch of standard soy protein isolate could reinvigorate the cardiovascular functional food market, according to bosses at agri-food giant The Scoular Company.

Peruvian, local, and Thai: Trends for 2012?

Trend predictions for the year ahead have begun to pour in, with a spin on economic uncertainty featuring on most of them, as well as American regionalism, insects, and Peruvian foods.

USDA proposes rule for simplified ‘generic’ label claims

The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has proposed rule to make it easier for manufacturers to make generic label claims such as ‘Italian Style’ or ‘Low Fat’ on meat and poultry products.

Quorn: ‘CSPI has had a long running grudge against us’

Meat-substitute maker Quorn Foods has hit back at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) after the health lobby group again demanded that the FDA revoke its products' GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status.

Some kids’ cereals have ‘more sugar than a Twinkie’, report finds

Some popular kids’ cereals contain ‘more sugar than a Twinkie’, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

Penford expands corn starch range for stability – and gluten-free potential

Penford Food Ingredients has expanded its range of food starches to include modified corn starches that provide improved shelf-life, freeze-thaw and cold storage stability, the company has said.

Ocean Spray: ‘We’ve always said POM’s claims had no merit’

POM Wonderful has failed to convince a federal jury that Ocean Spray Cranberries misled shoppers and deprived POM of potential sales by selling a pomegranate juice product containing only 2% pomegranate juice.

IFIC aims to tackle dietary fat misperceptions

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) has released new online resources on fats, aiming to tackle consumer confusion and misperceptions about fat consumption, the organization said.

Report urges industry to stay ahead of nanotech regulation

Food companies should aim to stay ahead of regulation to ensure the safety of foods that use nanotechnology, urges a new report from As You Sow, a non-profit organization that aims to increase corporate accountability.

US tea market growth to continue, predicts Packaged Facts

The US market for tea has surged 22% in the past five years, reaching more than $6.5bn in 2011, according to a new report from Packaged Facts.

Kraft’s snacks spin-off targets Asia and Latin America as Rosenfeld appointed head

Developing markets are to make up almost half of revenues for Kraft’s global snacks business as the spin-off business announces Irene Rosenfeld as its head.

Industry and governments blast US plans to ban non-0157 E.coli

US plans to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to six new strains of E.coli have come under fire from industry bodies at home and governments abroad.

Tax food makers' caloric sweetener use to reduce consumption, study suggests

Taxing food manufacturers on caloric sweeteners added to foods would be more effective for reducing their consumption than taxing finished sugary foods and drinks, according to new research published in Contemporary Economic Policy.

Cargill to cut 2,000 jobs from global workforce

Cargill has said it will cut 2,000 employees from its global workforce over the next six months, citing a continued weak economy.

Kraft announces top execs following company split

Kraft Foods has appointed the CEOs and chairmen of its future global snacks and North American grocery companies, following the company's split, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012.

FTC ups the ante in crackdown vs bogus acai weight loss claims

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) crackdown against firms making bogus weight loss claims about açai supplements has stepped up a gear.

News in brief

GLG Life Tech receives FDA GRAS for fourth stevia-derived sweetener

Stevia supplier GLG Life Tech said it has received a letter of no objection from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that its Rebpure RA95 stevia extract is generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

WOW double emulsions move closer to food applications, say researchers

The inclusion of a gelling agent and electrolyte in double emulsions could be used to control the release behaviour of incorporated compounds, offering promise for the use of Water-Oil-Water emulsions in food applications, say researchers.

FDA warns Alexia Foods over ‘all natural’ label claim

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning letter to Alexia Foods for labeling a product ‘all-natural’, although it contains disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate, which the agency says is a synthetic preservative.

FoodJobs: People on the Move

November was a month with several high-level executive appointments. FoodNavigator-USA brings you a photo gallery illustrating the latest big moves at major food ingredient and manufacturing firms.

Food safety law gets $39m funding for 2012

The majority of a $50m increase in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) funding for fiscal 2012 will go toward implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act, after a lobbying group backed by several food industry trade associations played a key role in influencing negotiations.

Chavez ramps-up rhetoric as Parmalat apologises for 'milk hoarding' response

Parmalat has issued a public apology to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in the wake of a row over the company’s initial response to accusations of dairy product hoarding in the country.

Is dairy ready to steal some of the stevia limelight from beverage?

Cargill is looking beyond beverage to dairy as it flags up pending product launches for Truvia in both table-top and as an ingredient on the EU market next year.

Consumers see red over Coke’s white can campaign

Coca-Cola is switching back to iconic red for its Classic Coke cans just one month after introducing white cans as part of a holiday season campaign, following consumer complaints that they had confused the sugar-containing version with Diet Coke.

A&B Ingredients introduces natural antimicrobial ingredient

A&B Ingredients has introduced a new natural antimicrobial ingredient, which it claims is effective against a wide range of foodborne contaminants in ready-to-eat meat products, refrigerated foods and prepared salads.

Online US meat inspection publications could boost food safety - report

The online publication of meat, poultry and eggs product testing data could improve food safety and public health, said a report by the US National Research Council (NRC).

Consuming non-dairy calcium alone does not fill nutrient gaps, US study

Consumers can meet intake requirements for nutrients such as calcium via non-dairy sources, but these are not a ‘nutritionally significant equivalent’ for dairy foods, according to a new US study.

Local food demand growing faster than infrastructure, USDA finds

Local food infrastructure needs to deepen to ensure production can grow in line with consumer demand, which may be greater than previously thought, according to a new report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS).

Ralcorp suffers big loss in fourth quarter

Ralcorp has announced a $370m (€274m) loss in its fourth quarter earnings due to substantial non-cash impairment charges, details of which it has not yet disclosed.

PhytoTrade Africa gets cash injection to fund US market research into baobab

PhytoTrade Africa has secured a $100,000 cash injection from the USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub to help develop a US market strategy for baobab – the African superfruit packing an unparalleled nutritional punch.

Phone app checks food sustainability and health label claims

A mobile phone app which informs the consumer which product labels are truly meaningful and which aren’t has been developed.

November in pictures: Diamond & P&G, Greek yogurt, Walmart's healthy seal and the illusion of food choice…

It’s been an action-packed month for the food industry, which continues to grapple with high input costs and lackluster consumer demand. But the sector's big guns fought back, with Heinz and Sara Lee promising a wave of innovation and Agro Farma coughing up a cool $100m on a new factory for Greek yogurt Chobani.