Food makers sourcing soy ingredients from Brazil will be interested
to see that the country will not issue another decree to
temporarily lift the ban on the planting and sale of genetically
modified soybeans for the upcoming season.
The FDA has confirmed the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives'
(JEFCA) ruling in June that free lutein and zeaxanthin are safe for
human consumption - a move welcomed by Kemin Foods which produces
the ingredient FloraGlo...
The US government science agency has made available a new tool to
help food scientists undergoing research into the burgeoning field
of phytonutrients, used increasingly by food makers looking to grab
a share of the growing health...
On the eve of his departure as head of consumer protection in
Brussels, EU Commissioner David Byrne claims that public confidence
in Europe's food chain 'is returning', thanks to a raft of food
safety rules now in place.
Australian soyfoods maker So Natural Foods Australia said yesterday
that it will raise A$5 million (€2.87m) through the issue of
unlisted convertible notes to fund expansion of its new joint
venture Thorpedo Foods.
Huge swathes of products in the US have been deemed inappropriate
for consumers seeking to lose weight. But the processed cheese
brand The Laughing Cow, has benefited from one fad, with US sales
rising by more than 250 per cent after...
Plans to sell German food ingredients business Nutrinova are on
hold as chemical company Celanese opts to keep the producer of
Sunett sweetener, for now.
Ahead of new rules on the labelling of trans fatty acids in the US
due in 2006, biotech group Monsanto has designed low-linolenic
soybeans that can make a soybean oil for food firms looking to
eliminate trans fats in food formulations.
Despite tough new rules on GM food labels, food makers will stick
to non-GM alternatives as new evidence from the UK shows British
consumers will continue to refuse to buy foods containing biotech
ingredients.
Green tea polyphenols reduced the severity of liver injury in a new
study on mice. The researchers say the ingredient could be a useful
supplement in the treatment of liver disease.
In a move to focus on its retail business, Swiss baking aid firm
Hero has sold UK bakery ingredients division Renshaw Scott to UK
sugar ingredients company Napier Brown Foods.
Scientists from Danish company Chr Hansen say they have developed a
lactic acid bacteria that may lower blood pressure when added to
yoghurt and other foods.
Swedish oils and fats firm Karlshamns, which saw its profits slip
at the end of 2003, has acquired UK flaked fats company Kelanco,
and with it a drive into value-added speciality fats for the
booming UK convenience food market.
China's massive drive to reduce the damage done by vitamin and
mineral deficiency, particularly to children, is paying rich
dividends for its economy, say children's charity UNICEF and the
Chinese Ministry of Health.
The UK Food Standards Agency is advising people not to eat a
limited number of jars and packets of pickles, sauces and preserved
vegetables imported from Bangladesh, China, Pakistan and India,
following a survey that showed that these...
A coalition of some of Europe's most vocal campaign groups has
called on the European Commission to rethink a proposal on the
labelling of genetically modified organisms, urging the law makers
to allow Europe's massively...
Britons are already the Europeans most likely to skip meals on a
regular basis - a trend which has made them the snacking champions
of Europe - but a new report suggests that irregular mealtimes are
likely to become even more widespread...
The effect of trans fatty acids (TFAs) on heart health may be
greater than that of saturated fatty acids, according to scientists
from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), but only when
consumed at equivalent levels. Further...
Natural foods group Hain Celestial Group has reported a mixed bag
of results for fiscal 2004, announcing a healthy 17 percent
increase in sales over the year, though net income was down on
2003.
Mitsubishi has strengthened its foothold in the North American food
market with its purchase of the ingestibles business of Dublin,
Ohio based Ashland Distribution.
The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has decided
to pursue its investigation into alleged dumping of the
hydrocolloid ingredient purified carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) after
an initial complaint by Aqualan, a division...
Every five years the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are updated
by the Department of Agriculture, and last week's offering stirred
up an interesting mixture of praise and concern from the US food
industry.
Food ingredients sales at Irish dairy firm Glanbia jumped 20 per
cent during the first half and lifted profits 49 per cent higher
than the previous year, reported the company, which is targeting
strong growth for its ingredients business...
First half sales at Aarhus United fell 3 per cent, eroded by price
competition in bulk oils, but improved volumes, particularly in
Mexico, and reduced costs helped it generate solid operating
profits.
The broccoli compound sulphurophane disrupts the growth of breast
cancer cells in later stages, a US team has found. They say their
study reveals for the first time a possible explanation for the
compound's well-known anti-cancer...
Growing demand for omega-3 fatty acids significantly boosted
profits at Australian health ingredients firm Clover Corporation
last year but lower-than-expected sales in Europe and restricted
supply of ARA oil for its fortified infant...
Ongoing demand for healthy products helped Irish food and
ingredients firm Kerry to a strong first half performance. And with
recent acquisitions pushing it into other high growth sectors,
there is little to stop the group from making...
More research has underlined the heart health benefits of dark
chocolate, shown in a Greek study to improve healthy blood flow and
prevent clots forming.
The continuing popularity of yoghurt - and in particular its health
benefits - has led to a raft of new product innovation as companies
in market sectors outside the dairy industry seek to capitalise on
yoghurt's reputation....
Premium Nutrients, a Malaysian producer of oils and fats, is
looking to step up its investment in the EU over the next three to
four years, with a resulting 10 per cent increase in turnover to
around RM56 million in 2005.
Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits are known to be a rich
source of vitamin C but new evidence suggests they also contain
compounds that fight cancer.
With the market for certified organic products continuing to grow,
demand for organic hydrocolloids has also expanded - prompting the
leading supplier of hydrocolloids to the US food industry to launch
an organic version of its guar...
The contribution that the common sweetener ingredient sucrose has
made to the growing incidence of obesity is the focus of a dispute
between the US sugar association and a New Zealand scientist.
The world's number two vitamin maker BASF opened a new production
plant for the chemical citral yesterday, the key building block for
vitamins A and E, as well as the carotenoids beta-carotene and
canthaxanthin.
Research suggesting a link between soft drink consumption and
rising levels of diabetes in the US has sparked fierce criticism
from consumer groups and beverage industry associations. Scientists
with an axe to grind have manipulated...
Supplements of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin restored
levels of the antioxidants in the blood as well as the density of
macular pigment in an animal study out today.
Earmarked as the next major competitor to soybean as a high protein
source, lupin flour, a food ingredient used in pasta and bread
products, has attracted attention from food safety officials in
Australia following reports of severe...
The European Food Safety Agency has established a safe level for
the mineral boron, despite the fact that it is not included on the
list of nutrients permitted in food supplements under the new
directive.
Organic food is not necessarily better for our health than
conventional equivalents, say food scientists speaking at a meeting
of the world's largest science society this week in the US.
A compound identified in blueberries could be the next key health
ingredient in food formulations as researchers find it can
effectively lower cholesterol.
Taking a daily chitosan supplement had little effect on weight loss
in a new study on obese volunteers, a finding that challenges
previous research showing that the fibre could help people lose
weight.
Netherlands-based Lipid Nutrition has introduced a 95 per cent
concentration of its Clarinol brand conjugated linoleic acid (CLA),
said to be the highest form of CLA available to the nutraceutical
market.
Scientists at Europe's food watchdog have upped their assessment of
the risk of finding mad cow disease in the United States, Canada
and Norway following an extensive study of data collected between
1980-2003.
