The majority of recent product recalls initiated by the FDA have
focused on undeclared ingredients and potential instances of
contamination in packaged foods.
Refined sugar giant Imperial Sugar has announced a return to
operations at its Gramercy, Louisiana plant following the
devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
As a warning of safety procedures at flavour firms, a former
popcorn-plant worker in the US has been awarded $15 million (€12m)
after a jury found exposure to butter-flavouring fumes led to his
severe respiratory problems.
Strong harvests should mean stable prices, but the shipping crisis
caused by Hurricane Katrina's destruction of waterways and
transport infrastructure could cost food producers billions.
Cash, cash, cash. Castigated as simple asset-strippers out to make
a quick buck, the entrance of private equity onto the food industry
stage has participants chattering in the wings.
The terrible human cost of Hurricane Katrina is likely to be
prolonged following initial estimations of the damage caused to the
city's food industry and transport infrastructure.
With wholegrains fast becoming the new health trend, food and
ingredients companies are tripping over each other to launch new
products and marketing strategies in order to cash in on the craze
while interest is high.
Seasonal chocolate sales in the US are forecast to reach $3.3bn
(€2.6bn) in 2005, marking a substantial decline over the past five
years, according to a new report published by Research and Markets.
As Hurricane Katrina hammers the US state of Louisiana damaging
corn and soybean crops in its wake and creating bullish trading in
the energy markets, the storm could actually benefit food crops
located further north, affecting global...
Allied Starch & Chemical (ASC) has acquired Californian-based
firm Ingredients Unlimited as part of its plan to capitalize on the
lucrative North American tortilla market.
Praise where praise is due. And it is certainly due for one
small-time drinks firm in southern Britain, which is spear-heading
answers to global water shortages that threaten to wreak havoc on
food producers everywhere.
As prices for hazelnuts, two-thirds of which are sourced from
Turkey, slowly start to recover following global shortages,
pistachio production also shows signs of improvement following last
year's frosts.
Agricultural exports are forecast at $63.5 billion for 2006, up
$1.5 billion from the revised 2005 estimate, says new report from
US department of agriculture.
Hazelnut prices remain at all time highs but the imminent crop from
key producer Turkey could offer some stability to snack makers and
confectioners impacted by the record highs.
Wrigley will be expanding its Chattanooga factory to accommodate
the production of Altoid mints, which will be transferred to the US
from Wales, the leading confectionery company announced on Monday.
Heinz is the latest company reporting continuing sales weakness in
western Europe, with the US multinational's first quarter results
in the region damaged by falling demand for its frozen and seafood
products.
Core business segments, including food ingredients, contribute to
an 18 per cent leap in quarterly profit for expanding, and
ambitious, US firm Cargill.
Tapping into lucrative opportunities for the growing organic
processed food market, Danish ingredients firm Chr Hansen rolls out
a package of flavours, colours and dairy cultures for organic
processors.
Leading cereal maker Kellogg on Monday launched a new initiative in
the US to promote its fibre-rich cereal products. It aims to raise
awareness of the importance of dietary fibre in order to encourage
Americans to increase their...
Two months before it goes to trial, the FDA has told California
attorney general Bill Lockyer that his lawsuit against the canned
tuna industry over mercury warnings could cause consumers to eat
less fish and miss out on the health...
US sales of wholegrain cookies have skyrocketed 1,364 per cent in
the past year, marking them as the nation's fastest growing
wholegrain bakery product, according to market researcher AC
Nielsen.
Ten mega trends stretching from age to individualism will determine
the success and shape of any new products to hit the market in the
near future, claims market analysts Datamonitor.
Against a backdrop of conflicting claims, a controversial pressure
group has dropped Kraft from a lawsuit over misleading advertising
after the firm agreed to update its consumer information.
US sugar processor Imperial Sugar will sell subsidiary Holly Sugar
Corp. as low margins coupled with high energy costs have put
pressure on the company.
Cognis' focus on nutrition and health, and the on-going boom in
sterols and sterol esters, helps the business unit to retain its
position as one of the group's strongest for the first half of
2005.
Dansico has announced the appointment of its new CEO, while the US
Senate has confirmed the nomination of Lester M. Crawford as the
commissioner of the FDA.
In among the hollers about obesity and the concerns over nutrition,
food companies now need to work hard to ensure they clinch public
trust, as a matter of insurance. This means more than compliance on
traceability and labeling. This...
The death of France's Galland law has been highlighted as a new
opportunity for branded brewers to fight back against private
labels and poor growth through better deals with retailers.
The Sugar Association wants the FDA to introduce more aggressive
labeling regulations that would split out the different sugars and
sweeteners on the nutritional facts panel, just as the labeling of
trans fats will be mandatory from...
PepsiCo is changing the labeling on two of its fruit-flavored
Tropicana beverages to reflect the fact that they actually contain
little or no fruit juice.
Despite some of the best-known confectionary brands leaving the
area, Chicago still deserves its 'candy capital' epithet, according
to Food Chicago's Candy Institute.
Nutritional oils maker Martek Biosciences has held off another
challenge to the intellectual property on its key product, the
omega-3 fatty acid DHA, although it is still locked up in further
court cases to protect patent rights.
Soy protein giant Solae is building a manufacturing facility in
China in order to tap into the country's huge potential as a major
consumer of soy protein.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) that can be turned off,
faster read tags and falling prices are factors that could revive
the enthusiasm for the new generation of the technology coming on
line.
Organics are bigger now than ever before but the trend is set to
get bigger still, according to experts, as institutions such as
universities, schools, corporate campuses and even hospitals hop on
board.
Tate & Lyle has launched a new ingredient solution for low-
fat, no-sugar- added ice cream for the US market and vowed to
continue its ambitious expansion plans.
Kraft Foods Global has extended its collaborative research
programme with Senomyx on novel flavour modifiers for a further two
years, underlining the flavour technology firm's success in working
with the biggest food manufacturers.
More acquisitions may be on the cards for Balchem, the company that
last month bought Loders Croklaan's encapsulation and agglomeration
business, reports Jess Halliday.
American consumers rate themselves as the world's most savvy
shoppers when it comes to understanding nutrition labels on the
foods they buy, but it's fat content and calories, not additives
and preservatives, that concern...
Energising ingredients and more spending on research and
development has turned around the fortunes of flavoured alcoholic
beverages in Russia, bringing better opportunities and growth
forecasts, writes Chris Mercer.
Coca-Cola, Pepsi and the rest of the soft drinks industry are
considering a voluntary ban on carbonated soft drinks in elementary
and middle schools following heavy lobbying from health
campaigners.
Soy isoflavone producer Acatris has reached a deal with ADM
allowing it to use substantial intellectual property covering
isoflavones and women's health, reports Dominique Patton.
