La Jolla, California based Senomyx yesterday reported its results
for the first quarter of 2005, focusing attention on its FEMA GRAS
certification and its recently extended contract with Nestle.
A soy-based egg replacer developed by food scientists at Unilever
heads to the US, as Alleggra Foods, the owner of the new
ingredient, signs a distribution, manufacturing and marketing
agreement with Tate & Lyle for the North...
The effects of last year's hurricanes are still making themselves
felt in the orange juice industry, where the price of juice is
rising, reports Philippa Nuttall.
The dispute between the sugar industry and McNeil Nutritionals
advanced a small step this week when a federal court in Los Angeles
ruled that the Sugar Association can continue its claim into
whether McNeil's Splenda campaign...
Responding to consumer and legislative pressures, international
food firms are slicing artery-clogging trans fatty acids from their
formulations,FoodNavigator.com spoke with Nestle to find out
how the world's number one food...
About half of US food producers that specify the use of
non-genetically modified ingredients in their products have little
understanding of the process involved, according to a recent
survey, writes Philippa Nuttall.
Ben & Jerry's last week claimed to be the first ice-cream maker
in the US to produce an ice-cream made with fair-trade coffee,
suggesting that ethically traded commodities can be good for
business as well as beneficial for...
Food chemists bring new knowledge to cut costs in the steady
European popcorn market, identifying a key crystalline structure in
popcorn that appears to determine its popping quality, reports
Lindsey Partos.
Oil ingredient supplier Archer Daniels Midland said on Wednesday it
will close operations at a Brazilian soybean crushing, refining and
bottling plant.
Ambitious US ingredients supplier Cargill boosts its war chest,
announcing a 35 per cent rise in profit for the third quarter of
2005, on gains from commodity trading and its animal feed and steel
businesses.
Innovative US biotech firm Diversa has linked up with the health
unit of agri-giant Cargill to identify and develop novel enzymes
for the 'cost- effective production of a proprietary product'.
Consolidation in the flavor industry evident as US flavor house
Technology Flavors & Fragrances announces its merger with
fellow flavor firm FFG Industries.
Making healthier and functional foods taste good is a major
challenge faced by formulators, but one that they may now find it
easier to meet thanks to Givaudan Flavours' introduction of
TasteSolutions for Health & Wellness.
Global stocks of soybeans continue to rise after a draw-down in
recent years, with production to reach 52.6 million tonnes in
2004/05, 15.2 million tonnes more than in 2003/04.
Givaudan, the world's number one fragrance and flavour player, saw
sales in its flavour division slipping by 6.5 per cent for the
first quarter, impacted by a loss of products and a fall in prices,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Corn Products International said on Wednesday that it expects
first-quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) to decline 35
percent to 40 percent from the first quarter of 2004.
Foods touting health-related claims on their labels may enjoy a New
Year's sales boost but in most cases, higher sales do not last,
suggests research released by ACNielsen.
Suggesting continuing growth for booming sweeteners market,
researchers once again claim soft drinks provide a generous slice
of sugar to a child's diet.
NutraSweet has decided to restart a factory line in Georgia that
has been inactive since 2003 to increase production of the
sweetener aspartame, reports Philippa Nuttall.
A strong network consolidated over 100 years will continue to
secure supplies to the food and beverage industry for the popular
ingredient gum arabic, says German supplier Alfred L. Wolff,
reports Lindsey Partos.
National Starch celebrated official recognition of its Truetrace,
non-GMO program this week, but warned it will become more costly to
ensure non-contamination in the future, Philippa Nuttall
reports.
Seven months after the launch of P&G's fair trade coffees, the
company seems unlikely to extend its range unless consumer demand
becomes more vocal, reports Philippa Nuttall.
Monsanto yesterday raised its estimates for the company's
second-quarter earnings on the back of successful results from its
seeds and traits business.
Food makers using soybeans suffered further price increases last
month as a worsening drought reduced production in Brazil and
pushed US soybean prices in February up around $1 a bushel, said
the USDA this week.
Coke war drives innovation in diet drink sweetener formulations
with the number one soft drinks player Coca-Cola rolling out a new
aspartame and acesulfame potassium based cola onto the market,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Spice company McCormick said yesterday that its Q1 profits and
sales were lower than expected, pushed down by struggling vanilla
prices, but remained confident for the rest of the year, writes
Philippa Nuttall.
Leading merchant of cocoa, sugar and coffee ED&F Man has
launched Corigins, a US-based supplier offering traceable, quality
sugar and cocoa ingredients, Philippa Nuttall reports.
Chr Hansen last week launched an ingredient aimed at meat producers
whose foods suffer from a lack of flavor after functional blends
and water are added to optimize their recipes, writes Philippa
Nuttall.
Food manufacturers worried about listeria will now be able to use
the detection system created by DuPont Qualicon after it was
approved for use last week.
The Whole Grains Council yesterday launched its food stamp to the
general public at the Natural Foods Expo West show taking place in
Anaheim. Cynthia Harriman, head of the council, told Philippa
Nuttall how the food industry has reacted...
The low-carb trend and a general move towards healthy eating, plus
the ongoing search for convenience and ease-of-use were the three
factors that shaped the US breakfast market in 2004, according to a
new report.
The American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) announced this week
that it will hold its International Whey Conference in September.
Autumn may seem a long way away when spring is only just in the
air, but for those in the whey industry...
The GMA said earlier this week that Americans are filling their
shopping carts with healthier foods and drinks, particularly whole
grains. Philippa Nuttall spoke to one firm to see whether
they had experienced an increase in sales...
Wineries are getting bigger and their businesses are therefore
exposed to greater risk. In a bid to help producers achieve greater
consistency, Danish ingredients firm Chr Hansen has created blended
yeasts, writes Philippa Nuttall.
Food manufacturers who are still not convinced that they need to
start taking a healthier approach should heed a recent survey by
the GMA, writes Philippa Nuttall.
Arla Food Ingredients seeks entry into the high growth European
sweetener market, making a bid for regulatory approval of its low
calorie, milk derived ingredient tagatose, reports Lindsey
Partos.
Chr Hansen plans to use this year's Cheese Industry Conference to
showcase the technology that it believes can improve production for
high volume manufacturers, Philippa Nuttall reports.
Facing the pressure of squeezed margins ICI-owned starch supplier
National Starch passes price rises onto the market, announcing an 8
to 10 per cent price hike for its tapioca based modified food
starches,reports Lindsey Partos.
Orange prices for fruit juice producers look destined to remain
high as March reveals yet another dip in the forecast for
production in Florida for the 2004-05 season.