A sugar tax is the best way to combat excess sugar consumption which doctors agree is partly to blame for growing global obesity and diabetes rates, according to a report from Credit Suisse.
Danone in Canada has announced plans for a CAD$40m (US$39m, €29m) expansion of its Greek yogurt manufacturing capabilities – an investment designed to meet growing demand for its Oikos yogurt range from Quebec-based consumers.
TOP Packaging expert believes time could be ripe for patented technology
A top packaging expert suspects the 'timing is coming good' for beverage packaging that encapsulate smells to woo consumers after PepsiCo’s patent filing seeking US protection in this field.
A new report from Rainforest Action Network says food giants supporting "weak" and "diluted" Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards or buying GreenPalm certificates are kidding themselves if they think this will save...
Requiring food manufacturers to label products containing ingredients from genetically engineered (GE) crops would not mean higher food prices for shoppers, according to an independent study released yesterday by the Just Label It coalition.
A new-onset type 2 diabetic who developed diarrhea after being prescribed the drug Metformin resumed regular bowel movements, lost weight and experienced a dramatic reduction in fasting blood sugar after taking a novel ‘cobiotic’ ingredient, according...
Is it too risky to label products that may contain ingredients from genetically engineered crops as ‘all-natural’? And will the FDA step in and decide this issue so consumer class action lawsuits over this issue stop clogging up the court system?
A recent TV news segment on the subject of ginseng poaching raised the specter of the plant’s possible extinction in the United States. While that fear may be overblown, there’s little doubt that a number of factors (including overharvesting) are working...
The amount of detectable arsenic in rice and rice products is too low to pose any immediate health risks to consumers, according to new guidance issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Big Interview: Chris Cuvelier, founder/CEO of Zola Fruits of the World
In the increasingly crowded marketplace of functional beverages, what kind of impact can one more manufacturer of acai juice and coconut water expect to have?
Natural colors expert Chr. Hansen has been exploring whether it is commercially viable to produce carmine - a natural red food color currently made from crushed cochineal insects - via a controlled fermentation process.
60-second interview, Kristen Mercure, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
The recent growth of the single serve coffee market has been nothing short of meteoric. But is 'fresh-brewed' soup a bridge too far, or could Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) and partner Campbell Soup have stumbled upon CPG gold?
WhiteWave Services Inc. has filed a patent application for ‘light milk,’ a lower-calorie alternative to skim milk without a watered-down flavor and mouthfeel.
PepsiCo is seeking to patent a method of encapsulating aromas within beverage packaging to entice US consumers with ‘favorable aromas’ before they drink, say, juices or coffees.
Chloride intake may also be an independent risk factor for heart disease. But in this case the risks are lower, and may counterbalance those of sodium in salt, say researchers.
60-second interview: Dr Janet Collins, president, IFT
What’s it like to stand at the helm of the world’s largest organization of food science professionals at a time when consumers are more likely to ask (and trust) each other than an ‘expert’ or 'official' source to get answers on everything from...
The pace of progress on the joint development program of Cargill and Evolva to produce fermentation-based steviol glycosides is ‘exceeding expectations’ with the resulting ingredients potentially hitting the market earlier than expected.
Algae is theoretically the most efficient way to produce protein, especially in terms of unit land area devoted to production. But the day when algal proteins make up a significant proportion of human nutrition requirements is still some years in the...
On paper, it looks like a winner. Why not put Campbell soup in a K-Cup? It’s worked for coffee, tea and hot chocolate. And it beats donuts if you get the mid-afternoon munchies and don’t want to be consumed with guilt for the rest of the afternoon.
Dr Pepper TEN risks sharing the fate of ‘countless other’ product extensions’ that fail to cut it as independent brands, given declining distribution in the US C-store channel, one analyst warns.
Are reasonable consumers being misled by companies using the term ‘evaporated cane juice’ (ECJ) to describe dried sugar cane syrup (aka sugar) on product labels? And should this issue be determined by the FDA or the courts?
Flowers Foods will ignite growth in new markets and pick up lost volumes with its newly acquired ex-Hostess brand Wonder – a product its president and CEO describes as a ‘powerhouse’ brand.
Natural snack brands including Pirate’s Booty (gluten-free rice and corn puffs) and True North (premium nut clusters) have huge untapped growth potential, bosses at B&G Foods told delegates at the Barclays back to School conference this week.
The ‘exceptional momentum’ of Campbell’s Chunky soup range looks set to continue as the company launches three more ‘pub-inspired’ soups to coincide with the kick-off of the new NFL season.
Chobani has issued an formal voluntary recall for one batch of its branded Greek yogurt in the US following reports of illness - just days after the company discovered mold in the product lot.
Riding the wave of continued strong consumer demand for gluten-free food options, Canada’s gluten-free market reached $458.9 million in 2012, according to a recent report from Packaged Facts entitled 'Gluten-Free Foods in Canada'.
Stevia First, an early stage company based in Yuba City, CA, has built its business model on bringing stevia production onshore in the US. Supply chain transparency and technical innovation are the two pillars on which the company is built, said CEO...
PepsiCo’s new energizing juice drink Mountain Dew Kickstart has generated more than $100m in sales in its first year, bosses at PepsiCo revealed yesterday.
The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) has slightly reduced its cocoa deficit forecast for the current crop year and says there are ample stocks for chocolate manufacturers, but a deficit next year could raise prices.
Food companies that only use certified sustainable palm oil have been accused of “certifying destruction”, according to a Greenpeace report released to coincide with the first European Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) summit in Berlin this week.
Plant proteins are all the rage - at least that’s what the market researchers are all saying - from pea and soy to algae and rice. But what about protein from canola, the second largest oilseed crop in the world?
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), the nation’s largest dairy farmer-owned milk marketing cooperative, has purchased milk, juice and fruit drink processor Dairy Maid Dairy.
A US government demonstration program to provide school-age children from low-income households with meals and snacks during the summer months showed a 33% decrease in the rate of very low food security among children in the demonstration’s second year,...
Jif peanut butter to Folgers coffee maker J M Smucker is on track to launch 100 new products this year and says its innovation success rate “exceeds industry norms”.
The head of Rooibee Red Tea says the US’s first bottled rooibos red tea brand expects a significant sales lift this year after enjoying 330% growth from 2010-2012.
Danish ingredients giant Chr Hansen has today rebranded itself ‘Nature’s Number 1’ as it announced a 6-platform strategic overhaul of its colours, enzymes and cultures businesses.
Mondelez International plans to close older ‘subscale’ facilities and will open five previously unannounced sites by 2020 as part of a five-step supply chain efficiency program.
Greek yogurt manufacturer Chobani has asked grocery retailers to pull selected yogurt cups from shelves after quality concerns surfaced over certain cups experiencing swelling or bloating.
While many US firms were struggling to get hold of sucralose from China early last year, the opposite is now true, with buyers reporting a glut of product on the market and a sharp reduction in prices.
Hillshire Brands has entered the dried meat snacks category after striking a deal to buy California-based premium pork and beef jerky maker Golden Island Jerky for an undisclosed sum.
Oil-filled hydrogel particles could help food producers slash the level of fat used low-calorie in products without affecting taste or texture, say researchers.
By-products from mushroom processing could be a cheap and unexplored source of prebiotics that may enhance the survival of probiotics in storage and digestion, according to new research.
Modern diets low in red meat and natural fats could be contributing towards violent behaviour in America, particularly among teenagers, according to a new report.
Vinegar (acetic acid) should be ‘purposefully’ integrated into more food matrices, say the researchers behind a new study which reports the potential blood sugar management potential of a vinegar beverage.