Exporters to the US and domestic importers can expect much closer scrutiny of their food safety controls, following the signing of the Food Safety Modernization Act by President Barack Obama in January.
US food prices could surpass those seen during the 2008 food price crisis this year, as higher commodity and energy prices cause food makers to pass on costs, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Rice bran ingredient supplier NutraCea has reported a net loss of $32.1m in the year ended December 31, 2009, according to results filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The food industry has a responsibility to label allergenic ingredients as big and bold as they can – but also not to over-egg the slimmest of slim possibilities that a trace amount of an allergen may have slipped into a product.
Flavors can evoke specific feelings when introduced in a conditioned environment, and this may influence how consumers like them, suggests new research.
Speed is essential for pinpointing the source of food contamination and saving lives, according to a new study examining the 2008 salmonella outbreak caused by Mexican peppers, but first linked to US tomatoes.
Low vitamin D levels could increase the likelihood of children developing allergies, researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York City, concluded after studying the blood tests of 6,500 people.
A federal appeals court in San Francisco has overturned a previous ruling to destroy genetically modified (GM) sugar beets, ruling in favor of Monsanto and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
A US Court of Appeals has upheld a previous court decision denying Kraft’s request for a preliminary injunction against Starbucks, paving the way for the coffee giant to end a distribution deal on March 1.
IOI-Loders Croklaan landed its first shipment of certified sustainable palm oil in North America this week, with a segregated delivery docking at New Orleans on February 20, the company has said.
A microencapsulation spray drying process could stabilize the natural, but unstable pigment lycopene for better use as a coloring agent in food, according to research.
Colorado may regain a tax exemption for sugary soft drinks after a House Republican plan to remove recently imposed taxes passed the state’s finance committee on Wednesday.
Frito Lay is trialling a quieter version of its biodegradable SunChips bag in a bid to silence those who complained the original packaging was too loud.
Global area planted with biotech crops increased by 10 percent last year to reach 148m hectares, making it the fastest adopted crop technology in the history of modern agriculture, according to a new analysis.
Several major food manufacturers are struggling to offset higher commodity costs with price increases, according to company executives at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has written to the Department of Justice to demand an update on its investigation of former Peanut Corporation of America president Stewart Parnell.
The United Potato Growers of America, which represents about 80 percent of the United States’ producers of fresh and process potatoes, could face a massive lawsuit accusing it of price fixing.
US probiotics leader Dannon appears to have weathered recent class action and Federal Trade Commission (FTC)-led storms that forced it to alter gut health claims for its spoonable and drinkable yogurt, Activia, with sales rising 16 percent in 2010.
The functional foods industry is ready to enter a new era, in which manufacturers increasingly partner on science and consumer education, according to a co-founder of Integrated Marketing Group.
The Campbell Soup Company has seen its second-quarter profits fall 8 percent on lower soup revenues and increased promotional spending, the company has said.
Producing an easy to manufacture, commercially acceptable low salt cheese requires better knowledge of the effects of salt on processing techniques and drivers of consumer acceptance, according to a new review.
Canadian authorities risk confusing the public after adding bisphenol A (BPA) to its toxic substance list but failing to follow through with legislation outlawing its use in food packaging, said a newly published academic analysis.
The Canadian government has pledged C$4.43m of funding over the next two years for nutrition education initiatives, as part of the new Nutrition North Canada program for isolated northern Canadian communities.
Corn Products International’s profits fell in the fourth quarter on charges related to its National Starch acquisition, although sales from the newly acquired business boosted sales growth beyond expectations.
Brazil, Russia, India and China will feature in the top five biggest grocery markets by 2015, with China set to snatch the top spot from the US in 2012, predicts IGD.
Makers of relaxation beverages could face problems in light of the FDA’s draft guidance on the distinction between dietary supplements and beverages, says New York-based food and drug attorney Marc Ullman.
The use of a beta-cyclodextrin to form an inclusion complex with garlic oil may boost its stability, making it easier to include in food formulations, according to research.
Researchers writing in the journal Food Policy have called for an independent US food standards agency to ensure an innovative, high quality and price competitive food industry that also protects consumer interests.
People are far more likely to choose low-calorie foods if high-calorie choices are subject to taxes of 25 percent or more – although not everyone is affected, according to a new study.
Bioactive flavonoid compounds, better known for their potential health benefits, may also act to stabilise oil-and-water emulsions, according to new research.
When Tunisian street vegetable vendor Mohamed Bouazizi chose to end his life in fiery suicide, no one could have foreseen the firestorm his death would unleash across the Arab world. But, two months later, as the Arab Revolt shows no sign of fading, the...
Healthier products are not just about the low fat alternatives. Even if there are some gulps at the cost of reducing saturated fat across mainstream ranges, it is worthwhile when consumers cannot taste any difference, say manufacturers.
Hectic lifestyles have driven consumers away from traditional meals toward quick, convenient foods, helping to fuel healthy growth in the global snack foods market, according to a new report from Global Industry Analysts (GIA).
‘Low fat’ is too simplistic a message from a nutritional perspective – and reformulation of high fat foods is not always appropriate, according to a nutrition professor at Tufts University.
Auditory and visual perception do not appear to play a significant role in control of chewing crispy foods, according to a new study from The Netherlands and Brazil – at least when people have already seen the food or heard its crunch.
Although many previous attempts have shown that heat resistant chocolate is possible, more research is needed to produce a simple, inexpensive, and tasty chocolate that is resistant to melting, according to a new review.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) claims that some caramel colorings may cause cancer, and has called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban them in foods and beverages.
The Campbell Soup Company has announced a plan to help tackle childhood obesity in its headquarters’ Camden, New Jersey neighborhood, the company has said.
Israel’s Algatechnologies has obtained GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status for its AstaPure-branded astaxanthin ingredient for use in food and beverages applications.
In order to cut sodium from American diets food manufacturers must work in unison to reduce sodium in their products – and their efforts have gained momentum, according to major industry players.