The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) is urging for the
immediate passage of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) in order to expand export markets for
the US food industry.
Members of Codex fail to reach a decision on the creation of
labelling guidelines for genetically modified foods as divisions on
biotech foods remain entrenched between the countries.
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has expressed concern that
fungicide supplies may be inadequate to control a major outbreak of
soybean rust, reports Anthony Fletcher.
Functional flavours and ingredients manufacturer Danisco, one of
Europe's largest sugar suppliers, is to cease the processing of
sugar beet at one of its sites in Lithuania, Tom Armitage
reports.
Publicly-floated US flavour supplier Technology Flavors &
Fragrances is set to go private, as industry rival FFG Industries
begins a tender offer to acquire all of the firms outstanding
shares of common stock.
International drinks supplier Brown-Forman embarks on new
opportunities in the increasingly affluent Indian society,
targeting the beverages market with the launch of its fruit
flavoured Finlandia brand of 'luxury' vodka.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed to amend the
rules authorizing a health claim on non-cariogenic carbohydrate
sweeteners, to include the non-nutritive sweetener sucralose.
Cargill argues that food and beverage manufacturers in the U.S. can
positively impact today's rising healthcare costs by developing
products that address specific health and lifestyle issues.
Postmenopausal women who consume even moderate amounts of alcohol
may face an increased risk of breast cancer, say US researchers,
particularly if their cancer is fuelled by the hormones estrogen or
progesterone.
Cereal bar makers looking to slash carbohydrate and sugar levels
could find the solution in a new 'rebalance system' from sweetener
supplier Tate & Lyle, the company claims, writes Lindsey
Partos.
The most recent forecast for this year's California almond crop
signals a decline on that reaped 12 months ago, heralding an almost
certain price rise, reports Philippa Nuttall.
White adolescent and African-American girls assimilate salt and
calcium differently, say researchers, claiming this may explain why
races have different rates of high blood pressure and osteoporosis.
UK private equity firm 3i will shed food ingredients business Braes
Group to Spanish biotech firm Natraceutical in a €80 million deal
announced last week, reports Lindsey Partos.
Reacting rapidly to the discovery of the banned colour Para Red in
processed foods, UK food laboratory RSSL has a new method to help
food makers detect this potential carcinogen, reports Lindsey
Partos.
The health ingredients unit of Irish dairy firm Glanbia has taken a
further step to diversify away from milk-based products, adding an
oat beta-glucan to its ingredients range through a new distribution
deal, reports Dominique Patton.
Kraft Foods is helping to finance a seat at the Monell Chemical
Senses Center, which should help scientists - and food companies -
to learn more about the intensity and quality of flavors.
Melville, New York headquartered Comax Flavors, has opened a new
factory in Shanghai to serve the rapidly growing Chinese market,
the company reported yesterday.
Ice-cream manufacturers gearing up for the season should take note
as Haagen-Dazs and Unilever announce in the same week the
introduction of low-fat offerings for this summer, writes
Philippa Nuttall.
The trickle of food products contaminated with the illegal colour
Para Red continues in the UK, with the country's food agency
identifying nineteen more food products for recall yesterday,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Dairy food makers looking to drill further into the health benefits
of their primary foodstuffs will welcome new findings that suggest
two servings of low-fat dairy foods a day could reduce men's risk
of developing type 2 diabetes.
Price rises for soy-related ingredients are still under pressure as
drought, high production costs and a strong real all impact soybean
production for Brazil's 2004-05 crop, writes Lindsey Partos.
Europe's food watchdog concludes soft drink makers should propose
limits for heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons used as carrier
solvents for flavouring preparations in soft drinks.
Growing consumer awareness of the importance of healthy oils and
food manufacturers' desire to eliminate hydrogenated oils from
their recipes have boosted sales for Spectrum Organic Products.
Fruit juice maker Old Orchard is once again making the most of
recent health research pertaining to various fruits, adding a
blueberry-pomegranate option to its range.
Decreased demand for low-carb products has continued to be a
headache for MGP Ingredients in the 3Q, decreasing earnings and
revenue compared to the same period last year.
The US will host its first international symposium on the
burgeoning threat of agroterrorism to discuss ways of reducing the
US food supply chain's vulnerability to terrorist tampering, Tom
Armitage reports.
Organic and low/no sugar are the tags food manufacturers should be
looking at adding to their packaging if they want their products to
enjoy strong and sustained growth, said AC Nielsen.
After the dank summer and sales of 2004, ice cream makers looking
to boost 2005 figures will find comfort in new research that claims
ice cream actually 'makes you happy', reports Lindsey
Partos.
In the same week that the world's number one ice cream maker
announces the roll out of health and wellness ice cream to fuel
growth, Israeli flavours firm Frutarom launches its functional ice
cream product range.
The health benefits of differing low-fat diets are far from equal,
say researchers, suggesting that a low-fat diet rich in vegetables
and fruits has twice the cholesterol-lowering power of a
conventional low-fat diet.
Opportunities are flourishing for flavour suppliers targeting
health-positioned drinks as number one soft drinks firm Coca-Cola
says it will push R&D investment in health positioned products.
Health benefits of the Mediterranean diet continue to gain credence
with yet another study showing a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and
olive oil could reduce the risk of heart disease.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, US will host a
forum next month to examine the role that soy foods can play in
managing a person's weight.
Ending months of speculation, the food ingredients arm of Chr
Hansen has a new owner: not a fellow industry player but
acquisitive private equity firm PAI partners, reports Lindsey
Partos.
While acceptance of genetically modified ingredients remains
divided across the globe, recent field trials in China suggest GM
rice could reduce health problems and increase yields in the
burgeoning Chinese market.
Health benefits of the Mediterranean diet continue to gain credence
with yet another study showing a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and
olive oil could reduce the risk of heart disease.
Highly refined soybean oil does not cause reactions in people who
are allergic to soybeans, claim US food scientists at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
A mineral and vitamin mixture that cuts the browning and extends
the shelf-life of sliced apples could encourage consumers to eat
more fruit, say researchers, Lindsey Partos reports.
Food enzymes contribute a quarter of sales revenue to the overall
enzyme business in the first quarter, says Danish firm Novozymes,
marking a one per cent rise in contribution on the previous year,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Bunge said last week that its first-quarter profit shot up 40
percent on the back of increased soybean yields, provoking the
company to raise its outlook for the year, writes Philippa
Nuttall.
