An Abbott Laboratories shareholder proposal to remove genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) from its natural products - including its Similac infant formula range - has been rejected, the company has revealed.
Leading food manufacturers and retailers have joined forces to launch a consumer education campaign designed to change the way consumers think about frozen foods.
Consumers expect to see added sugar in donuts and candy bars. But when they discover reams of it in dried fruits, juices and other products marketed as healthy foods, they feel shortchanged, and rightly so, according to one nutrition expert.
Unilever should put its spreads business ‘on notice’ if things don’t improve, says one analyst after Unilever posted another set of quarterly results where strong growth in personal and home care was offset by a weak performance in food, notably spreads.
Children from different cultures prefer different levels of fat and sweetness in foods and drinks, suggests new research that calls into question the idea that all children are predisposed to fatty and sugary tastes.
Nestlé USA has launched a new initiative called ‘Balance Your Plate’ after data from NPD Group revealed that US consumers meet the dietary guidelines on average on just seven days out of 365 (less than 2% of the time).
At 270.7lbs, Americans eat more meat per capita* than any other nation (with the exception of the carnivorous folk of Luxembourg, who get through a whopping 301.4lbs). But they are eating less than they used to, says market researcher Packaged Facts.
In part two of this FoodNavigator-USA special looking at the OC&C index of the world’s top 50 CPG companies, we look at which emerging markets present the juiciest opportunities for food and beverage firms.
Strip out inflation from the revenue growth of some of the nation’s leading food and beverage manufacturers in their domestic market, and you are left with some pretty lackluster figures.
In the absence of a clear legal definition of ‘natural’, food marketers seeking to avoid legal challenges over it refer to a variety of sources for guidance.
Further research on artificial trans fat and heart health is not necessary, claim the authors of a new review – but there is a need for more research in several other areas related to trans fat.
Kraft officials spent an hour yesterday with blogger Vani Hari (aka the Food Babe) discussing a petition urging the company to stop using artificial colors Yellow #5 and #6 in its Mac & Cheese, but says it is satisfied that they are both safe and...
A meeting yesterday in Washington DC, among three major stakeholders in the food industry and in food policy gave a snapshot of what progress has been made in the years-long process in reducing sodium in the American diet.
An outbreak of E.coli O121 has sickened 24 people from 15 states, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS).
While there is a good chance that sales of finely textured beef (FTB) will pick up again in time, Cargill’s production still remains significantly below where it was before the ‘pink slime’ media frenzy erupted almost exactly a year ago today, says the...
Only one in ten US consumers gets the recommended amount of fiber, but fibrous whole grain ready-to-eat (RTE) cereals can boost daily intake by around 14%, a new study finds.
While extra virgin olive oil is currently basking in positive PR in the wake of the recent PREDIMED study on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, canola’s nutritional credentials also received a boost this month after new research suggested it can...
An "unusual" class action lawsuit alleging that shoppers are being misled by 'zero fat' and 'zero calorie' claims on Parkay Spray because they are based on “artificially small serving sizes”, is unlikely to make much headway, predict...
Adding traffic light symbols as well as calories to menus is a more effective way of encouraging diners to choose lower-calorie foods than listing calories in isolation, according to a new study.
While the Cornucopia Institute is attempting to re-ignite the debate about the safety of carrageenan with the publication of a new report urging shoppers to avoid it, no new scientific evidence has been presented to support its arguments, say firms supplying...
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has welcomed the decision of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund to pull investment from certain palm oil companies – but has disagreed with its divestment from firms that are on the path to RSPO certification.
The only pragmatic and workable solution to help beat the global health battle against obesity and non-communicable diseases is for industry and policy makers to work together to reformulate processed foods with better nutritional values, says Jack Winkler.
Four out of five US consumers believe that frozen foods are ‘highly processed’ (which carries negative connotations in most people’s minds), according to new research from ConAgra Foods.
Manufacturers of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products have a new weapon in their arsenal against Listeria monocytogenes as the USDA adds liquid sodium propionate to its list of approved antimicrobials.
Why do pineapple and blue cheese taste so great together? Lots of reasons, but a key one is that they both contain the flavor component methyl hexanoate, say the founders of Belgian firm Foodpairing.com, which has built a business around identifying novel...
From non-entity to 15 retailers in 2.5 years is a rapid rise, and doing so by blending health, convenience and affordability to produce prepared foods that also taste ‘amazing’ is only the beginning, says the Founder and CEO of Lyfe Kitchen Grocery.
As moves to secure GMO labeling continue to gain momentum at a state level, Whole Foods Market has “put a stake in the ground” and made a commitment to label all products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in its US and Canadian stores by...
A US attorney has filed an objection on the Hostess bread business sale because the contract would release Flowers Foods from environmental liabilities.
A major new player in the flour milling industry will emerge later this year following the merger of ConAgra Mills and Horizon Milling (a joint venture between Cargill and CHS) to create a new company called Ardent Mills.
Tucking in to lots of junk food during pregnancy might help to ease those pregnancy pangs, but consumption of an unhealthy diet can pre-program unborn children’s preference for junk food in later life, warn researchers.
A ‘unique’ mineral salt containing sodium chloride and potassium chloride is being launched in the US, offering to lower the sodium impact of any food product without sacrificing flavor or functionality.
Dispatches from the 6th International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition
Nuts are good sources of healthy fats, protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They also pack a fairly weighty caloric punch. However, epidemiological data consistently shows that high nut consumption is associated with lower incidence of...
Organic Valley recently announced a plan to distribute more than $1 million in grants to fund research, education and advocacy on the production of organic foods. The grants have long term goals and a near term objective, with one of the biggest individual...
Fundamental research into the behavior of hydrocolloids by the University of Massachusetts and ConAgra Foods could open the door to the ‘rational design of reduced-fat food emulsions’.
Kellogg has described its Special K Red Berries recall as “very small” as Bimbo Bakeries USA issues a broad voluntary recall on its core bread brands due to possible flexible wire contamination.
Growth in the US private label market will continue to outpace growth in branded products as retailers recognize that unique, premium and innovative store brands can help them boost profitability, differentiate themselves and increase consumer loyalty,...
The Kellogg Company has issued a voluntary recall in the US on three sizes of its Special K Red Berries cereal packs due to the possible presence of glass fragments.
“Intense competitive activity in a sluggish shelf stable juice category” hit second quarter sales in Campbell Soup’s US beverage business, with revenues dipping 3% owing to the lackluster performance of V8 original vegetable juice, said bosses Friday.
Kraft Foods Group expects to post weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter revenues, in part because it lost market share to rivals as competitors engaged in aggressive discounting on cold cuts and mac & cheese, said CEO Tony Vernon.
The move to private ownership could make it easier for Heinz to do some spring cleaning, notably selling off its 'troubled' US frozen food business, said analysts as Heinz announced plans to sell up to Berkshire Hathaway and 3G.
UPDATED - H.J. Heinz Co. has agreed to be acquired by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway investment firm and Brazilian private-equity giant 3G Capital for $23.3bn, in what it claims is the largest deal ever struck in the food industry.
A new study provides “compelling” evidence that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and table sugar (sucrose) do not increase fat levels in the liver when consumed in ‘real-world conditions’, says it co-author Dr James Rippe.
Big Interview: Sean Kelly, CEO, H.U.M.A.N. Healthy Vending
Hostess Brands has chosen a joint $410m offer from two investment firms — C. Dean Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo Global Management LLC — as the lead bid for Twinkies and other snack cake brands as it completes the process of filing ‘stalking horse’...
Special edition: Protein-rich foods: The next generation
After a few years of difficult market conditions, the soy protein market is enjoying ‘dynamic growth’, but what does the future hold for this ingredient, and what kind of impact will the GMO issue have?
Shareholders at Ralcorp have approved a mega-deal to combine Ralcorp with ConAgra Foods to create a one of the largest packaged foods companies in North America, with annual sales of $18bn.
Hostess Brands has selected stalking horse bidders for its Drake's snack cake brand and for its Sweetheart, Eddy's, Standish Farms, and Grandma Emilie's bread brands.
