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All news articles > January 2010

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28-Jan-2010

Bericap launches new aseptic friendly sports cap

Bericap has launched a new sports drink closure that claims to combine suitability for aseptic filling with high flow rates.

27-Jan-2010

Food nutrition labels fail to impress European consumers

Less than one-third of European consumers look for nutrition labels when shopping, according to a new study by the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) published in the Journal of Public Health.

Mozzarella scandal unlikely to upset demand, says analyst

Widespread use of cow’s milk in buffalo mozzarella may cause an outcry in Italy but it is unlikely to damage the European market.

SMEs target of new health claims guide

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the target of a new guide on how to achieve a health claim approval in the EU.

News in brief

Yogurt named food trend of the decade

The Dairy Council of California has named yogurt as the food trend of the decade, with its convenience and multiple health benefits funding its rising popularity.

Food and drink product launches plummet in 2009

Companies shied away from launches in 2009 as the number of new food and drink products to hit US shelves dropped 30 percent, according to Mintel.

26-Jan-2010

Antioxidant uptake from coffee unaffected by milk: Nestlé study

Adding milk to coffee does not reduce the bioavailability of antioxidants, says a new study from the Nestlé Research Center.

Arla to make iced coffee for Starbucks in Europe

Starbucks chilled coffee may soon be on European supermarket shelves after the Seattle coffeehouse signed a deal with Arla Foods.

Special edition: Salt reduction

Science: Salt reduction benefits beyond the heart

In the first part of our series on salt reduction, FoodNavigator looks at the potential health benefits of salt reduction beyond heart health.

News in brief

Appletiser cans go for a Rexam matt finish

Appletiser has begun using a matt over varnish technique from Rexam in the UK as the packaging firm continues to work on improving the impact of its can finishes.

25-Jan-2010

Europen hits back on sustainable packaging charge

The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (Europen) has rejected the charge that the packaging sector hasn’t done enough to reach a consensus over what constitutes sustainable packing.

Weekly comment

Cheesed off – jingoism takes the spoils in the Cadbury battle

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, quipped Mark Twain. Predictions of the demise of Cadbury following the approval of Kraft’s offer are premature and are flawed by knee-jerk anti-Americanism.

22-Jan-2010

UK consumers top breakfast cereal charts

British consumers are the biggest spenders on breakfast cereals in Europe, according to new research from Mintel’s Global Market Navigator (GMN).

Lindt expects input cost pressures to continue

The drop in demand for premium products in Europe impacted sales for Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli last year and the company expects pressure on margins to continue due to higher input costs.

21-Jan-2010

Kraft deemed winner of choc wars

Kraft is the overall winner in the battle for UK confectioner Cadbury, and it looks like the US food group has netted a bargain in the final price, claim US analysts Bernstein Research.

Bad weather in China contributes to flat SABMiller volumes

SABMiller has reported disappointingly flat beer sales as South African volumes continue to slide and heavy snow and wet weather suppress Chinese demand.

Food sector boosting 100 per cent rPET demand

Phoenix Technologies has received a letter of no objection from Canadian authorities at a level up to 100 per cent for production of its food grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) resin.

20-Jan-2010

FSA survey finds support for one per cent milk

A Food Standards Agency (FSA) survey has found that the overwhelming majority of UK consumers consider one per cent milk to be an acceptable alternative to semi skimmed.

Sainsbury’s switches from tins to cartons for tomatoes

UK supermarket Sainsbury’s said a move to sell basic tomatoes in cartons rather than cans will save half a million kilos of packaging a year and could pose a future threat to the supremacy of the metal container.

19-Jan-2010

Cadbury recommends acceptance of new Kraft takeover bid

Kraft has struck an £11.7bn deal to acquire Cadbury in a move that could bring to an end months of fierce corporate battles.

Nestlé target elderly with high-dose drink

Nestlé has launched a 200mL nutrient drink in Switzerland targeting the malnourished elderly – a segment of the population it says is deficient in key nutrients such as vitamin D, calcium and protein.

AB InBev blockade runs beer stocks dry

Workers at Anheuser-Busch InBev are into the twelfth day of a blockade of factory gates in Belgium that is running stocks dry at supermarkets and bars.

Calls for processors to publish annual food waste figures

Food processors and manufacturers are among those who should be forced to report tonnages of food waste from their business on an annual basis, a UK parliamentary report has said.

18-Jan-2010

Weekly comment

Why Haiti must stay on the CSR agenda

50,000 and counting. We'll probably never know exactly how many perished in the 7.0 earthquake that brought Haiti, quite literally, crashing down last Tuesday, 12th January 2010, just before 5pm. But for those who survived and who make it through the hard days, weeks and months ahead, getting enough to eat will be a long term challenge.

15-Jan-2010

New evidence of need for clearer COOL info

Consumers are confused about what country of origin labelling actually means, finds a new research synthesis that reinforces the case for greater clarity.

News in brief

Gene breakthrough unlocks pink tomatoes

Israel-based researchers have identified a gene in tomatoes responsible for a pink fruit, popular with Far Eastern diners.

14-Jan-2010

Swedish salt study calls for clearer rules for food industry

Young Swedish men are consuming twice as much salt as recommended, says a new study which increases pressure on the food industry to curb the salt content of its products.

Retail ombudsman will shift power relations in food supply

UK plans to install a retail ombudsman to enforce a new code of conduct for retailer-supplier relations could shift the balance of power in the food supply chain back towards food manufacturers, says the BRC, which opposes the move.

Heineken buys up FEMSA beer business

Heineken has acquired the beer operations of the Mexican drinks giant FEMSA in exchange for a 20 per cent share in the Dutch brewer.

News in brief

FSA to host 10-year conference

The UK’s Food Standards Agency has announced the programme of a one-day conference to mark its tenth anniversary, focusing on strategies to ensure food is safe and boost healthy eating.

Nutritional alliances proved M&A alternative in 2009, report

A difficult funding climate resulted in more licensing and joint venture transactions than outright acquisitions in the health and nutrition sector in 2009, according to a new report focusing on M&A trends in the industry.

Cadbury shares up on reports of Hershey bid

Cadbury shares rose today on the back of media report that indicated that US chocolate maker, Hershey’s could be set to make a counter-bid for the UK confectioner, already the focus of a hostile bid from Kraft Foods.

12-Jan-2010

MPs attack industry in call for alcohol policy overhaul

A committee of British politicians has attacked drinks industry lobbying and called for higher duty on spirits and tighter advertising controls.

11-Jan-2010

AB InBev cuts 800 European jobs, workers block Belgium gates

Anheuser-Busch InBev has revealed plans to cut 800 jobs across western Europe, prompting workers in Belgium to take company managers hostage.

Weekly comment

Cold snap could last longer for food sector

“More snow on the way.” So say the weathermen, and Europe is stocking up and hunkering down for a long, cold winter. But while the fluffy flakes will halt, at least come Spring, for the food sector the chill could be felt throughout 2010.

08-Jan-2010

Industry surprised by Romanian 'fat tax' plan

Plans to introduce a new tax on foods high in salt, sugar, and additives in Romania came as a surprise to the food industry, and the full impact will not be clear until after the details are hammered out over the next 10 days.

News in brief

EFSA completes smoke flavour review

The European Food Safety Authority has completed its review of 11 smoke flavourings in use in the EU, finding only two to have large enough safety margins not to give rise to safety concerns.

Food industry ‘too secretive’ about research into nanotechnology

Food manufacturers’ reluctance to disclose what research they are carrying out on products using nanotechnology risks a public backlash similar to that which occurred against genetically modified (GM) foods, warned the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee.

Nestle looking to emerging markets for confectionery buys

Nestlé claims its confectionery business is large enough to enable it to compete in the global sector even if Kraft Foods takeover bid for Cadbury is successful, and that its sights would be set on seeking smaller acquisitions in emerging markets.

07-Jan-2010

Commission sets conditions for Kraft buying Cadbury

The difference between British and continental European chocolate preferences means the acquisition of Cadbury by Kraft would not present competition problems, the European Commission has said, as long as Cadbury’s concerns in Poland and Romania were sold to a third party.

Unilever says: adopt EU term and break reformulation ice

Aligning the UK with Europe over definitions of ‘ice cream’ would give manufacturers more of an incentive to reformulate, Unilever has claimed.

News in brief

EFSA, FDA, Health Canada to discuss health claims

The European Food Safety Authority, US Food and Drug Administration, and Health Canada will share a platform at an upcoming Cantox-hosted health claims conference.

06-Jan-2010

Food for children a hot topic in London

A new conference is set to whip up new inspiration for developing and marketing foods for children, taking into account current trends, nutritional needs, and the hard business sense.

Sherbet Fountains heads to Australia in export push

Tangerine Confectionery has signed its “biggest ever” export deal in Australia as the British company looks to capitalise on demand for heritage brands in foreign markets.

05-Jan-2010

Kraft sells pizza business to Nestlé to fund Cadbury offer

Kraft has sold its frozen pizza business to Nestlé to help fund its offer for Cadbury after Nestlé pulled out of the bidding for the British confectioner.

Well-informed consumers can drive food change, Defra

Consumer power packs a punch when it comes to making food production more sustainable and healthier, says Defra chief, as the government publishes its priorities for changing the food system by 2030.

News in brief

Ball and Rexam outline executive appointments

Can makers Ball Corporation and Rexam have both announced new appointments at the top of their packaging operations.

04-Jan-2010

Tea prices could prompt over-supply, warns FAO

Record world tea prices in 2009 could cause some tea producers to plant more crops and lead to eventual oversupply to the market, the FAO warns.

Food sector sets out priorities for next six months

The CIAA has signalled its priorities for Spain’s six month presidency of the EU, with competitiveness, food information, novel foods revisions, research and sustainability topping the bill.

Global functional drink growth eases in recession

Global sales of functional drinks continue to rise but the recession has dampened progress, according to a new Zenith report.

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