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The average UK household bought buying 1.3 per cent less salt in food products in September 2008 than two years before, according to new data from TNS Worldpanel, data seen as testament to reformulation efforts.
Ingredients firm Danisco has remained its position in the top three Danish firms for corporate communications in Hallvarsson & Halvarsson Webranking Denmark 2008.
The UK's advertising watchdog ASA has ruled in favour of Swiss confectionery giant Nestle following a complaint from Sustain, an alliance for better food and farming, for irresponsible product placement.
Mars Snackfood US has released a limited edition of its green M&M'S, set to contrast against the sea of pink on the Valentine confectionery shelves.
Pressure is growing on the UK government to resist imposing further hikes on beer up to 2012, amidst fears over declining consumption rates and a struggling pub industry in the country.
A bakery in the UK has been fined £3,500 (€3,758) after a young woman crushed her hand feeding dough into a biscuit-making machine, the BBC reports.
The UK’s Soil Association has decided to allow organic air freighted food to carry its certification mark, despite proposing in 2007 that it should not be certified unless it also met fair trade and ethical standards.
The former head of Sanlu, the Chinese dairy at the heart of last year’s melamine scandal, has said she will appeal the lifetime of imprisonment, according to reports.
New standards for food in schools is driving innovation in lunchbox-friendly products as parents heed official messages about healthy eating, according to the latest research from Mintel.
From petite fromageries in France to artisan sellers in Quebec and Kansas, the sale of unpasteurised milk in cheese continues to divide opinion, with recent health scares endangering the entire sector.
Cereal giant Kellogg is testing a space-saving cereal box that the firm says could “redefine” the cereal aisle.
Coca-Cola has provided $400,000 to one US-based university to encourage development of new sustainable forms of packaging through a scheme that could see other beverage and food manufacturers following suit.
A new study into the nutritional content of kebabs sold in the UK has shown that the late-night take-out could be disastrous for healthy eating, with some doner kebabs racking up as many has 1000 calories without sauce.
Amidst ongoing restructuring of its global operations, Anheuser-Busch InBev says it has agreed to sell off its holding in Tsingtao Brewery, though remains committed to the wider Chinese beer market.
Britvic, a UK-based soft drink maker responsible for producing a number of leading brands across the country and in Ireland, has announced a number of job cuts ahead of an interim management statement due to be released this week.
UK confectionery giant Cadbury will launch a new TV advertisment from January until late March 2009 to drive sales of its iconic chocolate bar Cadbury Dairy Milk.
Everyone from government to grocers seems to have their own idea of how best to inform consumers about foods’ nutritional content, but a labeling free-for-all has resulted in a clamor of nutrition labels which are actually getting in the way of comprehension.
Food manufacturers are being asked to take some responsibility for public health and make more nutritional products after a study found that magazine adverts were mainly for foods high in sugar, fat and salt.
Food and drink companies in Scotland are being invited to enter for the 2009 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, with two overall winners: Product of the Year and Business of the Year.
One of the UK’s leading retailers is teaming up with a veterinary university to target developments in both animal welfare and product innovation that it says may benefit the country’s dairy sector.
French processed meat and poultry supplier LDC reinforces its position in the dynamic French sandwich market, announcing earlier this week that it will buy Entracte, the number four player in the French market for sandwiches.
An updated guide on the recyclability of plastic packaging can ensure savings for companies and includes chapters on recent developments in bioplastics and mixed plastics, say the publishers.
A number of wine and spirits makers suggest the industry should remain optimistic in the long-term over sales growth, despite the potential impact of the economic downturn on consumer demand.
Zetar has decided to sell off its Baked Snacks subsidiary less than two years after it was established to gain ground in the healthier snacks sector, as the company appears to have lost patience in its performance.
The recent contraction of raw material supplies to the food industry, that arguably tipped the delicate balance in the cereal supply chain, may have created a climate for better 'partnership building', suggests the UK's Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).
It could now be impossible for French producers to sell Roquefort cheese in the US amidst an ongoing dispute with the EU over trade policy, warns a leading supplier of the product.
SABMiller, Diageo and Magners cider maker C&C group have all announced hits to their operations amidst fears of weakening consumer demand for beer and alcohol in the current global economic downturn.
The European Food Safety Authority has turned down Unilever-submitted health claims linking black tea consumption and improved mental focus because they failed to demonstrate causality.
Japan-based brewer Kirin says it is has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire 43.23 per cent of San Miguel Brewery.
Nestle has launched a new website to provide information and news about its global R&D.
Who likes pesticides? Misunderstood by consumers and misrepresented by pressure groups, pesticides are a soft target for legislators. The latest blow to that soft target could have hard consequences for the European food industry and for developing countries.
A group of craft chocolate makers is making the most of growing consumer interest in artisan chocolate. Alex Whitmore, member of the Craft Chocolate Makers of America and co-founder of Taza chocolate, explains why he thinks this trend looks set to continue - even in the midst of recession.
Hovis bread maker Premier Foods received a boost to its debt-ridden shares following a cash offer of €50m for its French speciality bakery business Martine Specialites.
Manure and other waste products like leftover whey are heralding a new era for powering cheese production at one US dairy, however the jury is out on the cost and practical feasibility for wider rollouts across Europe.
The World Cocoa Foundation is offering a guide to the cocoa industry on sustainability principles that focus on equitable profit, labour standards and environmental issues.
Political and economic stability in Eastern Europe makes an attractive proposition for food and drink manufacturers, according to Leatherhead, especially as Western European markets are marked by maturity and recession.
A new recycling plant in the US will produce about 100 million pounds of food-grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic for reuse per year, the equivalent of nearly two billion 20-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola, it is claimed.
European soft drink makers say they are not expecting significant upheaval in their operations amidst European Parliament support for stricter regulations on the use of pesticides for fruit and other crops sourced in their goods.
‘Natural’ was the most popular claim made on new food and beverage products around the world in 2008, according to Mintel, as wholesome and pure become new ideals of healthy eating.
As European consumers reportedly flock to own brand products in a bid to offset fears over the global economic downturn, dairy processors are bracing to adapt their operations to meet short-term demand challenge at the very least.
Premier Foods has announced that the recent relaunch of Hovis bread, which included quality improvements, has resulted in increased market share.
There are fears that in the economic crisis consumers will put on “recession pounds” by eating unhealthily. Rightly or wrongly, food manufacturers may suffer the blame but “unhealthy” and “recession proof” do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.
As beverage groups increasingly look to launch soft drinks that can shake their often child orientated image, analysts suggest that premiumisation, packaging and health claims will be key factors in meeting this demand.
Cadbury has announced that it will add warnings to its Dairy Milk chocolate wrappers – to inform milk-allergic potential customers that it contains milk.
Switzerland-based cheese maker Emmi hopes to push itself further into the US with the acquisition of Roth Käse, reflecting a wider international focus for its products.
The Lancet has attacked the UK’s new Change4Life anti-obesity campaign on the grounds that it allows sponsorship from food companies whose products it says are contributing to obesity.
Bread sales are expected to be resilient against the economic downturn as consumers still see it as a good value food, according to the director of a bakers’ association.
A leading European dairy cooperative has announced it will return prices paid to its farmer members to rates similar to before surging values recorded in mid-2007, risking further wrath from concerned farmers in the bloc.
Walkers has launched six new wacky crisp flavours in response to a UK-wide competition in which members of the public were challenged to come up with a rival to the nation’s established favourites.
Bread manufacturers are being encouraged to take advantage of recent changes to regulations by introducing new loaf sizes to the UK market to help cut down on waste.
With consumers facing a brand new year ahead of them and the customary threat of new year’s resolutions, some drink makers are spying a possible opening for soft drinks orientated to adult tastes and demands.
Recently formed brewing powerhouse Anheuser-Busch InBev is already having to take difficult decisions in its European operations as it mulls price increases and brewery closures to offset industry-wide financial concerns.
A new survey of UK food and drink transport operations will give food companies a benchmark of their efficiency in this area, according to Scala Logistics Consulting.
London cocoa prices hit a 23-year high at the end of December, but emerging questions about consumer demand could see prices fall in 2009, according to the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO).
Frutarom has made a confident start to 2009, putting its rapid growth strategy into action once more with an agreement to acquire UK flavour and fragrance ingredients firm Oxford.
Brewers should be free to price their products competitively to protect themselves in the current economic downturn, though must ensure they are not discouraging moderate consumption, says a European brewers group.
Coca-Cola has played down concerns over pesticide levels within some of its fruit-based drinks following the aftermath of a recent study, claiming there is no need to change its products, according to press reports.
Nestle has launched Toffee Crisp Clusters sharing bags onto the UK market as part of its drive to cash in on its most popular ranges.
BakeMark UK has advised that “economising is not the same as down trading” and has suggested that using premium quality ingredients is the most important factor in remaining competitive – even if that means comparatively higher costs.
The UK’s nationwide New Year’s Resolution, to curb obesity, swung into action over the weekend; the health minister has hinted at drastic actions for the food industry if it proves unsuccessful, say reports.
The new dairy firm formed out of the merger of Friesland and Campina is to be known as Royal FrieslandCampina, following an official award of the title by Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands.
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