Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Natural Colours and Flavourings

In 2007 the notorious Southampton study linked certain artificial food colourings to hyperactivity in children. Since then, confectioners have been under increasing pressure to replace some of the vibrant hues used in their products with natural alternatives. Trouble is, it’s not always easy to find suitable, stable sources for the natural shades they need.

Natural flavours ‘identified in nature’ to have major industry impact – report

02-Jan-2012 - EC regulations implemented last year that require natural flavouring substances to be identical to something found in nature will greatly impact the industry, according to a report assessing the new regulation.

Wild launches natural brown flavours for crème-filled chocolates

15-Dec-2011 - Ingredients firm Wild has launched a range of natural brown flavours that it has claimed can help confectioners seize on natural flavour trends

Internally flavouring extruded products can halve costs - Culinar

13-Dec-2011 - Lyckeby Culinar AB has won an award for its small extruded crisp pearls that it has said can combine natural flavours and colours without affecting taste and slash costs in half when compared to using freeze dried fruit.

Chr. Hansen expands e-number free colouring range

28-Nov-2011 - Ingredients firm Chr. Hansen has doubled the number of products in its fruit colouring food stuffs range, which it said will allow manufacturers to diversify sweet confectionery products and keep an e-number free label.

Wild devises natural colour and flavour range for marshmallows

30-Sep-2011 - Marshmallow colour and flavour innovation and an extension of its red shade portfolio have been the focus of recent R&D work at natural ingredients producer Wild.

Beetroot extract could provide natural replacement for carmine: Synthite

26-Sep-2011 - A newly developed natural food colouring made from beetroot extracts could be a solution to replacing carmine colours made from insects, according to ingredient producer Synthite.

Natural colours drive Chr Hansen Q3 results; probiotic uncertainty continues

06-Jul-2011 - The newly renamed Natural Colors Division was the star performer in Danish ingredients supplier Chr Hansen’s Q3 results, showing 34% organic sales growth for the quarter, compared to 5% for Cultures and Enzymes, and 9% for Health and Nutrition.

Dispatches from Interpack 2011

Sweet cleaning claimed for new depositor technology

18-May-2011 - Baker Perkins talked hygiene innovation as a greater part of the buzz around Interpack 2011 was about technology that allows more rapid cleaning.

Reb C gets FEMA GRAS as sweetness enhancer

03-Nov-2010 - Redpoint Bio and International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) have achieved FEMA GRAS status for their Reb C sweetness enhancer, allowing it to be used in a variety of applications in the United States and elsewhere.

Project to quantify stability of natural food colours

02-Sep-2010 - Food research group Leatherhead is in the final stages of a testing project on natural food colours, which it expects will provide clear guidance on the stability and shelf-life of the ingredients.

High carmine prices boost search for alternative colours

23-Aug-2010 - Suppliers of the food colouring carmine are taking a cautious approach to new customers, as the industry continues to feel the impact of supply shortages, which this year sent prices for the ingredient soaring six fold.

FSA seeks views on impact of flavouring regulation

22-Jul-2010 - The perspective of food manufacturers and other stakeholders on the costs and benefits of enforcement provisions for the new EU Regulation on food flavourings is being sought from the UK Food Standards Agency during a three month consultation phase.

Wild expands colour range for new EU rules

20-Jul-2010 - Ingredients firm Wild has expanded its natural food colourings range to help food manufacturers avoid certain artificial colours that now require warning labels.

Industry rejects call for food colorings ban

06-Jul-2010 - The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) called for a ban on food colorings last week – but food industry experts insist there is overwhelming evidence of their safety.

Seaweed extracts could offer edible flavor films

25-Jun-2010 - French scientists continue to expand the potential of carrageenan films to encapsulate and control the release of flavors, with new data showing superiority over established options.

EFSA publishes data guidance for flavour approvals

25-Jun-2010 - The European Food Safety Authority has published its final guidance for data required to assess new food flavourings, and is looking to build on experience gained during evaluations to establish a positive list.

Special edition: Natural and clean label

Consumers' views on natural and clean label terminology

21-Jun-2010 - ‘No-additives’, and ‘no-preservatives’ are the most popular clean label claims with consumers, while ‘natural’ struggles because of over-use and lack of definition, according to research.

What ‘natural’ means in food regulations

18-Jun-2010 - ‘Natural’ has become a word consumers like to see on food product packages, while ‘clean label’ is an industry term to describe an E-number-free ingredients list. But exact definitions depend on who you are talking to, and what additive you are taking about.

Special edition: Natural and clean label

Mintel: Natural and clean-label trend still driving NPD

16-Jun-2010 - While shoppers’ enthusiasm for low-fat, low-sugar or low-calorie claims (‘minus’ claims) or added functional ingredients claims (‘plus’ claims) has waned; their interest in natural claims has continued to grow, according to Mintel.

Comment

100% natural (and absolutely no 'hairy chemicals'...)

14-Jun-2010 - Consumers, observed Mintel’s David Jago at a Leatherhead Food Research conference on natural trends last week, want foods that are ‘wholesome’, ‘authentic’, and above all ‘natural’, although few of them can articulate what this actually means.

Ex-Innocent Drinks entrepreneurs secure first major listing for gum

11-Jun-2010 - Peppersmith - the premium gum firm created by former Innocent Drinks executives Mike Stevens and Dan Shrimpton – has secured its first supermarket listing.

Symrise and partner to increase L-menthol production

10-Jun-2010 - Symrise is planning a major increase in its capacity of synthetic menthol as demand from confectionery and oral care sectors is surging, especially in emerging markets.

EFSA lowers ADI for food colour in re-evaluation

21-Apr-2010 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in adoption of opinions on three further food colours used in bakery and confectionery products, has confirmed intake levels for one colour, halved the ADI for another and could not determine a risk assessment on the third.

Matrix all important in Southampton colour switch-out

01-Apr-2010 - Food and beverage companies should aim to address all their reformulation issues at the same time as replacing Southampton colours, say Campden BRI experts, as subsequent changes to the matrix can affect the stability of natural hues.

Spirulina faces legal questions

29-Mar-2010 - Spirulina, the blue colour from algae used in Nestlé’s Smarties, is one of 10 substances used to colour food that faces an uncertain future as its legal status is scrutinised.

Spotlight

Stevia and mint flavours a winning combination, says Cargill consultant
Exclusive interview

Stevia and mint flavours a winning combination, says Cargill consultant

Mint confectionery products containing the sweetener stevia could appeal to EU consumers, but each country has its...

Robotics, clean-label and stevia: ProSweets 2012 roundup

Robotics, clean-label and stevia: ProSweets 2012 roundup

The confectionery trade fair ProSweets ended on Wednesday after four days of intensive trade fair business in...

Hershey records growth as international markets shine

Hershey records growth as international markets shine

The Hershey Company has announced improved sales and gross profit in its fourth quarter (Q4) and end...

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