Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Health & Functionality

The healthy chocolate sector is still in a relatively embryonic stage but is being buoyed by the increasing amount of cocoa polyphenol science, exciting product innovation and increasing public interest. And, while the segment still suffers from a counter-intuitive response in many consumers that a health benefit shouldn’t be derived from an indulgence food like chocolate, this is being overcome.

Researchers say evidence linking silicon to bone health is mounting, but EFSA unconvinced.

Researchers examine ‘bone-healthy’ silicon supplemented chewing gum

The taste and mouthfeel of silicon microparticles may be acceptable for inclusion in a functional chewing gum that aids bone health, according to researchers.

‘Very difficult’ to be a Danish food producer under sugar tax system, says Toms

Danish excise duties on confectionery, ice cream and soft drinks have been raised in 2013, making it "very difficult" to be a Danish food and drink company, according to leading...

Wrigley files patent for breath gum formulation
Patent Watch

Wrigley files mouthwash-style gum patent for bad breath

Wrigley has filed a patent for a mouthwash compound-based chewing gum composition to combat bad breath.

Cémoi says it is an expert in chocolate due to its wider involvement
ISM 2013 Cologne

Cémoi: The advantages of working from bean to bar

Working from beans to chocolate or farmer to consumer brings with it a lot of advantages – including strong sector knowledge and the ability to identify and respond to market...

NCA members invited to put calories on front of pack

NCA adopts voluntary front of pack calorie labels

The National Confectionery Association (NCA) of the United States has adopted a voluntary position to put calories on the front of packs.

Study said that chewing gum could improve cognitive performance

Health group issues warning over chewing gum brain performance claims

A Japanese study linking chewing gum to improved brain performance has prompted a UK health group to issue words of caution.

Gourmet Series rolled out in Europe - US an ultimate target market, firm says
ISM 2013 Cologne

Convenience, shelf-life and health: Gourmet fruit range plugs all, says Taura

Taura Natural Ingredients’ newly launched gourmet fruit inclusion range plugs convenience, shelf-life and health for the artisanal baker, its marketing manager says.

Consumers associate confectionery with short-term profit-orientated production, says GDI

Shed confectionery’s industrial image with authenticity – GDI

Confectionery can overcome its unhealthy and industrially-produced image by marketing the authenticity of products and doing more to engage consumers, says the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI).

Ricola uses herbs in its functional candies
ISM 2013

Ricola will boost know-how and quality of herb processing with new green facility

Herbal candy specialist Ricola is building a new processing facility that will boost know-how, ensure quality, promote a greener image and cut costs, it says.

Flaviola is an EU-funded project analyzing the heart health benefits of flavanols
News in brief

Mars to address heart health cocoa flavanol conference

Mars scientists are among the speakers at a conference later this month in Brussels to discuss breakthroughs linking cocoa flavanols to cardiovascular health.

Barry Callebaut plans to use the claim on products made through its Acticoa method

Callebaut cocoa health claim gets EC 'elasticity' makeover

Barry Callebaut’s Article 13.5 blood flow health claim on cocoa flavanols has been simplified by the European Commission.

Good Cacao makes functional chocolate that boosts immunity and aids weight loss, it claims
Industry Voices: Healthy Choc Chief

Functional ingredients and chocolate the perfect match, says Good Cacao CEO

Good Cacao CEO talks to ConfectioneryNews.com about boosting the appeal of healthy chocolate, the functional ingredients to look out for in 2013 and challenges in formulation.

Lidl confectionery-free checkout trial affects own-label only

Lidl UK is trialing replacing confectionery at checkouts with fresh fruit and juices, but branded goods won’t be affected since it was only stocking own-label candy at its check-outs anyway....

Could white chocolate compounds also benefit heart health?

The potential heart health benefits of dark chocolate may be only partly linked to the flavanol content, with white chocolate - devoid of such compounds - also offering potential cardiovascular...

Maltitol best carrier for inulin in prebiotic milk chocolate

Sugar-free milk chocolate can carry functional properties with inulin best by using sugar substitute maltitol, according to a study.

Functional chocolate bars must target a niche, says Herza

There is no end to the possibilities of functional chocolate bar development and firms must specialize to succeed in a sector dominated by big players, a Herza Schokolade product developer says....

EU health claims: FoodDrinkEurope welcomes “certainty and clarity”

The EU’s biggest food industry group – FoodDrinkEurope – has backed Friday’s enabling of the article 13 list of 222 approved and 1500+ rejected health claims in the European Union’s 27 member states.

It’s official! There are 222 general function approved health claims in the EU; 1500+ rejected

From today food and supplement products marketed in the EU’s 27 member states must comply with the article 13, permitted list of health claims or face prosecution for misleading marketing.

December 14 EU health claims deadline

Stakeholder vox pop: December 14 EU health claim deadline

With the December 14 enforcement of the EU's article 13 general function health claim list that includes 200+ approved claims and about 1500 rejections just two days away (after a...

New EFSA health claims chief: “I prefer pedagogic behavior”; offers 2013 hope

As the formlisation of the main organ (article 13.1 list) of the nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) kicks in this week, Professor Ambroise Martin, the new chair of the...

Guest article

Eight winners: Are EU diabetes-metabolic syndrome health claims set to explode?

Eight ingredients have won EU health claims that can be used to back messaging around metabolic syndrome – although the take-up to date has been lacklustre, says Euromonitor analyst, Diana Cowland....

Guest article

December 14 EU health claims crack down: Are B2B comms affected?

December 14 brings the long awaited and widely disputed EU crack down on health claims. That means 222 general function claims are good to go, another 1500 or so prohibited....

Ajinomoto wins EU chilli extract approval

Japanese supplier Ajinomoto’s chilli extract has won European Union Novel Foods status at various levels in 22 foodstuffs including flavoured waters, meal replacements, baked goods and sugar-free gum.

Guest article

Provexis winner: EU health claims enforcement may dish rotten tomatoes

Steve Morrision was the COO at Provexis when the UK start-up won the EU‘s first ever article 13.5 health claim for its blood circulation-boosting tomato extract called Fruitflow in 2009....

Healthy indulgence: What’s possible in chocolate reformulation?

Consumers have high expectations of chocolate in terms of taste and mouthfeel – so how easy is it to tinker with chocolate formulations to create an indulgent product that also...