Sex gum is drug, says attorney

A chewing gum marketed for its ability to enhance the male libido is being falsely marketed as a dietary supplement when it has the characteristics of a drug, according to...

Green and Black's go 100 per cent Fairtrade

Organic chocolate maker Green & Black's said it is bolstering its commitment to sustainability by moving its entire global food and beverage range worldwide to Fairtrade.

Natural beta-carotene gains GRAS status

A new range of natural carotenoids destined for human consumption moved a step closer to sale recently with GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) notification from the Food and Drug Administration...

Lycopene's use levels as a food colour up for review - EC

Current authorised maximum use levels of lycopene as a food colour are up for review with its use in fortified foods a critical factor, claims the European Commission following the...

Bemis sees upturn in flexible packaging demand

Bemis said a gradual improvement in demand for flexible packaging, especially for shelf-life extension products, was a major factor in it posting better than expected Q4 and year end results.

Cost saving gum arabic replacer strong on texture, says TIC Gums

A modification to a fast drying shell coating system for sugar and sugar alcohol syrups used in confectionery coating and hard panning boosts the sensory appeal of the final product,...

Eco packaging supplier targets premium choc market

Pro Sweets, the upcoming confectionery industry trade show, will see the release of an environmentally friendly aesthetically enhanced paperboard for the premium confectionery market, says the Finnish company behind the...

Sustainable packaging definitions and principles agreed

Global leaders across the packaging, food manufacturing and retail sectors have approved a set of common definitions and principles for sustainable packaging.

New natural chew aims to boost kids’ oral hygiene

Improved oral hygiene for children aged between 3 and10 is the aim of a new probiotic-based natural chew, designed to fight harmful bacteria and help to maintain tooth health, from...

News in brief

Nestle to move on Hershey, report

Swiss food giant Nestlé is understood to be looking at acquiring US confectioner Hershey, following on the heels of rival Kraft Foods takeover of Cadbury, reports Reuters.

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...

Allergen cross-contamination raises labeling concerns

Cross-contamination of allergens in food products may reach levels that are of public health relevance, says a new study from The Netherlands.

Industry working out details on new flavour regulation

The long lead time before regulatory changes become applicable means the flavour industry is prepared to support customers, says the president of the European Flavour Association (EFFA), though a few...

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...

Hershey will not bid for Cadbury

Kraft will not face competition from Hershey to buy UK confectionery company Cadbury, it is confirmed today. But a major Kraft shareholder has come out in opposition to this week’s...

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...

Competition clamp-down shows need for compliance culture, lawyers say

As the competition authorities are stepping up scrutiny of the food sector, all companies should ensure they have compliance structures in place and do not view national activities in isolation,...

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...

Obesity rates in US steady over past 10 years

New data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that obesity rates have not increased, but remained steady over the past 10 years.

GLG launches lower cost stevia sweeteners

GLG Life Tech is preparing to capitalize on the market potential of natural sweeteners with a new range of lower cost stevia-based ingredients.

Timeline: Cadbury and Kraft do battle

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

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.

Mars UK claims saturated fat reduction breakthrough

Mars and Snickers bars in the UK will have at least a 15 per cent reduction in saturated fats from summer 2010 following a reformulation breakthrough, claims Mars UK.

News in brief

Sweet eaters focused on tweeting

New consumer-generated messages of love for the Valentine’s Day launch of the heart shaped Sweethearts including ‘Tweet Me’ and ‘Text Me’ reflect a generation focused on social networking sites, claims...

France ups Reb A limits for food

The French government has approved the use of stevia sweetener Reb A in table top sweeteners, and raised the levels at which it can be used in a range of...

Tests prove removable chewing gum component safe, study

An assessment of Rev 7, an indigestible gum polymer that allows for the formulation of chewing gum with low adhesion enabling it to be easily removed from surfaces, claims it...

Could non-nutritive sweeteners boost energy intakes?

Consuming beverages sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners may lead to an increase in food consumption, and contribute to weight gain, says a new study from Purdue University.

Kraft set to raise Cadbury offer, report

Kraft Foods will raise its bid for Cadbury to at least 820 pence per share, according to a report in the UK’s Sunday Times.

Dried fruit show potential as green tea extract carriers

Fortifying dried fruit pieces like apple with green tea extracts may boost the antioxidant content of the finished product by four-fold, suggests a joint study from the US and Italy.

New hood positioning devices boost fume and dust extraction

Better fume and dust extraction coupled with ease of operation are two benefits claimed by manufacturer Flextraction for its new range of hood positioning devices (HPD) suitable for use in...

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...

News in brief

PureCircle signs new stevia deal

PureCircle last week signed a new deal with Cooperativa Colonias Unidas in Paraguay signed a contract for the production and supply of stevia leaves, expanding the crop area of 25 hectares.

Fines follow in chocolate processing plant death

Two companies have been served with serious citations for workplace safety and health violations from the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following the death of...

Callebaut confident in face of flat chocolate market

The worst of the global economic crisis on chocolate is over but global market volumes will remain flat throughout 2010, predicts Barry Callebaut – which itself is expecting to outperform the market.

Sweetness enhancer is Reb C, says Redpoint

Redpoint Bio has revealed that is RP44 sweetness enhancer is in fact Reb-C, a component of stevia and a side stream of Reb-A production. It could be used in conjunction...

Cadbury worth more than Kraft bid - analysts

US based market analyst firm Bernstein Research claims that there is more value for Cadbury shareholders in the UK confectionery giant remaining a standalone company should a higher bid from...

FSA seeks views on Wrigley’s magnolia bark

Magnolia bark extract could be used in chewing gum and mint confectionery to enhance their breath-freshening action, believes Wrigley, which has filed for novel foods approval in the EU.

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...

Natraceutical: Cocoa fibre shows potential for blood pressure cuts

A fibre from cocoa husks may reduce blood pressure and boost heart health, suggests new research with rats from Natraceutical.

Calcium may boost flavour of low-sugar, -salt foods

Compounds that activate calcium receptors on the tongue may enhance the flavour of low-sugar or low-salt foods, thereby reducing the need for extra flavourings, says a new study from Ajinomoto.

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...

Peanut processor facing fines for safety breaches, worker death

Birdsong Corp peanut processing company is facing fines of $137,250 after being cited for 41 health and safety violations by authorities in the United States.

Packaging using oxygen absorber benefits chocolate, study

Chocolate packaged with an oxygen absorber in a barrier packaging material will maintain its aroma, taste and nutritional quality substantially longer than other packaging methods, according to a new study.

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...

Kraft’s largest shareholder votes against Cadbury bid

Kraft’s largest shareholder Berkshire Hathaway, run by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, has voted against the issuance of up to 370m shares to acquire Cadbury, it said on Tuesday.

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.

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.

News in brief

Bunge expands Brazilian sugar presence

Food and agribusiness firm Bunge has said it has entered an agreement to acquire a Brazilian sugar company with an annual crushing capacity of 15.4 million metric tons.