Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

News in brief

Local MP joins Cadbury in packaging pledge

Riding the environmental ticket, UK conservative MP Tim Loughton this week joined Cadbury and the National Trust to cut down on packaging as foil-filled Easter approaches.

Bosch utrasonic tech targets 'cold' packaging for confectionery goods

Germany's Bosch Packaging Technology targets a reduction in material costs and 'cold' packaging for delicate confectionery goods with its ultrasonic sealing technology showcased at this week's packaging and processing show IPACK-IMA 2009.

Comment

Obama’s veg plots point the way to healthy eating and more

“If you don’t plan to plant a garden in Lake Wobegon in the spring, it means you plan to be planted yourself.”

Rainforest chewing gum could answer sustainable needs

In a break from artificial gum formulations, a consortium of Mexican co-operatives have used an organic gum base as the key natural ingredient for a new biodegradable gum set to spear soaring natural and sustainable food trends.

Ocean Spray unveils cost-conscious cranberry range

Ocean Spray's Ingredient Technology Group has formulated a lower cost sweetened dried cranberry (SDC) product to meet demand for cost-effective and value-added ingredients in the face of rising commodity prices.

Fructose metabolism in the brain may increase food intake, obesity: Review

The way fructose is metabolised in the brain may increase food intake and lead to obesity, according to a new review from the US.

Innovation platform could optimise packaging

A call to action to the global industry to send examples of sustainable packaging technology from primary, secondary and tertiary packaging to innovative machinery, distribution and IT systems has been initiated by a UK government funded programme.

Shea nut industry to follow cocoa model

Government officials in Ghana have announced plans to transform the country’s shea nut production to echo the success of its cocoa industry, according to reports.

News in brief

WRAP offers free support for recycling in the supply chain

The UK's Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) announced this month that it has expanded its business development service to help small-medium (SME) recycling businesses across England to draw on local expertise through regionally placed business advisors.

Kids programmed to have sweet tooth: study

Children's incessant desire to eat sweets has entrenched biological roots, with new research explaining their preference for sugary foods could be linked to actual physical growth.

Confectioners must continue investment in innovation, says industry group

Despite challenging economic times, confectioners and biscuit makers must maintain investment in innovation to stay ahead of the competition, attendees will hear this week at the upcoming FDF confectionery conference.

Green chocolate packaging takes SCA award

A project that optimises the use of a single packaging material - corrugated board - and facilitates recycling has been chosen as the winner of SCA Packaging’s ‘Design Challenge’

Sweet Charity affirms help for confectionery employees

With current tougher times in the economy impacting disposable income, a charity for past and present confectionery employees, Sweet Charity, affirms its key aim in 2009 is to raise awareness and reach out to more people in need in the industry.

EFSA slashes heavy metal limit

The European Food Safety Authority has lowered the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for cadmium after studying data, a decision that could affect sourcing.

News in brief

Easter bunny brings less confectionery

Signs that even the Easter bunny is cutting back, with research conducted by BIGresearch for the US National Retail Federation finding Americans will spend less this year on their Easter confectionery and gifts.

UK minister 'renews commitment' with Cadbury on Fairtrade

The visit of UK minister Mike Foster to Cadbury’s Birmingham factory last week aimed to "renew a working commitment" with the chocolate firm and to discuss fair deals for cocoa suppliers in Africa, pushing the issue of Fairtrade chocolate further into the limelight.

Comment

Omega-3: Fishing for alternatives

Short of an earth-bound deity walking amongst us and miraculously multiplying our fish stocks, industry must invest more in alternative sources of omega-3 to meet nutritional needs.

New findings challenge studies linking mercury to HFCS - CRA

Results from third-party testing conducted on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from all the production facilities in the US and Canada show that no quantifiable levels of mercury were detected in any of the samples analyzed, claims the CRA.

Confectionery firms criticised for not removing colours

Cadbury and Mars are attracting severe criticism from food campaigners, who say they have not fulfilled promises to remove certain artificial food colours from products by the end of 2008.

Dispatches from IFE

No escape from chocolate price rises

Small ingredients companies supplying chocolate and other products are expected to benefit from the cost-cutting tactics of their larger counterparts which now find themselves under threat, according to a co-founder of HB Ingredients.

Dispatches from IFE

Madagascar unrest raises interest in Indian vanilla

The political unrest in Madagascar, the world’s leading producer of vanilla, has highlighted the need for ingredients companies to diversify supply and eyes have turned to India as an alternative source.

Dispatches from Pro2Pac

Nestle develops Kansei design method for emotional packaging

Confectionery giant Nestle is building an in-house global design network based around a Japanese design philosophy, called Kansei, which has been successfully used in the car industry to tap into consumer emotions.

News in brief

New FAO food price database launched

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has launched a new online tool to track food prices in 55 developing countries, as part of its food price spike response.

Soy-based ‘peanut butter’ launch boosted by salmonella scare

Canada-based company Hilton Soy Foods has developed a soy butter for nut-free environments which it claims looks and tastes just like peanut butter – and food safety concerns are widening its appeal.

Recycling logo for consumer packaging launched in UK

Major UK supermarkets have signed up to a new recycling logo for consumer packaging, aiming to present how much of the packaging can be recycled and where.

Dispatches from IFE

Kiss consultancy concept for sweetener formulation

A new company has been launched called Kiss which offers food and drink manufacturers a specialist formulation service for high intensity sweeteners.

Dispatches from Pro2Pac

New compact machine for sweet bagging unveiled

PFM Packaging Machinery has launched a new weighing and bagging machine which can be used for packing sweets and was designed to help companies save on floor space, capital and running costs.

News in brief

Cherry extracts seek superfruit status

Australian Functional Foods has released two cherry-based extracts for which it is promoting on high antioxidant content.

Comment

Could sugar shake off its bad boy image?

Sugar could be shedding its bad boy image to take a surprise spot on the public’s list of trusted ingredients, as manufacturers look to appeal to more savvy consumers.

Sustainable design at the touch of a button?

A new web-based tool can reduce the environmental impact and costs of packaging for food and beverage companies, claims Envirowise.

Purple carrot expands Chr Hansen’s colour palette

Chr Hansen is launching a new natural violet colour derived from purple carrot, which is said to bring cost and stability benefits for a broad range of beverages, fruit preparations and confectionery.

Gum must be more sustainable, litter stats reveal

Gum makers must continue initiatives for a sustainable solution to gum litter, with new research finding discarded chewing gum makes up more than three-quarters of the litter found on UK streets.

JK Sucralose announces expansion despite no final patent decision

JK Sucralose has decided to go through with a major expansion of its sucralose production facilities, despite no final decision as yet on whether it has infringed Tate & Lyle patents.

Hershey deal frees Barry Callebaut to focus on Asia customers

Barry Callebaut has sold its Van Houten Singapore consumer chocolate business to Hershey so it can concentrate on its manufacturer and gourmet customers targeting the Asian market.

News in brief

Doctors block choc fat tax motion

Doctors in Scotland voted narrowly against a motion to introduce a fat tax on chocolate, proposed by a medic who is concerned that chocolate has moved beyond a treat food.

News in brief

Cadbury brings back 'Old Jamaica' on popular demand

UK chocolate company Cadbury will launch two Bournville variants to retailers from this month - Cadbury Bournville Old Jamaica and Cadbury Bournville Orange. Both are available in 180g bars which retail at £1.65.

Portion size choice for confectionery 'widest it's ever been', says industry group

Tackling the growing issue of portion size for final products, much work has been achieved in the confectionery sector to satisfy consumer demand and promote choice, says industry association.

FDF defends industry against fat tax for chocolate

As the prospect of a fat tax on unhealthy food is raised once more, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has spoken out on behalf of the industry against calls for a tax on chocolate.

Alliance aims to help food sector tighten its belt

Collaboration on belting technology development and installation can improve food safety, quality assurance and operational efficiency for food processors, claims one of the US companies involved in the new partnership.

UK confectionery sector cuts Easter egg packaging by as much as 90 per cent

Efforts by the confectionery industry to slash Easter egg packaging are paying off, engendering cost benefits and distribution improvements for manufacturers and retailers, says the UK's government-funded WRAP.

News in brief

Danisco appoints new sweeteners boss

Danisco has named Stephane Constant as the new executive vice president to head up its sweeteners division. Constant will drive the overall strategy for the operating unit.

Metal packaging innovation confers eco-friendly opportunities for premium biscuits

A raft of new container designs from US firm Crown speciality packaging target premium biscuit makers with an eye on eco-friendly packaging materials.

News in brief

Recession-hit consumer turns to chocolate, more evidence

Further evidence to suggest that when the going gets tough, the tough eat chocolate with upmarket London department store Selfridges claiming chocolate sales are up a colossal 80 per cent on last year's figures.

Lindt trials chocolate-powered fuel

The chocolate maker Lindt is teaming up with a power plant in the hope of using cocoa shells, which are a by-product from its processing facilities, to produce ‘green’ fuel.

Comment

Cargill vs Chavez: Clash of the rice titans

Clutched to the president’s chest like a medal of nationalisation, Cargill Venezuela cannot be sitting very comfortably this week as it awaits the fate of its rice plant.

DSM-Roquette’s ‘green’ acid to compete with fossil fuel alternatives

DSM and Roquette have announced that they are to commercialize the production of bio-based succinic acid by the end of 2009 after trials have shown that producing the acid via biological means, rather than using petrochemicals, is commercially viable.

Tooth cleanser combines gum and toothpaste

Falling between pharmacy and confectionery, a new tooth-friendly product from France enters the competitive marketplace for portable breath fresheners.

Green tea may protect gums against disease

Consuming green tea may offer protection against gum disease, a condition that may affect over 30 per cent of the population, suggests a new study from Japan.

New food dehydration kit delivers “revolutionary” benefits

After a 10-year development programme, a Canadian company has made the first sale of what it claims to be revolutionary food dehydration equipment.

News in brief

Chocolate digestive best biscuit for dunking finds poll

A survey in the UK has found that the best biscuit to dunk in a cup of tea is the chocolate digestive.

Natra to absorb Barry Callebaut consumer unit

As private label sales rise amid the economic downturn, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut joins forces with Spanish food group Natra in a move that sees the Swiss group integrating Stollwerck, its European consumer chocolate business, into Natra.

Cadbury builds Fairtrade awareness, bar-by-bar

Cadbury’s commitment to source cocoa for its popular Dairy Milk chocolate bars is a strong signal that responsible sourcing is moving out of a niche and into the mainstream, and will introduce more consumers to the principal.

Anti-scuff glaze for enrobed chocolate to keep up appearances

Edible coatings and films firm Mantrose UK rolls out an anti-scuffing innovation that it claims protects against surface damage while maintaining the original appearance of the chocolate.

PureCircle partners with Cerilliant for Reb A quality testing

PureCircle has announced it has entered into a partnership with Cerilliant to develop and supply certified reference materials for its stevia-derived sweeteners, responding to demand for high quality Reb A.

News in brief

More firms make FSA Southampton-free list

The UK’s Food Standards Agency has added to its listing of companies that do not use the Southampton-six colours, including Cool Drinks company, Lakeland, Montgomeryshire Natural Spring Water products, Plas Farm Ltd, Rubicon Drinks, and Sunny Delight Beverage Company.

Chocolate makers witness price dip for cocoa

Marginal relief for cocoa inputs is in view, with costs for this soft commodity dipping after the soaring 24-year price highs registered last month.

Comment

Twitter could leave bitter taste in Pepsi’s mouth

“The new cartons stink.” Customer responses to new product developments seldom come clearer or more direct than that.

News in brief

Mexican move for confectionery firms saves labour and sugar costs

Confectionery firms are moving to Mexico and Canada to save on labour and sugar costs, reports US paper, York Daily Record.

Cadbury tackles burping cows to reduce milk chocolate carbon footprint

Chocolate maker Cadbury will work closely with UK dairy farmers in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of its iconic milk chocolate bar.