UK project aims to secure future cocoa supply

A UK research project aims to ensure the sustainability of future cocoa production through suggesting ways cocoa breeders can produce varieties more adapted to climate change.

News in brief

Nestle starts production at new Dubai plant

Nestle’s Middle East affiliate has started producing powdered milk, confectionery and wafer products, at its new plant in Dubai, which has a capacity of 100,000 tons a year.

New coating eliminates need for barrier films, says Finnish team

A new nano-based coating that is claimed to reduce packaging waste is initially being targeted at the pharmaceutical sector but could be used in chocolate packaging as well, claims the...

Will lycopene colour changes add costs, FSA asks

A consultation is underway to gauge how the lowering of maximum levels of lycopene as a food colour, under proposal by the European Commission, could impact food manufacturers.

Comment

Making the food industry fair for SMEs

No race should have rules that favour the strongest competitors. But unless the capabilities and interests of SMEs are taken into consideration before the starting gun is fired for new...

Flavanols in cocoa again linked to CVD benefits

Small amounts of chocolate can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease, according to a study by German researchers published in the European Heart Journal.

Glisten reports hike in confectionery sales

The confectionery division of impulse snack and confectionery foods group Glisten, reported an increase in sales by three per cent to £16.2m, with operating profits also up seven per cent...

More can be done to cut festive packaging further, claims MP

Some Easter egg manufacturers have drastically cut their excess packaging, while others are lagging far behind, claims a report by a UK politician.

New goals set for sugar and saturated fat reduction

The UK’s Food Standards Agency has unveiled its final recommendations to industry for cutting sugar and saturated fat in soft drinks, confectionery and bakery products, which includes trimming back portion...

Ease-of-use trumps innovation in packaging design

Consumers are attracted to innovative packaging designs but are put off if they prove difficult to open or close, according to studies from Helsinki University commissioned by M-real Consumer Packaging.

Cargill starts flavour production in China

Cargill has opened a new flavour facility in China, which is expected to enable it to better address regional demand and taste in Asia in a timely fashion.

News in brief

IFF blog opens window on company’s culinary world

 International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) has launched a blog, entitled A Taste of CulinEssence, intended as a platform from which the company’s chefs can share their culinary thoughts and news....

Confectioner assessing guilty ruling in worker fatality case

UK sweet maker, Tangerine Confectionery, has stressed that it is committed to maintaining strict health and safety standards in its plants following a court ruling that found the manufacturer guilty...

Global melamine standard would protect consumers, lower trade barriers

A global initiative to set an internationally-recognised standard for melamine in foods could harmonise efforts to detect future contamination and avoid unwanted trade barriers, said food safety officials.

Comment

Supply chain transparency only answer to hostile campaigns

Food companies must ensure their supply chains are transparent and socially responsible in order to prevent backlashes from consumer activists and non-governmental groups on Facebook or Twitter, which could have...

Cost and consumer confusion: retail group decries new food label proposal

Changing food labels in the UK now 'makes no sense at all', asserts the group that represents food players such as Tesco.

Danish TV programme misrepresents cocoa farming, Caobisco

Representatives of the EU confectionery sector, Caobisco, has said claims made in a Danish documentary about child labour are a misrepresentation of the facts about cocoa farming in the Ivory...

Low-sugar options expand with gel innovations

Careful control of protein levels in a food gel could allow for lower-sugar foods to be formulated without affecting the sweetness of the food, says new research from The Netherlands.

Packaging and flavours boost gum and mint sales

The gum, mints and breath fresheners market in the US has remained buoyant in the recession and has increased by over ten per cent since, according to new research from...

Judge denies immediate ban on GM sugar beets

A judge has denied an immediate ban on the planting of Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) sugar beets as it “would have a large detrimental effect on the United States’ domestic...

Kraft pledges no Cadbury job cuts for two years

US food giant Kraft issued a public apology regarding the U-turn on its pledge to keep operational the Cadbury plant near Bristol, and it also promised to ensure no job...

Tea seed oil may replace cocoa butter in chocolates

Partial substitution of cocoa butter in confectionery products may be achieved with tea seed oil, a by-product of tea processing, says new research with the potential to help chocolate makers...

Barry Callebaut looks to Malaysia for alternative cocoa sources

Ambitious growth targets are fuelling leading chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut’s strategy to source cocoa from regions other than West Africa, with Malaysia the focus of the first stage of its...

Trials prove efficacy of fibre and multivitamin chocolate fortification, says Herza

German chocolate ingredient supplier, Herza Schokolade, said it has recently concluded a series of trials on the incorporation of health boosting ingredients into chocolate based on the hike in demand...

Flavour complexity and artisanship driving US confectionery market

Flavour complexity, artisanship and nostalgia are the overarching consumer trends driving innovation shifts in the US confectionery market, claims an industry overview.

SPECIAL EDITION: DECONTAMINATION

Active and intelligent packaging regs - evolution and innovation

New active and intelligent packaging rules and guidelines introduced last year across Europe should bring much-needed clarity to the sector and pave the way for innovation, said one expert as...

Kraft CEO to miss UK political inquiry on Cadbury, report

Directors of both US food group Kraft and Cadbury are being called to account at a committee of UK politicians regarding the acquisition of the Dairy Milk maker tomorrow.

Even three-year-olds know brands: Study

Children as young as three recognize and have preferences for different brands, according to new research published in the journal Psychology and Marketing.

Special Edition: Decontamination

Ozone and vapour proving to be best in class for food pathogens

New research from the UK shows that whole room disinfection techniques are more effective that traditional chemical fogging, and while take up by food processors is relatively low, suppliers claim...

Carrageenan high on texture, low on cost for confectioners, study

Carrageenan has good textural properties and is a more cost effective hydrocolloid than dextran for use in semi liquid syrups for production of a wide range of confectionery products, claims...

Tangerine hard gums get green and clean label makeover

UK based Tangerine confectionery said it has switched to greener packaging and has reformulated the hard eating gums in its Lion range to meet the growing demand for clean labels...

Industry slams ‘unachievable’ packaging recycling targets

New plastic packaging recycling targets set by the UK Government are unachievable and potentially counterproductive, leading industry bodies have said.

Research investigates what consumers see as 'natural'

An investigation into what the term ‘natural’ means for consumers has concluded that manufacturers wanting to position products as natural should use ingredients that have undergone physical rather than chemical...

New spray technology guide aims to address clogging challenges

A new white paper evaluates the causes, ramifications and remedies for clogging in cooling, cleaning, coating and other spray applications within the food and beverage manufacturing sectors.

Cocoa compounds may ease exercise-related heart function

Consumption of a beverage rich in cocoa flavanols may boost blood flow to the muscles and ease the demands on the heart during exercising, says a new study from Australia.

New machine promises chocolate waste-free future

Equipment that separates liquid chocolate from solid rework components by centrifugal force helps eliminate food waste by enabling the chocolate to be reused in product manufacturer, claims its German developer.

Cocoa speculators damaging industry, German producers

The German confectionery industry has expressed concern over the fluctuation in the price of its key raw ingredient, cocoa, as a result of speculation.

Food marketers could read minds, say researchers

Brain scans could allow food marketers to learn about a product’s appeal – or lack thereof – while it is still at the design stage, according to analysis published in...

New global monitoring tool identifies food safety offenders

A new monitoring tool presented at a recent EFSA conference has named China, Iran, Turkey, the United Sates and Spain as the top five offenders in food contamination between 2003 and 2008.

Study thickens the science of cocoa’s heart benefits

Regular consumption of cocoa flavanols may decrease blood pressure in people with mild hypertension, but only at high doses, says a new study from Australia.

Cocoa prices dip on reports of buoyant supply

Cocoa futures in New York hit their lowest price since September yesterday on signs of increased production in Ivory Coast, which is the leading global supplier.

Divine buys up first Sierra Leone Fairtrade cocoa shipment

The first shipment of Fairtrade certified cocoa by farmers based in Sierra Leone has been bought by Divine Chocolate, a company co-owned by cocoa farmers in Ghana.

News in brief

Candy makers respond to call for choking hazard labels

The National Confectioners Association has responded to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics last week suggesting warning labels and even redesign for foods that pose a high...

Snacking study shows kids eat nearly constantly

American children are moving toward ‘constant eating’ with three snacks a day as well as three regular meals, according to a paper published in the journal Health Affairs.

High concentration menthol powder easy to use, says TasteTech

Chewing gum manufacturers can benefit from a cost effective encapsulated natural menthol powder that contains 95 per cent pure menthol and enables ease of processing, claims the UK based developer.

Symrise celebrates recession resilience

Germany’s Symrise has reported a year of above-market growth, buoyed by especially good sales in South America and acquisitions in the US.

News in brief

Spotlight on new packaging regulation at Foodex

Foodex this year sees a series of seminars on the latest regulation pertaining to third party inspection certification and packaging aswell as new food hygiene initiatives, research and innovation developments...

News in brief

M&S strives for ‘most sustainable’ title

UK grocer Marks and Spencer has announced a new raft of eco and ethical commitments, in a bid to become the most sustainable retailer by 2015.