Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Probiotic chocolate springboards off Activia success

Barry Callebaut has launched its ProBenefit probiotic chocolate for food manufacturers in the US, saying that Dannon’s Activia advertising has boosted consumer awareness of probiotics’ potential benefits.

Cargill shows confidence in chocolate with €16m investment

Cargill has officially opened a new plant for chocolate fillings and coatings in The Netherlands, as part of a wider plan to grow its cocoa and chocolate operations.

Tate & Lyle to produce all its sucralose in Singapore

Tate & Lyle is to produce all its sucralose from its new plant in Singapore, ‘mothballing’ its facility in McIntosh, Alabama.

Cadbury announces plant closure deal in operations shake up

Cadbury says it has reached an agreement with some of its workforce to close a Barcelona-based gum factory as part of an operational shake up of its operations.

ADM gets approval for Schokinag acquisition

Archer Daniel Midland has received clearance from the European Commission to acquire German industrial chocolate maker Schokinag.

Symrise develops sustainable process for citrus oil extraction

Symrise has introduced a new manufacturing process to improve the quality, solubility and sustainability of its citrus oils for flavouring beverages, dairy and sweets.

News in brief

Danisco announces post sugar board changes

Danish ingredients firm Danisco has announced that three of its longstanding board members will not stand for re-election at the AGM in August.

Bioplastics industry not fearing downturn packaging hit

As food and drink manufacturers continue to find new uses for bioplastics in their packaging, processor attitudes to innovation remain just as important as cost efficiency in regards to challenges facing the sector, says one industry group.

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Cheerios: Drugs for breakfast?

When is a breakfast cereal not a breakfast cereal? Well, when it’s a drug.

Candy festival-collaboration to play up Chinese market potential

China’s National Candy Association will join forces with the organisers of an upcoming trade exhibition to provide local perspectives for global interest of the country’s confectionery market, which it claims can potentially dwarf all others.

Southeast Asia ripe for flexible pack growth despite eco-challenges

Flexible packaging suppliers could see strong growth for their products in the food markets of South East Asia, though a parallel rise in environmental concerns may require further investment and developments in biodegradable alternatives, suggests a new report.

Carton packaging is the most eco-friendly claims study

Cartons are the most environmentally friendly form of packaging cutting carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel consumption by up to 60 per cent compared with other forms of packaging, according to a study conducted by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research.

Storck Travel Retail expects stand-up bags to be high flyers

Stand-up bags are a way to increase the expose of sugar confectionery in the impulse-driven travel retail market, according to Storck Travel Retail, which is re-launching three of its brands in new packaging this summer.

Company claims consumers duped by trans fat labeling loophole

Consumers who choose foods labeled ‘zero trans fats’ could still surpass their recommended daily limit due to FDA rules that allow up to 0.49g of trans fat per serving to be rounded to zero, says spread company Smart Balance.

Wild makes fruit flavours last longer in cookies

Wild has developed a new line of flavours for baked goods that are said to be more stable than is usual and have a more intense fruity flavour and aroma.

Nestle and Danone make R&D moves

Announcements of new R&D plans this week from Nestle and Danone indicate that major manufacturers plan to keep up the pace on nutrition research and innovation in the economic downturn.

Low-grade apples may give high-grade pectin for industry

Pectin extracted from low-grade ‘Golden Delicious’ apples may offer an interesting alternative for jams and confectionery, suggests new research from Mexico.

Ahmed named Tate & Lyle CEO

Tate & Lyle has announced a new man at the helm later this year – Javed Ahmed, who will take over from Iain Ferguson in November.

Indian company launches two new inks for food packaging

Indian company Tirupati Inks has launched two new inks specially designed for food packaging applications that are said to provide the same qualities and properties as the solvent base inks.

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Different shades of green: Looking beyond carbon footprints

You can try your best to avoid it, but when it comes to measuring carbon footprint, almost everything we do these days, either as a business or individuals, is likely to have a negative impact on the environment.

Amcor praises resealable design in candy pack prize

Amcor has picked resealable convenience as the main draw in selecting the winner of a new award for innovative confectionery packs as part of its Flexibles Packaging Design Prize.

Stevia will attract CSR scrutiny, expert

Stevia leaders must show corporate social responsibility, as sales of sweeteners derived from the plant take off around the world, says conference speaker.

Chewing almonds may boost satiety

Thorough chewing of almonds may increase the absorption of unsaturated fat and suppress hunger for longer, according to findings from Purdue University.

US food container demand to reach $25bn by 2013

US demand for food containers is forecast to rise by 2.5 per cent a year to reach more than 300bn units valued at $25bn within four years, according to a new study from the Cleveland-based research firm The Freedonia Group.

News in brief

STOP Obesity Alliance welcomes new members

Eight medical groups, public health associations and obesity experts have joined the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance.

Confectionery boost for dollar store-demand - report

Consumers at various levels of income are increasingly turning to lower cost ‘dollar stores’ to appease their sweet tooth, according to new US-based research suggesting candy and snacks are a major focus for budgeting buyers.

News in brief

Tangerine tests edible advertising

As the Sherbet Fountain sweet brand continues to hit headlines in the UK with a switch from a paper sleeve to plastic tube packaging, its manufacturer is hoping a new edible advertisement will offer a taste of the future.

Stevia World puts stevia on the map as sugar replacer

Speakers at the first day of Stevia World have focused on the potential of stevia sweeteners as mainstream sugar replacers, as well as their role in tackling surging rates of diet related ill health, such as diabetes.

World's food safety labs ready to detect melamine

Most laboratories worldwide are capable of detecting melamine in food, according to a new study by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Study adds to stevia Reb A safety rep

Rebaudiside A does not pose any safety questions regarding genotoxicity, according to a new study that supports the safety profile of this up-and-coming sweetener.

Sweet solution to honey fraud

French researchers have developed a test to distinguish 100 per cent natural honeys from fake products adulterated with other substances, reports the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

China opens new food test lab

The first food-testing laboratory in China recognised to reach international standards for pesticide screenings, melamine and heavy metal testing and microbiological analyses, was opened last month by Eurofins in Suzhou.

News in brief

Beneo labelling surging worldwide

Consumer awareness of Beneo Orafti’s inulin and oligofructose is increasing, with a reported 350 products in over 30 countries now carrying the Beneo label, says the company.

Is obesity fuelling food allergies?

Rising childhood obesity levels may also be driving the increases in food allergies, suggests new research from the US.

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The quiet potential of supplements and fortified foods

What do companies like Vitamin Shoppe, Johnson & Johnson, DSM, Whole Foods, NBTY and even Pfizer have in common?

Wild Flavors seeks external stevia safety stamp

Wild Flavors has said it is aggressively working toward external safety assessment of its stevia extracts as it becomes the latest company to announce the launch of a stevia flavor solutions range.

Asian brands show western functional potential

While analyst suggests Asian food and drink companies are behind their Western counterparts in driving product innovation, manufacturers in the region may still be able to lead in way in meeting western demand for certain functional goods.

Dispatches from Vitafoods

The true cost of health claims and why patience is a virtue

Are health claims dossiers really that expensive, and has the ‘wait and see’ approach to submitting dossiers won? Stephen Daniells speaks to Joerg Gruenwald, PhD, President of Analyze & Realize, about how much it costs to compile a dossier, and why it’s better to wait than rush a health claims proposal.

Traffic light-GDA combo best in UK labelling study

Latest round of research to identify the ideal front-of-pack labelling scheme indicates that a combination of traffic lights and GDAs is best understood by consumers.

Delays likely in Cadbury damages case against packaging giant Amcor

A massive damages case in Australia brought by chocolate giant Cadbury against packaging giant Amcor has been delayed.

Unilever finds strength in emerging markets and innovation

Unilever’s activities in the developing and emerging markets and the US have proved key to growth in Q1, but private label presents a challenge to brands.

Danisco breaks down probiotics market

North America and Eastern Europe are the two fastest growing markets for probiotic products, recording more than triple the growth rates seen in the most mature markets for the healthy bacteria, according to Danisco.

News in brief

Researchers design choc-fuelled racing car

Researchers from the University of Warwick in the UK have come up with a model Formula Three racing car to run on chocolate oils – with a steering wheel made of carrots.

Natra extends origin portfolio with Colombian co-operative cocoa

Broadening its portfolio of origin sources for cocoa formulations, private label player Natra will buy 50 tonnes of cocoa from Colombian co-operatives that have switched from cocaine to cocoa cultivation.

Nestle ranks second in innovation index for Asian markets

Swiss firm Nestle ranks second in terms of innovation targeted at Asia's emerging markets, claims a fresh 'business vitality' index from the Global Intelligence Alliance Group (GIA).

Cost cutting must not reduce safety, quality, says expert

Food firms looking to trim costs in the recession must be sure to complete due diligence in their ingredient sourcing and not compromise the long-term image of their brands by reduced quality, warns a food chain consultant.

Commission pledges support for more fair trade efforts

The European Commission has today adopted a communication on the importance of fair trade and non-governmental trade-related sustainability schemes, recognising their progress and pledging ongoing support.

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Food safety reform: Not a century too soon

On a summer’s day in 1906 Theodore Roosevelt pushed through new food safety regulation. The Food and Drugs Act passed that day over 100 years ago was the last time the US food safety system was modernized.

Snackers seek to balance indulgence with nutrition

Snacks are becoming healthier and more upmarket as Americans increasingly turn away from the idea of three square meals a day, according to a new trend-mapping report from Packaged Facts.

News in brief

Gum sales fall, but chocolate resilient for Cadbury 1Q

UK chocolate firm Cadbury reports a 2 per cent drop in gum sales in the first quarter in Europe and the US, impacted by less consumer spending at convenience shops.

Shipping programme for confectioners targets reduction in freight costs

The opportunity for confectioners to reduce freight costs and improve services arises with the launch of a shipping programme from the US' National Confectioners Association that aims to create a "community of confectionery" firms to harness transportation opportunities.