Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

Food allergy scientists to improve food formulations

Food makers using potential food allergens in their formulations will benefit from the findings of a new food consortium, reports Lindsey Partos.

Diet candy market quadrupled in two years

Sales of diet candy more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2004, fueled by better-tasting products, improved formulations and heightened concern over weight gain in adults and children, writes Anthony Fletcher.

Dark chocolate could protect the cardiovascular system

Far from being an unhealthy treat, the scientific evidence is support of the health benefits of eating dark chocolate are stacking up. The latest research indicates that the flavonoid-rich substance could have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, at least in the three hours immediately following consumption, writes Jess Halliday.

Monday comment

Claims, claims, claims

As lawyers circle the food and drink industry like a fatted calf, the first lesson for those preparing for defence is that it is not so much what you sell that matters, as how you sell it.

Sunflower oil price hits new high

Cost pressures on food producers and processors operating in Russia look likely to increase as prices for sunflower seed oil rise ever more rapidly, reports Angela Drujinina.

Nestlé invests in tough Russian confectionery market

Nestlé has launched new sweets and biscuits in Russia as intense competition has forced the firm to invest heavily in what is now the world's fourth biggest confectionery market, reports Angela Drujinina.

Top concerns revealed in Russian chocolate sector

Our journalist Angela Drujinina brings you the latest research on Russia¡¯s chocolate market, including producers¡¯ concerns, the market situation and market leaders.

Stronger EU fats and oils industry on Aarhus merger?

Consolidation in the European fats business likely as Aarhus United shareholders yesterday clear the way for the merger with number one Scandinavian fats and oils firms Karlshamns, reports Lindsey Partos.

Sugar reform: food makers to enjoy cheaper sugar ingredients?

Food and drink makers could soon expect cheaper sugar ingredients with Brussels expected to publish its proposals on EU sugar reform today, writes Lindsey Partos.

Poor flavour performance knocks Danisco annual results

Weak figures from the flavour division and a testing European and North American market knock end of year results for Danish ingredients and sugar player Danisco, but Rhodia acquisition starts to pay off, reports Lindsey Partos.

Consumers trust food industry, claims survey

Accurate labeling is a vital marketing tool that must not be abused, if a new survey is to be believed, writes Anthony Fletcher.

Nestlé gets away with reference to calcium in cheesecake

Nestle UK has found a way to refer to the calcium content in its cheesecake without it being considered a health claim, writes Dominique Patton.

Pumpable sugar targets industrial bakers

Industrial bakers on the hunt for a pumpable invert syrup to ease production will welcome a new launch from UK sugar firm British Sugar.

Monday Comment

The Age of Consent for RFID

The image of secret radio chips planted inside the home from larder to bathroom, transmitting data freely to Corporation Inc, is enough to curl the toes of more than anti-capitalism activists.

Wrigley hits US market with new flavors

Wrigley is looking to consolidate its position in the US gum market with a brand new range of summer flavors, writes Anthony Fletcher.

Frutarom adds extract US business to growing portfolio

Israeli flavours firm Frutarom continues blazing the acquisition trail with news this week it will buy the flavouring extracts business of US firm AM Todd Botanical Therapeutics, reports Lindsey Partos.

New gum arabic strategy to nurture buffer stocks for price stability

Buffer stocks are the cornerstone of a new strategy unveiled to stabilise price and sustain permanent supplies for gum arabic in the world's top three producing countries, writes Lindsey Partos.

Aarhus goes to shareholders to clear Karlshamns merger

Speciality fats and oils firm Aarhus United expected to merge with fellow fats player Karlshamns will go to shareholders next week for sale approval.

Global percentage ingredient labels on the Codex table, again

International labelling standards on the percentage of ingredients in a food and beverage products are on the table again at an upcoming Codex meeting, reports Lindsey Partos.

CAFTA squeezes through after sugar concession

The Central America Free Trade Agreement narrowly passed its first Congressional test yesterday, but only after concessions were made to the sugar industry writes Anthony Fletcher.

Coffee prices to stay under pressure as world supplies fall

Expectations of a fall in global coffee supplies of coffee will keep up pressure on market prices, as fresh figures indicate world coffee production will drop in 2005/06.

Comment

Highway to health

Parked on the hot coals of public opinion, the food industry can lose no time in proving how healthy its products are.

Aarhus goes to shareholders to clear Karlshamns merger

Speciality fats and oils firm Aarhus United expected to merge with fellow fats player Karlshamns will go to shareholders next week for sale approval.

ISP closes ingredient plant on rising costs

US alginate firm ISP will shut down activities at its San Diego plant, shifting production to Scotland as costs bite hard, reports Lindsey Partos.

Nestlé Germany discontinues Nutrel products

Nestle's German unit has discontinued a new nutrition bar brand because of weak demand, according to a report.

Food industry update

As part of a strategy to withdraw from basic commodity processing, Nestlé announced this week it will sell its Australian milk power business.

Label properly or lose consumer trust, warns NHB

Food manufacturers must be more honest with consumers or risk eroding their trust, as a recent study into honey demonstrates writes Anthony Fletcher.

Food takes majority slice of pocket money

Children in the UK spend more than a third of their pocket money on sweets, snacks, drinks and takeaways, find new statistics from the country's national number crunching body, reports Lindsey Partos.

Nutrition label changes to run into thousands of euros

While the European Commission still seems far from producing a proposal to amend rules on nutrition labelling, a new study suggests costs of label changes for the food maker could hit €9000 a product, reports Lindsey Partos.

Stallman challenges sugar industry over CAFTA

American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman agues that the sugar industry is wrong to oppose the ratification of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, writes Anthony Fletcher.

Fermentation method cuts peanut allergens?

As Europe prepares for tougher rules on allergen labelling, a new study could help food makers by slicing away the allergenicity of peanut products, reports Lindsey Partos.

Nestlé apologises over baby milk in China

Nestle, the world's biggest foodmaker, has apologised to Chinese consumers after the country's safety authorities detected too much iodine in one of its milk-power brands.

Frutarom pushes concept of functional ice cream

Ingredients firm Frutarom is targeting the growing US functional ice cream market with a range of ingredients such as aloe vera to "support inner beauty" and "relieve stress," writes Anthony Fletcher.

DSM: biggest slice of carotenoid market

The carotenoid market will break the billion dollar barrier by 2009, carried by a rise in demand for natural colourings and their purported health properties.

New members face EU fines over sugar surplus

The EU's Sugar Management Committee has backed a new regulation demanding that five of the new member states destroy their surplus sugar stocks or face fines, reports Chris Mercer.

Sustainable vanilla from India reaches Danisco stocks

Diversifying supplies and managing risk for the world's most expensive, and popular, natural flavour, for the first time ingredients giant Danisco receives a batch of sustainable organic vanilla from an Indian monk, reports Lindsey Partos.

Cargill bolsters EU chocolate position on new German deal

US ingredients player reaches deeper into Europe, clearing a deal this week to buy industrial chocolate facility Schierstedter Schokoladefabrik from existing customer, Ludwig Schokolade, writes Lindsey Partos.

Wine extract increases product health profile

A line of wine extracts from Chr Hansen could help US food manufacturers cut costs and improve the health profile of their products, writes Anthony Fletcher.