Breaking News on Confectionery & Biscuit Processing

BASF ups price of food preservative

Chemical giant BASF is increasing the price of its propionic acid by €100 per tonne, citing market conditions as the cause.

News in brief

Food brands flounder in new green listing

A new index that ranks UK grocery brands according to their impact on the environment has listed only food and beverage brands in the ten worst performing products – which the greenest goods included four detergents.

Consumers willing to spend more for convenience, says market research

Some consumers are beginning to turn back to choosing convenience over price, according to new research from marketing firms The Integer Group and M/A/R/C.

Mars makes solar investment to cut energy use

Mars is planning to install a garden of solar panels at its US headquarters in an effort to cut energy consumption by 20 per cent.

Wirecut machine uses nest shape to increase cookie output

Baker Perkins has launched a new wirecut machine for cookie production that increases output by laying down biscuits in a nest-like pattern.

Researchers warn of toxin increase in heated HFCS

The formation of a toxic substance when high fructose corn syrup is heated raises concerns for bee keepers, say researchers, and will help inform advice on safe storage of the ingredient for use in human food.

Amcor creates "easy open, easy reclose" packaging for chocolate squares

Amcor has been working with Rübezahl Schokoladen to apply its “easy open, easy reclose” innovation to the packaging of Sun Rice chocolate squares.

Brenntag UK buys glucose syrup business from Cargill

Brenntag UK has purchased Cargill’s packaged glucose syrup business for the UK and Northern Ireland, taking direct responsibility for customers as of next month.

New moves in US stevia supply

AHD is entering the stevia sweetener market in the US with an extract sourced from Japan; meanwhile, Sweet Green Fields has announced that it has received GRAS notification for its stevia from the FDA.

We’re not planning warm ice cream, Unilever says

Unilever has denied that it is actively developing ambient ice cream, following newspaper reports that such a product is part of a programme to reduce the environmental impact of its consumer goods.

Heart charity sets strict guidelines for added sugar intake

The American Heart Association (AHA) has set down strict guidelines for added sugar intake that put a woman over the daily recommended limit for drinking just one 12-once can of regular soda.

Weekly comment

Folic acid: Old women and children first!

Look at the globe and you’d be hard pressed to find two countries further apart than Ireland and New Zealand. But they stand side-by-side on the folic acid fortification issue – it is not needed.

Nestle steps up green packaging drive for seasonal confectionery

Nestle UK is making its Christmas selection boxes entirely recyclable as part of a campaign to improve the green credentials of seasonal confectionery.

New player prepares sucralose launch in Europe

BioPlus is introducing a new sucralose to manufacturers around the world, and sees future market growth in developing new versions of the popular sweetener.

News in brief

Almond Board overhauls website, provides industry-specific info

The Almond Board of California has revamped its website in order to provide an online resource covering all things almond for consumers and industry alike.

Could GM offer the next generation of probiotics?

A look into the probiotic crystal ball reveals that genetically engineered "friendly" bacteria could be switched on by specific prebiotic sugar, possibly leading to a new generation of pre- and probiotic products.

Food industry execs optimistic about business in 2010, says KPMG

Employment prospects and revenues in the US food and beverage industry are likely to improve next year, predict most executives in the sector, according to a national survey from tax advisory firm KPMG.

French packaging law could wreck EU food marketing and logistics

A new French law threatens supply chain efficiencies in the packaged goods sector and could create new trade barriers in the EU internal market, warns the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment (Europen).

New machine responds to growing demand for hanging displays of sweets and snacks

Ishida Europe has launched a new packaging machine that gathers bags of sweets and snacks into strips for hanging displays in shops.

Popcorn and cereal pack antioxidant punch, says study

Certain cereals and salty snacks like popcorn may be healthier than previously thought thanks to their unusually high antioxidant content.

US and Mexico sweetener dispute yields $58m for HFCS damages

Corn Products International’s Mexican affiliate CP Ingredientes has been awarded $58.386m in damages by a NAFTA tribunal after Mexico placed discriminatory taxes on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

'Electronic tongue' could aid sweetened formulations

Scientists have developed an ‘electronic tongue on a chip’ to quickly and accurately identifies sweetness, giving manufacturers an inexpensive quality control tool.

Water savings could boost food industry profits, says Siemens

Cutting water use could help food and beverage companies save hundreds of thousands of dollars and make businesses more sustainable, says Siemens Water Technologies which is promoting a six point water-saving strategy.

Chocolate again linked to better heart health

Increased intakes of chocolate may decrease the risk of a heart attack victim from dying from heart-related problems, according to a joint US-Swedish study.

Weekly comment

Free farmers to farm and bank UK food security

How best should Britain plan to secure reliable supplies of reasonably-priced food? Should the nation put its trust in home production or food imports from the world market?

Cadbury removes palm oil from Dairy Milk in New Zealand

Cadbury is removing palm oil from its Dairy Milk recipe in New Zealand following complaints from consumers concerned about its environmental impact.

High-fat diets linked to poor mental function

High consumption of fatty foods may reduce both cognitive function and physical endurance, according to results of a rat study from Oxford University.

Kraft reaps rewards from sustainable processing strategy

The need to maximise profit combined with a desire to help the environment have been major drivers in Kraft slashing water use in its food processing operations by more than 20 per cent in three years, the company said.

More difficulty ahead for food sector as European recession eases

France and Germany have emerged from recession but the global nature of the food industry may mean it takes longer to recover than other sectors, according to a senior economist at Wageningen University.

Record sugar prices squeeze food makers

World sugar prices have jumped to their highest levels since the early 1980s, putting upward pressure on the margins of sugar users.

News in brief

Food marketing deals threatened by waste reduction efforts

Supermarkets in the UK could be offering half-price deals on perishable food items instead of buy one, get one free offers in an effort to reduce food waste, according to a report in Advertising Age.

Confectionery fat destocking hits AAK, but healthy oils are on the up

Specialty fats firm AAK has said it is benefiting from the trend for manufacturers to substitute more expensive fats with cheaper, healthier oils – but it has been hit by destocking of confectionery fats.

Artificial sweeteners not linked to cancer: Study

Regular intakes of artificial sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame do not increase the risk of certain cancers, like stomach and pancreatic, suggests a new study from Italy.

ABF sells Polish sugar business in advance of EU rule change

Associated British Foods (ABF) has sold its Polish sugar business to Pfeifer & Langen for an estimated £120 to £130m in preparation for the opening up of EU sugar trade.

New system halves cost of extruder barrel replacement, says company

Cost savings, a reduction in downtime and ease of fitting are the benefits claimed by a manufacturer for its new food extruder barrel liner replacement system.

Weekly comment

FDA’s Commissioner Hamburg: Beefing up US food safety

It looks like the FDA has finally got some muscle. Never mind new legislation – if anything can prevent America acquiring a weedy reputation for food safety, it’s the might of Dr Margaret Hamburg.

Snack Size Science: Hershey’s healthy chocolate cake

FoodNavigator's Snack Size Science brings you the week's top science every two weeks. This week we look at how to make chocolate cake healthier, and boosting the nutritional profile of gluten-free bread.

News in brief

Supplier of sucrose esters expands in Baltic and CEE

Sisterna, which supplies sucrose esters to the food industry, is looking to build on the new growth potential offered in Eastern Europe and the Baltic.

Hamburg details FDA food safety crackdown measures

FDA chief Margaret Hamburg outlined new measures on Thursday to act “swiftly and aggressively” to crack down on firms that violate safety regulations.

EFSA proposes new DRVs; leaves out sugar and GI

EFSA has launched a public consultation on dietary reference values for carbs fibre and fats – but has declined to give values for sugar or advice on glycaemic index due to lack of evidence.

Industry is investing heavily in health, says progress report

Irish food companies are investing heavily to develop new, healthier products, and promote healthy lifestyles, according to an industry progress report.

NCA dismisses study claiming US candy makers are returning home

National Confectioners Association (NCA) has rejected data and factual claims from a new study suggesting that confectionery makers are returning to the US.

Four-colour printing system meets high-tech packing demands

An adaptable system that delivers high-quality four-colour printing onto various substrates for even the shortest label or packaging runs is now available, said manufacturers Linoprint.

BASF partners with Brazilian researchers for higher yield sugarcane

BASF has entered into partnership with a Brazilian research centre to develop genetically modified sugarcane with higher yields and greater tolerance to drought.

Weekly comment

Downsize me! FSA right to push for smaller snacks

Chocolate bar makers should embrace the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) proposals on snack portions and adapt their supersizing skills to downsizing.

Stevia market needs flavor focus, says Blue California chief

Industry-wide focus on flavor issues is crucial to the long term success of stevia-derived sweeteners, says the executive vice president of Reb A supplier Blue California.

Firmenich and Senomyx sign new deal for sweetness enhancers

Firmenich has extended its collaboration with Senomyx over the development and commercialisation of sweetness enhancers, with a view to helping reduce levels of sucrose, fructose and rebaudioside.

Scientists propose pectin gel alternatives

Strong and stable gels producedby subjecting pectin to the action of enzymes may offer alternatives to acid-sugar gels already used in foods, says new research from Korean and American scientists.

Trade body warns of sugar market disruption

The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) has warned that the sugar market could be disrupted by production shortages, refining capacity issues and the upcoming hurricane season.