Study claims chewing gum can reduce daytime tiredness

British researchers have conducted a study that suggests chewing gum can combat daytime sleepiness.

Nestle ‘sure’ child labour occurs in supply chain as company allows probe

Nestle has become the first food company to allow the Fair Labor Association (FLA) to investigate whether children are working on cocoa farms supplying its factories as the company said...

Competition watchdog scrutinizes Amcor takeover plans

The Australian competition watchdog confirmed it is probing Amcor’s proposed takeover of packaging company Aperio Group to see if the deal would damage competition in the domestic market.

Xylitol chewing gum could cut ear infection risk in children– study

Researchers at the University of Toronto have published a study review that claims chewing xylitol- based chewing gum five times a day can reduce acute middle ear infections (AOM) in...

Chr. Hansen expands e-number free colouring range

Ingredients firm Chr. Hansen has doubled the number of products in its fruit colouring food stuffs range, which it said will allow manufacturers to diversify sweet confectionery products and keep...

Second buys third in Romanian chocolate race

The second largest player on the Romanian chocolate market Kandia Dulce has acquired former competitor Supreme Chocolat, the third largest player, which could put pressure on market leader Kraft, according...

Manufacturers moving steadily towards sustainable palm oil - WWF

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has found that food manufacturers are making progress towards ecologically friendly palm oil practices.

Exclusive

Frito-Lay and Innovia in legal battle over biodegradable film patents

Frito-Lay and Innovia Films are locked in a legal fight over which company owns the patent rights to biodegradable films used in packaging for crisp and snack bags.

Caobisco calls for extended buffer stocks to combat supply fluctuations

The Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery of Europe (Caobisco) has called for buffer stocks to be extended to cover the supply of commodities like wheat, skimmed milk powder...

Novel bakery and confectionery blends with URC technology - Taura

Taura has launched an ingredients range that it claims allows manufactures to combine 100% ultra rapid concentrated (URC) fruit and vegetables with other ingredients for the first time in premium...

Special Edition: Stevia

Stevia supply chain is built on sustainable values, say suppliers

Greater ownership and management of the stevia supply chain has helped to build a system that is sustainable, responsible, and scalable, say leading global suppliers PureCircle and Cargill.

German court raps Ferrero on vitamin content labels

Italian confectioner Ferrero has been ordered by a German court to change the labelling on its Nutella brand or face €250,000 fines per individual case.

First Chinese plant an easy decision for tna

Packaging systems producer tna has opened a new plant in China in a bid to tap into huge growth in the domestic packaged foods markets - particularly the snack sector.

Jelly Belly sports beans ‘still growing in the double digits’

Sales of sports beans – jelly beans laced with vitamins B, C and electrolytes – are “still growing in the double-digits each year” six years after launch, bosses at brand...

US chewing gum market to mature as consumers demand health products – analyst

Growth in the US chewing gum market will be driven by products with perceived health benefits as children’s gum market declines, according to an analyst at IBISWorld.

Special Edition: Stevia

Getting a handle on flavour, bulking and bitter blocker systems key to stevia formulation

In-depth understanding of how stevia works with different flavour systems, bulking agents, and other ingredients is required to optimise NPD or reformulation of existing food and drinks using the natural...

Vitamin gum pioneer targets sports nutrition market with novel bubblegum

The firm behind a patented technology enabling the incorporation of multiple vitamins and other bioactives in coated chewing gum, has developed a novel bubblegum targeting the sports nutrition market.

Novel Foods Exclusive

First yeast-derived beta glucan approved as novel food in EU

Health ingredients firm Biothera has been granted novel foods approval in the EU for its immune health ingredient yeast beta glucan and said there were prospects for manufacturers in a...

Special Edition: Stevia

Coca-Cola to expand stevia offering in EU; no plans to drop aspartame

Coca-Cola said it has no reason to drop the artificial sweetener aspartame from its low or zero calorie beverage brands in the European market as it welcomes last week’s approval...

Novel Foods Exclusive

Wrigley gains novel food approval for magnolia bark extract in EU

Gum giant Wrigley has been granted novel food approval in the EU for an extract to be used in chewing gum and mints that will allow it to introduce new...

Exclusive interview

Chinese market opens up for Naturex for flavour modifier; Burgundy integration underway

Naturex has just received novel foods approval in China for its flavour masking system, Talin. President and chief executive of the botanicals group, Jacques Dikansky, revealed the news and discussed...

Callebaut teams with Indonesian cocoa exporter to build €24m processing site

The world’s leading cocoa manufacturer Barry Callebaut has entered a joint venture with Indonesian cocoa exporter P.T. Comextra Majora and has announced plans to build a €24m manufacturing facility....

Food and drink firms rush to use stevia

The UK can expect a gradual sales boom in products sweetened with stevia, according to a leading market analyst.

Tetra Pak upgrades sugar-dissolving unit

Tetra Pak has launched an upgrade for its Tetra Albrix sugar dissolving unit that it has claimed lowers costs and reduces energy consumption on previous versions.

Upgraded co-extrusion unit boosts productivity for centre filled cereals

Baker Perkins Group has introduced an upgraded pillow crimper for co-extrusion that it has said maintains consistency and increases production capacity for cereals and snacks with centre-fillings.

Special Edition: Stevia

Is a re-assessment of EU stevia usage on the cards?

Post-market monitoring of stevia use levels in food and drink products could see the European Commission broaden the current authorised food categories, claims a stevia trade body.

News in brief

Wrigley to launch root beer flavoured gum in US

Gum giant Wrigley has announced that it will add a root beer flavoured chewing gum to its Extra brand in the US following a Facebook poll.

Cadbury upholds purple reign in colour trademark row with Nestle

Cadbury has acquired a UK trademark for a shade of the colour purple on chocolate bar packaging following a legal dispute with major rival Nestle.

Special Edition: Sustainable Supply Chain

Asda exceed sustainability targets through supply chain reduction

Asda has exceeded a 10% carbon emission reduction target for 2015 through the elimination of 17 million miles from its supply chain to date, according to figures released by the UK retailer.

Competition and price hike fears as EC ponders major sugar industry takeover

The European Commission has launched an in-depth investigation over the proposed acquisition of the world’s second largest sugar trader ED&F MAN by Europe’s largest sugar producer Südzucker as it fears...

Unite slams ‘massive arrogance’ of Kraft boss

Unite the Union has slammed Kraft ceo Irene Rosenfeld for failing to appear before a parliamentary select committee and accused her of “massive arrogance” and “a total disregard” for her...

Nestle steps up production in Spain with €10m investment

Spanish chocolate confectionery market leader Nestle has invested €10m on a new production line its factory in La Penilla de Cayon to drive growth in the Mediterranean.

Scientists develop biodegradable non-sticky chewing gum using cereal proteins

Irish researchers have patented the process for a non-sticky, biodegradable gum that uses cereal proteins to replace rubber gum bases in chewing gum and are looking for companies to commercialise...

News in brief

Europen appoints new managing director

Europen – the European Organization for packaging and Environment - has appointed Véronique Bagge as its new managing director.

Chocolate driving growth in Chinese confectionery market – Euromonitor

The chocolate market in China is growing at faster rates than other confectionery in the country as heightened consumer wealth helps stir evolution from sugar confectionery, according to an analyst...

Bosch launches ‘first’ hermetic airtight packaging machine for smaller chocolate bars

Bosch Packaging Technology has launched what it says is the first machine capable of hermetically sealed single-wrap die fold packaging for small to medium sized chocolate bars.

Special Edition: Sustainable Supply Chain

Eco friendly methane trucks optimise supply chain for Nestle

Nestle UK has scooped an award for its use of methane trucks that has reduced CO2 emissions by 14% compared to diesel trucks with further potential to slash emissions in half.

Modified palm olein could boost food applications and nutritional quality: Study

The addition of the medium chain fatty acids to palm olein may help to widen its potential uses in food formulation whilst producing oil with better nutritional quality, according to...

Special Edition: Sustainable Supply Chain

Challenges and benefits of implementing a sustainable supply chain

The incorporation of sustainability throughout the supply chain involves constant innovation, commitment from company leadership and a realization that it is an indefinite process, said Datamonitor.

New China packaging plant to tap huge growth potential - Bosch

Bosch has announced it will build a second plant in China in a bid to tap into booming growth for food and confectionery packaging machinery in the country.

Proliant pioneers lower cost whey and lactose alternative

US firm Proliant Dairy claims to have developed a new dairy ingredient that can successfully replace expensive whey powder, lactose and skimmed milk powder in a variety of food systems.

Chr. Hansen claims 'solid performance' allows hike in R&D investments

Chr. Hansen’s full-year results are in line with expectations, says an analyst, but positives noted were the suppliers’ expectations for its EBIT margin growth and the better performance for its...

Kraft Foods shows strong performance in European chocolate and snacks

Kraft Foods has announced improved turnover in its third quarter results, boosted by enhanced sales in Europe and developing markets.

Leaf launch first pure xylitol soft gum in Europe

Dutch confectioner Leaf International has introduced a soft gum that it has said is the first 100% xylitol-based soft gum on the European Market.