ConfectioneryNews RSS

222 EU health claims become law; experts predict “tsunami of cheap innovation”

Shane.STARLING@wrbm.com (Shane STARLING) — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:18:24 +0200

It’s official. Companies have six months – until December – to comply with the controversial European Union article 13, general function health claims register which today won final approval from the European Commission.

Wild targets regional tastes with strawberry launch

Rod.Addy@wrbm.com (Rod ADDY) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:24:40 +0200

Manufacturers of fruit gums, milk cream fillings and ice cream can now benefit from a range of natural strawberry flavours that has just been launched by flavours firm Wild in Germany.

'Sin taxes' must raise food prices by 20% for any effect, argue experts

Nathan.GRAY@wrbm.com (Nathan GRAY) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:17:11 +0200

In order to have any effect on population health, fat taxes must raise food prices by 20% and should be combined with subsidies on healthy foods, say UK-based experts. However industry leaders have branded the calls as ‘irresponsible.’

Tamar eyes European market growth after Irish takeover

Rory.HARRINGTON@wrbm.com (Rory HARRINGTON) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:36:02 +0200

Tamar Labels said its takeover of self-adhesive label producer Labelit will open up new food and beverage market opportunities in Europe.

Commission gives green light for major sugar industry takeover

Oliver.NIEBURG@wrbm.com (Oliver NIEBURG) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:22:03 +0200

The European Commission has cleared the acquisition of the world’s largest sugar trader ED&F MAN by Europe’s largest sugar producer Südzucker and said it would raise no competition concerns on one condition.

NovaGreen to produce sugar substitute xylitol for North America

Oliver.NIEBURG@wrbm.com (Oliver NIEBURG) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:15:51 +0200

Canada-based refinery NovaGreen has announced plans to produce sugar substitute xylitol over the next two years to supply confectioners in North America.

Market for UTZ certified cocoa doubles with Germany leading the way

Oliver.NIEBURG@wrbm.com (Oliver NIEBURG) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:36:10 +0200

Twice as much UTZ certified cocoa was sold to producers in 2011 compared to the previous year as demand for sustainable cocoa soared in Germany, according to the recently published UTZ Certified Annual Report 2011.

Vitafoods: EU nutra space wriggles into new health claims clothes

Shane.STARLING@wrbm.com (Shane STARLING) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:42:17 +0200

Vitafoods celebrates its 15^th birthday next week. It’ll be my 11^th consecutive May visit to Geneva for the jamboree and promises to be one of the most intriguing chapters with the (partial and belated) resolution of years of ambiguity regarding health claims in Europe.

Eight most innovative Sweets & Snacks: award winners

Oliver.NIEBURG@wrbm.com (Oliver NIEBURG) — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:05:00 +0200

ConfectioneryNews.com presents a picture roundup of the eight new confectionery and snacks products that bagged innovation awards at the Sweet & Snacks Expo in Chicago last week.

Food-based natural nanoparticle discovery opens debate on safety

Mark.ASTLEY@wrbm.com (Mark ASTLEY) — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:37:04 +0200

Indian researchers have discovered carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) in foods such as bread, corn flakes and caramel – increasing the likelihood that consumption of nanoparticles in food is safe.

EFSA risk assessment of composite foods hazard to pave the way for harmonized EU regs

Rory.HARRINGTON@wrbm.com (Rory HARRINGTON) — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:45:40 +0200

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has outlined a raft of key factors needed to assess the hazard posed by pathogens in composite foods after Brussels said it needed to develop harmonised risk-based rules for their import into the region.

Zetar’s nuts hit by raw material price inflation

Rod.Addy@wrbm.com (Rod ADDY) — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:09:38 +0200

Zetar took a 5% hit in annual group revenue after exiting from low margin core commodity sales, particularly in processed and packed nuts, at the beginning of 2012.

International Cocoa Initiative partners with ILO to tackle child labour on cocoa farms

Oliver.NIEBURG@wrbm.com (Oliver NIEBURG) — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:15:14 +0200

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), has entered a public-private partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to target 5,000 children in child-labour or at high risk of falling into child labour on cocoa farms in West Africa.

US chewing gum packs going pocket-sized, says analyst

Oliver.NIEBURG@wrbm.com (Oliver NIEBURG) — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:06:25 +0200

Chewing gum packaging in the US is set to go micro as consumers look for lower priced products, according to an analyst.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil welcomes WWF review

Rod.Addy@wrbm.com (Rod ADDY) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:08:14 +0200

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has lent its backing to the WWF's Palm Oil Investor Review 2012.

Imperial Sugar reports $6.5m loss in Q2

Caroline.SCOTT-THOMAS@wrbm.com (Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS) — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:32:15 +0200

Imperial Sugar Company reported a net loss of $6.5m in the second quarter, compared to a net profit of $4.2m in the prior year period, while net sales were up 5.6%.

Petra Foods expects decline in cocoa ingredients as bean prices fall

Oliver.NIEBURG@wrbm.com (Oliver NIEBURG) — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:46:28 +0200

Singapore-based firm Petra Foods has forecast that sales in its cocoa ingredients division will decline after revenues fell in its first quarter (Q1) results provoked by cheaper cocoa bean prices.

Blommer predicts looming cocoa supply crisis

Oliver.NIEBURG@wrbm.com (Oliver NIEBURG) — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:56:21 +0200

Demand for cocoa is expected to climb 30% in the next 10 years creating a 25% shortage of current supply, according to North American cocoa processor and chocolate ingredients supplier Blommer Chocolate Company.

Cocoa waste may become valuable source of pectin, suggest researchers

Nathan.GRAY@wrbm.com (Nathan GRAY) — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:41:31 +0200

Cacao pod husks – a major by-product of cocoa processing – could provide industry with a new, environmentally friendly source of pectin, say researchers.

Nestlé teams with Girl Scouts for limited edition Crunch bars

Oliver.NIEBURG@wrbm.com (Oliver NIEBURG) — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:04:49 +0200

Nestlé has teamed-up with the Girl Scouts to create limited edition Crunch candy bars.