Fuelled by a combination of health concerns and changing tastes,
dark chocolate has become one of the most rapidly growing sectors
in the confectionery market in the last year.
The short sighted failure of greedy WTO trading partners to achieve
any sort of meaningful agreement on global agricultural tariffs is
bad for Europe's food industry.
Confectionary giant Mars has lauded recently published research as
further evidence of the benefits of flavanols from cocoa for a wide
range of health conditions, and looks set to lead to a new wave of
cocoa flavanol-enriched products...
Driven by tougher waste legislation and set EU targets, the
recovery of plastics in the bloc is growing steadily, according to
a new report by Applied Market Information (AMI).
The current supply glut on the EU butter market will be solved by
more producers leaving the sector, says a Commission report, again
predicting a move away from commodities across the bloc.
Confectioners could soon find themselves doing their bit to help
the environment following the news that scientists have found a way
to extract hydrogen from chocolate waste.
The world's largest chewing gum producer, the Wm Wrigley Jr
Company, has announced record sales in the first quarter, boosted
by new product launches and an increased worldwide presence.
The US and Mexico have concluded an agreement under which access
will be granted for US high fructose corn syrup exports to Mexico,
a move that begins to address the decade long dispute between the
two countries.
A pathogen detecting system that uses scattered laser light can cut
costs and speed up safety checks for food processors, researchers
developing the technology claim.
Cadbury Schweppes, the world's biggest confectionery maker, signed
an agreement yesterday with Vietnam's leading food maker Kinh Do,
giving it access to the company's extensive distribution network.
Sugar-free alternatives are beginning to take off in a number of
food sectors, driven by health concerns and product innovation
according to new research.
A new study indicates that light to moderate alcohol drinking may
exert cardioprotective effects in some, but in elderly men at least
the mechanism of action does not seem to be down to a reduction in
inflammatory markers as previously...
New opportunities for health-focussed products in the confectionery
industry have bolstered the market, which is estimated to increase
by 16 per cent in the next four years to more than €115bn.
Functional foods are generally defined as products imbued with
additional nutrients with health-promoting properties. But the
industry needs to be wary of foods that present no actual health
benefit from piggy-backing on the popularity...
Tate & Lyle has launched a new sweetener solution for dairy
desserts, which claims to allow manufacturers to cut around a third
of calories and half of total sugars from their product
formulations.
Cadbury Schweppes was the most likely source of an outbreak of
Salmonella montevideo that poisoned 37 people from February to June
this year, according to the UK's health authorities.
The introduction of novel and value-added products and additive
free foods is boosting the use of antimicrobials in almost all food
processing segments, according to a new report.
Global confectionery giant, Hershey, has announced encouraging
sales and rising profits - thanks to a strong focus on product
innovation and seasonal marketing in the last year.
Scottish food manufacturer, Macphie, has cut all hydrogenated fats
from its range of ingredients supplied to the baking industry, in a
move that will tap into a market concerned about health and dietary
issues.
Global ingredients manufacturer, Tate and Lyle, has announced that
expansion at its new artificial sweetener facilities is on target -
heralding an imminent boost in supplies to manufacturers.
Food scientists are continuing to explore the potential of fish
gelatin as stabilisers for food emulsions, in keeping with the
trend to replace synthetic with natural emulsifiers.
European post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) collection
recycling rates reached 796,000 tonnes in 2005, a 15.1 per cent
increase over the previous year, according to a trade association.
Fire has devastated a UK bakery plant owned by struggling food
processors, Northern Foods, in an incident likely to harm their
already faltering profits.
The Internet is offering a wealth of information to more and more
people, but also an avenue for irresponsible businesses to exploit
consumer health concerns.
A group of scientists has claimed that Unilever's genetically
modified (GM) fish antifreeze protein for ice cream should not be
approved without further comprehensive tests.
Nottingham University researchers have reported improvements to the
method of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain
to give scientists a more "natural" insight into the perception of
taste and aroma.
PL Thomas has launched a new carrageenan product designed for use
in gel sets, which claims to cut costs in half and eliminate the
need for gelatin or locust bean gum.
University of Birmingham researchers have reported that caffeine
can boost nerve cell activity in the brain, potentially protecting
against memory loss.