All news articles for July 2018

A healthy cocoa pod. © GettyImages/dwart

Cocoa crop losses are 38% and rising - so what can be done?

By Niamh Michail

A staggering 38% of global cocoa is lost each year to disease or pests - and this figure looks set to rise - yet research is scant compared to rice, corn or wheat. Why is this and what is being done to reduce it?

Rising demand for egg white peptides. Photo: Fact.MR

Rising demand for egg white peptides in bakery & confectionery

By Jenny Eagle

Use of egg white peptides is rising among global bakery and confectionery manufacturers because the animal-based protein is a rich source of bioactive peptides that can improve human health, according to Fact.MR research firm.

PreScouter has identified 11 companies which offer smart packaging technologies. Photo: PreScouter.

PreScouter research report

‘Which smart packaging technologies are readily available in 2018’

By Jenny Eagle

Amcor’s MaXQ digital system, EVRYTHNG and ScanTrust Internet of Things (IoT), Smartglyph and MagicAdd are just some of the technologies identified by PreScouter research, which has led to readily available smart packaging in 2018.

Tree cover loss in Colombia accelerated last year after areas formerly controlled by FARC opened up for agriculture. ©GettyImages-StreetFlash

Cocoa & Forests Initiative expanded

Colombia pledges deforestation-free cocoa by 2025

By Oliver Nieburg

The world’s tenth largest cocoa producer has joined the Cocoa & Forests Initiative as it looks to combat a 46% increase in tree cover loss last year.

Popping crystals aim to be as big as gummies for nutrient delivery

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Popping crystals aim to be as big as gummies for nutrient delivery

By Mary Ellen Shoup

PFHIX started as a food ingredients company selling its effervescent popping crystals in bulk and under private label, but has recently made a hard pivot into the nutraceutical space, working with companies such as Applied Food Sciences, Glanbia, and...

SweeTARTS launches Sour Gummies and Gummies. Photo: SweeTARTS.

SweeTARTS on the lookout for the next Gummy shape

By Jenny Eagle

SweeTARTS has announced a competition to find the next Gummy shape in conjunction with its latest launch of gummies shaped as a turntable, VR (Virtual Reality) headset and rocket ship.