Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Ecolab and DuPont poised to launch new anti-microbial film

02-Jul-2010 - Ecolab and DuPont have said their new non-food contact anti-microbial coating for processors will reduce the risk of contamination from mould and a range of pathogenic bacteria on a wide range of surfaces for up to 30 days.

Baltimore approves two-cent bottle tax

28-Jun-2010 - Baltimore City Council gave its final approval late last week for a two-cent tax on bottled beverages as part of its $2.2bn budget for fiscal 2011.

Watchdog gives withdrawn Red Bull ad the all clear

24-Jun-2010 - A Red Bull video featuring a young boy watching a woman in fishnet stockings has been cleared by the UK advertising watchdog although the initial complaint prompted the company to pull the ad.

Comment

Europe must keep cool over country of origin labelling

22-Jun-2010 - Always read the small print. Good advice and nowhere more so than in food labelling with today’s increasingly savvy consumers demanding to know what’s in their food, where it came from and what it’s going to do to them.

Failure to establish EU organic wine rules angers lobbyists

21-Jun-2010 - Organic lobbyists have expressed disappointment and concern over the failure of the Commission to agree on standards for the production of organic wine.

US food body responds to lead in food allegations

18-Jun-2010 - Product safety and adherence to best manufacturing practices are top priorities for food companies, said a leading US industry body in response to allegations that higher-than permitted-levels of lead have been discovered in a range of foods and drinks for children and babies.

Lead found in fruit juices and baby food, alleges group

17-Jun-2010 - A US legal public interest group has filed violation notices under a Californian safety law against dozens of companies after alleging it has detected levels of lead in a range of food and drinks for babies and children.

NZ kids warned off energy drinks

16-Jun-2010 - The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is advising parents that energy drinks and energy shots are not suitable for consumption by children and young teenagers due to caffeine levels.

Green, amber or red for alcohol traffic lights

15-Jun-2010 - An MEP has called for nutritional traffic light labels on alcoholic drinks ahead of a European vote on food information - industry insiders said this would send the wrong message.

German alcopops tax failed to reduce teenage drinking, says study

07-Jun-2010 - An alcopops tax in Germany may have succeeded only in changing adolescent drinking preferences rather than reducing consumption levels, according to a new study.

News in brief

Volac rebrands whey protein for sports drinks

03-Jun-2010 - Volac is rebranding its heat stable whey protein as ‘Volactive Hydrapro’, aimed at sports nutrition, to emphasise the benefits of hydration combined with protein.

Commission backs brewing sector's self regulatory approach

31-May-2010 - Self-regulation as a way of preventing irresponsible advertising by Europe’s brewers is being supported by the European Commission, with the sector’s progress in this regard cited as substantial by regulators.

Comment

Scientific failings are the organic industry’s gain

31-May-2010 - Are organic foods healthier? The sad truth is that nearly 100,000 studies later, we just don't know. Meanwhile, this lack of certainty presents major business opportunities for the organic food industry.

Company hails design breakthrough for industrial HPP system

27-May-2010 - A design breakthrough on a new high pressure processing (HPP) machine has resulted in a more compact, affordable and easy-to-install system for small and medium-sized producers, said manufacturer NC Hyperbaric.

Comment

IOM report: One step forward, two steps back

17-May-2010 - The call for better biomarkers to substantiate health claims is a bold and timely move, but we need to move away from trying to judge foods as pharmaceuticals.

Study questions safety of UV-treated, HFCS-sweetened juices

14-May-2010 - Scientists have questioned the safety of UV-treated fruit juices containing high fructose syrup (HFCS) in a newly published study.

Ozone could inactivate E. coli in apple juice, finds study

12-May-2010 - An Irish study claims ozone treatment is an effective process for reducing bacteria in apple juice with the required level of ozone application dependant on its acidity level.

Harvard study finds no coffee, soda link to colon cancer

10-May-2010 - A new study published by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that drinking even large amounts of coffee and carbonated drinks is not linked to colon cancer risk.

News in brief

Banned soy drink can reenter market, says FSANZ

04-May-2010 - A reformulated version of Bonsoy soy ‘milk’ has been approved for sale by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), after initially being withdrawn due to raised iodine levels derived from a kombu seaweed ingredient.

Energy drink review calls for tighter regulation

03-May-2010 - A review of the energy market in an IFT journal has called for tighter regulation to protect consumers and the industry from irresponsible marketing and ever more extreme drinks.

British manufacturers unveil energy drink code

29-Apr-2010 - The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) has published a code of practice on energy drinks requiring additional labelling to protect children and other people sensitive to caffeine.

Noni firm wins third EU novel foods approval

29-Apr-2010 - The status of the noni plant as a novel food ingredient has been boosted with the manufacturer, Tahitian Noni, last week receiving its third European Union Novel Food approval for the puree and concentrate forms of the fruit.

Goodbye milk fraud, hello origin tracking

23-Apr-2010 - A kit to test the authenticity of milk origin for use within the food and beverage industry can be used within the processing facility and has been developed by global gas analyser supplier Picarro in conjunction with US based isotopic analysis firm, IsoForensics.

News in brief

Louisiana rejects energy drink ban

23-Apr-2010 - The state of Louisiana will not ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s as had been proposed in a state Bill.