Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Apple juice may offer Alzheimer’s protection: Study

Apple juice consumption may play some role in helping to prevent the onset of age-related cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new animal study.

Bottles forecast to fuel plastic packaging growth

Plastic packaging growth, in particular bottles, will outpace the paper equivalent through to 2012 in selected markets, claims a US based industry research firm.

Cash-strapped brewers urge UK tax rethink

Pressure is growing on the UK government to resist imposing further hikes on beer up to 2012, amidst fears over declining consumption rates and a struggling pub industry in the country.

Chr Hansen unveils new colouring foodstuffs

Chr Hansen is extending its range of natural colouring foodstuffs with eight new additions, following two years of experimentation with fruit, vegetable and plant sources.

Mercury tainted HFCS in produce, say researchers

A policy group is calling on the US food safety regulator and industry to make changes to practices as two studies claim the food supply is being contaminated by mercury tainted high fructose corn syrup.

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NBJ awards researchers for stevia quality standard-setting

The Nutrition Business Journal has awarded a Scientific Achievement Award to the research organization ChromaDex for its role in developing quality standards for the individual sweet components of stevia.

Coca-Cola puts money on study in university green push

Coca-Cola has provided $400,000 to one US-based university to encourage development of new sustainable forms of packaging through a scheme that could see other beverage and food manufacturers following suit.

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Britvic announces Irish job cuts

Britvic, a UK-based soft drink maker responsible for producing a number of leading brands across the country and in Ireland, has announced a number of job cuts ahead of an interim management statement due to be released this week.

Budweiser brewer pledges Chinese commitment despite sale

Amidst ongoing restructuring of its global operations, Anheuser-Busch InBev says it has agreed to sell off its holding in Tsingtao Brewery, though remains committed to the wider Chinese beer market.

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Time to quieten the nutrition label noise

Everyone from government to grocers seems to have their own idea of how best to inform consumers about foods’ nutritional content, but a labeling free-for-all has resulted in a clamor of nutrition labels which are actually getting in the way of comprehension.

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Pycnogenol player picks up research prize

Pine bark specialist Horphag Research has won a gong from Frost & Sullivan for excellence in research for its proprietary ingredient, Pycnogenol.

Food and drink sector critical of green road charging

The industry body for the UK food and drink manufacturing sector claims the proposed new European Commission transport directive would result in food and drink companies having to pass on the resulting costs to consumers.

Survey suggests media driving drink moderation

Extensive media coverage on the danger of alcohol abuse and so-called ‘binge drinking’ in Europe may be driving consumers in the bloc to increasingly consider moderate consumption, suggests a new survey.

Green tea catechins linked to weight loss: Study

Antioxidant compounds in green tea could help promote exercise-induced abdominal fat loss, according to a new study from the American Society of Nutrition.

Novel Foods approval sought for nutritive sweetener

Alberta, Canada-based Bioneutra has applied to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) for European Union Novel Foods approval for a prebiotic, isomalto-oligosaccharide sweetener.

Greener package design could cut costs

An updated guide on the recyclability of plastic packaging can ensure savings for companies and includes chapters on recent developments in bioplastics and mixed plastics, say the publishers.

Remy Cointreau and Distell suggest brighter wine future

A number of wine and spirits makers suggest the industry should remain optimistic in the long-term over sales growth, despite the potential impact of the economic downturn on consumer demand.

EC registers vitamin upper limit concerns

The Irish Association of Health Stores (IAHS) has come away from a European Parliament Petitions Committee meeting confident its concerns about appropriate maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for food supplements are being listened to at European Union level.

Robotics group aims to boost industry productivity

A new advisory group aims to help UK food and beverage companies maximise their productivity and profits, through impartial, quality advice on automation, claims CenFRA.

Consumer danger denied in Irish water safety response

Suppliers of bottled mineral water products in Ireland maintain that the public faced no danger from its products during a 2007 investigation by authorities into potential product contamination.

Bill would ban BPA in packaging for infants

A Washington State bill aims to ban chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in food or drink containers for children three and younger, including plastic baby bottles and cans of infant formula.

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Kirin starts San Miguel talks

Japan-based brewer Kirin says it is has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire 43.23 per cent of San Miguel Brewery.

Big brewers suffer post-Christmas hangover

SABMiller, Diageo and Magners cider maker C&C group have all announced hits to their operations amidst fears of weakening consumer demand for beer and alcohol in the current global economic downturn.

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Nestle launches new research web portal

Nestle has launched a new website to provide information and news about its global R&D.

National Starch launches quillaia emulsifier in Europe

National Starch Food Innovation is making available its Q-Naturale emulsifier in Europe, and expects it could rival gum arabic in certain sparkling beverages, waters and juices.

Metering technology targets flexibility advances

Greater flexibility in the number of cans, bottles and cartons for separating and loading into case or tray packs is the key aim of an expanded pin metering product, according to the supplier behind the technology.

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In praise of pesticides

Who likes pesticides? Misunderstood by consumers and misrepresented by pressure groups, pesticides are a soft target for legislators. The latest blow to that soft target could have hard consequences for the European food industry and for developing countries.

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PureCircle appoints Tate & Lyle man for Reb A sales drive

PureCircle has appointed Jordi Ferre to its senior management team in the US to spearhead the commercial development of the all-natural, zero calorie stevia-derived sweetener, Rebaudioside A (Reb A).

Coffee may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s: Study

Drinking between three and five cups of coffee a day in middle age could decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by 65 per cent, says a new study from Scandinavia.

Coke aiming to close loop with recycling initiative

A new recycling plant in the US will produce about 100 million pounds of food-grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic for reuse per year, the equivalent of nearly two billion 20-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola, it is claimed.

Researcher identifies middle ground for functional food success

Functional foods are more likely to be successful if they meet a consumer perception of the types of foods suitable for fortification, according to a new report.

Innocent and industry prepared for pesticide-law pains

European soft drink makers say they are not expecting significant upheaval in their operations amidst European Parliament support for stricter regulations on the use of pesticides for fruit and other crops sourced in their goods.

Drinks group spies stevia functional potential

A US-based manufacturer of functional beverages is turning to the stevia-derived sweetener rebiana as part of a launch for what it claims are short-served, natural protein beverages.

Heart health-growth defying regulation restrictions - analyst

Demand for functional food and drinks has ensured that the European market for ingredients with proposed cardiovascular benefits is in rude health, despite restrictions on claims allowed on such products, says new research.

Publication outlines nutraceutical challenges

Amidst a shifting industry focus away making from carbonated beverages, the authors of a new publication outline the challenges facing drink manufacturers in tackling a new age of functional products.

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New Reusable Packaging Association team

The US-based Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) has announced a new leadership team tasked with growing membership growth.

Vitamin C may improve blood pressure: Study

High intakes of vitamin C may protect against blood pressure increases in young women, according to a new study from the US.

Alfa Laval seeks to adjust to weaker market

Swedish engineering group Alfa Laval is set to cut jobs due to what it describes as a decline in market demand, with order bookings reduced by six per cent in the fourth quarter.

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The invincibles – recession proof food and healthy eating

There are fears that in the economic crisis consumers will put on “recession pounds” by eating unhealthily. Rightly or wrongly, food manufacturers may suffer the blame but “unhealthy” and “recession proof” do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.

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German beer consumption falls

Germany’s appetite for beer continues to wane as concerns grow over the long-term prospects for brewers in the country, say news reports.

Robotics enable leaner, more efficient processing, claims CenFRA

Philip Brunger, audit engineer at the Centre for Food Robotics and Automation (CENFRA) in Doncaster in the North of England, outlines some of the key benefits that can be accrued for the food and drink sector from investment in automation.

A question of taste: Developing the 'adult' soft drink

As beverage groups increasingly look to launch soft drinks that can shake their often child orientated image, analysts suggest that premiumisation, packaging and health claims will be key factors in meeting this demand.

InBev mulls closures and prices amidst brewer woes

Recently formed brewing powerhouse Anheuser-Busch InBev is already having to take difficult decisions in its European operations as it mulls price increases and brewery closures to offset industry-wide financial concerns.

Soft drinks no longer child’s play in 2009

With consumers facing a brand new year ahead of them and the customary threat of new year’s resolutions, some drink makers are spying a possible opening for soft drinks orientated to adult tastes and demands.

Whey protein promises nano-encapsulation of omega-3

The whey protein beta-lactoglobulin may spontaneously bind the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and offer nano-encapsulation potential for formulators.

Food and drink transport logistics under review

A new survey of UK food and drink transport operations will give food companies a benchmark of their efficiency in this area, according to Scala Logistics Consulting.

'Obesity tax’ neglecting nutrition facts, claims drink maker

A manufacturer of natural sparkling soft drinks hopes to stir further debate over a proposed ‘obesity tax’ on carbonated beverages in the state of New York by pushing for greater recognition of nutritional quality in the products.

Coca-Cola defends soft drink pesticides presence

Coca-Cola has played down concerns over pesticide levels within some of its fruit-based drinks following the aftermath of a recent study, claiming there is no need to change its products, according to press reports.

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Anheuser-Busch turns back on free-beer

In a sign that tougher economic times are well and truly upon us, Anheuser-Busch has opted against continuing to offer free beer samples at its theme parks, according to press reports.

New distribution for DSM enzymes in the UK

DSM and S Black are extending their distribution arrangement in the UK to cover beverage enzymes, which are now being offered to targeted customers or alongside other ingredients in S Black’s beverage portfolio.

Brewers’ reaction mixed to pound-a-pint scheme

Brewers should be free to price their products competitively to protect themselves in the current economic downturn, though must ensure they are not discouraging moderate consumption, says a European brewers group.

Supplier constructs to tackle nutraceutical-bottling challenge

A manufacturer of aseptic technologies for functional and nutraceutical goods has commissioned a new bottling plant ahead of further operational expansion designed to encompass proprietary tea extraction.

Packaging companies taking a hit: report

Reduction in orders and raw material prices are reportedly affecting some of the leading global packaging suppliers.