Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Novel oxygen test for drinks in plastic packaging

A new test that realistically determines how much oxygen will pass through food and beverage packaging during a product's lifetime will enable producers to speed up and improve new product trials.

Works With Water launch functional bottled water

UK-based Works With Water Nutraceuticals have announced the launch of a range of flavoured spring waters with proven health benefits, claimed to be the first of its kind in the UK to bring the Active Health Drinks benefits to spring water.

More bottlers to sue Coca-Cola in distribution dispute

More than 50 bottlers have now lined up to sue Coca-Cola in the US in a move to stop the soft drinks group distributing its Powerade sports drink directly to Wal-Mart supermarkets around the country.

Weekly Comment

The bad research debate

The dust is settling on the WHI trial. First came the news that low-fat diets didn't reduce the risk of breast or colorectal cancer or cardiovascular disease, then came news that vitamin D and calcium supplements don't protect against fractures.

Soft drinks industry pledges to tackle benzene in drinks

America's soft drinks association said it would have to look again at benzene in drinks, after new tests revealed to BeverageDaily.com suggest it and food safety authorities failed to stamp out a problem.

Public underestimates risks posed by common pathogens

The public's understanding of food risk issues is skewed towards under estimating the danger from common pathogen contamination, according to a research survey.

Lack of good graduates crippling food industry

Declining numbers of graduates entering the food industry is seriously threatening the sectors ability to meet the needs for further growth, warns the IFST.

Scientists uncover secrets of how taste functions

A new scientific breakthrough could help food makers achieve a much better understanding of taste and how it functions in nutrition.

SABMiller chief outlines beer market prospects

Consumers all over the world are trading up for their drinks, says SABMiller's chief executive, telling an analyst conference how the beer industry can secure long-term growth.

Plant bacteria tough out lab-based irradiation dosages

Setting dosage levels for irradiating bacteria based on lab tests may be incorrect when used on the tougher pathogens found in plant conditions, leading to a food safety issue, according to a scientist researching the problem.

Industry targets creation of perfect sports drink

The addition of protein to a carbohydrate-containing beverage provides benefits superior to traditional carbohydrate based beverages, claims the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) on sports nutrition and performance.

Nestlé: Americas offset slow times in Europe

Nestlé's Americas division has established itself as the food firm's most important business region for the first time following difficult conditions and subdued sales growth in Europe.

More evidence that grape juice may 'reverse' brain aging

Drinking Concord grape juice appears to reverse the course of neuronal and behavioural aging in rats, an effect that is proposed to be due to the complex mix of polyphenols.

EU vending summit to tackle obesity issue

Philippe Brunet, the European Commission's deputy head of cabinet, has been unveiled as the keynote speaker at a pivotal conference on the future of vending in Europe.

UK, Russia hold up S&N beer sales

Strong performances in Russia and the UK helped brewer Scottish & Newcastle to improve sales and profits in 2005, helping to offset the market slump in mainland Western Europe.

'South of France' wine brand makes French wine history

A new 'South of France' wine brand covering the whole of France's biggest wine region, Languedoc Roussillon, has been launched to help French wine re-assert itself on the world stage.

Green tea may reduce, but black tea may increase breast cancer risk

Drinking five cups of green tea a day can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 22 per cent, claims a meta-analysis of previous studies, the same studies that the FDA recently said contained very little science to support the claims.

Mediterranean wine event shows shift toward quality

ViniSud, a showcase of the up-and-coming wines from the Languedoc region of France, begins in Montpellier today, occurring in a region that epitomises the current problems affecting the industry.

EU to formalise new sugar regime today

The Agriculture & Fisheries Council will formally adopt new sugar reform regulations today after months of fine-tuning the final wording.

UK, Germany checking soft drinks for benzene

Food safety authorities in Britain and Germany are checking soft drinks for benzene after tests suggest a private deal with soft drinks firms in the US, 15 years ago, failed to fix the problem.

Regulators debate standardised labelling system for EU

Regulators and industry representatives from across the EU yesterday wrapped up a meeting in Rotterdam debating standardised system for food labelling across the bloc.

Riot police move to calm French winemakers' protest

Militant winemakers attacked train and phone lines in southern France Wednesday as thousands of fellow vintners protested through the streets at the crisis they say is strangling their industry.

Special report

FDA re-opens probe into benzene contamination of soft drinks

US food safety authorities have re-opened an investigation closed 15 years ago into soft drinks contaminated with cancer-causing chemical benzene, following evidence the industry has failed to sort out the problem, BeverageDaily.com can reveal.

Tate & Lyle alerted to potential sucralose competitor

The re-appearance of a low-calorie tabletop sweetener product branded as Altern in a small number of Wal-Mart stores in the US has attracted the attention of Tate & Lyle.

England to ban smoking in all pubs, clubs in 2007

A smoking ban will be introduced across all pubs, private members' clubs and restaurants in England during 2007, forcing the pub firms to adapt or fall by the wayside.

Fastest aseptic filling machine goes global

Tetra Pak yesterday announced the global availability of what it claims is the fastest aseptic filling machine for family packages available worldwide.

Barrier coating for plastic bottles extends shelf life say inventors

A new barrier coating for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) offers a better method of extending the shelf life of beverages than is currently available according to the inventors of the technology.

Weekly Comment

The cost of bad research

The science has spoken. Low-fat diets don't work: Forget the carrots and broccoli sprouts, I can now have my cake and eat it, and put extra cream on top.

First soft drinks obesity lawsuit set for Massachusetts

A lawsuit aimed at getting soft drinks out of US schools on obesity grounds will be filed in Massachusetts, just as lawmakers there prepare to vote on a school junk food ban.

Scientists develop lactic acid as mycotoxin fighters

Common grade lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from grain, malting, brewing and cereal processing could be a cheap and natural means of reducing deadly mycotoxins in grains, according to scientists in Ireland.

System automates pallet de-stacking process

A "pioneering" pallet de-stacking system automates the process, making it quicker, simpler and safer according to Sealed Air.

Germicidal cleaner approved for sale in US

A new germicidal cleaning product has been registered for use in food plants by the Envirionmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to its manufacturer.

Emerging markets lift PepsiCo sales

Emerging markets across Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America came good for both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola in 2005, increasing their importance in the two rivals' growth strategies.

SABMiller buys into China's beer-loving Fujian province

SABMiller has moved further into southern China by spending $8.9m to acquire another brewery, hoping to take advantage of the area's above average beer consumption.

Still drinks market growing faster than carbonates

The global still drinks market has lost its cheap image and is booming because beverage companies are concentrating on the premium end.

Innovation drive hits Coca-Cola profits

Coca-Cola saw profits tumble by more than a quarter in the last three months of 2005, underlining the challenges that still lie ahead for the soft drinks firm in 2006.

Weekly Comment

Marketing the risky way

Nationality is a dangerous brand.

Blow-moulding process makes lighter PET bottles

A new blow-moulding technology allows beverage makers to downgauge their PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles, thus saving on packaging costs.

Acai fruit heading for European food and drink

European food and drink makers are to have access to açai berry, a potent fruit originating from Brazil, as exotic ingredients become increasingly popular with consumers.

Powdered cappuccino quality test launched

A foam test for cappuccino milk powder will give food companies the goods on whether they have a quality product for a competitive market.

Parliament adopts legislation deregulating packaging sizes

The European Parliament yesterday approved legislation deregulating package sizes for most pre-packed products, but excluding staple beverages and foods.

Satellites unravel the secrets of wine terroir

Scientists from the European Space Agency are peering at satellite images of Italy's Frascati wine region as part of project to use space technology to improve wine industry management.

UK government unveils pub smoking ban choices

The UK government will give MPs three different options on how far to extend a pub smoking ban as the drinks industry warns legislation must cover all premises or none at all.

Tetra Pak to use stronger, thinner polymer pack

Tetra Pak has started the worldwide rollout of a stronger but thinner polymer packaging for liquid products, promising companies it will help them cut costs and meet recycling standards.

Innovation set to kick-start US beer growth

A new report has injected a much-needed shot of optimism into the stagnant US beer market for 2006, yet the bad news just keeps on coming in Western Europe.

Regulator publishes plan to simplify UK's food laws

Reducing paperwork and consolidating laws could save industry about £200m (€293) in the first year, the UK's food regulator said in publishing a plan to simplify legislation.