Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

News briefs: Cott, S&N and Gatorade

This week, Cott posts declining profits for its first quarter, S&N is finally split up by its new owners and Gatorade is reportedly facing stiff competition within its domestic US market.

Fruit drinks squeeze UK soft drink growth potential

The growing prevalence of smoothies and other fruit based-beverages in Britain's soft drinks market failed to prevent overall sales volumes declines within the industry during 2007, according to the British Soft Drink Association (BSDA).

Weekly comment

No quick fix to the food price crisis

The food crisis is neither new nor sudden. The several underlying causes have been independently, steadily gathering speed and have collided in a perfect storm not seen for generations. It is going to take a coordinated, long-term effort to untangle them.

Coffee may slash breast cancer risk: study

Drinking at least two to three cups of coffee a day may reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer or delay the onset of cancer, depending on her genes, suggests a new study.

EU glass bottle makers accused of price fixing

A German member of the European Parliament (MEP) has called on the European Commission (EC) to investigate claims that glass bottle makers have been fixing prices.

Benzene reductions successful in soft drinks: study

The spectre of benzene in soft drinks may be lessening after US researchers report results of a "before and after" test resulting from the scares.

Safer, smarter, simpler: the future of packaging

Food packaging will in the future have to offer more protection, greater flexibility and be simpler to produce, according to trends identified by Oman-based packaging group Octal.

News briefs: PepsiAmericas, Adnams and InnoBev US

This week, PepsiAmericas reports profit success following developments in emerging markets, Adnams launches a green beer in the UK, and InnoBev US forum plans to open its doors.

Packager enters can coating innovation deal

Nordson will work with US-based Sensory Analytics in a collaboration it claims will allow it to improve quality and reduce the costs of coating beverage cans and other metallic packaging.

Is the UK functional foods boom over?

Functional foods have been one of the strongest sectors within the broader food industry for more than a decade but the good times may be coming to an end - at least in the UK, according to Mintel research.

Health awareness boosts US soy market, report

The US market for soy foods and beverages is poised for strong growth as consumer awareness of the health benefits of soy increases, according to a new report.

Drink makers behind in natural colours search

Soft drink makers and confectioners remain someway behind rival industries in finding natural additives for their product formulations, a leading global ingredient supplier has said.

Additive-free tops beverage claim list

Preservative and additive free knocked low sugar off the top spot of leading beverage claims in 2007, according to the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD).

Green packaging still facing barriers to growth, report

Food companies wanting to swap plastic packaging for biomass polymer-based alternatives to stress their green credentials still face a number of barriers, according to a new report.

News briefs: Nestle tea, Coca-Cola

This week, Nestle could be set to team up with Japan-based Suntory to distribute green tea drinks in the US and Coca-Cola kicks off production at a new bottling line in Hungary.

Weekly Comment

The dangers of selective science

Antioxidants are back under the microscope for all the wrong reasons. But the use of meta-analyses to pool data is controversial, and scientists need to keep perspective before publishing conclusions.

Tetra Pak sales reach record high

Sales at Swedish packaging group Tetra Pak reached €8.7bn in 2007, a 6.1 per cent increase on the previous year, the company said last week.

Amcor sells European flexible packaging plants

Australian packaging giant Amcor has announced the sale of two of its European flexible packaging production facilities as part of its restructuring programme.

News briefs: Coca-Cola, SABMiller and Cadbury Schweppes

This week, Coca-Cola and SABMiller expect further profit ahead after recording sales improvements, while Cadbury Schweppes moves nearer to its beverage-arm demerger.

New BPA evidence piles pressure on FDA to set exposure limits

Pressure is growing on the US Food and Drug Administration to set new restrictions on the use of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging following a new safety study.

Bill Bryson's deposit plan fails to sway drink makers

Soft drink manufacturers have branded calls for the adoption of a nationwide deposit scheme on bottles and beverage cans by a UK-based environmental charity as unworkable.

Anti-acne spring water makes UK debut

Works With Water is this week launching a new spring water product claimed to be the UK's first to contain clinically-proven ingredients to counter acne.

Italian wine protection questioned, says report

A scandal has engulfed the manufacturers of one of Italy's most prestigious wine varieties over claims that it is failing to meet its own strict production guidelines, the US department of Agriculture (USDA) has said.

EFSA flags high intakes in lycopene safety opinion

Lycopene from natural sources and as a food colour would likely be within the ADI for most people, concludes EFSA, but its use in beverages is high and young children may consume more.

Fair game: sport drink ads under fire

The advertising practices of alcohol-based drink makers have again come under the spotlight in the US over concerns regarding the impact of promotion during televised college sporting events.

Swedish court victory fails to shift drink tax concerns, says V&S

Last week's ruling in favour of Sweden's alcohol taxation policy by the European Court of Justice, will fail to address key industry concerns over excise rates, according to a leading alcoholic drink maker in the country.

Americhem targets cross-industry pack innovation

Americhem, a manufacturer of encapsulated additives for the packaging industry, has opened a new research centre it claims will allow food and beverage processors to adapt technologies from other industries into their own products.

High acid drinks packaging devised for eco-improvements

A new range of resealable beverage cartons offers a more environmentally friendly method of packaging high acid ambient drinks like sport beverages and iced tea in a variety of sizes, according to its manufacturer.

News briefs: Heineken goes Swiss; SABMiller

This week, Heineken prepares to expand within the Swiss beer market, and SABMiller and Molson Coors begin to finalise integrations plan for their US joint venture.

Southampton colours should be phased out, says FSA

Artificial colours linked to hyperactivity in children by the Southampton study should be phased out in Europe, said the UK Food Standards Agency today.

Sustainable labels planned for global beverage brands

Plans for a new global system to measure and record the carbon footprint of beverages on their packaging labels is being launched at the InnoBev Global Soft Drinks Congress in Moscow today.

Scots claim victory in Canadian whisky label case

A Canadian drinks group has failed in its bid to keep using the word 'glen' on one of its whisky brands after a court in the country ruled against the manufacturer in a trademark dispute with Scottish producers.

Glanbia debuts omega-3 ingredient in Europe

Specialty ingredients supplier Glanbia Nutritionals has launched its first omega-3 ingredients in Europe in a move that will see it target functional foods and beverages.

RFID tracking system stores wine bottle data

Franco-American technology firm eProvenance has developed a tracking system for the wine industry, designed to preserve the quality of fine wines and trace their origin.

'Ethical' water brands may boost flagging UK sales

Bottled water manufacturers that attempt to show a more caring side of the business are defying an overall slump for the product in the UK market, according to new research.

Challenges ahead for brewers' 'green' beer drive

'Green' beer may not appear to be much of a priority for brewers, but the industry is nonetheless having to wake up to the need for sustainable production, a leading environmental group has said.

Weekly comment

HFCS and the battle for natural

It is hard for food companies not to get drawn into the temptation of using attractive label claims that may be shrouded by a veil of doubt. But the real risk comes when the 'if you don't know, don't ask' question is finally answered.

New resealable can targets on-the-go consumption

Beverage can producer Ball Packaging Europe has developed a resealable beverage can, which the company claims could change the face of the beverage can market.

Innocent lives up to name over ad complaints

PepsiCo has failed in its attempts to revoke what it claims is a misleading advertising campaign by smoothie maker Innocent, after the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled in favour of the promotion.

News briefs: challenges and changes ahead for UK brewers

This week, Scottish & Newcastle finalised the £10bn sale of its operations to a consortium consisting of rivals Carlsberg and Heineken, and Inbev could be set to reduce staff at one of its UK breweries.

Pregnant women told to avoid BPA packaging

A US health-advocacy group has warned that pregnant women should reduce their exposure to packaging that contains bisphenol A (BPA) to avoid passing the controversial chemical to their unborn children.

More water better health: Where's the proof? Scientists ask

There remains insufficient clinical evidence either way to back claims that increased consumption of water can grant additional health benefits to consumers, a group of scientists have claimed.

HFCS is not 'natural', says FDA

Products containing high fructose corn syrup cannot be considered 'natural' and should not be labeled as such, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said.

Drinks makers to change packs or face sales ban

The manufacturers of 32 alcoholic drinks brands have been given four months to modify their packaging to encourage responsible drinking or face a possible UK-wide sales ban, according to drinks watchdog the Portman Group.

Hybrid packaging designed for green benefits

New re-sealable packaging for beverages, designed as a hybrid between a bottle, can and pouch, offers processors both environmental and convenience benefits for their products, according to its manufacturer.

UK retailers urged to step up developing world suppliers

UK supermarkets are being urged to ignore the controversial issue of 'food miles' when it comes to supporting developing world farmers.