Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

The science of stevia

There has been much excitement about the promise of stevia as a natural alternative to artificial zero-calorie sweeteners. FoodNavigator.com summarises the science so far.

Wild Flavors discovers ‘holy grail’ of acid-stable natural blue

Wild Flavors Inc has developed a new acid-stable blue color for food and beverage, solving a quandary that has thwarted the US industry for decades.

Euro brewers pushing ‘niche’ regional product potential

Consumer preference for seemingly innovative, locally sourced foods and drink is also influencing the European beer market, with a renaissance in craft label brands potentially offering some optimism in the economic downturn.

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Symrise welcomes new board member

Symrise has appointed Bertelsmann CFO Dr Thomas Rabe to its supervisory board, bringing in new financial expertise.

Thermometer insulation offered for cold water systems

The Baumer Group is offering a custom-made insulation technology to protect thermometers during cold water processing for wider commercial use, targeting industries ranging from nuclear power to drink producers.

Cool solution for deep-freeze food and drink storage and transport

A reusable, cheaper, eco-friendly and easy-to-handle alternative to dry ice with food and beverage applications are the claims made for PureTemp -40, launched by Entropy Solutions, based in Minneapolis, US.

Pouch packs providing innovative downturn alternatives - manufacturer

A packaging manufacturer says companies seeking to offer innovative foods and drink packs that meet requirements for reduced cost and weight may be well served by turning to shaped pouches in the economic downturn.

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Glass straw giveaway nears its end

The deadline is nearly up for a scheme to give away glass straws claimed by their manufacturer to be versatile enough to meet drinker needs, while also reducing packaging waste compared to plastic counterparts.

Nestle recession strategy puts public, shareholders centre-stage

Nestle has indicated that the recession need not be all about cutting costs and keeping prices down, unveiling initiatives to tackle longer-term economic and social challenges, and create shareholder- and public-value.

Pomegranate juice may slow prostate cancer recurrence: Study

Men who have undergone treatment for prostate cancer could benefit from drinking pomegranate juice, according to findings of a new study from the US.

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Supplements: Time to change the nay-saying record?

As yet another TV show concludes that supplements are unnecessary, is the ignorance of the mainstream media few putting the health of the many at risk? Isn’t it time to change the record?

Weighty answers from new packaging research

Weight and packaging material are the key factors influencing the environmental impact of ambient food packaging systems, according to new research from German carton manufacturer SIG Combibloc.

Regional tastes may offer UK brewer lifeline

As the UK beer industry continues to threat over falling consuming spending amidst the economic downturn and increased taxation of alcohol, local cask or real ales could be helping to curb wider sales falls, suggest news reports.

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Cocoa production on Ivory Coast to fall in 2009

Reports last week suggest cocoa production in the Ivory Coast, the world’s largest producer of cocoa, may be one million metric tonnes this year, down from 1.36 million last season.

UK budget bringing further drinks strife - trade group

The UK alcoholic beverage sector says that 75,000 jobs will be endangered by increased taxes on their operations coming into place later this year.

Cost benefits key to new drink enzyme development

A supplier of specialist enzymes for industrial production says it has developed an alpha-amylase that can ensure greater cost efficiency in manufacturing sweeteners and beverage alcohol.

Tate & Lyle enters high-dose green tea extract market

Tate & Lyle has continued its push into the health and wellness area by linking with a Canadian coffee and tea specialist to distribute a green tea extract in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

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PepsiCo bids for bottlers in profit push

PepsiCo has tabled a move to purchase two of its largest global bottling companies as part of plans to streamline and strengthen distribution of its products in markets like North America, according to the company.

Anti-fructose science may be swaying public opinion

Consuming beverages sweetened with fructose leads to weight gain and a build up of abdominal fat, and impairs insulin sensitivity, says a new study.

Soft drink shake-up called for amidst obesity fears

American consumers may require re-education about beverage intake to wean them off sugary drinks, with some health researchers calling on the industry to develop a new class of reduced calorie soft drinks.

Consumers rank glass as most eco packaging material, says FEVE

Half of those surveyed in a European wide study said that glass has a more positive impact on the environment than other packaging materials such as plastics, metal cans and cartons, according to the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE).

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Tubed vodka packs fail Portman test

A vodka-based drink sold in test tubes has been dropped from sale in UK pubs, bars and nightclubs after an industry led corporate responsibility group ruled that it breaks a number of its advertising rules.

Water groups target sugary soft drinks with ad plans

Falling UK demand for bottled water products is being seen by some industry associations as a potential obesity risk due to increased consumption of higher sugar soft drinks.

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Who’s hoodwinked by a healthy halo?

What does health taste like? As a kid, I was encouraged to hold my nose and swallow down broad beans and cod-liver oil. If they tasted bad, it was only ‘cos they were good for me.

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Tate & Lyle rumoured to be seeking new chief

Unsubstantiated press reports have claimed Tate & Lyle is seeking a new CEO to replace Iain Ferguson, who has held the top job since May 2003.

Food grade recycled PP may be on the horizon

A research project that aims to ascertain the feasibility of recycling polypropylene (PP) into food grade packaging is underway in the UK.

Functional coffee demand yet to heat up

Amidst attempts to tap functional beverage demand through hot drink developments in teas and coffees, fortification in the segment with ingredients like omega-3 is expected to remain a niche area, according to an analyst.

Watchdog questions private label nutrient-inferiority claims

Australian claims that consumers may be cutting nutritional value - as well as spending – by consuming more private label goods are not being backed by one European health group, which suggests there is dietary parity with branded goods.

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Vegetable juice may aid weight loss: Study

One glass of a reduced salt vegetable juice a day may help overweight people with metabolic syndrome lose more weight, according to a new study.

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IFT to host IP swap shop

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has announced a new event at its annual meet next month to stimulate the purchase or license of intellectual property rights.

New Purac product cuts acrylamide formation

Purac has developed a new calcium lactate product which it claims can reduce acrylamide in snacks by up to 80 per cent without affecting crispiness and taste.

SABMiller posts early 2009 lager decline

SABMiller says the economic downturn is beginning to have a noticeable impact on its operations as consumer demand for its lager brands has tailed off from the start of this year.

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Sodastream plays up gas-it-yourself green benefits

Sodastream, a supplier of drink making machines that allow consumers to gas their own carbonated beverages at leisure, is kicking off a new promotion suggesting it may hold the answer to some of the soft drink’s environmental woes.

French fruit juice is recession-proof, declares group

Fruit juice is still a dynamic, growing sector in France and is showing no sign of slowdown, according to trade organisation UNIJUS – although data do belie some trading down in purchasing patterns.

Further backing for restrictions in use of BPA

A legislative committee in the US state of Connecticut has unanimously endorsed limitations on making, selling or distributing products in the state made with bisphenol-A (BPA).

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Network seeks healthy investment for small companies

An organization dedicated to raising capital for small companies in the fields of health, wellness and green, natural and organic nutrition has announced its fourth investors’ meeting, due to take place in New York City on April 21.

Research and marketing savvy vital for the rise of ‘superveg’

As manufacturers clamor to discover and make use of super fruits in their functional food formulations, consumer perception and limited research are currently preventing the advent of ‘superveg', according to some experts.

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Food supplements proving recession-proof

The ongoing slide of global capitalism is decimating industries, but the food supplements industry is not one of them as fraught consumers turn to its potential low-cost, anti-medical, wellness promise.

Older generations focus on eco packaging - study

A consumer’s age profile can influence whether they base their purchasing decisions on the eco-friendliness of packaging, according to a new US survey.

Cott bares all for natural private label plans

A global rollout of natural beverages targeting increasingly budget-concerned consumers could be on the cards for drink maker Cott following the UK launch of a new soft drink range free of artificial ingredients.

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FDF adds environmental category to CPA awards

The UK’s Food and Drink Federation has launched its 2009 Community Partnership Awards, including a category to recognise environmental projects for the first time.

Omega-3 linked to lower levels of inflammation

Increased blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are associated with lower levels of a marker of inflammation linked to heart disease, says a new study from Australia.

Plums as good as fiber supplements for constipation: study

Plum juice is as effective in boosting digestive health as fiber supplements among those with chronic constipation, according to a peer-reviewed study partly funded by leading North American plum juice maker, SunSweet Growers.

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Bosch streamlines packaging businesses

Bosch Packaging Technology has reorganised its packaging and processing businesses.

Closure push opens up beverage pack potential

A new report suggests shifting consumer demand for resealable packaging, reflecting environmental concerns and rising income levels, is boosting global sales of growth for caps and closures, particularly in beverages.

Pernod drops Wild Turkey for refinance plan

Spirit group Pernod Ricard says it has offloaded its Wild Turkey branded bourbon operations to rival Gruppo Campari as part of a billion dollar strategy to offset debt through refinancing plans.

EFSA consults on guidelines for gaining enzymes approval

The European Food Safety Authority has initiated a consultation on its draft guidelines for evaluating the safety of food enzymes, giving the first insight into the requirements that will be placed on industry.

Pomegranate juice cannot ‘cheat death’

UK billboard adverts proclaiming pomegranate juice could ‘cheat death’ have been deemed misleading and must not appear again, according to the voluntary advertising body there.

Sticky ink makes bottling codes stick

New sticky ink from coding and marking specialist Linx Printing Technologies is behind the company’s new bottle coding solution designed to cope with a range of challenging environments.

Innocent seal Coca-Cola deal for Euro push

Coca-Cola will take a minority stake in UK-based smoothie group Innocent as part of an investment deal to help push the company’s interests in the European market.

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Australian industry deems traffic lights simplistic

The Australian Food and Grocery Council has criticised traffic light labelling on foods as “too simplistic”, while the industry has already rolled out a Daily Intake Guide system on around 1100 products.

New decontamination application for sensitive beverages

Longer shelf life, improved environmental standards and greater cost effectiveness are claimed for liquid packaging specialist Sidel’s dry preform decontamination system which can now be applied to the PET packaging of sensitive beverages sold at ambient temperature.

Flavanol-rich chocolate drink helps maths performance

Chocolate makers seeking to leverage sales through health-positioned products could find a fresh direction with new research from the UK suggesting cocoa drinks rich in flavanols could help consumers do maths.

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Could clones be hiding out in ice-cream?

Ben & Jerry’s campaign to ensure produce from clones is detectable in the food chain shows that bundling biotech in with conventional produce remains unacceptable – but lessons from GM do not seem to have been learned.

Packagers seek water-pack alternatives amidst bottle gloom

Environmental criticisms over the impact of bottling mineral water is expected to lead to stagnant growth in the segment over the coming year, potentially forcing manufacturers to rethink their packaging, suggests new research.

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PepsiCo field test climate-friendly vending machines

All natural refrigeration systems in Pepsi-Cola vending machines will be trialed this month in Washington DC, as the company seeks to reduce its environmental footprint.

Bioplastics show potential but some hurdles remain

New developments could help bioplastics emerge from its early infancy in the coming years, according to a report from Environmental Data Services, but some obstacles still remain.

Symrise develops toolbox to tackle stevia flavour issues

Symrise has launched a new toolkit of flavour masking solutions to help food manufacturers to overcome the off-notes and aftertaste associated with stevia-derived sweeteners.

Soft drinks makers’ nutrition schemes keeps focus on kids

As European beverage makers reassess advertising and the availability of higher sugar drinks to young children, the industry says it will not extend the focus to older demographics besides already providing a wider variety of products.

Carbonates dipping in US soft drink shift - report

The notion of the traditional soft drink as a carbonated, high-calorie fizzy drink may have had its day in the US, according to new research suggesting consumers are flocking en masse to seemingly lighter options.

Snow-ed in: Domestic success drives Chinese beer domination

Bud Light may no longer be the world's heavyweight beer brand in terms of sales, with reports suggesting that it has lost ground to the regionally sold, China-based Snow, according to news reports.

Audit may boost light weighting of packaging

A consumer packaging audit that encourages shoppers to leave behind what they view as excess packaging is designed to inform a wider research project, claims a leading UK retailer.

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New site offers enhanced food safety data, says FSAI

A newly enhanced Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) website provides information on HACCP as well as a section on ‘legislation’ which has links to all the Irish and international food acts and regulation, claims the safety agency.

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Tropicana replaces artificially sweetened juice with Reb A drink

PepsiCo-owned Tropicana has replaced its artificially sweetened Light n’ Healthy orange juice drink with Trop50, naturally sweetened with Reb A stevia extract.