Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Ireland initiative helps reduce packaging

The Irish food industry and the Department of Environment have together launched a training initiative to achieve a reduction in packaging amid growing environmental concerns.

Packager toasts Euro PET wine potential

Plasmax, a manufacturer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle coatings, says that while it has not yet made its latest size applications available in Europe, it expects growing potential for the product within the bloc.

Bottled water brands face point-of-use pressure

Despite their dominance within the market, Bottled water manufacturers are coming increasingly under pressure from point-of-use (POU) water suppliers amidst recent environmental criticism of the industry, according to a new report.

News briefs: Space beer and Coca-Cola

This week, Coca-Cola Enterprises prepares for full year uncertainty after a difficult second quarter and a Japanese brewer hopes to devise a beer that is truly out of this world.

Weight and mood drive Euro functional food development

Foods that assist weight management, cognition and mood and that are high in antioxidants, fibre and whole grains are leading functional foods development, according to a UK-based market analyst.

New sucralose supplier enters European market today

Food makers to see alternative supplies for sucralose as new manufacturer for this booming sweetener hits European markets for the first time, launching today in Amsterdam.

Sodium benzoate removed from Diet Coke

Coca-Cola is phasing out the use of the controversial additive sodium benzoate in Diet Coke on the back of consumer demand for more natural products.

EU project to provide bacteria-testing systems for fruit

Researchers are close to completing their EU-funded work on developing an appropriate sensor system to screen for lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) in fruit juices.

Weekly comment

The GSK weight loss wake-up call

GlaxoSmithKline's petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban dietary supplements from making weight loss claims, has opened a cupboard and only the deluded would deny the presence of one or two skeletons rattling around in there.

UK could become too hot to produce wine

Climate change could mean some parts of southern England will be too hot to for wine-making by 2080, according to a UK professor.

Sabinsa launches soluble extract range

Ingredient group Sabinsa has adopted a new technology that allows it to 'solubalize' a range of botanical extracts, thereby making them easy to incorporate into beverage applications, said the firm.

News briefs: Britvic results and glacial bottled water

This week, Britvic posts it half-year results and a Norwegian bottled water brand hits the UK market.

Drink makers' responsible ad effectiveness questioned

A UK-based, industry-led social responsibility program for alcohol advertising has been praised this week as a major initiative against irresponsible drinking, despite continued scepticism over its true effectiveness.

Red wine keeps liver healthy, suggests new study

Fresh evidence that supports the potential protective health properties of wine with a US study suggesting a glass of red wine a day could actually protect against liver disease.

Tetra Pak invests in Italian packaging materials plant

Tetra Pak is stumping up €26m for an upgrade of its Italian packaging materials plant that will significantly increase its printing and lamination capacity, and boost the quality and speed of its service.

Soft drink behemoths attacked over global ad pledges

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have come under fire this week for pledging to cut out promoting its beverage brands to children under twelve across the globe by the end of the year

Robotics a solution to global challenge, says CenFRA

Robotics and automation will help food processors offset higher raw material and energy costs, claims the Centre for Food Robotics and Automation (CenFRA), as it prepares to open its new site in Doncaster, Northern England this week.

Russian growth trickles down to opportunities for ingredients

Increasing consumer power in Russia is drawing food and beverage manufacturers to set up base in the country - which, in turn, is opening opportunities for ingredients suppliers to do more business in the emerging market.

Show to address soft drink and beer supply issues

The challenges facing raw material sourcing across the beverage market will be on of the key focuses for the Drinktec 2009 trade show set to place next September in Munich, according to its organisers.

Smoothies cause rift between dieticians and dentists

A recent review that casts a rosy glow on the trend for fruit smoothies because they can help consumers meet five a day fruit-and-veg targets has caused uproar amongst dentists, who say the sugar and acid content can cause tooth erosion.

Weekly comment

Time for an organic-GM peace treaty

The war between the GM and organic movements has been bitterly fought. However in the midst of a global food crisis the time has come for these old enemies to bury their differences and concentrate on the benefits an alliance may bring.

Natural beverage quality certification extended

An international certification program for mineral water has been extended to allow manufacturers of natural functional drinks and mineral waters to support quality and safety claims on their labels, its developer says.

Sustainability key to bottling line design, says Sidel

Sustainability issues are the drivers behind the new lightweight PET bottling line and robotic palletizing equipment from Sidel, claims the company.

British men show resistance to alcohol health warnings

New research from Mintel suggests that health warnings and unit labelling on alcoholic drinks, which could become statutory in the future, might not deter heavy drinking, especially among men.

Online tool launched to address wine maker carbon concerns

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) will next week launch a new online tool is says will allow the industry to better assess how much of environmental impact transportation has on their operations.

Expert calls for crackdown on EU bootleg booze

While China continues to pose a significant copyright threat to Europe's spirit makers, the industry must also address the problem on its own doorstep, according to the director general of the European Spirits organization (CEPS).

JAMA questions sense of sweeteners for weight loss

A growing body of research is questioning the usefulness of low-calorie sweeteners in stemming weight gain, according to an editorial in JAMA, which could have an impact on diet food development.

New label applicator offers optional RFID encoding

Weber has modified its label printer applicator for the food and drinks industry to ensure maximum flexibility and versatility for end users as well as offering optional radio frequency identification (RFID) technology encoding.

Natural pigments from prickly pear get procedural boost

Fermenting the fruit juice of prickly pear Opuntia stricta could produce concentrated betalains for use as food colouring, according to new research from Spain.

News briefs: Coca-Cola and Cobra Beer

This week, news reports suggest that the Coca-Cola's new chief executive may look to spend on his arrival, while production of one of the UK's leading beer brands could be returning home.

News focus: The sustainable future of packaging

Green success requires sustainable consumers

In the final part of our series on major developments at this year's Interpack trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany, BeverageDaily.com examines the threats and challenges to non-renewable packaging like aluminium.

Weekly comment

Innovation: the fast before the feast

Last week's Vitafoods trade show highlighted a drop in ingredient innovation with many companies placing the blame at the door of Europe's evolving health claims legislation.

Demand for sustainable packaging solutions boosting rPET

Post consumer recycled material (PCR) derived from recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles is fast replacing the polymer polypropylene in the rigid plastics packaging market, claims Finnish packaging firm Huhtamaki.

News focus: The sustainable future of packaging

Labels still a sticking point for bioplastics

In the second part of our look back series on major developments at this year's Interpack trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany, BeverageDaily.com examines the importance of reforming labelling on bio-packaging to the industry.

EU sugar set for leaner and fitter future, Fischer Boel

The ambitious EU sugar reforms is on track and progressing at good speed, says Mariann Fisher Boel, confirming the positive outlook expressed by firms presently planning next steps for their sugar divisions.

Guinness retains heritage amidst brewery shake-up

Guinness appears to be sticking to its roots with the announcement today by parent company Diageo of a significant investment to step up production as its Dublin-based St. James's Gate brewery.

Major HFCS users unlikely to ditch it for sugar, expert

Some food and beverage manufacturers may switch from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to sugar as a result of high corn prices, but this is only likely to be the case for relatively small scale users, according to a consultant.

MEPs vote for ban on unnecessary colours for kids

Sweeteners and colourings in food aimed at children should be banned, while additives ought to be used in other products only if they provide an advantage to the consumer, said the EU Environment Committee.

News focus: The sustainable future of packaging

The coming of age for bio-based plastics

In the first part of a look back at major developments at this year's Interpack trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany, BeverageDaily.com examines the challenges facing the emergence of bioplastics in consumer packaging.

Create makes true-to-life ginger flavour

Create Flavours has launched the first in a new range of natural 'fresh' spice flavours - ginger that is said to replicate the warm, authentic taste of the real spice.

Pregnancy group call for BPA labels over bottle fears

The use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in bottles and other food packaging continues to stir controversy, with calls this week from a UK-based pregnancy charity for mandatory labelling of the chemical when present in packs.

News briefs: Sara Lee and soft drink bottles

This week, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola reportedly review their bottle sizes within the US, and the beverage division of Sara Lee helps ensure the company remains on target for full year profit growth.

Weekly comment

Adjusting to Mars' centre stage ambitions

While in the Hollywood stratosphere, it seems that you are not anyone these days unless you're a duo, in the glamorous world of food manufacture, the team-up route to success may not be quite as simple.

Ajinomoto and Asda draw battle lines over aspartame

Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe has launched a defamation law suit against US supermarket Asda over labelling on own-brand products that calls aspartame a 'nasty'.

Green tea extract may counter fatigue for workaholics

Supplements of the green tea compound EGCG may offset the signs of physical and mental fatigue associated with modern stressful lives, suggests research from Japan.

Whisky makers call for government support to maintain growth

Scotch whisky exports reached record heights in 2007 as shipment volumes rose eight per cent to 1,135 million bottles, though government support is required to ensure further industry growth, claims a leading trade organisation.

Juicing may boost a fruit's antioxidant punch: study

Long term supplementation of antioxidant-rich apples and purple grapes, particularly in juice form, may prevent artery hardening, researchers from France have reported for the first time.

EFSA to review BPA advice on the back of US, Canadian concerns

EFSA has undertaken to review its previous advice on safe levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging and provide updates on its deliberations, following new assessments from Canada and the US.

Pepsi invests in UK aquaceuticals

PepsiCo has beefed up its presence in the European functional waters market by acquiring three-year-old UK start-up V Water for an undisclosed fee.