Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Generator targets efficiency in brewer nitrogen needs

A supplier of nitrogen generator systems claims that recent developments in its technology can help revolutionise and simplify supply and use of the gas during the brewing process.

EC commissioner: 2010 health claims deadline will not be met

The EC’s Basil Mathioudakis has admitted that the January, 2010, deadline for all nutrition and health claim submissions to be processed in the European Union is unrealistic and will not be achieved.

New FDA bottled water rules to combat E. coli

Bottled water manufacturers, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, will face stricter standards following the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to implement new rules to prevent contamination with E. coli bacteria.

Bioplastics industry not fearing downturn packaging hit

As food and drink manufacturers continue to find new uses for bioplastics in their packaging, processor attitudes to innovation remain just as important as cost efficiency in regards to challenges facing the sector, says one industry group.

Beer's functional potential: A fruity conundrum

With regulations prohibiting the use of health claims on alcoholic beverages, is there room for innovation in the use of fruit ingredients and extracts in beer?

Vitiva plans AquaRox launch for hot-filled beverages

Slovenian extracts firm Vitiva is gearing up for the launch of a new rosemary extract for clear, hot filled beverages next month, which it says has a neutral taste and colour.

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Food safety group launches online resource site

An online food safety information site for consumers and those working in the area has been set up by the White House Food Safety Working Group.

Round table: The growth of nanotech

Food and nutrition is a 'hot spot' for nanotechnology, experts have said. Stephen Daniells talks to two such experts and asks where the developments are, could it really lead to a removal colours from foods, and is nanotech really like GM?

Germans ban Red Bull over cocaine content

Red Bull Cola has been banned in at least six German states after the newest offering from the world’s leading energy drink maker was found to contain cocaine.

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Coca-Cola Amatil committed to gradual beer growth

Coca-Cola Amatil, an Australasian bottler and manufacturer of the soft drinks giant’s products, is reportedly committed to its strategy of expansion in the beer sector, despite playing down possible mergers with brewer Foster’s.

Sunny Delight may extend parental reformulation advice

As Sunny Delight continues to revaluate and innovate its fruit beverage brands amidst growing interest in natural and added value health-focused goods, the company suggests it may consider global rollouts of a UK-parent led reformulation focus.

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Cheerios: Drugs for breakfast?

When is a breakfast cereal not a breakfast cereal? Well, when it’s a drug.

Giving oxygen to cheaper and better beer

A sensor that quickly and accurately measures dissolved oxygen in beer products has been launched by the Process Analytics arm of Swiss firm Mettler Toledo.

Southeast Asia ripe for flexible pack growth despite eco-challenges

Flexible packaging suppliers could see strong growth for their products in the food markets of South East Asia, though a parallel rise in environmental concerns may require further investment and developments in biodegradable alternatives, suggests a new report.

Carton packaging is the most eco-friendly claims study

Cartons are the most environmentally friendly form of packaging cutting carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel consumption by up to 60 per cent compared with other forms of packaging, according to a study conducted by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research.

Researchers call for greater study of maximum cola intakes

Further scientific study is needed to identify maximum daily intake levels of cola-based soft drinks, according to a new report linking ‘chronic’ intake of the beverages to possible development of muscle problems resulting from hypokalaemia.

Swedish partnership debuts probiotic beverage

Probi, a Swedish probiotic specialist and major functional dairy, Skånemejerier, are teaming up to debut a probiotic beverage to complement a probiotic juice, ProViva, they have had on-market since 1994.

Orange juice shelf-life may be extended by natural chitosan

Using chitosan, an emerging ingredient extracted from fungi cell walls, may act as an anti-microbial ingredient for orange juice, and remove the need for pasteurization, says a new study.

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National Starch talks texture in five tongues

National Starch has developed a multi-lingual dictionary of texture called the ‘Texicon’, which its sales teams use to ensure manufacturers and food scientists understand the same thing from descriptive terms.

D-Ribose GRAS opens doors to energy foods, drinks

Minneapolis-based Bioenergy tells Lorraine Heller about the application areas opened up for its D-Ribose energy ingredient, following its determination as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use in foods and beverages.

Nestle and Danone make R&D moves

Announcements of new R&D plans this week from Nestle and Danone indicate that major manufacturers plan to keep up the pace on nutrition research and innovation in the economic downturn.

Wild looks to energy and nutrition in water developments

Ingredients group Wild says it is looking beyond providing simple flavoured solutions for bottled waters products by expanding into offering functionality to the segment with a focus on caffeine kicks and glycemic indexes.

Frugality dominates US shoppers' alcohol plans - report

Alcohol’s ability to survive under difficult economic times has come into question amidst shifting consumer attitudes in the US to more value-focused offerings as opposed to their premium counterparts, says new research.

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Different shades of green: Looking beyond carbon footprints

You can try your best to avoid it, but when it comes to measuring carbon footprint, almost everything we do these days, either as a business or individuals, is likely to have a negative impact on the environment.

Are cranberry PACs all they are cracked up to be?

In a NutraIngredients.com round table discussion, three leading cranberry suppliers discuss the merits of proanthocyanidins (PACs) in benefiting urinary tract infections(UTIs).

Wine makers claim elephantine sustainability success

A haul of glass equal in weight to 36,000 African elephants has been cut across the global wine supply chain as part of a new scheme to improve the environmental impact of the sector, claims one eco-organisation.

Sensient offers flavor solution for stevia-sweetened beverages

Sensient Flavors has added its flavor masking technology to the raft of products that companies are offering to deal with potential off-notes associated with stevia-derived sweeteners.

Kosher grape skin extract responds to US demand

Chr. Hansen has partnered with wineries in France and Italy to produce grape skin-derived red colorings for kosher-certified beverages, as well as polyphenols for the dietary supplement industry.

News in brief

STOP Obesity Alliance welcomes new members

Eight medical groups, public health associations and obesity experts have joined the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance.

Time for an EU health claims rethink

In a NutraIngredients.com round table discussion, DSM’s Bas van Buijtenen expresses widespread industry concern with the EU nutrition and health claims process, while Cantox’s Nigel Baldwin tells us what we should expect from next month’s meeting with EFSA.

Latin America’s appeal for food companies

Latin America presents growing opportunities for investment for food manufacturers, even as the economic crisis takes its toll on American and European markets, according to a new market report.

Big brands brace for sustainable drink pack shake up

Manufacturers of leading beverage brands ranging from Coca-Cola to alcoholic products like Foster’s and Strongbow are set to shake up their packaging as they continue with attempts to improve individual sustainability.

NGO follows nutrition lead for business focused eco-labelling

One environmental NGO says it is taking inspiration from nutrition labels as part of attempts to better inform global business and, eventually, the consumer about the environmental performance of food products.

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Small rise in minimum wage ‘prudent’, says FDF

The voice of the UK’s food and drink sector has expressed support for the relatively small rise in the UK minimum wage, of 1.2 per cent, saying it will help ensure the food and drink sector remains competitive.

Developing solutions to fight food fraud

Adulteration of food proteins - as seen in the recent melamine scandal - is becoming a greater threat to industry as the food supply has become more globalized and economic crisis drives manufacturers to seek cheaper ingredients, says Jim Griffiths of US Pharmacopeia.

Study adds to stevia Reb A safety rep

Rebaudiside A does not pose any safety questions regarding genotoxicity, according to a new study that supports the safety profile of this up-and-coming sweetener.

Glanbia guns for sports and infant nutrition market

Chief operating officer at Glanbia Nutritionals Dr Raimund Hoenes sat down with Shane Starling at Vitafoods in Geneva and shared insights into some of the challenges the sub-division of the Irish dairy giant has faced since its inception two years ago with a brief to develop an infant and sports nutrition ingredients portfolio.

News in brief

Pepsi battles bottlers over ‘poison pill’ allegations

PepsiCo’s failed attempt to acquire outstanding shares in two of its bottling groups could be heading to court after it filed suit against one of the parties it alleges kept some of its affiliated directors in the dark at recent board meetings.

Stevia’s organic potential is not limited, claims PureCircle

Major Reb A supplier PureCircle has disputed recent suggestions that stevia’s potential for use in organic foods could be limited, although it agrees that certification poses problems.

Enzyme launch targets beer cost concerns

Danisco is targeting shorter yet more efficient production times with an upgraded brewing enzyme it claims can better meet manufacturing concerns over cost output.

Flexibility and sustainability dictate sports cap development

Greater flexibility in the application and sustainability of sports caps for use on beverage packs remains at the heart of ongoing development in the segment, according to one product supplier.

Dispatches from Vitafoods

Danone plays waiting game on health claims

After taking part in a Pharmanager seminar at Vitafoods in Geneva, Dr Jean-Michel Antoine, a 30-year research and development veteran at Danone, tells Shane Starling why the French dairy firm has pulled three article 13.5 probiotic yoghurt claims from the European Union nutrition and health claims process.

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The quiet potential of supplements and fortified foods

What do companies like Vitamin Shoppe, Johnson & Johnson, DSM, Whole Foods, NBTY and even Pfizer have in common?

US obesity due to more calories, not less exercise: Study

Increased calorie intake – rather than lack of exercise – is nearly exclusively responsible for the obesity epidemic in the US, according to a new study presented at the European Congress on Obesity on Friday.

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Fruit and veg may slash colorectal cancer risk: Study

Increased intakes of fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 25 per cent, says a large European study.

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InBev sells South Korean brewer in debt drive

Anheuser-Busch InBev had today announced an agreement with private equity group Kravis Roberts (KKR) to offload its South Korean-based subsidiary Oriental Brewery, thought to be the country’s second largest beer producer.

UK soft drinks weathering downturn - report

British demand for soft drink products has coped with both the unpredictability of the current economic climate and the seemingly more familiar wet weather, to post slight sales value growth in 2008, according to official industry figures.

Dispatches from Vitafoods

Moving towards a cranberry PACs pact

Julie Rosenborg, from Lallemand Health Ingredients, and Diana Naturals' Mathieu Besnard spoke with Shane Starling about some of the issues surrounding the proanthocyanidin content of cranberry and how the French urinary tract infection health claim passed in 2004 has influenced scientific development and the market.

News in brief

Ajinomoto appoints North American aspartame distributor

Aspartame supplier Ajinomoto Food Ingredients has partnered with ChemPoint.com to supply the sweetener to its customers in North America.

Craft and big beer brands striking European balance - industry

Regionally made craft beer brands are retaining national and even global importance to some of the world’s largest brewers, as the industry raises concerns over possible declines in sales, say brewers' groups.

Supplier claims pomegranate functional fortification breakthrough

A supplier of bionutritional products claims to have extended its pomegranate extract range with a variation that optimizes flavor profile for use specifically as a functional ingredient.

News in brief

GLG accepts $40.5m stevia order from Cargill

GLG Life Tech Corporation has accepted a $40.5m from Cargill to supply its Reb A stevia extract starting in October, with the possibility of further orders over the following 18 months, the company said.

Upgrades for “the world’s most sensitive metal detector”

Improvements to the PowerPhasePRO software platform for metal detection in food applications have led to “the world’s most sensitive metal detector,” claims manufacturer Mettler-Toledo Safeline.

Euro drinkers long for more water pack innovation - survey

European consumers are united in their demand for mineral water packaging that is ‘safer for the environment’, while remaining convenient to consume, according to new research.

Cost cutting must not reduce safety, quality, says expert

Food firms looking to trim costs in the recession must be sure to complete due diligence in their ingredient sourcing and not compromise the long-term image of their brands by reduced quality, warns a food chain consultant.

BioActor team-up testing olive polyphenol potential

Belgium-based BioActor has entered into a collaboration with one raw material supplier to jointly market a new olive polyphenol formulation currently under development to offer possible bone health benefits for food and drink.

How Coke and Pepsi plan to grow in the recession

The two beverage giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo will be driving their brands forward rather than shrinking back in the years ahead, treating the recession as a period for growth, says beverage analyst James Tonkin.

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Food safety reform: Not a century too soon

On a summer’s day in 1906 Theodore Roosevelt pushed through new food safety regulation. The Food and Drugs Act passed that day over 100 years ago was the last time the US food safety system was modernized.

Prospective buyers tight-lipped over Alpro sale

Food giants Nestle and Unilever are keeping their cards close to their chest over reports that they are both bidding to acquire the soy foods company Alpro.