Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Danone splits from Wahaha; not talking to Mead

Danone’s troubled relationship with China’s Wahaha looks finally to be at an end; and rumours of a new deal with Mead Johnson over baby food are flatly denied.

Target women with energy drinks, says Mintel

UK consumers view energy drinks as value for money rather than a luxury, with sales for the products expected to soar over the next five years, according to the latest statistics from Mintel.

News in brief

Rexam announces third plant closure

Rexam has confirmed that it is to close a plastic packaging manufacturing plant in the US – the third closure announced by the company since June.

Bericap launches new light-weight beverage closure

German beverage closure manufacturer Bericap has added the LinerSeal SuperShorty model to its PCO 1881 light weight neck finish range.

Guest article

Stevia: beverages and replacing aspartame

Aspartame and sugar are likely to be the main substitution targets for emerging stevia sweeteners, and beverages the initial main application, writes Sneha Pasricha, a research analyst for Frost & Sullivan, in the first of two guest articles.

Review claims rbST milk is eco-friendly and safe

Milk from cows treated with the rbST hormone is not only identical to other milk, but is also more eco-friendly, says a scientific review sponsored by Elanco, the company that bought Monsanto’s rbST business last year.

Weekly comment

The benefits of a probiotic witch hunt

Get your pitchforks ready! There are evil-doers out there! We’ve been conned: Probiotics don’t work. Dannon’s settling out of court, EFSA’s rejecting health claims, and the media is starting a witch hunt.

Kraft explores boosting chocolate health benefits

Drinks or high sugar-containing chocolate may be the best formulations for boosting antioxidant levels in the blood, suggests a new study from Kraft Foods.

Low-fat options expand with seaweed bead breakthrough

Microparticles made from seaweed may provide low-cost fat replacers for food and texturizers for beverages, as well as delivery vehicles for value-added bioactives, suggests new research.

Soft drinks may raise likelihood of fatty liver disease: Study

People with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease tend to drink larger quantities of soft drinks than those without the disease, according to new research published in the Journal of Hepatology.

Global food use of bulk and high intensity sweeteners

Some 70.4 million tonnes of sweeteners were used by the global food and beverage industry in 2008, including sugars. But which sweeteners are most used, in volume terms?

“Revolutionary” low energy separator for brewers launched at Drinktec

Up to 30 per cent less energy consumption is claimed for the new separator platform for beverages launched by Swedish engineering company Alfa Laval at last week’s Drinktec trade fair in Munich, Germany.

Nestle unveils lightweighting plan for PET bottle

Nestle said plans to lightweight one of it PET bottles by almost a quarter will realise huge cost and environmental savings as it reconfirmed its belief in the long-term profitability of bottled water.

Big growth forecast for US children’s healthy drinks market

The US market for children’s food and drink will grow in value by 50 percent from $16.4bn in 2007 to $26.8bn within two years, according to a new report from New Nutrition Business.

The science of sweetener blends

Achieving the ideal sweetener blend is a scientific undertaking, making or breaking a product’s acceptance. In the second part of our special series on sweetener blends, FoodNavigator look at what makes a blend a success.

Rexam plans to close 1.1bn capacity beverage can factory

Consumer packaging giant Rexam wants to close its 1.1bn steel can plant at Dunkirk, France and has started negotiations with employee representatives.

Versatile beverage multi-packer deals with all product types, formats

The ability to package products of almost any type, dimension and format at high speeds are stand-out features claimed for a multi-packing beverage system by manufacturers R.A Jones.

New Agr blowmolder software promises one year payback

Agr International presented new software for PET blowmolding at Drinktec last week that promises to improve quality consistently, replace an operator and deliver a quick return on investment.

PET bottles greener than glass or aluminium - Study

PET bottles are a greener alternative to glass or aluminium cans, according to a new study into the environmental impact of single use packaging.

Euromonitor advises on emerging markets strategy for soft drinks

Euromonitor predicts that Africa and the Middle East present the best opportunities for soft drink manufacturers as global sales growth slows.

Weekly comment

Are health claims curbing freedom of speech?

The US FDA is being sued over its health claims regime – actions that are unlikely to succeed according to most pundits – but they raise serious questions about healthy food messaging and free speech that are being felt globally.

Dispatches from Drinktec

Sustainability shines at Beverage Innovation Awards

FoodProductionDaily.com caught up with the hosts of the 2009 Beverage Innovation Awards at Drinktec this week to pick out the highlights and uncover the trends behind the winning entries.

“Revolutionary” new bottle sterilization kit launched at Drinktec

US company Advanced Electron Beams (AEB) has launched sterilization equipment at trade Fair Drinktec, Munich, Germany which it claims will revolutionise aseptic bottle filling.

Beverage multiple packaging kit launched at Drinktec

Among the host of new technology on show at Drinktec, Munich, Germany, is the OneTech2 Combo beverage multiple packaging equipment from US manufacturer MeadWestvaco (MWV).

Dispatches from DrinkTec

New enzyme enables 100 per cent barley beer

Novozymes is claiming an industry first with its new brewing enzyme capable of working without malt and with barley as the only raw material.

Aluminium bottle manufacturer starts commercial roll out

Rexam aims to produce 60 million units of its Fusion aluminium bottle in the first year of full production at its Czech Republic plant, in response to increasing industry and consumer interest in the product.

Special edition: Market insights

Zenith: The road ahead for US functional drinks

As the US market for functional beverages continues along a path of strong growth, Zenith International suggests there may be some unexpected areas to look out for – such as ‘anti-energy’. The market researcher shares its thoughts as part of a NutraIngredients series on analyst insights.

Virginia Dare launches masking flavors for stevia

Virginia Dare has become the latest company to make a move in the competitive stevia market, launching a range of flavors to mask bitter, astringent notes.

News in brief

Danone-backed Yakult expands in India

Distribution of probiotic one-shot drinks is broadening in India, with a major push occurring in cities like Mumbai, as disposable Indian incomes rise, and more people take an interest in health benefits promised by functional foods.

Weekly comment

Bisphenol A: Hearts versus minds

Forget GMO and nanotechnology - the biggest food safety issue of our times is bisphenol A (BPA).

Rapper 50 Cent to choose Facebook-designed functional drink

Coca-Cola-owned Glaceau Vitaminwater is giving consumers the opportunity to design a new addition to its functional beverage range, with the winner being selected by the rapper 50 Cent and country singer, Carrie Underwood.

Symrise enters mainstream beer market with new flavours

Symrise has entered the mainstream beer market with a new range of flavours designed to make life simpler for brewers in international markets.

New research promises breakthrough for recycled glass

Retailer demand for recycled glass could rocket after new UK research commissioned by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Valio expects to dominate US lactose-free market

Finland-based Valio is taking its lactose-free milk to the US with ambitious market share targets soon after an academic study hit out against the quality of lactose-free dairy products.

Brewers in emerging markets turn to enzymes, says DSM

Enzymes can help brewers in emerging markets take full advantage of local crops and therefore cut costs, protect the environment, and support local communities.

Talking Point

Can a ‘fat tax’ on soda help beat obesity – your views

FoodNavigator-USA.com asked its readers for their views on whether taxing sugary soft drinks could help combat obesity after the Institute of Medicine became the latest institution to recommend the move.

BPA admission threatens crisis for Sigg

Sigg chief Steve Wasik has made a second apology over revelations that linings of company’s older water bottles contain bisphenol A - in a bid to stem mounting fury that threatens to plunge the firm into crisis.

Blackcurrant nutrients hailed as US opportunity

The US market is ripe for the antioxidant-rich blackcurrant fruit, which could provide fresh opportunities for food, beverage and supplement applications, according to experts.

Special Edition: Resveratrol

Supply: Resveratrol, from grape to grateful consumer

In the second part of a special series on resveratrol, NutraIngredients looks at the ingredient’s supply. What is it extracted from, how much resveratrol does it contain, and who is offering the ingredient?

France approves high Reb A stevia sweeteners

The French government has approved the use of stevia sweeteners with 97 per cent purity rebaudioside A (Reb A), officially opening up the first EU market for products containing the much-anticipated ingredient.

Antioxidant-rich juices boost heart health: Study

Consuming antioxidant-rich raspberry juice or tea may prevent artery hardening, and lead to improvements in heart health, say results of a European wide research.

Tetra Pak beverage pasteurizer cuts costs and product losses

A new intelligent beverage pasteurizer will cut product losses by almost a third, slash downtime and reduce energy and water consumption significantly, said manufacturers Tetra Pak.

Sugar plus vit C boost green tea’s health punch

Manufacturers of ready-to-drink green tea products should include both sucrose and vitamin C to enhance the health profile of their formulations, suggests a new study from Purdue.

KitoZyme wins OIV approval for animal, allergen free wine agents

Belgian ingredients supplier KitoZyme has gained approval from the OIV for two vegetal polymers designed to stabalise and clarify wine, therefore clearing the way for their commercial use.

News in brief

Danone converts to light weight Bericap closure in Turkey

Danone Turkey has become the first company to use the recently launched HexaLite 29/11 SFB 3T from Bericap, having switched to the closure for its Hayat water bottle brand.

Australian state ponders energy drinks ban

Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), is considering a ban on high caffeine energy drinks in the Red Bull-led sector, after its Primary Industries minister, Ian McDonald, highlighted products loaded with up to 15 times recommended caffeine limits.

Coke follows Pepsi into coconut water

Coca-Cola has invested in coconut water company Zico only a couple of weeks after Pepsi-Co acquired Amacoco, a Brazilian maker of coconut drinks.

O-I closes first of two European glass plants

Glass container manufacturer Owens-Illinois (O-I) has confirmed it has closed its plant in Finland with the loss of 100 jobs as part of an on-going review of its global operations.

World first probiotic 100% juice launched

Swedish dairy pioneer, Skånemejerier, has extended its Scandinavian-leading juice range, Bravo, to incorporate probiotic strains, believed to be the first in the world to do so in a fresh 100 per cent juice product with a cold-fighting claim.

Tax soft drinks and snacks to fight childhood obesity, says IOM

The Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council have recommended taxing high-calorie, low-nutrient food and drink in order to combat childhood obesity, in a new report released on Tuesday.

News in brief

Head of Coca-Cola bottling in France commits suicide

Jean-Pierre Bagard, CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprise in France, has committed suicide for unknown reasons, according to French broadsheet Le Figaro.

Drug and cosmetics CMOs to benefit from Coca-Cola’s India win

Pharmaceutical and cosmetics contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs) in India can now claim tax credit on their advertising spend following a recent appeal court victory for US beverage giant Coca-Cola.

Weekly comment

Sugar and strife – not so nice if the price is not right

Sugar politics means high prices are a bitter pill for US and Indian sweet food and beverage makers; while the European industry is sitting pretty on the back of the recent sugar reforms.

Bottled water leak reveals plans to question tap water safety

Leaked messages between PR professionals representing the Natural Hydration Council (NHC) have uncovered suggestions for promoting bottled water that include the dissemination of data undermining the safety of tap water.