Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Danisco raises US prices for brewing enzymes

Danish group Danisco has become the latest in a string of ingredients firms to pass on increased raw material and energy costs to the market, announcing today that it is to up the mark on its glucoamylase for the US brewing and portable alcohol markets.

Food industry to feel heat on UK climate plan

Food firms will have to play a major role in the UK's new drive to curb carbon emissions in an effort to avoid environmental and economic disaster from global warming, Britain's environment minister has said.

UK firm uncovers 'traditional' strawberry flavour

UK firm Create Flavours has developed an innovative method that it claims is capable of recreating more accurately the original flavour of strawberries.

Weekly comment

A fair trade future

The world needs an independent trade watchdog to properly regulate the international food supply chain if we as a society are to truly create a more sustainable and ethical food market.

Rexam opens PET bottle sale

International packaging group Rexam will look to sell its PET bottle facilities in Central and Eastern Europe as part of its plans to focus on more globally recognised products like plastic food packaging.

New mini closure cuts bottling costs

Alcoa's Closure Systems International (CSI) division have launched the latest edition to their closure platform that will reduce packing weight and costs, the company claims.

Superfruits could wrestle gut health beverages from dairy

New Zealand's HortResearch is conducting research aimed at taking fruit and fruit-derived ingredients into the next generation of gut health drinks based on their prebiotic properties.

WTO warning shot for EU vodka dispute

Restricting the ingredients that could be used to make true vodka in the EU would likely cause a fresh dispute at the World Trade Organisation, as EU nations split into three camps.

Coffee culture thriving in Hong Kong

Coffee culture is thriving in Hong Kong with close to one third of residents now purchasing ready-to-drink coffee outside of the home, according to a new survey.

Scientists "substantiate" safety of noni fruit juice

Scientists have reviewed the safety data and case reports of supposed adverse reactions for noni fruit juice, and reached the same conclusions as the EU that the fruit poses no safety risk to consumers.

Business feels tremors of EU sugar shake-up

The shake-up of Europe's sugar industry is already having an effect on internal EU-25 trade, according to a recent USDA report.

EU rejects laws for responsible drinking drive

Alcohol is the third biggest killer in Europe, the European Commission has said, urging the drinks industry and governments to do more but backing away from laws to make them.

France moves to limit wood chips in wine

French wine authorities have laid down plans to ban the controversial use of wood chips in higher quality appellation contrôlée wine, after the practice was approved by the European Commission.

Resveratrol in red wine could cut colorectal cancer risk

Drinking more than three glasses of red wine a week could cut the risk of colorectal cancer by almost 70 per cent, researchers told the 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Las Vegas.

Cargill to focus on heart health in Frankfurt

Cargill plans to use next month's Health Ingredients Europe event to unveil a number of products that food and beverage manufacturers can use in future product launches.

Valves designed for PET moulding operations

A new series of pneumatic valves solves many of the problems unique to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) stretch-blow molding operations, according to the manufacturer.

Emerging markets maintain Coca-Cola momentum

Emerging markets and a hot summer in Europe helped Coca-Cola to pick up momentum in the third quarter, buying it time to address problems in Japan and North America.

San Miguel enters Thai fruit juice market

San Miguel, the Philippines-based food and beverage conglomerate, has entered the Thai fruit juice market with the launch of the Berri brand.

How much difference does ethical food sourcing make?

Ethical codes of labour practice along the food supply chain have had positive impacts on issues such as health and safety, but more could be achieved, says a major new report.

Fluoride water gets tooth decay claim

A bottled water containing fluoride in the US can now state it helps to prevent tooth decay, the country's food safety regulator has said, opening up both opportunities and debate.

EU food companies scramble to submit health claims

European food companies are already being asked to submit health claims for approval to agencies at national level, following the adoption of the new EU regulation on nutrition and health claims last week.

Nestlé enjoys strong organic growth

Nestlé today said sales are up 9.1 per cent to CHF72.2bn (€45.4bn) in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period in 2005.

Sonic wave technology targets brewing

The creators of novel, sonic wave processing technology for the food industry will look to build on a successful year by focusing on new developments in the brewing sector.

New methodology promises 'rational' flavour prediction

Making flavour prediction more rational could lead to even greater food creativity, says Quest.

UK government launches responsible drinking push

Alcohol consumption across the UK has gone down for the first time in six years, industry figures show, as the government launches a new campaign to make young people drink responsibly.

Asia's rising wealth boosts alcohol makers

Asia's elite are drinking more wine, champagne and imported beer as their growing spending power makes them increasingly important for the luxury goods industry.

World Food Day

Film gives coffee firms a roasting on sustainability

Buying practices of the world's biggest coffee companies have come under renewed public scrutiny from a new film which explores the journey of coffee beans from plantation to cup. BeverageDaily.com took an early peek.

Coca-Cola, Nestlé launch calorie-cutting tea

A sparkling green tea drink developed jointly by Coca-Cola and Nestlé claims to help consumers burn off calories, catapulting both companies further into the growing health and wellness market.

Corn fibre gum could be effective alternative to gum arabic

A gum produced from corn fibre could offer a viable and profitable alternative to gum arabic as emulsifiers in beverages, if research from the US continues to produce positive results.

PepsiCo spurred on by healthier drinks

PepsiCo's new wave of healthier soft drinks, including Gatorade and Aquafina, helped the group to shrug off declines in its trademark Pepsi cola to increase sales by 13 per cent in the third quarter.

Crown develops high resolution printer for cans

Crown Packaging has developed a full-scale production system prototype of what the company is calling the world's first high-resolution, full-color UV inkjet for printed cans.

SABMiller survives US beer slip

More disappointment in the mainstream US beer sector was offset by the World Cup effect in Europe and continued gains in emerging markets, brewer SABMiller has announced.

Diageo overhauls Asia supply chain

Diageo, the maker of Johnnie Walker whiskey and Guinness stout, has opened a S$13 million (6.54m) logistics hub in Singapore to cut the time it takes for its alcoholic drinks to reach Asian markets.

Coffee prices stabilise after months of increases

Coffee prices stabilised in September after two months of marked price increases, according to the International Coffee Organisation (ICO).

Wild convention sees profit in healthy ingredients

Food products that provide a measurable health benefit will ensure healthy corporate growth in the future, delegates at Wild's Heidelberg Convention were told.

Weekly Comment

Is a trans fat ban a healthy solution?

Sometimes I just love eating fatty, greasy, unquestionably hazardous foods. But I don't like trans fats, that come as a by-product in some processed foods, and have been linked to high cholesterol and heart problems.

Symrise explores cheaper alternatives in bitter-maskers

Scientists at Symrise have reported the potential of benzyl amides as potential bitter-masking compounds for food and drink, research that may lead to cheaper alternatives for food scientists and formulators.

ADM strengthens position in global malt market

ADM's purchase of French firm Lesaffre's 50 per cent interest in International Malting Company (IMC) strengthens the ingredient giant's position in the global malt business.

Tough UK wine sector spoils the Constellation party

Fierce competition and higher taxes in the UK took the shine off another wine sales increase for Constellation Brands in its second quarter.

Isolator barrier uses air blast to protect aseptic filling

A new isolator that uses air circulation as a barrier to protect the aseptic filling of milk andother drinks allows non-stop production for up to three days, its manufacturer claims.

Cola drinks raise osteoporosis risk, study

Women who drink four or more cola beverages per week have a higher risk of developing the bone disease osteoporosis, finds a new study, landing another blow on fizzy drinks makers.

Canada approves GM yeast that combats cancer compound

Environment Canada has approved the import and manufacture of a genetically modified yeast variety that is designed to reduce the levels of the carcinogen ethyl carbamate, a compound that can naturally occur in fermented foods and beverages, such as wine, beer and bread.

Review bursts oxygen water performance link

The idea that drinking water containing extra oxygen could improve performance during exercise cannot be taken seriously, says a new journal review, in a blow to producers of the drink.

Pomegranate test determines concentration

With pomegranate rapidly assuming the status of the new super fruit, a food laboratory hasreleased a testing system for determining its concentration in products.

New study pushes for soda restriction in school vending machines

Restricting vending machine use or availability in schools is crucial in the nation's efforts to drive down soda-related obesity, according to a study published this month in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Pomegranate juice may cut Alzheimer's risk

A daily glass of antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice could halve the build-up of harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease, says a new animal study from the USA.

EU food watchdog examines ethyl carbamate levels

Food and drink processors might soon be under pressure to reduce the levels of ethyl carbamateand cyanides in their fermented products.

Filling machine combines accuracy with speed

A new filling machine for carbonated beverages combines accuracy with speed and a potential tosave on energy, according to its manufacturer.

Permira holds fire on Britvic bid

Private equity group Permira denied it was about to unveil a bid to buy Britain's biggest soft drinks group, Britvic, following two days of heavy speculation.