Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

IPA 2010 - what does the future hold?

Taking at leap forward, FoodProductionDaily.com asesses potential trends in food processing at IPA 2010.

Price stabilization of bioplastics expected in 2015

Producers and packaging associations claim improvements to cost, performance and moisture barrier properties of bioplastics as well as more investment in sorting technology to prevent contamination of recycling waste streams will enable the industry to compete more effectively with conventional plastics.

Alcohol brand growth potential amid economic gloom

In the current economic climate consumers are turning to local alcoholic beverages rather than imports, providing opportunities for brand growth, according to a report from The Nielsen Company.

Exclusive interview

More light than heat with clean decontamination technology

Pulsed light can be used to inactivate micro-organisms on food and packaging surfaces. Craig Leadley from Campden BRI outlines how the technology might also provide cost savings to manufacturers.

Spotlight on UK food and drink firms' green initiatives

UK food and drink manufacturers have reduced their CO2 emissions by 17 per cent since 1990, which translates as an average of 58,000 tonnes less carbon dixoide (CO2) annually, claims the FDF.

Brewers spy cartons and taps behind convenience push

While beer makers’ use of box and draught tap packaging are hardly new innovations, some manufacturers hope new developments in these technologies may help capture consumer interest in the sector.

SMEs set to benefit from amendments to EU food labelling proposal

The draft report on the European Commission’s proposal for the provision of food information to consumers in the EU suggests substantial amendments which would offer small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more flexibility.

Tea drinking may reduce tooth loss - study

The consumption of unsweetened green and black tea over soft drinks and orange juice may help reduce the long-term risk of tooth erosion, according to recent findings.

Education builds taste for cranberries in the south

Introducing foods not previously well known in a market is no easy feat for a distributor, but the firm charged with building support for cranberries in southern Europe is putting its store in education.

Thermoformed drink can targets stability and space saving

Out of the many innovations and products vying for attention at last week’s Emballage packaging fair in Paris, one manufacturer of a new thermoform filling technology claims it can cut out the need for cutting in plastic beverage cans.

Drink groups claim victimisation in UK tax cuts

UK government tax initiatives designed to put the feel good feeling back into the country’s consumers to get them spending has led to calls of ‘humbug’ from drink manufacturers, which claim they are again being unfairly targeted.

Baobab to hit the big time next year, predicts Mintel

Dried baobab pulp, which gained novel foods approval for the EU in June, could be the headline superfruit of 2009, according to Mintel.

Quality is key to sustaining private label growth

The economic downturn in the US is leading to strong sales increases for store brand products, but high quality standards need to be maintained to make sure they are long-lasting, experts warn.

Hopes for waste reduction as oxi-biodegradation technology applied to PET

A company specialising in oxi-biodegradable products is hoping to reduce waste in countries with traditionally low levels of recycling.

Comment

Conjuring with calories: Regulation and labeling changes

There was something magical about the recent news that the caloric value of both gum arabic and erythritol have been officially lowered, but whether it turns out to be a sleight of hand or a real change remains to be seen.

Soft drinks fall with economy, says report

The European soft drinks market has been hard hit by the tightening economic environment, and many stakeholders in the industry are losing confidence in the prospects of the sector, according to a new report.

Mouth bacteria boost some flavours: Study

Bacteria present in the mouth may delay the flavour response for some fruit, vegetables, and wine, according to a new study from Firmenich.

News in brief

FDA sets up offices in China to ensure food safety

The FDA is to check food being exported from China to the US before it is dispatched with the opening of new offices in Beijing.

Frutarom eyes opportunities thrown up by financial turmoil

The global economic crisis will yield rich pickings for food firms with a strong capital structure. So believes Frutarom, which has reported another quarter of impressive growth figures on the back of its most recent acquisitions splurge.

News in brief

Beverage industry losing word of mouth advertising

The US beverage industry does not fully utilise advertising and marketing to drive word of mouth, according to a market research consultancy.

Beer bottle hoarding gets San Miguel a fat fine

San Miguel Corporation, Southeast Asia's largest food and drinks manufacturer, has been handed a P130 million (€2 million) fine after being found to have engaged in unfair trade practices.

Global food markets ‘neither secure nor resilient’

The UK has become increasingly reliant on imported food and its faith in the long-term surety of the global market is misplaced, according to research released by the Soil Association.

Baobab: Sustainable and in-demand

After gaining novel foods approval in the EU, baobab is tipped to become a billion dollar industry. Stephen Daniells speaks to William Smith from Afriplex to find out what foods baobab fruit pulp is turning up in, and whether supply can match the demand.

China and Canada found guilty of citric acid dumping

Ongoing US Department of Commerce investigations have found Chinese and Canadian companies are dumping citric acid and citrate salts into the US.

Irish authorities deny bottle water scare

Irish food safety experts have rubbished reports suggesting consumers in the country may be at risk from alleged contamination of some bottled water brands.

Chitosan and lecithin combo could nano-encapsulate: Study

Combining chitosan and modified lecithin could offer interesting nano-encapsulators for a variety of ingredients, according to a new study from Japan.

Comment

Tackling obesity is no fair-weather game

The long shadow cast by obesity over public health means that encouraging healthier eating should be high on the agenda of every food firm, come financial rain or shine.

News in brief

InBev cleared for Budweiser buy

InBev says it will divest its responsibility for partially owned Canada-based brand Labatt to clear its acquisition of Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch.

Premium spirit push to defy drink concerns - report

Despite growing awareness and concern over the health impacts of alcohol consumption, global consumers are expected to flock towards premium and super premium spirit varieties in the future, says a new report.

News in brief

Nestle picks fizzy drink ad battle - report

Nestle, one of the world’s leading supplier of bottled waters, hopes to offset green criticisms of some of its leading brands with new adverts that attack the potential health impacts of carbonated beverages, say news reports.

News in brief

Cognis launches new beverage concepts

Privately owned German ingredients giant, Cognis, used the Health Ingredients Europe show in Paris to launch a range of health benefit-backed beverage concepts ranging from natural carotenoids to lutein esters.

New Zealand opens up mineral water fluoride debate

Added-fluoride bottled water may soon be hitting chillers and shelves across New Zealand and Australia as authorities debates whether to bring their national formulation regulations inline with those of markets like the US.

Hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure: researchers

Drinking hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure in pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults, according to new research presented to the American Heart Association (AHA).

New technology could increase juice safety

A combination of sonication and osmotic evaporation represents a promising new technology that could be designed to athermally produce safe, concentrated fruit juices, claims a new study.

Ministers on board with ‘Southampton six’ phase-out

UK ministers have agreed with a Food Standards Agency proposal on voluntary phasing out of the ‘Southampton six’ food colours by the end of 2009, according the agency’s chief executive.

Online system aims at brew efficiency

Getting the most from the brewing process is the key aim of a new online-tool designed to maximize productivity by analysing the unique qualities behind individual beer brands, says its designer.

Single households and ‘on the go’ trend driving UK packaging

Growth in the UK market for food and drink packaging is expected to be mainly attributable to new eating patterns such as ‘on the go’ as well as the rise in the amount of people dining alone driven by the increase in one person households, according to a new report.

Convenience driving Western European juice boost - analyst

Fruit loving western Europeans are increasingly turning to beverages like juices, smoothies and nectars in their hunt for a more convenient health kick as regional sales of the products were up by 1.6 per cent last year to €23 billion, says new findings.

Comment

Beijing Olympic Games clean-up a dirty business

This year’s Beijing Olympic Games may have been good for China’s public image but the smooth running of the event was built on multiple state-prompted sacrifices and the food ingredients industry was one of the lambs that copped it in the neck for ‘the greater good’.

Energy drinks still buzzing in Europe

Category fatigue that has blighted other segments of the beverage industry such as bottled water and carbonated drinks, is not affecting energy drinks which continue to draw in more and more users.

Process innovation key to survival in credit crunch - KTP

Innovation is even more important for the food and drink manufacturing sector during an economic downturn, claims the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP).

Processors can avail of testing using novel drying method

European processors can now test their products on equipment that employs a novel technique using light refraction to dry foods, claims the US manufacturer.

GRAS notice sucralose targets drink maker cost cuts

A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to provide Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notice for a sucralose-based sweetener may ensure more cost efficient formulation for global drinks groups, says it manufacturer.

Study seeks commercialised resveratrol beer breakthrough

Potentially cancer-fighting benefits may be the last thing consumers would associate with beer consumption, though ongoing research in the US is assessing the commercial possibilities for producing antioxidants in the product.

Dispatches from Health Ingredients Europe (HIE)

Don’t shoot the messenger, says EFSA

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will not moderate its ‘gold standard’ approach to health claims and should not be criticised for doing so, according to the chair of its claims assessment panel.

Yoghurt drink makers wary of soft drink challenge

As drink manufacturers strive to provide innovative functional products to increasingly health focused consumers, dairy goods such as yoghurt may be an emerging route able to help bridge demand.

Resin could extend shelf life and boost clarity

Longer shelf life for beverages and improved bottle clarity are the benefits claimed for PolyShield resins, launched recently on the US market.

Synergy flavour engineering boosts sports nutrition taste

Meeting the taste challenge for protein-based sports nutrition products, flavour and ingredients firm Synergy has teamed up with protein parent company Carbery to delve deeper into flavour engineering.

FSA reassess drink and chocolate caffeine pregnancy stance

The UK-based Food Standard’s Agency (FSA) has revaluated its guidance on the recommended caffeine intake for pregnant women in a variety of products such as coffee, tea, cola drinks and even plain chocolate over health concerns.

New project aims to wrap up packaging innovation

Appetizing Innovation is the name of a new, three-year initiative designed to foster packaging and product innovation among food and beverage companies operating in the Yorkshire and Humber region of northern Britain.

Comment

A menu for American food policy

At the time of writing, the US is poised to go to the polls. The next two days are going to be hugely exciting. And when it’s all over, after the victor gets some well-earned rest… he’ll rub his sleepy eyes and ask: ‘What’s for breakfast?'.

Hosing developments target beverage process boost

A global supplier of hosing solutions says it hopes to extend the applications of it products to meet the wider needs of global drinks makers.