Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Drink can ring pulls may still be unsafe, says study

New research has questioned the safety of beverage can stay-tabs suggesting that they may not be a significant improvement on old-fashioned pull-tabs.

Weekly comment

Krill conflict could threaten omega-3 potential

The krill category and the science backing it are still emerging, but there are many who believe krill extracts have the potential to 'go big' in the healthy foods arena. Very big.

France poised to reclaim top wine producer title

France may reclaim from Italy the title of biggest wine producer in the world this year, according to provisional 2009 data from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

Court rules against ‘cannabis’ trademark for beverages

A European court has ruled that ‘cannabis’ cannot be used as a trademark for certain drinks but the decision is only partly influenced by any drug associations.

Frutarom explores authenticity in natural citrus

Frutarom is introducing new premium natural citrus flavours intended to be as true-to-nature and authentic as possible – and which meet incoming labelling rules for natural and FTNF flavours.

SABMiller strikes up partnership to fight water scarcity

SABMiller has launched the Water Futures partnership with WWF after drawing attention to the water scarcity problem in a new report out earlier this week.

Wine sales continue to grow despite recession

According to trend experts Mintel, the wine market in the US will grow 2.1 per cent in 2009 as consumers begin to see signs that the worst of the recession is over.

News in brief

Biotek Ozone brings ozonated water system to UK

Biotek Ozone has brought its ozonated water systems to the UK and is in talks with major drinks manufacturers about using the product as a sanitizer and disinfectant in beverage plants.

Nampak head delivers warning as profits slump

Nampak announced a 60 per cent fall in profits in 2009 as its chief warned that 20 per cent of its operations must either turnaround or face being closed or sold off.

Tetra Pak to trial green plastic for carton closures

Tetra Pak has agreed to carry out a limited trial to source green plastic from Brazil for use in its carton packaging in what the company said is a first for the sector.

Size matters! Green potential of more milk pack sizes

Providing a variety of milk packaging sizes could be more fruitful environmentally than switching to “greener” materials.

New rules offer protection for Scotch Whisky

New UK legislation protecting Scotch whisky makers, including a requirement to only bottle Single Malts in Scotland, has come into force.

DSM launches new health drink premixes

DSM has unveiled a range of instant beverage premixes packed with nutrients to allow formulators to easily turn ordinary soft drinks into specific health products.

Award for nano solution to bottle leaching

Scientists at Nottingham Trent University have picked up an innovation award for a nano-based packaging solution to leaching.

National Starch brings new barley flour to Europe

National Starch has secured a deal to sell ConAgra’s high-flour wholegrain barley flour and flakes in Europe, and expects it to prove popular in bars, cereals, baked goods and beverages.

Weekly comment

Food prices face a welcome perfect storm

There’s a perfect storm building for food prices. You don’t have to scan the horizon to see the signs; the clouds are developing all around us - at a faster rate than anyone expected.

Sidel claims world’s lightest hot-fill PET bottle

Sidel has announced the development of what it says are the world’s lightest hot-fill PET bottles.

Symrise buys into North Africa and Middle East

Symrise has acquired fragrance and flavours maker Futura Labs to tap into opportunities in the fast growing regions of North Africa and the Middle East.

News in brief

Greencore sells bottled water business

Greencore has reached a deal to sell its bottled water business to Highland Spring Ltd for around £17m.

Coca-Cola packaging redesign spearheads global strategy

Coca-Cola is to create a single global packaging design for its key juice brands as part of a bid to cement its market leadership in the sector, the company has announced.

PureCircle raises $67.18m for stevia investment

Sweetener company PureCircle has raised $67.18m through share placing to invest in the development of its natural sweetener products made from stevia leaves.

KHS unveils expansion plans for PET barrier system

KHS will soon be introducing a larger version of its PET barrier system Plasmax to bring the technology to large bottling lines.

Coca-Cola begins global launch of plant-based PET bottle

Coca-Cola Co yesterday announced the selective global roll-out of its new PET bottle made from up to 30 per cent plant materials such as sugar and molasses.

Coke reveals ambitious 2020 growth targets

Coca-Cola has outlined key business goals for 2020 including plans to more than double system revenue from $95bn to $200bn.

Weekly comment

Alleviation of hunger should top CSR agenda

Climate change dominates the CSR agenda but new USDA figures on food insecurity are a sharp reminder that alleviating poverty and hunger should always be the top priority.

FDA examines caffeinated alcoholic drinks

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked nearly 30 beverage manufacturers to provide information showing that their caffeinated alcoholic drinks are safe.

Arla plans billion litre milk processing plant near London

Arla Foods has unveiled plans to build a one billion litre liquid milk processing facility on the outskirts of London.

FDA examines caffeinated alcoholic drinks

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked nearly 30 beverage manufacturers to provide information showing that their caffeinated alcoholic drinks are safe.

EFSA lowers ADI for three Southampton colours

The European Food Safety Authority has lowered the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for three of the notorious Southampton Six food colours, but none of the scientific reasons given are associated with hyperactivity.

Colour ADI adjustments: What it means for industry

The new ADIs for three of the colours included in the Southampton study may mean restrictions on levels or the range of foods they are used in, says the UK’s FSA. Campaigners, meanwhile, are still calling for an outright ban.

Omega-3 emulsion could boost stability of functional drinks

Dairy and beverage manufacturers can incorporate long-chain omega-3 fatty acids into their products without compromising taste and stability with a new high concentration omega-3 emulsion, claims supplier Lipid Nutrition.

Plastic additive firms face €173m price fixing fine

Dozens of companies that produce plastic additives for food, beverage and cosmetic packaging have been fined more than €173m for their part in price fixing and market sharing cartels over a 13-year period.

Recessionary dynamics boost private label soft drink sales

Sales of private label soft drinks are accelerating as consumers go out less and therefore drink more at home, according to a new report.

Rexam sells its Petainer business

UK private equity companies Next Wave Ventures and WHEB Ventures have acquired global packaging company Rexam’s Petainer PET container business for £16m.

Milk may boost iron uptake from fruit juices

Formulating iron-enriched fruit juices with milk may improve uptake of the mineral, suggests new research that offers a way of boosting iron intake for people at risk of deficiency.

Flavour and function triumph in bottled water market

Sales of flavoured and functional waters are growing strongly in Europe despite anti-bottled water campaigns, according to new figures from Zenith.

News in brief

German mineral water producers adopt Bericap’s closures

Two German mineral water producers, Teinacher and Darguner Brauerei, have started using Bericap’s DoubleSeal SuperShorty closures for the PCO 1881 bottle line.

Fructose sweeteners may promote Syndrome X

‘Moderate’ consumption of fructose-containing sweeteners may produce ‘modest but significant changes’ that may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, says a new rat study.

Weekly comment

Life in a European health claims wasteland

Ka-CHING! Hear that? No it’s not the sound of overflowing cash registers as consumers throw endless wads of euros at scientifically-backed, healthy foods in greater numbers than ever before.

‘Unauthorised' drinks to be reformulated on health fears

The range of “unauthorised” Chaotic Beverages pulled from Canadian shelves recently on health fears will be reformulated to meet the country’s ingredient regulations, said importers of the product.

Green tea extracts may protect against oral cancer: Study

Extracts from green tea may prevent the formation of mouth cancers in people with risk signs of the disease, according to a new study from Texas.

Canadians warned off Chaotic Beverages over possible health risks

Health Canada has told consumers not to drink four “unauthorised” drinks made by Chaotic Beverages on fears they contain ingredients that could pose a health hazard to children.

Fizzy drinks set to recover growth

The global carbonated soft drinks market is predicted to rebound next year after seeing its growth rate halve in 2008, with expansion by about five billion litres expected in Latin America, say consultants.

Gelatin plus soy protein may mask bitter taste of caseins

Bitter-tasting casein hydrolysates may find more applications if spray-dried with gelatine and soy protein isolate, suggests a new study from Brazil.

Lychee extract may trim waist fat: Study

An extract from lychees may reduce abdominal fat in people with metabolic syndrome, a lead to improvements in overall health, says a new study from Japan.

Industry backs bisphenol A safety in can linings

The use of bisphenol A (BPA) in can linings is both safe and vital for food protection, a host of industry bodies and companies have said in rejecting the conclusions of a report calling for a ban on the chemical.

Colour specialist branches into burnt sugar flavour

Specialist food colouring company DD Williamson has developed a natural acid-stable burnt sugar flavour, which it says responds to demand for clean-label flavours in beverages and sauces.

Full fat milk could be linked to low BMI, study

Children who consumed full fat milk regularly had a lower body mass index (BMI) compared to those who seldom or never drank milk, claims a Swedish study.

New valve delivers quicker filling and dispensing

Improved performance during filling and dispensing is the main benefit claimed for the new DN50 Integral valve from the UK-based, bag-in-box specialist, Rapak.

India can offer beer makers new market

The Indian beer market has enormous potential according to a company trying to raise £4.5m to finance an expansion in the country.

Misplaced letter could cost $1.26bn in bottled water case

PepsiCo has lost a $1.26bn case after a misplaced letter meant the drinks giant failed to turn up in court.

Weekly comment

Clinical trials are EFSA’s fool’s gold

There’s gold to be found in them health claims mountains, but prospectors from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) must be happy with the little chunks that add up to a lot, and stop searching for nuggets the size of your fist.

News in brief

Sale of Yogho! Yogho! and Choco! Choco! approved

The acquisition of the Yogho! Yogho! and Choco! Choco! brands from RoyalFrieslandCampina by Belgian Dairy Cooperative, Inza Cvba, has been approved by the European Commission.