Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

More evidence for tea's anticancer potential

Teas, both green and black, have potent anti-cancer effects against a wide range of tumours, says a new study led by the US Department of Agriculture that adds to an ever growing body of science behind the compounds.

World coffee production on the rise, but stocks remain low

World coffee production is estimated to increase next year, after improved weather and better yields contributed to a larger coffee crop in a number of producing countries, according to the latest report from the US Department of Agricultures Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS).

Grim tidings for Japan functional drinks market

Functional and energy drinks in Japan are coming under pressure from perceived healthy options such as ready-to-drink teas, mineral water and tonic drinks, according to a recent report from Euromonitor International.

Sherry is not just for Santa and grandmas

Rumours are growing that Sherry, a favourite with Santa and medieval kings but for years confined to the dark corners of old peoples' drinks cabinets, is once again on the march.

Kirin, SAB Miller expand presence in China

SABMiller, one of the world's biggest brewers, is establishing a major presence in China through its joint venture China Resources Snow Breweries, which last week said it would acquire two breweries in northern China for a combined US$22.4 million.

Rank makes bid for SIG as part of global strategy

A €1.5 billion offer for Switzerland-based SIG Holding marks an attempt by a New Zealandbillionaire to put together a global force in packaging.

UK regulator reviews inspection, enforcement policies

Local authorities in the UK will get new inspection and regulatory powers in the future, thecountry's food agency said yesterday in announcing a review of the current system.

Pernod Ricard drinks to carry warning labels

All alcoholic drinks sold by Pernod Ricard in the European Union are to carry warnings for pregnant women, raising the bar for competitors on responsible drinking promotion.

Coffee prices recovering after years of crisis

The coffee market recorded a significant rise in Arabica prices in November, while Robusta prices rose only slightly according to the ICO.

Diageo and co missing UK whisky gap

A blended whisky owned by drinks group Diageo has been crowned the best Scotch in the world, but consumers in Britain were unlikely to get a sniff, according to judge Jim Murray.

Weekly Comment

Response and Responsibility

Bah, Humbug! It has been that kind of year in general for the food industry, and in particular for some major companies.

Kraft drinks escape benzene lawsuit

Lawsuits alleging soft drinks made by Kraft Foods may contain the cancer-causing chemical, benzene, have been dismissed after the group said it had reformulated products.

Sun texture printing makes packaging reach out

A new range of inks and lacquers adds texture to the surface of packaging, giving processors an additional means of reaching out and grabbing consumers.

Wild identifies key three beverage trends

The growth rate for beverages following trends towards healthy, natural and single portion drinks is set to continue, claims Wild.

False claims see Pomegreat juice ad dropped

An advert for pomegranate juice has been dropped in the UK after the country's advert watchdog ruled it made illegal medicinal claims.

Sugar-gelatin alternative to pure gum Arabic developed

A matrix of sucrose, gelatin and gum Arabic can successfully encapsulate citrus flavours, and offer potential as a cheaper alternative to pure gum Arabic for the process.

Ozone jet washer helps firms clean-up

A new power washer, using ozone mixed with cold water to decontaminate food processing premises, will reduce costs and help the environment, its manufacturer claims.

French wine 'radicals' threaten more violence

Violence around southern France's vineyards could worsen next year as more radical groups of winemakers emerge, angry at the region's ongoing economic problems, one source has warned.

Sainsbury's launches healthy wine

Sainsbury's is cashing in on healthy eating and drinking trends by launching a new wine that is good for your heart.

Weekly Comment

Trans Fats: A Farewell to Harm

There's no way but out for heart-damaging trans fatty acids, and procrastinators in the food industry will achieve nothing by delaying reformulation other than lagging behind in the game as the rest of the world waves goodbye.

EFSA calls for data on food colours

Europe's food safety authority has called for data on food colours as part of a systematic re-evaluation of all authorised food additives in the EU.

More support for coffee's anti-diabetes benefits

Drinking four or more cups of coffee a day could cut the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by over 23 per cent, say American and Finnish researchers.

Beverage firms accused of unfair profits from school vending

The majority of the revenue from US school beverage contracts goes to beverage firms and not schools, according to a new report, which claims its findings should encourage schools to replace sodas with healthier drinks.

Enviga lawsuit hangs over Coke, Nestlé

Coca-Cola and Nestlé face a potential lawsuit in the US over claims that their new Enviga energy drink can help consumers burn off calories.

UK Chancellor pushes carbon trading expansion

The development of a global carbon trading scheme and investment in biofuels were two central strategies put forward by the UK Chancellor on Wednesday to halt climate change.

RFID tags turns metal packaging into antennas

Crown and QinetiQ are jointly developing radio-frequency identification (RFID) tracking that willturn metal packaging into an antenna and help reduce the costs of using the technology.

Foster's plays down phylloxera fears

An attack by the feared phylloxera pest on vines owned by Australian drinks group, Foster's, is under control and not a cause for concern, the firm has said.

Slimming coffee to launch in UK

A new coffee drink that claims to help consumers lose weight by reducing the amount of sugar the body absorbs from food will be launched in the UK next year.

Greene King still buoyant on smoking ban

The chief executive of ale brewer Greene King said he remained "cautiously optimistic" that a pub smoking ban in Scotland would benefit the group over the long-term.

Weekly Comment

Taking the junk out of junk food

The relationship between child and crisp has long been a sacred one but instead of exploiting this dynamic to shovel unhealthy food into young mouths isn't it about time healthier companies exploited it to push junk food without the junk?

Scientists develop low-level B12 test for beverages

Scientists from Reading Scientific Services have developed a method for quantifying vitamin B12 in beverages at lower levels than previously possible, which will enable manufacturers to give more accurate information on labels.

Cider is the new beer in UK

Cider sales have shot up 12 per cent in the UK this year, provisional figures reveal, taking advantage of a stagnant beer market with new varieties and a bigger promotion push.

Collections result in record recycling of steel packaging

Door-to-door collections helped EU countries recycle a record 2.3 million tonnes of steel in 2005, a packaging association claims.

Barry Callebaut promotes cocoa's healthy side

Barry Callebaut has produced a new website entirely devoted to promoting the nutritional benefits of cocoa in an effort to counteract the increasingly unhealthy image of chocolate products and their unpopularity in a health-conscious market.

Britvic tastes mixed results as consumers go healthy

Soft drinks giant Britvic yesterday announced flat profits and mixed sales results for 2006,citing a move to meet consumer demands for healthier products as a revenue winner.