A late dinner is not linked to childhood obesity, study shows

Researchers have uncovered no significant link between eating dinner after 8pm and obesity in children, a study shows.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RLrcd1

How is Big Food harnessing start-up innovation?

Which food firms are top for scoping out innovative start-ups and harnessing the latest research projects? FoodNavigator takes a look at the different incubator, accelerator and partnering schemes used by industry heavyweights.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1XesZjf

Russia to extend EU embargo until late 2017

Russia’s embargo of EU food products will be extended until the end of 2017 but the list of banned foods or countries affected will not change, according to a draft government decree.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RLrdxy

Call for EU action plan as firms shirk responsibility on soy

The EU needs a deforestation action plan after a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) analysis of the bloc’s largest food companies showed many are using consumer ignorance to dodge their “massive responsibility” when sourcing soy.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1XesRQT

Obesity: Blame game holds no weight as collective efforts are favoured

Obesity cannot be solved by pointing fingers at consumers, industry or governments, but all parties must demonstrate accountability and responsibility in solving this public health crisis.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RLqZq6

Czech Republic moves to set nutrient profiles for food sold in schools

In the wake of the European Parliament's no vote last month, the Czech Republic has drawn up a draft decree to apply nutrient profiles on food sold and advertised in schools and ban foods that exceed maximum levels for sugar, salt and fat.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1XetppU

Beneo launches clean label native starch

Beneo has launched a clean label native rice starch made using a thermal production process developed as part of a three-year research project.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RLralo

Why dairy avoidance is now a public health risk

One in six Australian adults are avoiding milk and dairy foods — mostly without a medical diagnosis — leading to concerns over the public health impact, particularly for women.

A survey undertaken by CSIRO and the University of Adelaide found that the vast majority of dairy avoiders (74%) are making this choice to relieve adverse gastrointestinal symptoms such as cramps, bloating or wind. Far fewer participants said they exclude dairy because they don’t like the taste or because they think it’s fattening.

The study also revealed that the decision to avoid some or all dairy foods is influenced by a range of sources from outside medical practice such as the internet, media, friends or alternative practitioners.

“The scale of people restricting their diet without a medical reason is very concerning in terms of the public health implications, especially for women. It means there is potential for nutritional deficiencies or imbalances, or the risk that an underlying health condition could be going untreated,” said CSIRO’s Bella Yantcheva, behavioural scientist on the research team.

Dairy foods are especially important for women, owing to the calcium content; however, the study revealed that more women are avoiding milk and dairy foods than men.

These results follow the team’s similar findings on wheat avoidance, which showed around 10 times as many Australians than diagnosed with coeliac disease are avoiding wheat-based foods.

The study reveals that even more people are avoiding dairy products and, in fact, that around one third of the respondents avoiding dairy foods are also avoiding wheat-based foods.

“The numbers show that cutting out significant, basic food groups isn’t a fad but something far more serious,” said Yantcheva.

“It’s not just about missing out on the food type being avoided and risking your health, but also possibly overconsuming other foods to compensate as well.”

A paper on the study, ‘Food avoidance in an Australian adult population sample: the case of dairy products’, has been published in Public Health Nutrition.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sKjz1K

Five reasons to visit FoodTech Qld

FoodTech Qld 2016 is fast approaching, and here are five reasons why you should attend:

1. Topical seminars

FoodTech has announced a timetable of seminars led by industry experts that will cover trending issues in food manufacturing.

Topics include: the importance of pH in food management; emerging ingredient trends; the issue of energy efficiency; industry technology developments on infrastructure; and the increasing demand for food traceability across both industry and consumers.

2. Mix it with top food scientists

Co-located with FoodTech Qld will be the annual Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AISFT) National Convention — the premier food technology conference in Australia for industry, research and government organisations. The event will explore the latest trends innovations, technologies challenges and opportunities, through presentations and case studies on subjects ranging from sustainability and waste to food safety and the government’s commitment to the food sector. Program highlights include: Andre Teixeira from CSIRO on challenging the innovation thought process; Elliot Chapple from Pozible presenting on driving digital innovation through crowdsourcing; and Maja Christiansen of Bruker discussing mass spec and confirmation of microbiological pathogens.

3. Robots doing cool stuff

Robots are an increasing element in manufacturing, and the food manufacturing and processing industries are no exception. Keen to meet one? A clever bot called Kuka will be showing off its skills, holding an iPad for visitors to the Wiley stand (Stand D27), and the company is even giving a robot away! HMPS (Stand B27) is meanwhile bringing its robot, YuMi — the world’s first truly collaborative dual-arm robot — to the show. FoodTech is a great place to learn about how technology, including robots, continues to influence the industry and what technological advances mean for the industry and the businesses within it.

4. Go to the movies

The creative team at Gelita (Stand H34) has put together a short film titled ‘You Can See’, detailing the amazing world of gel and its usage.

5. Learn how to clean up your act

The importance of food safety, food labelling and (increasingly) food traceability cannot be underestimated. From expert seminars to products on display from specialist providers, FoodTech Qld gives access and insight to the crucial tasks of food and microbial testing, cleaning products and methods, and equipment designed to increase safety and decrease problems. Take control of the health of your business — and of your customers — through access to information including how to avoid the common problem of Listeria and products for food allergen testing.

Food Tech Qld will be held from 26–28 June at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sKjQBG

Nestlé Health Science partners with DBV to develop milk allergy detection tool

Nestlé Health Science has announced it has entered into a strategic collaboration with DBV Technologies to develop and bring to market a patch-test tool, MAG1C, for the diagnosis of Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) in infants.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UsZ2YP

A late dinner is not linked to childhood obesity, study shows

Researchers have uncovered no significant link between eating dinner after 8pm and obesity in children, a study shows.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Xe0KkK

Unlocking the potential of acid whey

It’s typically treated as waste, but acid whey is a valuable raw material that many dairy companies are yet to tap into, according to Arla Foods Ingredients.

Best known as a by-product of Greek yoghurt, but also created during production of cheeses such as cottage and cream cheeses, acid whey is often disposed of in waste streams or sold for little or no profit to farmers for use in animal feed.

Now Arla Foods Ingredients is promoting the possibilities presented by acid whey, seeking to change perceptions and explain how dairy companies can use it to maximise their output, increase profits and cut waste.

Arla Foods Ingredients Category & Application Manager Claus Andersen said: “Acid whey remains an untapped goldmine. It contains the same minerals as milk, which means it offers the same benefits to bones, teeth and general health.”

Yields for some dairy products can be only 25–50% of the milk used. In the case of Greek yoghurt, for example, only 33% of the milk ends up in the finished product: the remaining two-thirds is acid whey. In addition to impacting on its efficiency and profitability, this can damage a dairy company’s sustainability credentials.

To enable dairies to maximise their yields, Arla Foods Ingredients has developed the Nutrilac range of whey protein solutions which, when added to acid whey, make it possible to transform it into dairy products, including cream cheese, processed cheese, dips, beverages, stirred yoghurts and desserts.

Andersen added: “If you go back 30 years, whey protein from cheese making was viewed as a by-product with little value. Now it is recognised as a high-value ingredient with almost endless possibilities in multiple sectors such as dairy, bakery and sports nutrition. We are at a similar stage now with acid whey. It is an exceptional raw material, but many processors don’t know how to unlock its potential.”

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UsK9FK

Indian brands give multinationals a run for their money

Homegrown brands dominated over their foreign counterparts in India’s fast-growing Rs2.5tr (US$38.2bn) packaged food market last year. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/24i1KTv

Tetra's aseptic carton bottle wins WorldStar Award

Tetra Pak has received a WorldStar Award for its Tetra Evero Aseptic package, an aseptic carton bottle for ambient milk.

The international award from the World Packaging Organisation recognises excellence based on a number of attributes including innovation, quality, design and environmental credentials.

Recent upgrades, including new oxygen barrier properties, have made the Tetra Evero Aseptic package suitable for a wider range of products, said Lars Bengtsson, VP Carton Bottle at Tetra Pak.

Introduced in 2011, the Tetra Evero Aseptic combines the environmental benefits of carton packaging with the ease of handling and pouring that a bottle provides. It is suitable for ambient milk and dairy alternatives.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1P2pGn1

Health Canada weighs up ground beef irradiation

Health Canada is looking at the possibility of allowing fresh and frozen raw ground beef to be irradiated.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1P1ZU2i

Officials urge calm as firms vow to remove cancer chemicals from bread

Health officials have urged consumers not to panic over the presence of cancer-causing chemicals in bread after an analysis revealed that many of India’s most popular bakery brands tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Xd15Eg

Barry Callebaut and Chocolaterie de l'Opera in chocolate recall

Chocolate made by Barry Callebaut for Chocolaterie de l'Opera has prompted a warning in more than 15 countries due to levels of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exceeding EU limits.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1P1ZTLM

General Mills recalls 10 million lbs of flour

E coli outbreak may be linked to Gold Medal Wondra and Signature Kitchens flour

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UbA1hW

Marel says V-Pump win vindicates innovation strategy

Equipment manufacturer Marel said winning an innovation award at IFFA has vindicated its strategy to focus on the development of advanced machinery.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TVnnHU

Myanmar’s fast-food industry attracts US attention as sanctions ease

US fast-food firms could flood into Myanmar after the easing of US-imposed sanctions to improve bilateral trade and allow more financial transactions to take place.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sIWyMs

Work needed to improve Australia's beef pricing

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has recognised that more work needs to be done to improve price transparency in the beef sector. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TVnpzE

Snyder's-Lance: Grazing is in our DNA – snacking is perfect solution to grazing

Rod Troni, chief marketing officer Snyder’s-Lance, on the role snacking plays for today’s consumers, the changing retail landscape and how the pretzels, crackers and chips business is set to develop

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1VsXi45

Officials urge calm as firms vow to remove cancer chemicals from bread

Health officials have urged consumers not to panic over the presence of cancer-causing chemicals in bread after an analysis revealed that many of India’s most popular bakery brands tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1XMABbo

F.D.A. issues final rule addressing intentional adulteration of food

Agency now has finalized all seven major rules implementing core of FSMA

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/22vRcAM

How is Big Food harnessing start-up innovation?

Which food firms are top for scoping out innovative start-ups and harnessing the latest research projects? FoodNavigator takes a look at the different incubator, accelerator and partnering schemes used by industry heavyweights.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TVhVok

Russia to extend EU embargo until late 2017

Russia’s embargo of EU food products will be extended until the end of 2017 but the list of banned foods or countries affected will not change, according to a draft government decree.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TI6flk

National Obesity Forum fat report rejected by board members

Health lobby group the National Obesity Forum (NOF) has come under swingeing attacks from some of its own medical advisers in press reports over the past weekend, following controversial advice it rushed out last week advising people to eat more fatty foods, reduce carbohydrate intake and stop counting calories.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TVhOsQ

Food manufacturers urged to enter long-term butter deals

Food manufacturers are facing higher butter prices after a “surprise rally” on global commodity markets, claims the head of a leading ingredients company.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TI6cpQ

HKScan to use ethical soy

HKScan is committed to using responsibly sourced soybeans, a key ingredient used in animal feed, to halt the deforestation of South America.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/280OAyW

Sensible? First supplement for smokers hits UK market

As the first supplement targeting smokers goes on sale in the UK, its maker is confident that sound scientific formulation will ensure the potentially controversial multivitamin complex stands up to scrutiny.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Y0ZSit

Call for EU action plan as firms shirk responsibility on soy

The EU needs a deforestation action plan after a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) analysis of the bloc’s largest food companies showed many are using consumer ignorance to dodge their “massive responsibility” when sourcing soy.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25x6CXq

PerkinElmer expands presence in Taiwan

PerkinElmer has officially opened its Taipei Customer Knowledge Center (CKC) in Neihu District, Taipei City.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25yeWJT

Research round-up: Norovirus and synthetic dye screening method

Before we head to the production line we must do the background work. Here, FQN takes a look at recent examples of research relevant to food safety and quality control.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/22vxJ3m

PerkinElmer expands presence in Taiwan

PerkinElmer has officially opened its Taipei Customer Knowledge Center (CKC) in Neihu District, Taipei City.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RHRQTS

Flowcrete Australia Flowfresh Sealer system

Flowcrete Australia has launched the full-gloss, polyurethane, antimicrobial-enhanced Flowfresh Sealer system.

Offering a vibrant and colourful coating, the sealer provides hygienic, aesthetically appealing floors that meet the criteria of authorities such as Food Standards Australia New Zealand, as well as internationally recognised food safety organisations.

Its gloss finish makes the surface easier to clean than traditional matt systems, while the seamless, impervious surface ensures that the floor meets food safety requirements.

The hygienic properties of the flooring range have enabled it to achieve HACCP International certification. Every system includes the antimicrobial additive Polygiene, which is able to eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria that comes into contact with the floor, according to the company. This formulation meets the ISO 22196 standard, which measures the antibacterial effectiveness of plastics and other non-porous surfaces.

The robust flooring will retain its functionality and colour for an extended period of time within intensive food production environments characterised by corrosive food byproducts, thermal shock from hot ovens and steam cleaning, spillages and heavy impacts.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UqhalU

Waldorf Production Bratt Pans

The Waldorf range of Production Bratt Pans is suitable for use in commercial kitchens and food production facilities for the production of sauces, casseroles, curries and searing steaks. The pans remove the physical labour and potential injuries associated with staff cooking such foods in large volumes.

The pans are available in a range of models in 150 or 200 L capacity and with a choice of either pressurised units for reduced production times or Integrated Mixing arm models for reducing manual handling.

Constructed from full stainless steel, with a bimetallic heat diffusing base providing heat distribution plus high-density thermal insulation, all units are supplied with measured water volume control allowing the user to set an amount of water required.

The ‘RM’ mixing models with integrated mixing arm offer variable mixing speeds, advanced temperature control and multiple mixing attachments that can be used depending on the food being cooked.

The ‘P’ pressure cooking models can operate as a standard bratt pan or switch to pressure mode to reduce cooking times.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Peifyi

Cassava: the staple crop that can kill you

Easy to cultivate and drought-tolerant, the cassava plant is eaten by a billion people around the world every day. But its popularity is also its weakness, as attacks by pests and diseases have a potentially huge impact on food security.

It’s also the only staple crop that can kill you or cause chronic neurological disease if it’s not processed, potentially producing fatal levels of cyanide when drought-stressed.

To help improve strategies for breeding disease-resistant and climate-tolerant varieties of this root crop, an international research team, including scientists from Monash University, has for the first time mapped cassava’s genetic diversity.

Monash biologist Associate Professor Ros Gleadow explained the significance of this latest research, published in Nature Biotechnology.

“Until now, very little research has been done at the DNA level — the genome — of cassava, the world’s fifth most important crop,” Associate Professor Gleadow said.

“To maintain food security, it’s critical that cassava is resistant to disease and resilient to climate change. Our new research has revealed the genetic relationships between different cassava varieties from across the world and compared them with other species in the same group, such as rubber trees. We have also captured the global genetic diversity of 53 varieties of cultivated cassava and its wild relatives — from South America, where it was first grown 6000 years ago, to Africa, Asia and Oceania.”

The Monash research team coordinated the sequencing of cassava varieties from Oceania: Fiji, Vanuatu and Australia. The findings indicated genetic differences between the varieties and will therefore help inform the production of more resistant and safe cassava crops using these and other favourable varieties from across the world.

For the Monash team, the new research also provides a way to better understand why cassava produces toxins under conditions such as drought and how that can be safely reduced in the growing plant without jeopardising pest resistance.

“The sequencing of these different genotypes allows us to look at how cyanide and other traits are inherited and why some varieties produce more cyanide than others, enabling us to develop new strategies to produce less toxic varieties that are still disease-resistant,” Associate Professor Gleadow said.

The research team found that the genetic diversity of cassava used in current breeding efforts has been greatly reduced in Africa, where viruses such as the cassava mosaic disease and the cassava brown streak disease have affected crop yields in many nations. This poses a real threat that a new disease could wipe out an entire crop. The team was able to detect the genetic signature of past cassava improvement programs going back to the 1930s, which interbred cassava and Ceara rubber; the persistence of these Ceara rubber regions in the best cassava varieties suggests they offer positive attributes. The team also discovered relationships between many cultivated cassava varieties, which could help breeders maximise genetic diversity in improvement programs.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UqfEAn

Pilot symposium addresses terrorism threat to food supply

How to prevent and respond to a potential terrorist attack on the food supply has been discussed at an international symposium.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25xiT1A

Campaign encourages 'undercover onions' in children's meals

A campaign has been launched to encourage parents and meal preparers to boost children’s vegetable intake by including ‘hidden’ onion into everyday meals.

With research showing that 99% of Australian children aged 2–18 years are not getting the recommended daily serves of vegetables, the humble onion is being promoted as an easy win in the kitchen.

Launched by Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation), the Australian Onions ‘Secret Serve’ campaign aims to encourage meal preparers to include onions in even more meals by inspiring them with new ways to serve the vegetable and accustom kids to its taste.

The national initiative will focus on the creative use of onions in everyday meals and will include family-friendly recipes, tips and tricks for storing and preparing onions, as well as recipe cards and in-store cooking demonstrations.

The campaign promotes onions as an antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory vegetable with high levels of biotin (vitamin H), manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C and fibre, which can boost the immune system and help to maintain good gut and heart health.

As part of the campaign rollout, the onion industry has partnered with the mushroom industry to bring in-store cooking demonstrations to over 450 Woolworths, Coles and independent supermarket and greengrocer stores across Australia.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qYNNwK

Tricking our bodies into living longer

Researchers have ‘tricked’ a worm’s metabolism into a state of caloric restriction, extending the animal’s life span by 50%.

In a study published in Aging Cell, the authors used a small drug-like molecule that alters the perception of food in the nematode C. elegans. The study provides a new avenue of inquiry for researchers who are attempting to develop human drugs that mimic the positive effects of a Spartan diet. Caloric restriction has shown to extend life- and healthspan in simple animals and mice.

“This small molecule blocks the detection of food in the worm’s mouth,” said Buck Institute faculty and senior author Gordon Lithgow, PhD. “The worm senses that its mouth is empty even when it is full of food, tricking the animal into shifting its physiology into a caloric restricted state even when it’s eating normally,” he said.

Lead author Mark Lucanic, PhD, found that the small molecule, NP1, impinged on a food perception pathway by promoting glutamate signalling in the pharynx of the animal. “The chemical activated a neurotransmitter-controlled food deprivation signal which altered the animal’s normal metabolism into a caloric restriction state,” Lucanic said.

Lithgow said exploring sensory pathways as potential drug targets should be of interest to age researchers interested in mimicking caloric restriction in order to extend health span — the period of an individual’s life in which they are mainly healthy and free from serious illness. “The mechanisms involved in sensory pathways may be more specific than secondary pathways that detect energy levels or absorbed nutrients at the cellular level,” he said, adding that targeting sensory pathways may lead to a more rapid response to changing diet, and may also have fewer effects on other systems in the body.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25vefh9

Paleo diet effective for weight loss, but more research needed

A study has found the paleo diet to be more effective for weight loss than the Australian Dietary Guidelines.

The study by Edith Cowan University’s School of Medical and Health Science involved 39 healthy women, with half eating a paleo diet while the rest were assigned the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE) diet over a four-week period.

The paleo diet is based mainly on foods presumed to be available to paleolithic humans, and generally includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, roots, meat and organ meats, but excludes foods such as dairy products, grains, sugar, legumes, processed oils, salt, alcohol and coffee.

The paleo group lost an average of 2 kg more over the period than the AGHE diet group.

Lead researcher Angela Genoni said the study also examined the impact on cardiovascular health and found no significant difference between the paleo and AGHE diets.

“While both groups lost weight over the period, the paleo group lost an average of 4.3% of their body weight over the testing period, compared to 1.6% for the AGHE group,” she said.

However, she urged caution about advocating a diet that cuts out entire food groups, highlighting the marked reduction in calcium intake from the paleo diet relative to the AGHE diet, due to the exclusion of all dairy products. She said this could have a negative impact on bone strength, particularly in older people.

Associate Professor Amanda Devine, who also contributed to the research, said that more research was needed to fully understand the health implications of the paleo diet. Devine said a further study was planned that would particularly focus on the impact of the paleo diet on gut health.

‘Cardiovascular, Metabolic Effects and Dietary Composition of Ad-Libitum Paleolithic vs. Australian Guide to Healthy Eating Diets: A 4-Week Randomised Trial’ was published in the journal Nutrients.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sXXVb1

Low-salt diets could be doing more harm than good

A worldwide study has found that low-salt diets may actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death compared to average salt consumption.

The study, published in The Lancet, of more than 130,000 people from 49 countries, examined whether the relationship between sodium (salt) intake and death, heart disease and stroke differs in people with high blood pressure compared to those with normal blood pressure.

The researchers showed that regardless of whether people have high blood pressure, low sodium intake is associated with more heart attacks, strokes and deaths compared to average intake.

“These are extremely important findings for those who are suffering from high blood pressure,” said Andrew Mente, lead author of the study, a principal investigator of Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) of McMaster University, in Canada, and an associate professor of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics at McMaster’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

“While our data highlights the importance of reducing high salt intake in people with hypertension, it does not support reducing salt intake to low levels.

“Our findings are important because they show that lowering sodium is best targeted at those with hypertension who also consume high-sodium diets.”

Previous studies have shown that low sodium, compared to average sodium intake, is related to increased cardiovascular risk and mortality, even though low sodium intake is associated with lower blood pressure. This study shows that the risks associated with low sodium intake — less than 3 g/day — are consistent regardless of a patient’s hypertension status.

Further, the findings show that while there is a limit below which sodium intake may be unsafe, the harm associated with high sodium consumption appears to be confined to only those with hypertension.

Only about 10% of the population in the global study had both hypertension and high sodium consumption (greater than 6 g/day). Mente said that this suggests that the majority of individuals in most countries are consuming the right amount of salt.

He said that targeted salt reduction in those who are most susceptible because of hypertension and high salt consumption may be preferable to a population-wide approach to reducing sodium intake. He added that what is now generally recommended as a healthy daily ceiling for sodium consumption appears to be set too low, regardless of a person’s blood pressure level.

“Low sodium intake reduces blood pressure modestly, compared to average intake, but low sodium intake also has other effects, including adverse elevations of certain hormones, which may outweigh any benefits. The key question is not whether blood pressure is lower with very low salt intake, instead it is whether it improves health,” Mente said.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UpZ3fO

Han F+B hygienic connector

The Han F+B connector meets the demanding and stringent hygiene standards in the food and beverages industry. Its easy-to-clean housing design meets the requirements and conditions in splash zones (Zone 2). The housing design features large radii and smooth surfaces in keeping with the principles of the EHEDG guidelines. As a result, so-called dirt pockets and the potential bacterial load on the connector are avoided.

The connector is designed with IP69K protection for the permanent, durable protection of the electric connections, including in scenarios involving daily high-pressure or steam cleaning. The plastic material is a PP plastic that is resistant to ECOLAB-certified cleaning agents and has also obtained FDA 21 approval.

The variety of possible inserts enables the transmission of data, signals or power. Consequently, the connector offers increased flexibility in the planning and design of modern systems when compared with hardwired systems.

For more information, click here.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qYr97D

China’s new dietary guidelines advise lower meat consumption

Beijing is now encouraging Chinese consumers to reduce their meat and egg intake through new dietary guidelines that are also designed to help the environment.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1PdvCPq

C&C continues beer expansion in China with Tennent’s distribution deal

C&C Group has signed its fourth strategic partnership in recent months with a new distribution agreement with Vandergeeten to distribute its Tennent’s portfolio in China. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TSkNRF

China displaces America as world’s most attractive food export market

China is now the most attractive export market for food and beverage companies, according to an analysis by Deloitte and a Spanish business school that assesses destinations with the best business and export opportunities.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1PdvYp2

Asia-Pacific nations lead in growth of ethical labels market

China, the United Arab Emirates and Australia are expected to be the fastest-growing vegan markets between 2015 and 2020, according to data from Euromonitor International’s newly launched ethical labels database.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TSkMNx

Pilot symposium addresses terrorism threat to food supply

How to prevent and respond to a potential terrorist attack on the food supply has been discussed at an international symposium.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qY5XP7

Evolution to smaller, dedicated instruments and on-site testing- IDEX

The industry is moving towards smaller instruments dedicated to specific questions and on-site analysis, according to the group president of IDEX Health & Science.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sHgSOu

SGS buys stake in supply chain risk management platform

SGS has acquired a 20% stake in a platform for supply chain visibility and risk management.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1XZIVET

SGS buys stake in supply chain risk management platform

SGS has acquired a 20% stake in a platform for supply chain visibility and risk management.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1PcrqPO

Review: B vitamins, the brain (& deficiencies)

B vitamins play a significant role in cognitive performance and neurological functioning but deficiencies are common in too many populations, a Vitafoods Europe congress has been told.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Pcnf6x

Halal labelling expected to grow

The prevalence of halal labelling is expected to grow by a quarter between now and 2020, according to market research firm Euromonitor International. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UoLQ74

Nuscience in Asian poultry deal as rebound seen in India’s chicken and egg prices

Feed ingredient supplier, Nuscience, is eying up chicken producers in Nepal, Sri Lanka and India through a new distribution tie-up and says growth has returned to India’s poultry sector. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Pcn1ws

Fonterra forecasts higher milk price

New Zealand dairy cooperative Fonterra has announced an opening forecast Farmgate Milk Price of NZ$4.25 ($2.86) per kgMS for the 2016/17 season, an increase of NZ$0.35 ($0.24) on the forecast for the current season.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UoLehP

Call for EU action plan as firms shirk responsibility on soy

The EU needs a deforestation action plan after a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) analysis of the bloc’s largest food companies showed many are using consumer ignorance to dodge their “massive responsibility” when sourcing soy.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sH3o5m

Czech Republic moves to set nutrient profiles for food sold in schools

In the wake of the European Parliament's no vote last month, the Czech Republic has drawn up a draft decree to apply nutrient profiles on food sold and advertised in schools and ban foods that exceed maximum levels for sugar, salt and fat.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Pck6Ut

ASPA slams senate vote on Catfish Inspection program

The American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) has condemned a senate vote in favour of repealing the USDA’s Catfish Inspection program.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1smXfLQ

Beneo launches clean label native starch

Beneo has launched a clean label native rice starch made using a thermal production process developed as part of a three-year research project.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1NYWYZc

NiGK CryoMark cold shipment thermal indicators

Many types of goods including food, pharmaceuticals and chemical reagents must be kept cold while in storage and transit. If goods are shipped on ice or under refrigeration, the end user needs to be certain that cold temperatures were maintained. Traditionally this has been done with the use of electronic data loggers; however, these are not cost-effective or practical for many applications.

CryoMark from NiGK is a disposable chemical indicator that can be included in cold shipments. If temperatures have been exceeded, the indicators will change colour to red, allowing the receiver to confirm that the goods have arrived in good condition, without the need to send back a data logger to the shipper for download and analysis.

The indicators are easy to use: simply activate and place inside the packaging next to the goods. There are different indicators for different temperature cut-offs, suitable for frozen or refrigerated goods.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1smSm5l

Atlas Copco ES Controllers for multiple compressor installations

Atlas Copco’s ES Controllers increase the efficiency of multiple machine installations, offering a range of control and monitoring functions for a variety of input/output.

The controllers can help reduce the pressure band of the compressed air or vacuum installation, equalise the running hours and minimise the unloaded running of the machines. The systems produce an energy-efficient compressed air or vacuum system that can reduce energy costs.

With a multiple compressor installation, the system will select the machine(s) to run based on demand and when air is needed in the airnet, which ensures efficient use of energy. In an installation with multiple VSD air compressors, one VSD compressor will regulate the demand and the other VSD compressors will run at optimal speed to ensure the best possible energy efficiency.

The core function of the system is to equalise the running hours of a multiple air compressor or vacuum pump installation, which will enable effective and equal use of all machines within the installation. This will ensure the most effective use of the installation as well as enable all machines to be serviced during a single visit, providing potential savings on maintenance interventions.

The controllers will eliminate the need for operators to manually change settings on a continuous basis. The higher-end controllers can be programmed to change the installation sequences automatically. The controllers can control Atlas Copco compressors alongside other compressors in the installation.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25tASm8

NIR-Online spectroscopy

Closely monitoring key parameters such as moisture, fat or protein is critical to correct deviations in any manufacturing process. NIR-Online spectroscopy provides full control by speedily delivering accurate results.

Comprehensive information is available through multiple measurement options in one unit, such as diode array NIR, VIS and a high-resolution CCD camera. This enables the control of key parameters in real time, including the measurement of moving products.

The software is easy to use, with automatic calibration included.

For more information, click here.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1smRbml

Obesity: Blame game holds no weight as collective efforts are favoured

Obesity cannot be solved by pointing fingers at consumers, industry or governments, but all parties must demonstrate accountability and responsibility in solving this public health crisis.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1NYjQIm

Danish illnesses traced to lettuce from France

More than 400 people have been sickened by norovirus in Denmark by lettuce from France.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sGER06

How lighting affects what we eat

Those dining in well-lit rooms are about 16–24% more likely to order healthy foods than those in dimly lit rooms, according to Dipayan Biswas, PhD, University of South Florida, who was the lead author of the study published in the Journal of Marketing Research. “We feel more alert in brighter rooms and therefore tend to make more healthful, forward-thinking decisions,” explained the lead author.

This may help counteract the fact that dining in low-light environments makes us eat more slowly and consume less!

First, the researchers surveyed 160 restaurant patrons at four casual chain restaurant locations. Half of those diners, who were seated in brighter rooms, were more likely to choose healthier options (such as grilled/baked fish, vegetables or white meat) over relatively unhealthy items (such as fried food or dessert). Furthermore, sales records showed that those in dimly lit rooms actually ordered 39% more calories. In four additional lab studies involving 700 college-aged students in total, the researchers replicated these results.

The follow-up studies also showed that when diners’ alertness was increased with the use of a caffeine placebo or by simply giving a prompt to be alert, those in dimly lit rooms were just as likely as their peers in brightly lit rooms to make more healthful food choices. From this, the researchers conclude that the main reason that we make healthier choices in well-lit spaces is because we feel more alert.

Lighting is used to create ambience and enhance the dining experience, which is why many restaurants have dim lights. “Dim lighting isn’t all bad,” said co-author Brian Wansink, PhD, director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab and author of Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life, “despite ordering less-healthy foods, you actually end up eating slower, eating less and enjoying the food more.”

So, what’s the real takeaway here? According to Dr Wansink, doing what you can to make yourself feel alert is the best way to avoid overindulging when “dining-in-the-dark”.

However, it is not only the lighting that affects what we order and eat in restaurants — in separate research Dr Wansink found that if the waiter had a higher BMI diners were four times as likely to order desserts and they ordered 17.65% more alcoholic drinks.

Who knew that choosing food in a restaurant was so fraught?

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25vnMZ2

Sunny Queen Meal Solutions Mini Fritters and Egg Bites

Sunny Queen Meal Solutions’ Mini Fritters and Egg Bites are a nutritious and light alternative to deep-fried finger food, suitable for parties, festivities, corporate functions and commercial kitchens.

Satisfying the demand for high-quality, easy-to-eat, tasty food, the products can be prepared quickly and in confined spaces.

With a rustic, home-made appearance, the fritters are available in Corn & Cheese and Spanish with Chorizo flavours, while the light egg bites are available in Smoked Ham & Cheddar, Creamy Fetta & Garden Spinach and Goats Cheese & Caramelised Onion.

The products can be prepared with no waste or mess and have a shelf life of 12 months from the date of production. The egg canapés can be prepared using a microwave, grill, hotplate, combi or conventional oven.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UdCY1a

Superfoods and self-optimisation

Testing the health claims for fermented dairy products

Researchers have reviewed the scientific basis of claims that fermented dairy foods can act as a treatment for hypertension.

“Fermented milk has been promoted as a nonpharmacological treatment for hypertension, mainly because of the lack of undesirable side effects, but as yet, there is insufficient evidence to support this according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA),” lead investigator Belinda Vallejo-Córdoba, PhD, of the Center for Food Research and Development, Sonora, Mexico, explained.

Reporting in the Journal of Dairy Science, the team of investigators established that the most common strategy to select fermented milks with antihypertensive potential was to identify angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides by in vitro studies. However, they observed that some strains inhibiting ACE activity in vitro did not reduce blood pressure in rats. They evaluated 13 studies with spontaneously hypertensive rats and seven randomised controlled clinical trials in which an antihypertensive effect was demonstrated. Most were based on Lactobacillus helveticus.

The investigators note that several fermented milk products already on the market attribute their antihypertensive effect to the bioactive peptides present in the fermented milk. However, they point out that these products may also contain minerals such as potassium and calcium, which may have a positive effect on blood pressure.

“Although much research related to antihypertensive peptides has already been done, there is a great need for exploration of new lactic acid bacteria that possess the ability to generate this bioactivity as well as good technological properties for the production of fermented dairy products,” Dr Vallejo-Córdoba commented.

The authors recommend future studies to include in vitro lactic acid bacteria screening for ACE-inhibitory effects, in vivo studies with spontaneously hypertensive rats and clinical trials to test the efficacy of the fermented milk product. “It is also important to develop the regulatory legislation that allows the introduction of health claims for functional dairy foods, especially in countries where this subject is underdeveloped,” Dr Vallejo-Córdoba concluded.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qW9Hkk

Nestlé research partnership to address gut bacteria and health

Imperial College London and Nestlé Research have announced the establishment of a research and innovation partnership exploring metabolic health and nutrition.

The collaboration will focus on nutritional science and will initially aim to gain a greater understanding of how the billions of bacteria in our gut — the microbiome — influences our physical and mental health. The microbiome is thought to play a crucial role in the communication between the brain and the gut.

The partners have agreed to jointly engage in preclinical and clinical studies, with Nestlé looking to invest approximately 10 million Swiss francs over five years.

The collaboration hopes to enable both partners to find translatable answers to some of the fundamental questions in nutrition such as:

• To what degree does the gut microbiome play a role in the digestion of fermentable dietary fibres?
• Do metabolites generated by the gut microbiome have an effect on metabolism and health?
• Do specific metabolites impart different brain states and have an impact on centrally regulated phenomena, such as mood and emotion?

The research partnership will produce insights into how we can tackle some of society’s greatest health challenges, said Professor Gary Frost, chair in Dietetics and Nutrition at Imperial. “Diet and nutrition underpin many of the current issues our world faces, from rising obesity and diabetes levels, to how to maintain our mental and physical health into old age. This collaboration will enable Imperial to carry out world-leading nutrition research that may help address some of these crucial issues.”

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1X6Wdkf

GS1 and Australian Made to promote CoOL laws

GS1 Australia and the Australian Made Campaign will collaborate to help the food and grocery sector deliver the new country of origin labelling (CoOL) information to consumers and retailers.

The Australian Government’s new food labelling legislation comes into effect on 1 July 2016, requiring food businesses selling food in Australian retail stores to begin using new, easy-to-understand food labels that clearly show where the food is grown, produced, made or packed.

To support the legislation, GS1 Australia and the Australian Made Campaign will establish a database of all food products made or grown in Australia and capture brand owner CoOL data on the National Product Catalogue, which shares product data in a single location.

The new food labelling will be phased in over two years to minimise the impact on food companies of the extensive relabelling requirements.

Maria Palazzolo, GS1 Australia’s CEO, said the collaboration supports the shared vision of protecting the Australian food supply chain and the safety of consumers.

“Today, people want to know where their food is grown, manufactured and packaged. The new labels will alleviate growing concerns about the quality and safety of the food they eat. Capturing and leveraging the CoOL data on the National Product Catalogue using GS1 standards will also allow for better visibility of product as it moves through the value chain.”

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Unron8

LINPAC to discuss food-saving innovations at AIP conference

Fresh food packaging manufacturer LINPAC is fighting food waste through packaging innovation.

LINPAC manufactures fully recyclable rPET rigid packaging for meat, fish and poultry in Australia, as well as supplying a range of packaging solutions for bakery, prepared and chilled foods and fruit and vegetables in conjunction with its global INFIA and barrier films businesses.

The company’s Rfresh Elite product uses a patented sealant on the tray flange to create a secure seal with the lidding film, removing the need for laminated PE base film.

LINPAC Director of Innovation Alan Davey is a keynote speaker at the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) 2016 National Conference in Melbourne, where he will discuss why packaging is a green technology, protecting and preserving food throughout the supply chain and therefore reducing food waste.

Davey, whose presentation will discuss the development of Rfresh Elite, said the sealant used in the trays can be removed in the hot wash processes typically used by plastics recyclers, which means a recycled tray will yield 100% clear PET. The trays are also manufactured from up to 95% post consumer recyclate in a bid to create a closed loop recycling process.

Alan Davey will be speaking on day one (1 June 2016) of the AIP National Conference.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TPSqDH

Evolva bags European patent for fermented stevia

Swiss-headquartered biotech company Evolva has secured a European patent for its novel technique for producing fermentation-derived stevia.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WrWhKE

EFSA rejects Tate & Lyle polydextrose-defecation claim

The link between polydextrose consumption and maintenance or normal defecation is ‘weak’, EFSA has found in rejecting an article 13.5 submission from agrifood sugar giant Tate & Lyle.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qRb1on

Ditching 'diet' and laying off 'light': Consumers mistrust healthy processed foods, says Mintel

The National Obesity Forum's advice to shun processed foods such as low-fat yoghurts and cheeses for whole foods this week has provoked mixed reactions – but consumers are already turning away from foods labelled as low-fat, diet or light, according to Mintel data.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WrW1eB

‘Nimble’ local brand closing in on multinational rivals: Kantar data

Local brands are growing at twice the pace of multinationals thanks to an ability to quickly respond to niche market demands and better cater to consumer needs, says a report from Kantar Worldpanel.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qRb2J6

Make potassium labelling mandatory for processed food: UK petition

As new nutrition guidelines make labelling potassium on packaged foods mandatory in the US, a UK petition is urging the government to do the same but for different reasons - it would end the processed food "nightmare" for sufferers of Chronic Kidney Disease for whom potassium can mean heart failure and death, says the author.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WrWfCs

Multinational firms sell poorer quality (but more expensive) food to Eastern Europeans

Multinational food firms are manufacturing poorer quality, unhealthier (but sometimes more expensive) versions of their trademarked brands for the Eastern Europe market, says the Czech Republic, which wants to see EU legislation to protect consumers. It's 'ethically problematic but not illegal', say experts - so can anything actually be done? 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qRbg2S

EXCLUSIVE: Mondelēz urges IOI Group not to sue RSPO

Mondelēz International has called on palm oil supplier IOI Group to withdraw its legal action against the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WrVTfk

A low-salt diet could raise heart disease risk, study suggests

Low-salt diets may not be beneficial for everyone and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death as the results of a study appear to contradict currently accepted opinion.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qRaZwU

Food waste from manufacturing 56% less than previously reported

Food manufacturers are not wasting anywhere near as much food as experts thought, but there’s still a £220 million (€290m) opportunity in reducing levels even further.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WrWeP7

Thermo: FEI deal will complement mass spec portfolio

Thermo Fisher Scientific is to buy FEI Company for $4.2bn saying it will drive adoption of FEI’s technologies among its life sciences customers, particularly in biopharma.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25rP1Dy

FoodLogiQ reinvents food safety and traceability software

FoodLogiQ will release the next generation of its user interface (UI) for its traceability and food safety software to customers in early June.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RzcPbw

FDA issues rule to protect against intentional adulteration

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalised the seventh and final rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25rObaa

Danish illnesses traced to lettuce from France

More than 400 people have been sickened by norovirus in Denmark by lettuce from France.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Rzdg5C

VWR launches web tool to support science community

VWR has launched a web tool that allows scientific researchers to plan, manage and share laboratory information.  

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25rOvFP

FSA promises new Campylobacter survey but undecided on testing method

Campylobacter contamination on fresh whole chilled chickens in the UK has dropped again in the final update using current testing methods.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RzcXrC

Antimicrobials concealing Salmonella debate reignited

Antimicrobial chemicals used as processing aids may lead to false-negative results in pathogen testing, according to a study.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25rOMsj

Dairy opts for Loma system to meet retailer standards

Loma Systems has installed a combination checkweigher and metal detection unit at a UK dairy to inspect different sized packs of speciality Stilton cheeses at speeds of up to 20 packs per minute.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RzcSUO

Scienion and Axela to work together

Scienion and Axela have entered into an agreement to develop production systems and services for diagnostic and research products.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25rOnpD

Recalls: Mould, pathogens and plastic

Food recalls for a week in May 2016 came from UK, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Czech Republic.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Rzce9Y

Allergen and mycotoxin notifications jump in RASFF report

Notifications due to allergens (137) and mycotoxins (476) rose dramatically from 2014 (78 and 357 respectively), according to the RASFF annual report.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25rOnpO

CDC: Foodborne disease outbreaks increase but illnesses down

Foodborne disease outbreaks and deaths have increased but illnesses and hospitalizations decreased from the year before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RzcRAe

VUV detector to be used in gas chromatography research

VUV Analytics will provide its VGA-100 Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) detector to help a researcher determine organic contaminants in fish as they transfer through the food chain.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25rOZvq

State lab pays for violating hazardous waste laws

A state-run laboratory will pay a fine of $27,000 and spend $73,000 on equipment to settle claims that it violated state and federal hazardous waste laws at its facility in Augusta.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RzcWDU

PerkinElmer: Risk assessments getting more focussed

The risk assessment of food producers is getting more focussed on where in the supply chain there could be shortfalls and which techniques could be used to ensure final product safety, according to PerkinElmer.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25rOjGA

Global food fraud: Joining forces for a multi-faceted solution

The Obama administration recently finalized a food safety transport rule.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1RzcHJb

Thermo: FEI deal will complement mass spec portfolio

Thermo Fisher Scientific is to buy FEI Company for $4.2bn saying it will drive adoption of FEI’s technologies among its life sciences customers, particularly in biopharma.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TFFfTB

FoodLogiQ reinvents food safety and traceability software

FoodLogiQ will release the next generation of its user interface (UI) for its traceability and food safety software to customers in early June.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TNNEI3

FDA issues rule to protect against intentional adulteration

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalised the seventh and final rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TFFttK

EFSA rejects Tate & Lyle polydextrose-defecation claim

The link between polydextrose consumption and maintenance or normal defecation is ‘weak’, EFSA has found in rejecting an article 13.5 submission from agrifood sugar giant Tate & Lyle.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sCLaSv

Ditching 'diet' and laying off 'light': Consumers mistrust healthy processed foods, says Mintel

The National Obesity Forum's advice to shun processed foods such as low-fat yoghurts and cheeses for whole foods this week has provoked mixed reactions – but consumers are already turning away from foods labelled as low-fat, diet or light, according to Mintel data.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sfScMU

Consumers crazy about coconut, but are they nuts?

Whilst sales data from market intelligence provider IRI shows that UK consumers can’t get enough of coconut products, a leading dietician brands coconut “an expensive con with no authorised health claims”.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qP5gYo

Evolva bags European patent for fermented stevia

Swiss-headquartered biotech company Evolva has secured a European patent for its novel technique for producing fermentation-derived stevia.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1XWnMLT

‘Nimble’ local brand closing in on multinational rivals: Kantar data

Local brands are growing at twice the pace of multinationals thanks to an ability to quickly respond to niche market demands and better cater to consumer needs, says a report from Kantar Worldpanel.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TNblQI

Hot dog merchandising effectiveness measured

Analytics company Quri has launched a project to measure the success of performance driven merchandising for 14 food items, including hot dogs, across 1,000 Walmart and Target stores in the US. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UhZYPq

Poland’s Tarczyński launches expanded meat processing plant, increases sales

Polish meat processor Tarczyński SA has launched a new facility in Ujeździec Mały, in Poland’s southern part, working at full capacity, and has reported increased sales revenues for the first quarter of this year. The company aims to further raise its sales by expanding its meat processing capacity. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1P3C8bq

Halal labelling expected to grow

The prevalence of halal labelling is expected to grow by a quarter between now and 2020, according to market research firm Euromonitor International. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TJ7GSM

Russia’s meat industry worried by oversupply

Russia could face major meat oversupply problems if it continues to increase meat production by current rates, according to experts.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TH82N1

Make potassium labelling mandatory for processed food: UK petition

As new nutrition guidelines make labelling potassium on packaged foods mandatory in the US, a UK petition is urging the government to do the same but for different reasons - it would end the processed food "nightmare" for sufferers of Chronic Kidney Disease for whom potassium can mean heart failure and death, says the author.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/20JROBA

Danish illnesses traced to lettuce from France

More than 400 people have been sickened by norovirus in Denmark by lettuce from France.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sSCwQy

VWR launches web tool to support science community

VWR has launched a web tool that allows scientific researchers to plan, manage and share laboratory information.  

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WQeUrv

URC Vietnam investigated for excess lead in soft drinks

Vietnam’s health ministry has blocked the sale of five containers of green tea and energy drinks manufactured by the local unit of a leading Philippines food and beverage firm, claiming that the products contained excessive amounts of lead.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WYKwvG

IFFA cements place as leading meat trade show

Organisers of Germany’s triennial meat processing machinery trade show IFFA have long claimed it is the “number one for the meat industry” and, on reflection, it’s hard to argue with this.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TZotyb

EU toughens policy on livestock breeding

The EU Council of Ministers has adopted streamlined breeding rules for livestock in the eurozone, while clarifying the rights and duties of EU breeders and the recognition process for breeding programmes, among other issues.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TF1GgV

Cargill and JFC deal creates 1,000 jobs

Agricultural trader Cargill has entered into a joint-venture with Philippine fast food chain Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) to build a poultry factory, leading to 1,000 new jobs. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TZp3Mk

Pricing fear prompts beef transparency changes

A system for recording the wholesale price of beef will be developed by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), following a probe into price transparency by the country’s competition watchdog.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TF21QN

Multinational firms sell poorer quality (but more expensive) food to Eastern Europeans

Multinational food firms are manufacturing poorer quality, unhealthier (but sometimes more expensive) versions of their trademarked brands for the Eastern Europe market, says the Czech Republic, which wants to see EU legislation to protect consumers. It's 'ethically problematic but not illegal', say experts - so can anything actually be done? 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1OQ4tfO

Marketing turns off TV & moves massively online: ASA

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has highlighted the mega-trend platform shift in marketing activity toward online with the watchdog investigating 8633 cases on the web, compared to 3920 on television in 2015.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Wny20h

EXCLUSIVE: Mondelēz urges IOI Group not to sue RSPO

Mondelēz International has called on palm oil supplier IOI Group to withdraw its legal action against the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1OQ4twq

A low-salt diet could raise heart disease risk, study suggests

Low-salt diets may not be beneficial for everyone and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death as the results of a study appear to contradict currently accepted opinion.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Wny7kz

‘Nothing being done’ to prevent another Calais crisis

Nothing is being done to protect UK food and drink firms from damage caused by another Calais crisis, according to the Scottish Seafood Association (SSA).

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1OQ4aSh

Food waste from manufacturing 56% less than previously reported

Food manufacturers are not wasting anywhere near as much food as experts thought, but there’s still a £220 million (€290m) opportunity in reducing levels even further.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WnxIyC

PFP mulls Malaysia for new seafood processing plant

PFP Group, a major Thai frozen-seafood processor, expects to open a halal food factory in Malaysia after it concludes negotiations with an unnamed local partner.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1XVqLEg

URC Vietnam investigated for excess lead in soft drinks

Vietnam’s health ministry has blocked the sale of five containers of green tea and energy drinks manufactured by the local unit of a leading Philippines food and beverage firm, claiming that the products contained excessive amounts of lead.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/22qMEMb

Malaysia must end 24-hour dining to curb obesity crisis

Malaysians should be sleeping in the early hours of the morning, not eating and watching football at a 24-hour restaurant, according to the president of the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1XVr2Hg

Japanese wine drinkers are becoming more adventurous: report

Wine drinkers in Japan are becoming more adventurous and showing an increased interested in wine, according to Wine Intelligence. And, in fact, the country is rated as one of the most attractive wine markets in the world. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25kyrCa

FSA promises new Campylobacter survey but undecided on testing method

Campylobacter contamination on fresh whole chilled chickens in the UK has dropped again in the final update using current testing methods.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sdeE9F

Antimicrobials concealing Salmonella debate reignited

Antimicrobial chemicals used as processing aids may lead to false-negative results in pathogen testing, according to a study.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1UfRJU7

Recalls: Mould, pathogens and plastic

Food recalls for a week in May 2016 came from UK, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Czech Republic.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TYOVYU

Review supports safety of green tea extracts

A recent systematic review of clinical trials using green tea extract underscores the ingredient’s overall safety, despite some recent associations with liver damage.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qLC2JS

The thrill of the taste: Why do we like spicy food?

Humans are the only species that likes and actively seeks out spicy chili flavours. What explains our love for what is, in reality, a sensation that signals burning pain and, possibly, danger?

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1scDwhR

Yogurt market can hit $1bn by 2021 in India: Report

International dairy companies can tap in to a growing demand for yogurt in India, according to a recently-published report by TechSci Research.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qLBEv4

US body calls for raw chicken laws

Mandatory labelling for raw and stuffed poultry is urgently needed to stop consumers becoming sick and confused, the National Chicken Council (NCC) warned the US government.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/20FDUjR

Dairy opts for Loma system to meet retailer standards

Loma Systems has installed a combination checkweigher and metal detection unit at a UK dairy to inspect different sized packs of speciality Stilton cheeses at speeds of up to 20 packs per minute.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25jnAs9

Scienion and Axela to work together

Scienion and Axela have entered into an agreement to develop production systems and services for diagnostic and research products.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WlznEI

Nearly all governments failing to promote sustainable diets: Study

Germany and Sweden are just two of only four countries in the world that include sustainability criteria in their dietary guidelines. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Z1P8yp

Artificial sweeteners cut calories but may affect glucose control in obese: Study

Artificial sweeteners may help obese individuals cut calories and lose weight but a new study has suggested that these sugar substitutes impair how glucose is utilised in the body.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WVrHtq

The thrill of the taste: Why do we like spicy food?

Humans are the only species that likes and actively seeks out spicy chili flavours. What explains our love for what is, in reality, a sensation that signals burning pain and, possibly, danger?

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Z1Q9Xr

Sweet potential: Tongue enzyme research may aid zero calorie sweetener industry

The discovery of ‘gut enzymes’ in sweet taste receptors on the tongue could point industry towards a new route in the development of non-caloric sweeteners, say those behind the research.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WVrO8r

Is that package sealed correctly? Inline package seal integrity testing

Grasselli KSL Boneless horizontal slicer

The Grasselli KSL Boneless horizontal slicer uses a multiblade cutting system to cut even, parallel slices.

The slicer has a working width option of 380, 600 or 380+380 mm, depending on the model, with a minimum slice thickness of 2.5 mm and maximum product height of 100 mm.

Its cutting capacity is over 2000 kg/h for fresh meat or cooked boneless meat, depending on product size and condition, with an adjustable operating speed ±40%.

The slicer is fully adjustable, giving the ability to slice delicate products, and has a variety of blade profiles for a range of applications. The multiple feed belt surface texture options enable the slicer to be customised to specific products.

The machine is suitable for integration into totally automated production lines and has an automated blade tensioning system. No tools are needed to prepare for cleaning and all components remain attached. There is a built-in automatic lubrication system for all major dynamic parts.

All major mechanical components are produced from extra high grade heat-treated steel, with seamless welding and radius edges to aid in efficient sanitation. The frame is made entirely of stainless steel.

The Dual Lane version with two independently adjustable cutting lanes offers a 6 mm minimum slicing pitch and ‘butterfly’ cutting option.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Z1vK4J

Has folic acid fortification failed?

Debate about the future of folic acid fortification is expected to intensify following a study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine, which showed that fortifying the US food supply with folic acid did not achieve the expected decline in certain birth defects.

The study of more than 1.3 million births and pregnancies spanning two decades in California examined neural tube defects (NTDs), which affect a baby’s brain and spine, and which were the intended target of fortification with folic acid, a B vitamin. The research, which has been published online in Birth Defects Research Part A, discovered that NTDs were already becoming less common before fortification began, but that their decline slowed substantially after fortification was introduced.

“We did not see what we would have expected to see, and that’s a concern,” said the study’s senior author, Gary Shaw, PhD, professor of pediatrics at Stanford.

Risk factor for birth defects

Lower levels of folic acid intake are known to increase the risk for NTDs, including anencephaly, in which a baby’s brain does not develop, and spina bifida, in which the tube enclosing the spinal cord is open at birth. Anencephaly is usually fatal in the first few days of life, and spina bifida often causes lifelong paralysis.

Because these birth defects occur early in gestation, often before a woman realises she is pregnant, folic acid fortification was introduced in the late 1990s in the US to try to raise everyone’s blood level of the vitamin and thus prevent NTDs. It is now added to cereals, flour and other refined grain products. Natural folates are present in many foods, such as leafy green vegetables, whole grains, citrus fruits and beans.

The study examined pregnancies affected by birth defects from 1989 to 2010. The overall rate of neural tube defects for the entire study period was 87.8 cases per 100,000 births. From 1989 to 1996, before fortification started, NTDs declined by 8.7 cases per 100,000 births per year, for reasons unknown.

However, after fortification was fully implemented, between 1999 and 2010, NTDs declined more slowly, by 1.7 cases per 100,000 births per year, the study found.

The study also looked at birth defects that were not originally intended as targets of folate fortification: orofacial clefts, which include cleft lip and palate, and cleft palate alone; and gastroschisis, a birth defect in which a baby is born with some of its intestines outside the body.

After fortification, rates of orofacial clefts decreased by about 2 cases per 100,000 per year. Gastroschisis cases increased for the entire study period, but increased more slowly after fortification.

Ongoing debate

Some experts have suggested that fortification should be increased to prevent more neural tube defects, while others are concerned about the potential side effects of such a change. “An increase in colorectal adenomas has been observed in some countries with folic acid fortification,” Shaw said.

Although the findings may contribute to changes in fortification programs, advice about folic acid for pregnant women and women planning pregnancies remains unchanged. “For women who are planning to become pregnant or are already pregnant, it is still important to take a multivitamin supplement containing folic acid,” Shaw said.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1Vj9B2H

Adaptable squid thrive in a changing ocean

HammerTek Smart Elbow deflection elbows

The cast aluminium line of Smart Elbow deflection elbows from HammerTek is now available in tube and pipe sizes from 3.8 to 30.5 cm in diameter. Engineered for dilute-phase and dense-phase pneumatic conveying, the deflection elbows prevent material from impacting the elbow wall, eliminating or minimising breakage and the generation of fines when conveying friable materials such as chips, flakes, corn, seeds, sugar, salt, cocoa nibs and pet food pellets.

According to the company, material build-up and plugging due to frictional heat is also eliminated when conveying heat-sensitive materials such as sugar, flour, spice/seasoning mixes, ground coffee, dried milk and cocoa powder.

The elbows feature a spherical chamber that protrudes partially beyond the desired 90° or 45° pathway, which causes a ball of material suspended in air to rotate, gently deflecting incoming product around the bend without impacting the elbow wall or generating heat.

Other deflection elbows, offered in varying size ranges up to 45.7 cm, are available in cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel and specialised alloys, which additionally prevent elbow wear when conveying sharp, hard materials such as salt, rice hulls, corn meal, soy beans, cocoa bean hulls, hops, barley, cocoa nibs, corn, tobacco leaves, wheat, oats, nut shells, wood chips, hog fuel and other abrasives.

According to the manufacturer, conventional sweep elbows and ‘plugged tee’ elbows are typically replaced with deflection elbows to eliminate the cost of elbow replacements, ensure product quality, allow directional changes in restricted spaces and prevent unscheduled system shutdowns due to elbow maintenance or repair.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1sQQJNH

Cheese company saves energy with centralised vacuum

US calls for raw chicken laws

Mandatory labelling for raw and stuffed poultry is urgently needed to stop consumers becoming sick and confused, the National Chicken Council (NCC) warned the US government today.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25iaRWR

Eastern Europe continues ASF struggle

African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread into new territories in Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine and Russia, threatening the stability of the pig industry in these countries, according to reports from local veterinarians. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TESQgb

Danish Crown ‘under pressure’ as profits fall

Danish Crown’s profits declined in the first six months of the 2015-16 financial year due to an “extremely competitive” retail market. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1NNJBed

GEA and Red Arrow scoop innovation award

Machinery manufactures GEA and Red Arrow have jointly won a Fleischerei Technik (Meat Technology) award for their smokeless meat smoking machin

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TESCp7

Heat-killed lactobacillus shows oral health benefits

Consuming capsules with heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 may help reduce probing depth in people with periodontal disease, says a new study from Japan.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qJYF1n

Vitamins and supplements lobby ‘disgusted’ by supposed ABC exposé

The complementary medicines industry has hit out at the decision by Australia’s state broadcaster to air what it calls a “sensationalised story” about the safety of some American supplements.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25mrOmt

Kiwi whole milk powder prices buoyed by reduced Chinese stocks

New Zealand whole milk powder prices increased by 7% in May over the corresponding period last year, driven by decreased supply and increased export demand from China. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qJYqmT

Queensland researcher aims to gauge beetroot’s super-food credentials

An Australian study is underway to discover whether beetroot juice could be a new super-food that improves vascular health in older people.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25mrHaw

Solar project gives ray of hope to struggling Australian grape growers

A renewable energy project in Australia’s largest grape growing region is giving struggling vignerons a sunny alternative.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qJYW4x

Artificial sweeteners cut calories but may affect glucose control in obese: Study

Artificial sweeteners may help obese individuals cut calories and lose weight but a new study has suggested that these sugar substitutes impair how glucose is utilised in the body.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1OXuY8B

Nearly all governments failing to promote sustainable diets: Study

Germany and Sweden are just two of only four countries in the world that include sustainability criteria in their dietary guidelines. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TX078p

The thrill of the taste: Why do we like spicy food?

Humans are the only species that likes and actively seeks out spicy chili flavours. What explains our love for what is, in reality, a sensation that signals burning pain and, possibly, danger?

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TWOhuZ

CDC: Foodborne disease outbreaks increase but illnesses down

Foodborne disease outbreaks and deaths have increased but illnesses and hospitalizations decreased from the year before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TElEVS

EU ‘vital for food industry success’: Sir Stuart Rose

EU membership is “vital for the success” of the UK food and drink manufacturing sector, argues Sir Stuart Rose, chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe and former executive chairman of Marks & Spencer.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/247DVxG

Sweet potential: Tongue enzyme research may aid zero calorie sweetener industry

The discovery of ‘gut enzymes’ in sweet taste receptors on the tongue could point industry towards a new route in the development of non-caloric sweeteners, say those behind the research.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1XwHFsk

Allergen and mycotoxin notifications jump in RASFF report

Notifications due to allergens (137) and mycotoxins (476) rose dramatically from 2014 (78 and 357 respectively), according to the RASFF annual report.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WiutIJ

VUV detector to be used in gas chromatography research

VUV Analytics will provide its VGA-100 Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) detector to help a researcher determine organic contaminants in fish as they transfer through the food chain.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25gUWrJ

State lab pays for violating hazardous waste laws

A state-run laboratory will pay a fine of $27,000 and spend $73,000 on equipment to settle claims that it violated state and federal hazardous waste laws at its facility in Augusta.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WiuzQo

Allergen and mycotoxin notifications jump in RASFF report

Notifications due to allergens (137) and mycotoxins (476) rose dramatically from 2014 (78 and 357 respectively), according to the RASFF annual report.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TWpCqc

Link between vitamin E & brain tumours found in metabolite study

A link between vitamin E levels in the blood and the increased risk of brain tumours has been established in a Scandinavian study. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TDIQUs

Cash in one’s chips: The humble potato’s new Asian markets

Potatoes: like dairy not the first global staple you think of when it comes to Asia, but that doesn’t mean to say that there isn’t a growing market for spud-based ingredients.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WSBy34

Marketing sustainable soy: 'Invisible but important' or loud and proud?

By the end of 2017 one third of soy imported into Europe will be certified, says the Roundtable on Responsible Soy, but will consumers know it?

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TDIUU6

China calls for lower meat consumption

Chinese people need to eat less red meat, a leading Chinese government health agency has recommended in a landmark review of the country’s eating habits.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WSBuQR

How to measure CO2 and ensure a safe workplace

High concentrations of CO₂ are clearly hazardous. It is imperative for the soft drink industry and brewers to measure CO₂ reliably and keep to the workplace exposure standards.

Download this white paper to examine a new series of low-cost, reliable, low-maintenance transmitters that measure CO₂ levels and act when readings are too high.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1OMoR1z

Expert dispels common myths in following a gluten-free diet

Consumers are buying gluten-free products as part of a healthy lifestyle, with few adopting this diet as part of a treatment for coeliac disease (CD), a study has concluded.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1NLuHFt

B2B firms know artisan doesn’t mean….well, artisan, says ASA

An advert for a bread mix that promises “an easy way to make sour dough and artisan breads” is not misleading because it targets B2B firms who know the end product will be ‘artisan-style’, says the UK’s advertising watchdog.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/20yVupI

Marketing sustainable soy: 'Invisible but important' or loud and proud?

By the end of 2017 one third of soy imported into Europe will be certified, says the Roundtable on Responsible Soy, but will consumers know it?

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1NLuNgg

Researchers unlock mystery of protein that filters odour information

A 30 year-old mystery surrounding the function of a protein in our smell receptors has been solved after researchers revealed it plays a vital role in filtering data from smell receptors.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/20yWyK7

Ethical labels are worth €709 billion globally - so which one is best for your product?

Fairtrade in France but organic in Austria? Euromonitor analysed 26,000 products across the world to help manufacturers understand which ethical labels work best for their products, depending on the country, category and forecast growth rates.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1NLuW3a

Government guidelines for low-fat diet 'disastrous' for health: report

Following a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, recommended by official UK guidelines, is based on "flawed science" that has had "disastrous" health consequences, according to a report by a UK health charity.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/20yVO7C

Clean label on the rise in Turkey but price and taste still king

Demand for clean label ingredients is on the rise in Turkey, especially for children's food - but the market is too price sensitive and focused on taste for it to become mainstream, according to some industry players.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1NLuB0C

US updates nutrition facts labels

The US Food and Drug Administration has launched an updated Nutrition Facts label for packaged food.

The new Nutrition Facts label will include:

• an updated design to highlight ‘calories’ and ‘servings’ — two important elements in making informed food choices.
• requirements for serving sizes that more closely reflect the amounts of food that people currently eat. What and how much people eat and drink has changed since the last serving size requirements were published in 1993.
• declaration of grams and a per cent daily value (%DV) for ‘added sugars’ to help consumers know how much sugar has been added to the product.
• ‘dual column’ labels to indicate both ‘per serving’ and ‘per package’ calorie and nutrition information for certain multiserving food products that could be consumed in one sitting or multiple sittings. Examples include a 500 mL tub of ice-cream and an 85 g bag of chips. With dual-column labels available, people will be able to easily understand how many calories and nutrients they are getting if they eat or drink the entire package/unit at one time. For packages that are between one and two servings, such as a 600 mL soft drink, the calories and other nutrients will be required to be labelled as one serving because people typically consume it in one sitting.
• updated daily values for nutrients like sodium, dietary fibre and vitamin D, consistent with Institute of Medicine recommendations and the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Daily values are reference amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed and are used to calculate the %DV that manufacturers include on the label.
• a declaration of vitamin D and potassium that will include the actual gram amount in addition to the %DV. These are nutrients that some people are not getting enough of, which puts them at higher risk for chronic disease. The %DV for calcium and iron will continue to be required, along with the actual gram amount. Vitamins A and C will no longer be required because deficiencies of these vitamins are rare, but these nutrients can be included on a voluntary basis.
• an abbreviated footnote to better explain the %DV.

‘Calories from fat’ will meanwhile be removed, as research shows the type of fat is more important than the amount. ‘Total fat’, ‘saturated fat,’ and ‘trans fat’ will continue to be required.

Most food manufacturers will be required to use the new label by July 2018. The original Nutrition Facts label was introduced more than 20 years ago to help consumers make informed food choices and maintain healthy dietary practices.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1qIozT8

AUSVEG CEO announces immediate retirement

AUSVEG CEO Richard Mulcahy has announced his retirement, effective immediately.

The board has appointed skills-based director Simon Bolles as interim CEO while a search for Mulcahy’s replacement is conducted.

Chairman Geoff Moar assured growers that it would be “business as usual” under Bolles’ leadership.

“AUSVEG has a long and proven history of advocating for growers and representing their interests on important industry issues since its inception, most notably the successful campaign that resulted in the recent advancements to Australia’s country of origin labelling laws,” said Moar.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WNpi3l

Australia ranks 3rd in world's fastest-growing vegan markets

Demographic factors and increasing consumer focus on sustainability, social responsibility and transparency on labels will see Halal and vegan labels worldwide grow by over 5% annually between 2015 and 2020.

Research conducted by Euromonitor International estimates the market for halal products will reach US$58.3 billion in 2020, driven by ethnic and religious diversity.

“The Muslim community’s share in the global population has been increasing steadily and is projected to reach about 26% by 2030,” Euromonitor International Head of Health and Wellness Ewa Hudson said.

Hudson named vegan product labelling as another key category to watch, with Australia projected to be the third-fastest-growing vegan market between 2015 and 2020, with 9.6% growth, behind China (17.2%) and United Arab Emirates (10.6%).

The overall global market for ethically labelled packaged foods, soft drinks and hot drinks (excluding private label) accounted for US$793.8 billion in 2015 and is set to reach US$872.7 billion by 2020. According to Euromonitor’s research:

• Behind the USA and Japan, China has established itself as the third-ranking market for ethical labels.
• USA is the largest Kosher market, 18 times the size of Israel.
• UK emerges as runaway leader in animal welfare labels with US$30.1 billion in 2015.
• In Latin, America, the Rainforest Alliance label should deliver an impressive 143.8% value sales increase by 2020.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1WNp38n

Bosch boosted by double-digit growth

Bosch Packaging Technology has hailed “remarkable” sales growth in a stagnant North American market, where trade increased by nearly a fifth in full-year results for 2015.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/1TCDKrj

Cash in one’s chips: The humble potato’s new Asian markets

Potatoes: like dairy not the first global staple you think of when it comes to Asia, but that doesn’t mean to say that there isn’t a growing market for spud-based ingredients.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/25kwpp0