food
Cadbury rejects Kraft takeover bid
UK confectioner Cadbury has rejected a £10.2 billion takeover bid from Kraft Foods, the US food group behind the Milka and Toblerone brands. Kraft announced its offer for Cadbury today and said the deal would create“a global powerhouse in snacks, confectionery and quick meals with a rich portfolio of iconic brands. The transaction – worth […]
Southampton six safety review
A verdict on the safety of the so-called ‘Southampton six’ food colours is imminent after EFSA confirmed that its food additives panel is scheduled to discuss the review findings later this month. A spokesman says that should the panel adopt any opinions from the review process, the views will be published in mid-October following the […]
Industries link up to reduce food and drink waste
WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) is leading a series of new industry partnerships in a bid to reduce food and drink product damage throughout the supply chain, and improve product quality. Commissioned as part of WRAP’s strategy to minimise food and drink waste, the new projects – including the development of new category-specific innovations […]
A B Foods trading update sends shares soaring
News that Associated British Foods is on track for higher second-half earnings, and expects ‘some progress’ in full-year profits despite substantially higher debt costs, has sent shares in the company soaring by more than three per cent. AB Foods, which owns the brands Twinings, Kingsmill and Silver Spoon, as well as budget fashion chain Primark, […]
Cargill sells glucose syrup business
Chemicals distributor Brenntag UK has announced the purchase of Cargill’s UK packed glucose syrup business. The agreement, which saw Brenntag take over its new customer base from the beginning of this month, includes the supply of all grades of glucose syrup in packages to UK customers. For many years Brenntag has operated a toll packaging […]
European deal for Martek
Martek Biosciences has signed deals to supply its omega-6 ARA (arachidonic acid) ingredients to infant food makers in Australia and Spain. A deal with Australian company, Milk Powder Solutions, will see the company’s ARA used in infant formula products in China and Vietnam under the Gold Cow brand name. Spanish food giant Puleva Food has […]
PET project for Nestle
Food giant Nestle has announced that it is launching a new range of mineral water in the US packaged in bottles consisting of 25 per cent recycled PET (rPET). The Re-Source brand, which will be backed by a recycling initiative, will be sold exclusively at Whole Foods Market outlets in the US, where consumers will […]
The healing power of blue M&Ms
Scientists have discovered that the colouring in blue M&M sweets could help patients with spinal injuries. The food dye that gives the sweet its distinctive tint – a compound known as Brilliant Blue G – can block a chemical which makes injuries worse by causing inflammation and destroying cells. Secondary spinal cord damage can often […]
Organic food not healthier, says FSA
Eating organic food does not provide any significant nutritional or health benefits, according to a study published this week. An independent review commissioned by the Food Standards Agency found there were no important differences between organic and conventionally produced food. The conclusion was reached after a team of researchers at the London School of Hygiene […]
EPO restricts Novogen patent claims – and opens the door for isoflavones
Following objections by 10 European countries, including Germany, France, Italy and the UK, and by Solbar (Israel), the European Patent Office (EPO) has rejected large parts of the Novogen patent claims – originally granted in 2004 – for the use of isoflavone phyto-oestrogen extracts. The EPO has restricted claims wherein the isoflavone phytoestrogen extract comprises […]
Ethical concerns’ over varying salt levels in global brands
New research shows that people in some countries are being fed over twice as much salt in popular global brands as their counterparts elsewhere in the world. World Action on Salt and Health (WASH) has surveyed over 260 food products available around the world from food manufacturers such as KFC, McDonalds, Kellogg’s, Nestle, Burger King […]
Waitrose and Morrisons celebrate sales surge
Despite catering for very different parts of the market, Waitrose and Morrisons have become Britain’s fastest-growing supermarkets, with both posting sales growth of more than 8 per cent. By contrast, Tesco sales grew by only 5.3 per cent in the 12 weeks to July 11, according to figures released this week. Morrisons has since revealed […]
Meat processors welcome FSA U-turn
The British Meat Processors Association has welcomed a Food Standards Agency (FSA) decision to scrap plans for a four per cent hike in annual inspection charges in a bid to cut government subsidies to the industry. However, the FSA has said that a new system to calculate charges based on the length of time inspectors […]
Flavour analysis breakthrough
Symrise has developed a new tool for flavour analysis which it says will enable it to produce more authentic profiles quickly and efficiently, as well as more true to life natural flavours. Until now, Symrise has used much more time-consuming methods for analyzing the complex flavour profile of a finished dish, but it says its […]