wheat

 

Limagrain extends fibre range

Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients has launched westhove wheat bran, a clean label ingredient consisting of 100% wheat bran, made from raw materials low in mycotoxins and pesticides. It is produced through natural processes using dry milling, hydrothermal stabilisation and fine grinding, says the firm. “The benefits of westhove wheat bran ultra fine are substantial,” explains Dr […]

Bleak times ahead for sector, says new research

Cost pressures for commodities and oil are continuing to fuel high inflation in the food and grocery sector, according to market research firm Verdict. While supermarkets are able to absorb some price increases, inflation is inevitable, says Verdict, with volume growth expected to remain worryingly low. “The outlook for the UK economy remains decidedly bleak, […]

Hovis to cut 900 jobs

Hovis bread maker Premier Foods has announced that it is to close two UK bakeries and cut 900 jobs as part of plans to overhaul the struggling business. The company has seen its Hovis division hit by intense competition in the bread market and a surge in wheat prices caused by poor weather. The worst-hit […]

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Price crisis for pig producers

Ten per cent of UK pig producers say they may be forced to quit by Christmas, according to the National Pig Association (NPA). As a result, it says that around 1.5m rashers of British bacon a week look likely to disappear from supermarket shelves, while 2.3m sausages a week are also at risk of disappearing. […]

Working towards wheat for the world

Plans to help increase potential wheat yields in the UK to 20 tonnes per hectare within the next 20 years have been launched by Rothamsted Research scientists and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The 20:20 Wheat programme aims to ‘provide the knowledge base and tools to tackle food security challenges for a […]

Buckwheat analysis breakthrough

RSSL says it has further extended its scope for allergen testing by validating a method for analysis of buckwheat. Though not on the EU list of allergens that must be declared, buckwheat is a known and serious allergen in Japan, and clinical reports expose several cases in Europe, says RSSL. “Buckwheat is important because it […]

Cracking news on egg cholesterol content

A new US study has revealed that the cholesterol content of eggs – which was previously believed to be a health risk – is much lower now than ten years ago. Eggs also contain more vitamin D, which helps protect the bones, preventing diseases such as osteoporosis and rickets. Researchers say the reason eggs have […]

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Bread helps boost ABF profits

Associated British Foods (ABF) has posted a 26% increase in annual profits – thanks to an impressive performance by its discount clothing chain, Primark. Among its food businesses, Kingsmill bread was a star performer, increasing its market share following last year’s launch of the Little Big Loaf. However, ABF has warned that its margins would […]

Batter than the rest

Clean label ingredients manufacturer Ulrick & Short has unveiled a new wheat-based flour for ‘enhancing the textural qualities’ of tempura batters. The clean label flour, Solartex, has been designed to provide food producers with a chemical and additive free coating system, which produces a beautiful light golden batter at no additional cost, says the company. […]

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Sales of bread and bakery products continue to grow

Figures released this week suggest the popularity of bread and bakery products continues to grow, with UK consumer spending rising to £3.8bn in 2008. But despite the surge in sales, the report says that a push in innovation is crucial to arrest an overall contraction in consumer spending on bakery products. In total, expenditure on […]

Big harvest despite weather

Updated figures confirm suggestions that this year’s harvest will prove to be big despite farmers enduring some of the most difficult conditions for decades. The figures, from the NFU’s annual UK harvest survey, show grain producers are among the most productive in Europe, with output increasing faster than changes in plantings once again. This year’s […]

ENVIRONMENT: Carbon footprint under scrutiny

Environmental consultancy ADAS is working with Defra and the Carbon Trust to monitor the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions created by the food supply chain. Every food product has an impact on the environment via its ‘carbon footprint’ which is calculated by measuring the GHG outputs at each stage of the food supply chain – from […]

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Mr Bagels launches Hi Energy Bars

Bagel producer Mr Bagels has launched a range of health conscious bagels – low in fat and high in fibre. Hi Energy Bagel Bars are available in two flavours, Bran and Seed and Bran, Cranberry and Pumpkin Seed. The latter contains less than 3g fat each. The bars can be enjoyed straight from the pack, […]

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Protein crops bring benefits

Grain prices at record levels should not hide the valuable benefits of protein crops, advises BEPA (the British Edible Pulse Association). Wall-to-wall wheat may be the phrase of the moment, but protein prices have kept pace, and the extra agronomic benefits of protein crops have not gone away. “This season’s cereal price hike is clearly […]

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