Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

Nestlé to evalute protein impact on muscle wastage

18-Mar-2010 - Combating muscle wastage in the elderly through greater understanding of the mechanisms of protein coupled with exercise is the primary focus of a three year research project involving Nestlé’s Research Centre and leading sports nutrition and physical performance research institutes.

Magnesium may decrease colon cancer risk: Study

15-Mar-2010 - Increased intakes of magnesium may reduce a man’s risk of colon cancer by over 50 per cent, says a new observational study from Japan.

Malt extract deal covers Middle East, Poland and Belgium

15-Mar-2010 - Dutch malt extract firm Diastatische Products is eyeing new opportunities for its malt extract ingredients in Belgium, Poland and the Middle East, and has a new distribution agreement with Univar to help it tap them.

Research investigates what consumers see as 'natural'

11-Mar-2010 - An investigation into what the term ‘natural’ means for consumers has concluded that manufacturers wanting to position products as natural should use ingredients that have undergone physical rather than chemical processing, process less, and label chemical names rather than E-numbers.

Milk protein complexes may hold key to WOW emulsions

11-Mar-2010 - Using conjugates of caseinates from milk and maltodextrin may improve the stability of double emulsions, and lead to a wider acceptance of the technology in a range of food applications.

Cocoa compounds may ease exercise-related heart function

10-Mar-2010 - Consumption of a beverage rich in cocoa flavanols may boost blood flow to the muscles and ease the demands on the heart during exercising, says a new study from Australia.

Weekly comment

EFSA’s antioxidant rejections could be blessing in disguise

08-Mar-2010 - Timber! The latest axe blow from EFSA has fallen, and this time it has taken one of the biggest trees in the nutrition forest: Antioxidants. But let’s not mourn the loss of the tree; let’s look forward to the new opportunities a clear view of the sky can give.

Hydrocolloids may inhibit acrylamide formation

08-Mar-2010 - Common hydrocolloids like pectin may inhibit the formation of acrylamide in French fries by up to 60 per cent, according to new research from China.

Australian scientists developing omega-3-rich plant sources

08-Mar-2010 - Scientists in the employ of an Australian government scientific research body have developed plant prototypes genetically modified to boost their omega-3 content beyond alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Heart health ingredient benefits weight management and digestion

03-Mar-2010 - A new hearth health fiber ingredient made from vegetarian sources may also benefit weight management and digestive health.

Soy again linked to male infertility: Mouse study

03-Mar-2010 - Long-term consumption of a soy-rich diet may decrease a male’s sperm count, says a study with mice.

News in brief

Fenchem rolls out contract manufacturing for supplements

03-Mar-2010 - China’s Fenchem Biotek has announced the launch of a contract manufacturing service system for the dietary supplement market. A spokesperson for the company...

Carvacrol is effective antimicrobial for cereal dough, study

02-Mar-2010 - Antimicrobial compounds such as carvacrol and 2-Nitro-1-propanol (2NPOH) are effective inhibitors of pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7 and B.cereus and can be used with foods including cereal dough to prevent spoilage, claims a new study.

Should we be worried about antimony levels in juices?

01-Mar-2010 - A recent study uncovering levels of antimony in juices above EU limits for drinking water has provoked calls for more research into the issue but industry insists that juices are safe.

China melamine-tainted milk health threats assessed

24-Feb-2010 - Tens of thousands of Chinese children sickened by melamine-tainted milk showed signs of kidney damage months afterwards - with the potential for long-term harm a serious concern, said new research.

Firmenich shores up presence in Dubai

17-Feb-2010 - Firmenich has announced the opening of a new affiliate in Dubai, in a bid to deepen its understanding of Middle Eastern consumers’ flavour and fragrance preferences.

News in brief

Most melamine contaminated product destroyed, says China

17-Feb-2010 - China declared this week that most melamine-tainted dairy products have been destroyed over the past three months.

Seaweed extract shows joint health promise

15-Feb-2010 - An extract from brown seaweed may reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis by up to 52 per cent, suggests results from phase I and II clinical trials from Australia.

News in brief

Umami in a tube hits shelves

12-Feb-2010 - A new cooking aid is now being sold by Waitrose supermarkets in the UK, to allow home cooks to give an umami kick to dishes they make.

Saturated fats not linked to heart disease: Meta-analysis

12-Feb-2010 - Dietary intakes of saturated fats are not linked to cardiovascular disease, so says a meta-analysis of 21 studies from across the world.

Penford develops gluten-free ingredients for mainstream products

11-Feb-2010 - Penford Food Ingredients has developed new ingredients systems to make crispy coatings and baked goods that “just happen to be gluten-free”, the company says.

Layered gels may help sugar reduction

09-Feb-2010 - By controlling the distribution of sugar in a gelled product, the overall sugar concentration may be lowered without affecting the perceived sweetness, says a new study from Sweden.

Soy may reduce diabetes risk in overweight women

04-Feb-2010 - Increased intakes of soy and its isoflavones may decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes in overweight women, says a new study from Japan.

Omega-3 may boost kidney health in diabetics: Study

03-Feb-2010 - Supplements of omega-3 fatty acids may improve the kidney health of diabetics, say results of a double-blind placebo-controlled trial from Hong Kong.