Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

News in brief

San Miguel to buy Australasian packaging company

16-Dec-2009 - San Miguel Corp is poised to acquire a majority stake in Australasian packaging company Cospak Group as part of its expansion strategy in the region.

EU clears Amcor takeover of Alcan

15-Dec-2009 - Amcor’s takeover of Alcan has been cleared by the European Commission after the Australian company agreed to sell off two pharmaceutical and food packaging plants in Spain.

Weekly comment

Bisphenol A becomes test of leadership for FDA

14-Dec-2009 - Each day the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dithers in delivering its verdict on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA), its authority is diminished and its credibility wanes.

UN agencies to hold bisphenol A safety summit

09-Dec-2009 - Two United Nations bodies are to convene an international meeting on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging over growing anxiety of the chemical’s possible threat to human health.

Asian food growth to drive flexible packaging sales recovery

03-Dec-2009 - Destocking, and lower volume orders have kept flexible packaging demand static in 2009, but growth is expected to return, as packaged food takes off in India and China, according to a new report.

Amcor ready to sell to safeguard Alcan deal

26-Nov-2009 - Amcor has indicated it would be prepared to sell a flexible packaging business to address European Union anti-trust fears over its proposed takeover of Alcan.

News in brief

Ajinomoto brands aspartame AminoSweet

25-Nov-2009 - Ajinomoto has unveiled a new brand name for its aspartame sweetener which draws on its origin from amino acids.

Scientist defends study linking phthalates to feminising boys

19-Nov-2009 - The leading scientist of research that suggests boys exposed to phthalates during pregnancy have more feminine play habits has defended the report after a chemical industry body disputed its reliability.

PureCircle raises $67.18m for stevia investment

18-Nov-2009 - Sweetener company PureCircle has raised $67.18m through share placing to invest in the development of its natural sweetener products made from stevia leaves.

Coca-Cola packaging redesign spearheads global strategy

18-Nov-2009 - Coca-Cola is to create a single global packaging design for its key juice brands as part of a bid to cement its market leadership in the sector, the company has announced.

Coca-Cola begins global launch of plant-based PET bottle

17-Nov-2009 - Coca-Cola Co yesterday announced the selective global roll-out of its new PET bottle made from up to 30 per cent plant materials such as sugar and molasses.

Packaging innovation aimed at low scale confectionery makers

13-Nov-2009 - A new digital press can provide cost effective customised decoration of metal containers for eco-conscious confectionery makers involved in small volume applications, claims a US speciality packaging firm.

Male impotence risk from bisphenol A exposure - Study

13-Nov-2009 - High-level exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) in the workplace could increase the risk of male sexual dysfunction, including erectile and ejaculation problems, new research has said.

Study reconfirms bisphenol A safety, says industry

12-Nov-2009 - Trade bodies on both sides of the Atlantic have welcomed a recent study sponsored by a US Government agency that bisphenol A (BPA) has no adverse effect on the reproductive function or behaviour of rats.

Paper proving source of antioxidants for Swiss firm

02-Nov-2009 - A Swiss company extracting what it claims are antioxidant polyphenols from pulp and paper processing waste is to scale up the project to offer the product as a functional food ingredient.

Amcor's global vision after Alcan merger

23-Oct-2009 - Plant closures, overhead reductions and improved procurement will be the major platforms for up to A$250m (€154.2m) of savings Amcor forecasts it will realise in the three years following its takeover of Alcan.

EFSA approval for food contact materials

21-Oct-2009 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has given food contact approval for two new substances, both from Japanese companies, to be used in plastic packaging.

China packaging firm reaps rewards from food safety law

20-Oct-2009 - A specialist packaging company in China has said the newly implemented food safety law has boosted business as it announced it had secured a lucrative contract with the leading domestic meat processor.

Coca-Cola opens new $88m bottling plant in China

16-Oct-2009 - Coca-Cola has announced its single largest drinks investment in China with the opening of a RMB 600m ($88m) bottling plant.

Chinese funding to cut specialist food packaging imports

14-Oct-2009 - A Chinese packaging company said it is to receive multi-million dollar government funding to expand its operations and reduce domestic reliance on specialist packing imports.

New multilayer food contact approved films claimed to be a breakthrough

08-Oct-2009 - More sustainable food packaging which delivers longer shelf life are the benefits claimed for the new multilayer films from resins supplier Cardia Bioplastics.

News in brief

New boost for recycled PET

07-Oct-2009 - Plastic food packaging provider, Par-Pak plans to invest in a process that will decontaminate and purify recycled PET so that it can be re-used for food packaging.

Developing countries to drive growth for flexible food packaging

30-Sep-2009 - Global demand for converted flexible packaging is forecast to grow by 3.5 per cent/year to more than 19m tonnes in 2013, according to a new study from Freedonia.

New Indian can-end plant signals soaring canned food sales

28-Sep-2009 - A new metal easy open can-end manufacturing plant is planned for Mysore, Karnataka state, southern India.