Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

Omega-3 may reduce risk of dental disease: Study

Increased levels of omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) may decrease the risk of dental diseases, suggests a new study from Japan.

Acrylamide formation higher in dry fat-rich foods: Study

Dry food containing low amounts of carbohydrates are at risk of increased acrylamide levels, says a new study sponsored by the European Science Foundation.

X-ray machines boost detection and throughput for can lines

Enhanced detection, faster throughput and lower total cost of ownership are the benefits of upgrades to two X-ray inspection machines for use on can production lines, said Mettler Toledo Safeline.

Sustainable packaging definitions and principles agreed

Global leaders across the packaging, food manufacturing and retail sectors have approved a set of common definitions and principles for sustainable packaging.

News in brief

Nestle to move on Hershey, report

Swiss food giant Nestlé is understood to be looking at acquiring US confectioner Hershey, following on the heels of rival Kraft Foods takeover of Cadbury, reports Reuters.

Study questions sucralose stability in bakery

Bakery formulators who use ingredients like glycerol or fats should exercise caution when using sucralose, suggests a new study from Canada.

'Revolutionary' fruit punnet to aid shelf life extension

A “revolutionary” ventilation system for a new soft fruit punnet reduces condensation by 20 per cent to help extend shelf life, said manufacturer Sharp Interpack.

News in brief

Internet opens up Europe to counterfeit Alli

The arrival of counterfeit weight loss drug Alli in the US has led to warnings in Britain of the danger of buying OTC medicines from unregulated websites.

Bakery supplier boosts presence in China

Emerging markets continue to attract both food processors and equipment suppliers, with AMF Bakery Systems, a leading supplier of bakery equipment in North America, recently expanding its footprint in the Asia Pacific region.

Yakult to commence US production in 2012

Japanese probiotics pioneer, Yakult Honsha, will commence manufacturing its little probiotic dairy bottles in the US for the first time in 2012, the company has announced, as it seeks to move into eastern seaboard US states.

Weekly comment

Cheesed off – jingoism takes the spoils in the Cadbury battle

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, quipped Mark Twain. Predictions of the demise of Cadbury following the approval of Kraft’s offer are premature and are flawed by knee-jerk anti-Americanism.

Green tea antioxidants more bioavailable than thought?

The bioavailability of antioxidant catechins from green tea may be more than previously thought, says a new study from Italy.

Indian probiotics market to quadruple by 2015

India’s probiotics market has been highlighted by researcher Frost & Sullivan as a “major growth market of the future”, with annual growth of 22.6 per cent until 2015.

Rosemary extract beats synthetics for edible oil preservation

A carnosic acid-rich extract from rosemary may extend the shelf-life of sunflower oil, and perform better than synthetic preservatives, says a new study.

Bad weather in China contributes to flat SABMiller volumes

SABMiller has reported disappointingly flat beer sales as South African volumes continue to slide and heavy snow and wet weather suppress Chinese demand.

New salt database may ‘inform future innovation’

Australian researchers have produced a new database detailing the sodium contents of hundreds of processed foods, which may help for future research on sodium consumption and reduction in foods.

Timeline: Cadbury and Kraft do battle

Kraft has struck an £11.7bn deal to acquire Cadbury in a move that could bring to an end months of fierce corporate battles, and Confectionerynews.com has constructed a timeline of key events in the takeover saga.

Tea compounds may boost attention span: Unilever

The tea compounds L-theanine and caffeine at levels obtained in a single cup of tea may improve attention, says a new study from Unilever.

Nestlé target elderly with high-dose drink

Nestlé has launched a 200mL nutrient drink in Switzerland targeting the malnourished elderly – a segment of the population it says is deficient in key nutrients such as vitamin D, calcium and protein.

Special edition: Weight managment

Asia proving growing market in weight control sector

As levels of obesity continue to rise on a global scale, Nutraingredients looks at the market for weight management dietary supplements, food and beverage products.

Ethnic food tastes gain US following

Foods from Peru, Japan, Morocco and Korea have the potential to become food trends, offering formulators a new range of ingredients to play with, says a new report from Packaged Facts and the Center for Culinary Development.

Weekly comment

Why Haiti must stay on the CSR agenda

50,000 and counting. We'll probably never know exactly how many perished in the 7.0 earthquake that brought Haiti, quite literally, crashing down last Tuesday, 12th January 2010, just before 5pm. But for those who survived and who make it through the hard days, weeks and months ahead, getting enough to eat will be a long term challenge.

Grapefruit juice may boost CoQ10 uptake: Study

A glass of grapefruit juice may improve intestinal absorption of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) by almost 50 per cent, says a new study from Japan.

News in brief

Gene breakthrough unlocks pink tomatoes

Israel-based researchers have identified a gene in tomatoes responsible for a pink fruit, popular with Far Eastern diners.

Green tea may slash lung cancer risk

Smokers who did not drink green tea at all may have a 13-fold increased risk of lung cancer, compared with those who drank at least one cup per day, suggests a new study from Taiwan.

News in brief

Weight loss products lead Korean approvals

Body fat burning products intended for weight loss were the largest portion of recent Korea Food and Drug Administration functional foods authorisations.

News in brief

India plans 30 mega food parks by 2012

The Indian Government has announced plans to set up 30 mega food processing parks by the end of 2012.

Cadbury shares up on reports of Hershey bid

Cadbury shares rose today on the back of media report that indicated that US chocolate maker, Hershey’s could be set to make a counter-bid for the UK confectioner, already the focus of a hostile bid from Kraft Foods.

Vitamin E may boost brain health after stroke

Tocotrienols may prevent nerve cell death in the brain following a stroke, suggests new research on this emerging form of vitamin E.

New cleaner tackles zero trans fat oil stains on machinery

A breakthrough cleaning gel has been developed to help food processors deal with the growing problem of cleaning zero trans fat oils from machinery and surfaces, said manufacturer Ecolab.

New machine promises improved pomegranate juice

Hefestus is launching a processing machine for pomegranate fruit that allows firms to squeeze a juice at a reduced cost without the bitter tasting peel.

India set for food packaging revolution

Food packaging in India will undergo huge changes in the next five years as companies increasingly use it as an important vehicle for product differentiation, said a report from Datamonitor.

Analyst unpicks impact of melamine scandal on Chinese dairy industry

A leading food analyst has warned that the latest Chinese melamine scandal will set back the local dairy industry at least two years.

Consumer group urges bisphenol A and phthalate phase out

An Australian consumer group has urged the food industry to phase out the use of bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates in packaging on health fears.

Weekly comment

Cold snap could last longer for food sector

“More snow on the way.” So say the weathermen, and Europe is stocking up and hunkering down for a long, cold winter. But while the fluffy flakes will halt, at least come Spring, for the food sector the chill could be felt throughout 2010.

Melamine scandal 'potentially very damaging' to Chinese ingredients industry

A leading food analyst has warned that the latest Chinese melamine scandal could have a major impact on global trade in food ingredients.

Japan to ban 125 nutrients including glucosamine form

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has signaled its intention to blacklist 125 nutrients including forms of glucosamine, aloe vera and krill because it says they are not being used in products, according to the US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS).

News in brief

Burger King releases ‘gluten-sensitive’ menu list

Rising demand for gluten-free foods has seen an increasing variety on the market, as well as gluten-free labels appearing on products that always were gluten-free.

Martens China picks Bericap scavenging closure for PET beers

Bericap has signed a new deal with Martens China to supply the brewer with a SuperShorty scavenging closure for its PET beer bottles.

Cognis boosts its Malaysian presence

Cognis has set up an affiliate in Malaysia to maximise what it views as the growth potential for wellness products in that country.

Foodborne disease threat to global health security - WHO

Foodborne diseases are a risk to global health security and any solutions to bolster food safety must be international ones, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report has said.

Vitamins and minerals may slash bladder cancer risk

Increased intakes of vitamin E may reduce the risk of bladder cancer by about 35 per cent, says a new study from an international team of researchers

Sherbet Fountains heads to Australia in export push

Tangerine Confectionery has signed its “biggest ever” export deal in Australia as the British company looks to capitalise on demand for heritage brands in foreign markets.

UK issues herbal viagra warning

Following global product recalls, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has warned the public off all herbal products offering to treat erectile dysfunction.

Alert widens over iodine-tainted soya milk

Ireland has become the latest country to issue a food safety alert over iodine-contaminated soya milk from Japan believed to have sickened 10 people in Australia.

Amcor gets US approval for Alcan takeover

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has given partial approval for Amcor’s takeover of Alcan after announcing it would now limit its review to Alcan’s Medical Flexible operations.

Study questions ginkgo biloba for brain health

Daily supplements of Gingko biloba do not slow the decline in brain function that occurs naturally with age, according to the largest study of its kind.

Tea prices could prompt over-supply, warns FAO

Record world tea prices in 2009 could cause some tea producers to plant more crops and lead to eventual oversupply to the market, the FAO warns.