Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

New Zealand aims to put kiwi supplement on global market

Seeka Kiwifruit Industries, New Zealand's largest kiwifuit supply company, says it is to extend its business portfolio into the nutraceutical world by investing further in health supplements business Vital Foods.

SABMiller chief outlines beer market prospects

Consumers all over the world are trading up for their drinks, says SABMiller's chief executive, telling an analyst conference how the beer industry can secure long-term growth.

Scientists designing the perfect dairy cow

Scientists in Australia have made a breakthrough in the quest to genetically engineer the perfect dairy herd by discovering how to multiply and isolate stem cells found in cow embryos.

Southeast Asia offers opportunities for nutraceuticals

The nutraceuticals market in Southeast Asia has high growth potential but companies must invest heavily in advertising to help consumers understand the health benefits, says new strategic analysis from Frost and Sullivan.

Ingredients for innovation: New Zealand

Joint health from sheeps' wool, kiwi fruit crossed with berries and calcium-boosting bone extract… innovative ingredients from a small Pacific archipelago are starting to make a disproportionately big impact in the world of nutrition.

Danisco targets Chinese cultures growth

Danisco Cultures is expanding its involvement in the Asian market with the launch of its patented Yo-Mix Real Quick freeze-dried cultures.

China growth luring foreign dairy firms

China is luring more and more of the world's dairy firms through a strong growth in domestic demand, says a new report, indicating European companies have some ground to catch up.

Special report

FDA re-opens probe into benzene contamination of soft drinks

US food safety authorities have re-opened an investigation closed 15 years ago into soft drinks contaminated with cancer-causing chemical benzene, following evidence the industry has failed to sort out the problem, BeverageDaily.com can reveal.

Australia requires black cohosh liver warning

Australia's Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) has taken a tough stance over the safety record of black cohosh, requiring that OTC and alternative medicines containing the herbal must carry a warning for the potential harm to the liver.

Fastest aseptic filling machine goes global

Tetra Pak yesterday announced the global availability of what it claims is the fastest aseptic filling machine for family packages available worldwide.

Emerging markets lift PepsiCo sales

Emerging markets across Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America came good for both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola in 2005, increasing their importance in the two rivals' growth strategies.

SABMiller buys into China's beer-loving Fujian province

SABMiller has moved further into southern China by spending $8.9m to acquire another brewery, hoping to take advantage of the area's above average beer consumption.

Vitaquest majority stake sold to Hong Kong group

CK Life Sciences is poised to make a splash in the US nutraceutical market, with the acquitisition of a majority stake in Vitaquest.

Fortified food may aid Malaysian folate deficiency

The majority of Malaysian women lack folate in their diets, raising their risk of having children with birth defects, says an independent study sponsored by dairy group Fonterra.

DSM targets China with new flavour technology

DSM's development of a patented new flavour technology in China illustrates how increasingly important this region is becoming to European flavour firms.

South Korea bans Belgian pork in dioxin crisis

South Korea has banned pork imports from Belgium and the Netherlands after feed given to pigs and poultry there was found to be contaminated with harmful dioxins.

Hite plans big bottled water launch in South Korea

South Korean brewer Hite announced Friday it work with Jinro, the country's leading distiller, to create the leading bottled water brand on the national market.

US to hold South Korea trade talks

South Korea and the United States are set to begin talks on a free trade agreement that promises to benefit food and drink sector firms on both sides of the Pacific.

Fonterra partners US dairy for whey protein research

Fonterra, New Zealand's largest dairy co-operative, has formed a research partnership with the US dairy industry, in an international approach to promoting and proving health claims for dairy products.

Tetra Pak to use stronger, thinner polymer pack

Tetra Pak has started the worldwide rollout of a stronger but thinner polymer packaging for liquid products, promising companies it will help them cut costs and meet recycling standards.