Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

Weekly comment

Temporary workers and corporate responsibility

As ever more food companies find themselves in the position of having employed migrants who were mistreated by illegal labour providers, it may be time for firms to start taking more responsibility for the temporary workers many of them rely on.

Barry Callebaut takes majority stake in Malaysian cocoa firm

Swiss chocolate company Barry Callebaut is to purchase a 60 per cent share of Malaysia's KL Kepong Cocoa Products in a move designed to increase its sourcing capacity in Asia.

International probiotic group establishes quality seal standards

The International Probiotics Association (IPA) has set criteria for a mooted labeling scheme that will allow probiotics products to bear a quality seal.

Industry cooperation needed for applying rice tests

The food industry is being asked to work with the European Commission to implement testing measures for rice imports from China to prevent unauthorised GM material entering the European food system.

Danisco Sugar beats Q3 expectations

Danisco has reported a better-than-expected Q3 for its sugar division due, despite a challenging market and lower prices.

British food loses export crutch

Food From Britain (FFB) is to wind down its operations as of March 2009, following the withdrawal of funding from the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Vitamin K benefits hip fractures

New research has concluded vitamin K2 consumption can aid recovery from hip fractures as well as have potential osteoporosis benefits.

Meiji recalls GM sweetener in Japan

Japan's leading chocolate maker Meiji Seika has recalled a range of confectionery products, after it was discovered that they contained a novel sweetener made with an unapproved genetically modified enzyme.

Kraft attacked over China relocation plans

A labour union at Kraft's Chinese division said the firm violated labour laws by not adequately informing its employees about the relocation of its headquarters in the country, according to local news reports.

News briefs: Chocolate, nut and cracker recalls

Over the last two weeks alone, Cadbury Adams has recalled Mini Eggs because of a nut trace, Wholesnax failed to label the presence of soya in its nuts, and a Korean company may have surprised one poor consumer with a rat's head.

Nestle chief warns biofuels threaten food supplies

Nestle SA chief executive Peter Braback condemns proposals for increasing biofuel production as morally unacceptable, warning they will have devastating effects on food supplies.

Cargill launches food safety programme with China

US food and agriculture company Cargill is to establish a joint food safety management training programme with China's Quality, Inspection and Quarantine Service (AQSIQ).

Weekly comment

Calm crucial for energy products

Energy drinks are a runaway success but extreme marketing and product formulation has the potential to cast a shadow over the multi-billion dollar global industry.

NutraSweet defends Chinese IP rights

Sweetener producer NutraSweet has said it will take legal action against counterfeiters in China who, it alleges, are infringing its intellectual property rights.

Gene silencing tool could lead to improved rice varieties

A new gene-silencing tool could be used to develop rice varieties with specific characteristics, including improved nutritional value, according to scientists in Germany.

News briefs: Cocoa, Cadbury and Sweet China

In financial news this week, cocoa prices go up yet again, Cadbury reveals more de-merger plans, and Sweet China is allowed to return to the London stock market.

Foster's turns back on 'added energy' drinks

Foster's today announced that it will immediately remove added energy and higher alcohol ready to drink (RTD) brands from its portfolio of goods sold in Australia due to concerns about irresponsible drinking.

Iodine fortification mandatory for NZ bakers

Bakers in New Zealand will now by law have to fortify bread products with iodine, as regulators in the country attempt to boost consumption of the essential nutrient.

FDA plans wider foreign inspection approach

The US Food and Drug administration (FDA) is seeking permission from the Chinese government to install eight full time FDA officials in the country, as part of plans to improve monitoring of exported food manufacturing across the globe.

Weekly comment

Allergen-free: time for clarity

Claiming 'free from' is not a light statement to make. Lives depend on it. As scientific progress questions the validity of such claims, it is time to establish exact guidelines and communicate these to people for whom ingredients are a matter of life and death.

Study finds glass bottling produces similar carbon emissions to PET

A study published by WRAP suggests that the bottling of Australian wine in the UK using light glass bottles with a high recycled content produces roughly the same CO2 emissions during production and transportation as PET bottling.

Healthy confectionery to drive billion dollar market growth

A new report predicts that healthier eating patterns and strong economic growth, in both developing and developed markets, will boost global confectionery sales to $159.6bn by 2010.

FDA to step up checks on Chinese food

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to begin carrying out checks on Chinese food products following approval from the State Department.

New proposal for global, legal junk food ad ban

A new code that would restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods to children has been proposed by two international lobby groups who claim the food industry is failing to self-regulate, especially in developing countries.

Wheat disease threatens global crops

A new strain of a major fungal disease in wheat is now wiping out crops across Africa and Asia, sparking fears that manufacturers will be forced to pay even more for the vital commodity.

Nestle product price-hikes drive growth

Nestle has seen a strong start to 2008, partly thanks to its strategy of increasing product prices quickly in line with commodity price increases.

Lutein, zeaxanthin for AMD protection: more science

Higher intakes of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin in the diet may slash the risk of age-related macular degeneration by 65 per cent, suggests a new study from Down Under.

Coconut oil prices to stay bullish

Coconut oil prices are set to stay high this year, pushing food makers to look at innovative ways of reducing their costs.

Healthier products rely less on commodity ingredients

Canny formulation of structured emulsions like spreads, dressings and mayonnaise can enable manufacturers to meet two objectives: delivering healthier products and reducing high-cost commodities, according to a Unilever R&D expert.

Green group calls for halt on nanotechnology

Environmental group Friends of the Earth (FOE) has called for a moratorium on the use of nanotechnology in the food chain, claiming insufficient research has been carried out into its effect on human health and the environment.

New Zealand launches NZ$1bn fund to boost food, farming sectors

New Zealand is to set up a NZ$1 billion (€520m) fund to boost the competitiveness of its food industry and farming sector.

FSA consults with industry on Chinese GM rice rules

UK-based processors are being consulted over plans by the country's Food Standards Agency for mandatory testing of Chinese rice imports over fears of contamination from unapproved Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).

White bread may bring greater disease risk

Foods with a high glycemic index (GI), such as most white breads, lead to a higher risk of certain health problems, according to researchers at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Europe proposes to test Indian guar gum for dioxins

The European Commission is proposing to test all guar gum from India for presence of the contaminant PCP as an interim measure to ensure ongoing supply of the thickening agent prior to the Indian authorities implementing tighter controls.

Danisco strengthens presence in India's budding markets

Ingredients company Danisco is responding to growing markets in India with the opening of two new manufacturing units focusing on functional systems and enzymes.

Weekly comment

Warning signs: reconsidering shock tactics

Here's a possible new marketing angle for food and beverage manufacturers: "Food can kill".

Rising costs push up Kyowa amino acid prices again

Kyowa Hakko has raised the cost of its L-amino acids range by 5 percent on the back of spiraling energy and raw material costs and a continuing increase in demand.

Ingredients and nutritionals drive Glanbia growth

Glanbia profited from higher dairy prices in 2007 to report a year of impressive growth, with the impact particularly shining through in its value-added ingredients and nutritional premix activities.

Mango to offer fibre boost for cookies

Extracts from mangos are a rich source of antioxidants and dietary fibre and can easily be used in bakery products to boost public consumption, suggests new research.

Air Products expands into Thailand

UK firm Air Products today announced the opening of a new technology centre in Thailand, as the company looks to market its food freezing expertise to Asian manufacturers.

ASA seeks end to soybean trade restrictions

The American Soybean Association (ASA) is calling for improved international market access for soybeans and European acceptance of biotechnology to enable freer trade.

Olive leaf liquid makes European debut in UK

Australian olive leaf extract pioneer, Olive Products Australia (OPA), has gained a European-first distribution deal in the UK for its high-antioxidant liquid supplement.

Nestle report focuses on corporate responsibility

A new report, released yesterday by Nestle, outlines the steps the company claims to have taken to make a positive social and environmental impact.

Micro-fibres enhance vitamin E delivery: study

The ability of fibres to bind vitamin E and improve delivery of the micronutrient may be increased almost 10-fold by making the fibres 'micro', Taiwanese researchers report.

Kill two birds with one stone: soy boosts bone and insulin

Supplements of soy isoflavones may lead to improvements in bone health and blood sugar metabolism, according to new research from Japan.

Weekly comment

The great food price smash-and-grab

While the world's media is bemoaning rising food prices, the French government is sniffing around the food industry for signs of gleeful profiteering. If it is right, the long-term losses of the nouveau cher will be far greater than the handful of centimes gained.