Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

Western retailers driving Asian Pacific RFID market

Asian Pacific uptake of radio frequency identification (RFID) to track products was worth €126.6 ($170.3) million in 2006, with the sales of the technology expected to reach €480.5 ($646.3) million by 2013, according market analysts.

Food Valley attracts first Japanese food company

Nippon Suisan Kaisha has become the first Japanese food company to set up R&D operations in The Netherlands' Food Valley to cater to the European consumer - and others are expected to follow suit.

Infant formula firm accused of recall cover-up

Wyeth, the Phillipines-based manufacturer of infant formula, has been accused of attempting a cover-up by the group which tipped off authorities that some of its products were contaminated.

South Korean strife set to continue for Diageo

Diageo's operations within the lucrative South Korean whisky market are facing further threats from ongoing investigations into its practices within the country, the company said today.

Crack-down continues as China closes 180 plants

China's government has closed down about 180 plants after inspections uncovered raw industrial materials in food products.

Row looms over food inspector shortages

Government plans to introduce a new qualification for Australian food safety inspectors have been rejected by an influencial professional body, potentially delaying training plans.

New technology mixes without stirring

A new method of mixing and heat exchange for highly viscous liquids without the use of traditional stirrers, has been developed by Australian scientists.

Indonesia gears up to meet rising cocoa demand

Indonesia is expecting an increase in the country's cocoa production, despite recent poor crops, according to local news media.

Weekly comment

Clinical trials - gold standard or white elephant?

Randomised clinical trials are the ultimate. Forget what the observational studies tell us, if the RCT gives us an answer it must be the final word, right? Wrong.

Let's get back to basics on Doha, says Lamy

Following the collapse of G4 talks on the Doha trade round on Thursday, WTO director general told the trade Negotiations Committee on Friday that it is time to reassert the basic principles of the round, and that the target has not changed.

Wahaha unhappy at chairman appointment

Danone's soap opera-like conflict with Chinese joint venture partner Wahaha continued to escalate yesterday, with the Asian firm attacking its newly appointed chairman.

China to introduce food recall framework

A food recall framework to tackle unsafe and unapproved products in China is expected to take shape by the end of the year.

Danisco blames revenue dip on EU sugar reform

Danisco suffered a 3 per cent drop in revenue in the 12 months to 30 April, blaming the fall on the EU's decision to cut subsidies for sugar.

Sidel opens PET machine plant in Malaysia

Sidel has opened a new production plant in Malaysia this week to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle blow moulding machines.

Australia gives go-ahead for GM wheat testing

The first ever Australian field trials of genetically modified wheat will take place in Victoria this year, as the government aims to fight possible food shortages caused by drought.

Chinese investigate GMO import allegations

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture is investigating allegations that products from two foreign companies contain unapproved genetically-modified (GM) ingredients.

Wahaha trademark risk for Danone

Danone's venture into China soured further this week after its partner, beverage firm Wahaha, applied for arbitration over a trade mark dispute.

Cadbury Schweppes makes offer on Japanese candy market

Cadbury Schweppes announced yesterday its move on Japanese functional candy company Sansei Foods, in a bid to expand its business further in the country's lucrative confectionery market.

Food allergies rise 12-fold in Australian children

Food allergies in Australian children have risen 12-fold since 1995 and there is an "urgent need" for further research into the trend, according to a new study.

Weekly comment

A sobering thought for the alcohol industry

Much against my own better judgement, there are some issues it seems, where corporate social responsibility must really live up to its name and truly look after its consumers.

Live at VinExpo

Economics and market trends guide buyers

Behind all the glasses of wine and spirits tasted here at one of the world's largest exhibitions in the trade, lies the hard economic facts.

Two runners left in Korean Coca-Cola sale

Australian soft drinks firm Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) will review the two remaining bids for its South Korean operations after a third bidder, a consortium of firms pulled out of the running on Wednesday.

Kiwis, dairy and alcohol top list of fakes, says OECD

Kiwis, conserved vegetables, milk powder, butter, ghee, baby food, instant coffee, alcohol, drinks, confectionery, and hi-breed corn seeds are among the most counterfeited articles in the world according to a new report.

Wahaha executives threaten to split from Danone

Wahaha's top executives and former chairman yesterday threatened to split the beverage firm from its joint venture partner, Danone, to form a new company.

Chinese import crackdown follows nut seizure

China yesterday launched a crackdown on US food imports following the seizure of "rancid" pistachio nuts, in a move that mirrors the treatment of exports going the other way.

Testing method speeds up detection of melamine

A new food contaminant testing method for melamine and cyanuric acid decreases the time it takes to get accurate results for meats, its developer claims.

China blocks food for biofuel

Chinese biofuel producers should only use non-food crops, the government said yesterday, following fears of shortages and further price rises that could occur as demand for greener energy increases.

New control-valve centre opens in China

Two technology centres have opened in Tianjin, China, it was announced today, to meet rising demand for control-valve and valve-automation by Asian Pacific processors.

Fungus to join mushrooming immune health market?

Consumption of the humble white button mushroom may boost the immune system and protect again infection, suggests a new animal study from the US.

Australian MP derides "Milk Sucks" campaign

An ongoing dispute over just how sweet and wholesome milk really is, could be about to get political, if Australia's shadow agricultural minister gets his way.

Indian joint venture turns tables on Danone

Group Danone is experiencing further set backs to its plan to expand its presence into Asia's booming dairy markets, as an Indian joint venture partner turns the tables on the dairy giant, according to press reports.

National Enzyme Company expands Chinese distribution

The National Enzyme Company (NEC) and Wedar Biotechnology have announced a distribution agreement for the NEC's BioCore line of enzymes in the Chinese market.

Food firms sign-up to Singapore waste plan

Packagers and processors in Singapore will work together to reduce the 100kg of waste thrown away by each person in the country every year, after signing an agreement with the government this week.

EU reveals Australian wine trade proposals

The EU has negotiated further safeguards for some of its most important trademarks like champagne and port, as part of proposed new wine trade reforms with Australia announced this week.

Freight rates and commodity prices rising

Record-high international freight rates and increasing commodity prices are raising the costs of imports, says a new forecast report.

Australian milk shortage forces cheese move

Milk production shortages have forced Murray Goulburn to move hard cheese making operations west, the company announced this week.

China announces food safety crackdown

China will ban bad foods and enforce stronger export controls as part of a long-term offensive, the government announced this week.

Cadbury sells businesses in three continents

Cadbury Schweppes today announced the sale of businesses in Australia, Canada and Italy, raising over £45m (€66.4m) towards its 2007 disposal target.

Howard's emission pledges could raise costs

The Australian prime minister John Howard's policy change on the environment could lead to tougher measures being imposed on food processors operating in the country.

Weekly comment

Could organic eat itself?

Just when organic food has begun to make a noticeable dent in the overall food market, air freighting - a measure that solves the segment's biggest current problem - is facing potential prohibition.

Australia launches logo for home-grown foods

The Australian government last week unveiled a new logo for food products either produced or grown in the country.

Food and drink counterfeit seizures fall

The amount of counterfeit food and drink products seized at the EU's borders decreased by 77 per cent in 2006, the European Commission said yesterday.