Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

China earthquake caused $6bn damage to Sichuan agriculture

Last month's devastating earthquake in China has severely damaged the country's agricultural supply, resulting in $6bn (€3.8bn) worth of damage in the Sichuan province.

First fruits born out of Blue Pacific-HortResearch collaboration

Blue Pacific and HortResearch have finalised their license agreement for the development and commercialization of natural fruit flavors, and the first two products under their new hortRealfruit brand are being launched this week.

Weekly comment

The food industry after Lisbon

In the face of another rejection of a European Union treaty, the bloc's food industry has one glaring path ahead: business as normal.

Probiotic supplements target Chinese consumers

A Chinese probiotics specialist is hoping to tap China's burgeoning middle class by inking a deal that will see its specialist probiotic strains used in a range of dietary supplements.

NutraCea takes rice bran oil production to China

NutraCea has announced plans to construct the largest rice bran oil refinery in the world, a move that comes just months after the firm entered the edible oil market.

Givaudan assists citrus innovation with taste programme

Following substantial investment and global research, Givaudan has developed an in-depth profile of wide ranging orange flavours and identified key future trends to help customer innovation.

Unlocking cocoa genome to relieve supply threats for chocolate makers?

Quality and supplies for the key ingredient in chocolate - cocoa - may gain from a new project that sees Mars link up with the US goverment and IBM to unlock the cocoa genome.

Nutrinova pushes up sorbates prices again

German ingredients company Nutrinova has increased the price of its sorbate products by an average of 10 per cent, effective from next week or "as contracts allow".

Danisco ingredients suffer from low demand and high prices

Danisco's emulsifiers sector is getting back on track after being affected by rising cost prices, but global supply issues have impacted heavily on its sweeteners division.

Solutions abound for polyphenol-fortified milk: study

Adding fruit flavours and cyclodextrin to milk may boost consumer acceptance of polyphenol-enriched dairy, without the need for added sugar, report New Zealand scientists.

New bread aromas enhance taste in salt reduced products

Ingredients and flavours supplier Synergy has developed a range of natural bread aromas designed to capture artisan bakery qualities in products with a reduced salt content.

Gluten-free bakery gets boost from enzyme: study

Baking gluten-free breads for the ever-growing coeliac population may be possible using brown rice and buckwheat flours and adding the transglutaminase enzyme, according to results of a European project.

Industry on-board with anti-acrylamide enzyme, says Novozymes

Acrylaway, the acrylamide-reducing enzyme from Novozymes, has received approval in a slate of countries worldwide and is now being applied across broad range of bakery and snack products.

Cargill launches xanthan gum made in China

Cargill has started production of two new xanthan gum products out of its facility in China, after implementing technology transfer from France and ensuring quality and safety standards meet requirements.

Weekly comment

GM: Breaking the stalemate

Food industry voices are joining those of politicians in the GM debate, hailing the controversial technology as the answer to the food supply crisis. But the hearts and minds of consumers must still be won.

Wild gives an exotic twist to citrus flavours

Wild is broadening its offering of citrus flavours with the addition of three exotic fruits to its range: dalandan, kalmansi and yuzu.

Chr Hansen launches standardised hibiscus extract

Chr Hansen is introducing a new natural hibiscus extract to give a bright red colour to beverages that also comes with a standardised anthocyanin content.

Green banana fibres could give noodles nutrient boost

Resistant starch from the green fruits of plantain and banana may boost the fibre content of foods such as instant noodles, suggests new research.

Organic combination could build fairtrade awareness

Organic certification in tandem with fairtrade can help raise awareness for ethical sourcing amongst consumers, says Organic Monitor, but the two systems are unlikely to merge entirely into one.

Innovation required to milk sheep and camel dairy potential

Milk derived from sheep, buffalo and even camels could open up promising new avenues for dairy processors, providing that innovation and investment is made to squeeze their potential.

'Greener' sucralose processing could enter market

Lexington Pharmaceutical is seeking global manufacturing partners for its innovative sucralose process, which it claims is greener than methods used by leading competitors.

High fibre barley provides bakers with health spin

Bakers designing muffin and bread formulations for the health conscious consumer can soon access a high-fibre barley grain as Australia's national science laboratory (CSIRO) signs a deal to bring large scale commercial crops of its Barleymax grain to food makers.

Costs for liquorice extracts continue to rise on global shortages

Confectionery makers can expect price pressures to continue in 2008 for liquorice extracts as demand on global stocks impacts the supply line.

GM crops restrain price rises, says economist

The present food supply crisis would be worse if it were not for commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops over the last 12 years, claims a new economic report.

Flavour challenges key for folic acid in dairy

The choice of flavour may be key to consumer acceptance of folic acid fortified yoghurts and other dairy, suggests a new study from the US.

Natreon takes functional extracts to Asia

Ingredients firm Natreon is set to expand its reach in the Asian market after teaming up with Maypro, a US-based firm with a strong presence in the Japanese and Asian markets for functional foods and dietary supplements.

Weekly comment

The value of hyperactive curiosity

For a little yellow flower, it's ignited a huge debate. Believe the headlines and St John's wort won't help hyperactive kids, but last week's study asks more questions than it answers. It's time to put funding disclosures in the dock.

Sugar beet pectin outperforms gum arabic: study

The potential rise of sugar beet pectin use in the food industry could see it substitute for gum arabic in emulsions, according to new results from Wales.

Rice future dependent on science here and now: IRRI

As food prices and demand continue to dominate global politics, Dr. Achim Dobermann, newly appointed deputy director general for research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), talked to FoodNavigator about the science and future of rice.

Vegetable oil prices set to stay high, US warns

Vegetable oil prices are expected to remain high into the coming 2008/09 season as surging demand from the developing world outpaces production, predicts the US agriculture department.

Organic market should remain resilient amid spiralling costs

The growing success of the organic market will be only slightly marred by soaring food prices, which are tightening consumers' purse strings across Europe, say industry experts.

Commercial emulsifier may hold key to whipped cream mimicry

Use of the commercial emulsifier lactam may help food scientists crack how to produce emulsions that mimic traditional whipped cream, says new research.

Bacteria strain shows promise as natural meat preservative

The lactic acid bacteria strain Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 can provide a natural preservative for craft dry-fermented sausages, according to a new study.

High costs for cocoa to prevail on stock shortfall

High prices for cocoa manufacturers will prevail as an investment bank predicts a third successive global cocoa deficit in 2008/09.

Weekly comment

Food crisis: Time to stop the squabbling

Bickering gets you nowhere. It's a lesson to be learned early in life, but which seems easily forgotten when it comes to tough political issues like measures to curb the food crisis.

Chinese MSG exporters to EU to pay stiff anti-dumping tariffs

The European Commission has imposed anti-dumping tariffs of almost 40 per cent on monosodium glutamate (MSG) imported to the EU from China, following an investigation into the effects of lower-priced imports on EU industry.

Microbubbles could extend shelf-life on food foams

Microscale bubbles could whip up a range of long-lived, stable foam products whilst giving formulations interesting sensory properties, according to research published in Science.

Rome Food Security Summit

Summit ends with call for more aid

The FAO food security summit concluded with a declaration calling for the international community to step up assistance to developing countries, but no decision is reached on biofuels policy.

US and Japan forming health food alliance

Two leading US nutrition groups are teaming up with a Japanese counterpart to combine their knowledge in a bid to meet both the domestic and international challenges facing the industry.

Symrise strengthens position in Asian markets

Flavours and fragrance company Symrise will open a creative centre in Shanghai, China in an attempt to capitalise on the potential of this growing market.

Rome Food Security Summit

Boost production to ease the food crisis, says UN chief

Stepping up food production and ending trade restrictions could lift millions out of poverty while helping bring down soaring prices, said UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon.

Globalisation raises food safety fears, says microbiologist

The trend towards importing more food from developing countries is opening up Western countries to greater food safety risks, says a US microbiologist, and food processors have a duty to conduct the necessary checks.

EU slaps anti-dumping duties on Chinese citric acid

The European Union has slapped anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports of citric acid after an investigation concluded two European producers have been injured by unfair competition.

News briefs: Campina, Fonterra and Emmi

This week, Campina invests in its German liquid milk operations, Emmi sells off its stake in cheese group Baer and Fonterra increases its predicted member payout for the current season.

Natural anti-browning agents give fresh cut fruit potential

Natural sulphur containing-compounds may prevent the browning of fresh-cut fruit, and offer a more potent alternative to vitamin C, suggests new research from Spain.

Weekly comment

Yesterday's food complacency proves hard to swallow

For too long, the developed world has taken food for granted. For years, ample food stocks, a well-supplied export trade and rapidly rising agricultural productivity have confined food fears, in the west at least, to history and the memories of older generations.

Orange essential oils show promise as natural antimicrobials

A new study adds to existing evidence that orange essential oils could prove useful in the formulation of all-natural and organic ingredients that live up to stringent food safety standards.