Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

Strategic focus directs corporate responsibility

The vast offer of aid to China following its devastating earthquake in May reflects the food industry’s increasing move towards displaying strategic corporate responsibility.

Unilever struggles in the economic gloom

Falling sales volumes, rising commodity costs and the strong Euro colluded in the second quarter to drag down Unilever’s profits.

Exclusive interview

Nurturing the next generation of food scientists

The number of food science graduates is falling across the globe, but measures are in place to halt the decline. Has disaster been averted? Is the industry’s future assured?

No deal for Doha. Deja vu

Spirits are low after the Doha trade talks in Geneva collapsed yesterday following an intense nine days of negotiations and are high unlikely to be resumed before January 2009 or later.

Study plays up skimmed milk sports hydration boost

Skimmed milk may become an unlikely new secret weapon within an athlete's kit bag, with new research linking the product to a beneficial effect on preventing dehydration after a workout.

Emerging markets and flavours a boon for Symrise

Symrise has reported good sales growth in local currencies the first half of 2008 driven by flavours and emerging markets, although fragrance growth was hit by the drop-off in consumer spending on luxury goods.

Coagulant designed to meet clean label dairy demand

A new coagulant product can ensure a preservative-free, cost effective enzyme for use in cheese production, according to its manufacturer.

Study links fruit drinks to sweet beverage diabetes risk

Sugar sweetened beverages like fruit-flavoured drinks may increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new US study.

Fructose again linked to fat build-up: study

Fat build-up from fructose consumption may be greater than what occurs when we eat other types of sugars, such as glucose and sucrose, according to a new study.

Treatt launches true-to-life natural fruity flavours

Treatt has expanded its portfolio of natural flavour ingredients with flavours distilled from fresh fruit, aiming to provide tastes that match as closely as possible to the real fruit.

Study links low sperm with high soy consumption

A new study has found that men who consume an average of half a portion of soy products per day are more likely to have a lower concentration of sperm, particularly if they are overweight or obese.

No short-term solutions for price struggles, says bakers group

Global concerns amongst bakers over high prices of their goods will not be alleviated overnight, even with the introduction of new support measures for the industry, says the director of trade body, the Bakers Federation.

Tate & Lyle gets go-ahead for sale to Bunge

The sale of Tate & Lyle’s international sugar trading business to US oilseed firm Bunge is now unconditional, removing the UK sweetener group from the volatile sugar market.

Danisco aims to milk probiotic immune system benefits

Danisco is launching a new protobiotic fortification for milk products in North America, which targets the market for immune-boosting children's products.

Goji berry juice improves energy, happiness: study

Consuming goji berry juice for two weeks increases feelings of general well-being and improves gastrointestinal functions, according to a new industry-sponsored clinical trial.

Organic nutritional advantages questioned again

A debate has ignited over the nutritional benefits of organic produce compared to conventional, with recent analysis disputing claims of its nutritional superiority.

Wild taps potential for fruit and blossom combos

Wild is extending its use of blossoms in flavour blends for use in beverages and other products, and is working with more companies to use the likes of lavender, rose and elderberry in combination with fruit flavours.

Lonza fibre ingredient OK'd in Australia

Swiss supplier Lonza has won approval to use its prebiotic Larch arabinogalactan ingredient in food supplements in Australia.

Weekly comment

Budweiser to be Belgian? Big deal

The news that all-American brewer Anheuser-Busch is to be sold to Belgium’s InBev for $52bn has made sports bar patrons across the US weep into their Budweisers. But the idea that an American firm must remain American for all time runs counter to the world of global commerce.

Mars shares sweets online with digital ad campaign

Confectionery behemoth Mars plunges into the world of online sharing, with the launch of an ad campaign for the Gummi Burst addition to its Starburst sweets line.

Givaudan alternatives to ease lemon oil squeeze

The high cost of citrus, mainly as a result of poor weather in prime growing regions, has led Givaudan to develop a new range of lemon oil replacers, which it claims are a precise match for the flavour profile and functionality.

Danone and Nestle face cost challenge head on

Food makers have faced a doubling of raw material and packaging costs in five years, but a recent report reveals the manufacturers are facing the challenge head on, with underlying business remaining resilient.

New developments in anti-acrylamide enzymes

DSM is introducing application-specific versions of its Preventase enzyme; meanwhile, Novozymes is launching Acrylaway in Australia and New Zealand after having received regulatory approval.

Encapsulation and fish dominate July's science

July started with IFT in New Orleans - always a time for innovation. The highlights of this month's science have been novel encapsulation and controlled release, and getting more from fish.

Steady citrus supplies whatever the weather

Ingredients companies may look to more consistent sources of citrus fruit outside of the US to compensate for Mother Nature, according to Blake Anderson, president of Symrise's North America flavor division.

Weekly comment

Diet better than statins in kids' cholesterol control

The prescribing of statins for eight years-olds is tantamount to saying that food and diet have failed, and that children are incapable of changing their eating habits and lifestyle.

Betapol approved for use in infant formula in China

Lipid Nutrition is set to launch Betapol in China, having received approval for the additive for infant formula from the Chinese Ministry of Health.

Colour and health driving rise of betalains

The potent antioxidant activity of pigments from beet and cactus pears may be the key to their potential, suggests a new review from Brazil.

Tetra Pak focuses on dairy solutions with acquisition

Swedish packaging firm Tetra Pak has acquired the assets of two Australian food processing companies, strengthening its portfolio of solutions for cheese and dairy powder.

Study may allay folic acid concerns

Concerns over folic acid promoting embryos in the womb with genotypes that increase the risk of disease in the offspring may be unfounded, according to new research.

Glanbia bolsters Chinese presence with new facility

After 20 years of doing business in China and the Asia Pacific, Irish-based dairy and ingredients group Glanbia has established its first plant in the Chinese city of Suzhou, near Shanghai.

Best practice for chocolate industry urgent, voices child labour watchdog

Herculean efforts are required by the global chocolate industry to ensure that sourced cocoa supplies are not linked to exploited or trafficked child labour, underlines labour watchdog International Labor Rights Forum.

Fish protein hydrolysates beat alternatives for foods

Protein hydrolysates from Pacific whiting, an abundant and under-utilised fish, produced better foams than bovine serum albumin, says new research from Mexico.

Sugar beet pectin-protein nanoparticles show encapsulation potential

Using sugar beet pectin to coat proteins could lead to the formation of core-shell systems for use as encapsulators or fat replacers, suggests new research.

Recent advances pave way for fish gelatine for food

Increasing demand for gelatine, coupled with consumer concerns over the mammalian variety, may open the door for fish gelatine to fill the gap for food formulators, says a new review.

High agri prices needed for food sustainability, says farmers' groups

UK and Italian farmers Unions are joining forces to push their claims that higher prices for agricultural products are at the root of alleviating current concerns over supply sustainability and food security.

Protein analyzer wins IFT food science award

The Sprint Rapid Protein Analyzer from CEM Corp, North Carolina, USA, has won a 2008 IFT Food Expo Innovation Award at the IFT trade food show in New Orleans.

Food prices high on the agenda at G8 summit

The global food industry will be tracking events at this year's G8 summit that starts today in Hokkaido, Japan, with rising food and energy prices set to dominate the agenda.

Green tea's heart benefits gain support

Regular consumption of green tea may improve the function of endothelial cells - cells lining the walls of blood vessels - and boost cardiovascular health, according to new research from Greece.

Soy products may raise dementia risk: study

Consumption of soy products like tofu may raise the risk of dementia, according to a new study from Britain and Indonesia.

Weekly comment

A half measure of alcohol reforms

Knife crime, obesity and skiffle music. Out of all the evils currently threatening the welfare of Western teenagers, recent US headlines finger the main culprit as the caffeinated alcoholic beverage.

PureCircle sells 20 per cent to Olam and Wilmar

Olam and Wilmar have entered a joint venture to acquire a 20 per cent stake in PureCircle in a partnership aimed at strengthening the supply chain and increasing sales of natural high-intensity stevia sweeteners.

Ethical investment can build stability, says Treatt

Companies that want to source ingredients ethically should consider investing in less-stable parts of the world, according to Treatt, which has major organic operations in Kenya and India.

Brief relief for palm oil prices on swelling stocks

Swelling domestic stocks for Malaysian palm oil, widely used by bakers, left crude palm oil futures closing lower on Monday, offering a slight relief for prices.

Fonterra eyeing further global growth

After a busy period of expansion for Fonterra, the New Zealand-based dairy cooperative says it remains far from finished with its global consolidation plans as it looks to key markets such as Asia to target growth.

SAFC expands Halal raw materials for flavours

SAFC has obtained Halal certification for 200 more of its raw materials for flavours to its range, bringing the total offering to 550 and acting as a platform for sales on a global basis.