Breaking News on Food and Beverage in Asia Pacific

Rio Tinto accepts Amcor offer for Alcan

Rio Tinto today formally accepted the offer by Amcor to buy Alcan Packaging for US$2.025bn.

Sustainability to nurture green-shoots for cartonboard sector

The market for cartonboard and folded boxes is set to improve next year after a “difficult” two years as companies look to expand sustainable packaging options, forecasts a leading European trade body.

Seasonal Video Greetings From Decision News Media

Welcome to this seasonal holiday video from Decision News Media. As we prepare to celebrate our tenth anniversary next year and first year as part of William Reed Business Media, we present 10 fun number facts about our company. And, later this week, the holidays begin.

Wind up or down? 2009 welcomes relaxation drinks

Consumers in 2009 were greeted with a swathe of new drinks to help them enjoy a night in, as much as a night out, according to Mintel figures.

Weekly comment

Time to speed sustainable palm oil supply

Global food giants have vowed to source all their palm oil sustainably by 2015 – but consumer pressure could grease the wheels for more rapid change.

Food industry attacks weak Copenhagen climate change deal

Industry and NGOs alike have expressed disappointment and anger at the failure of the Copenhagen climate summit to produce a substantive deal.

Breakthrough test for food poisoning bug

A new test to detect a bacteria that is a leading cause of food-poisoning is cheaper, faster and significantly more sensitive than existing assays, said the US body behind the breakthrough.

Nestle launches lightweight PET bottle

Nestle Waters has launched a new version of its Eco-Shape PET bottle which the company claims is one of the world’s lightest half-litre bottles.

Nestlé and Kraft probe palm oil sources after sustainability claims

The globe’s two biggest food firms, Nestlé and Kraft, have launched internal investigations after a Greenpeace report claimed both purchase palm oil from Indonesian company PT Smart whose parent group Sinar Mas allegedly engages in widespread illegal deforestation and peatland clearance in Indonesia.

EFSA approval for two food contact substances

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has delivered positive opinions on two substances for use in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) food contact materials.

News in brief

San Miguel to buy Australasian packaging company

San Miguel Corp is poised to acquire a majority stake in Australasian packaging company Cospak Group as part of its expansion strategy in the region.

Genetic contribution to obesity smaller than thought: Study

The contribution of genetics to the development of obesity is smaller than previously thought, says new research that puts the spotlight firmly back on lifestyle and diet.

EU clears Amcor takeover of Alcan

Amcor’s takeover of Alcan has been cleared by the European Commission after the Australian company agreed to sell off two pharmaceutical and food packaging plants in Spain.

News in brief

Indian vit C market suffers Beijing hangover

Supply of the salts needed for vitamin C manufacture is detrimentally affecting India’s vitamin C sector, according to reports.

Health claims: How do we define ‘healthy’?

With ‘healthy’ populations identified as the ideal for the European Food Safety Authority’s health claims, NutraIngredients asks Yakult – what exactly is healthy?

Unilever acts over Greenpeace’s palm oil claims

Unilever has halted all purchases of palm oil from Indonesian company PT SMART after a Greenpeace report alleged that its parent group Sinar Mas is engaged in widespread illegal deforestation and peatland clearance in Indonesia.

Weekly comment

Bisphenol A becomes test of leadership for FDA

Each day the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dithers in delivering its verdict on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA), its authority is diminished and its credibility wanes.

China uncovers more melamine-tainted milk powder

Employees from a Chinese dairy company have been taken into police custody on suspicion of selling tonnes of melamine-tainted milk powder.

Cargill agrees Australasian fats acquisition

Cargill has entered into an agreement to acquire the edible fats and oils business of Goodman Fielder in Australia and New Zealand, which it says will aid efficient future growth in the region.

Climate and food: The view from Copenhagen

Danisco’s CEO talks of his optimism that a political agreement will be reached during the Copenhagen climate talks, and for subsequent rules and regulations to enable an even playing-field for competition globally.

Spices may boost breast health: Study

Compounds found in spices may reduce the risk of breast cancer formation by stopping the growth of the stem cells that spawn the tumours, says a new study.

Soy may slash breast cancer mortality: Study

Increased intakes of soy and soy products may reduce the risk of death and breast cancer recurrence, says a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

UN agencies to hold bisphenol A safety summit

Two United Nations bodies are to convene an international meeting on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging over growing anxiety of the chemical’s possible threat to human health.

Food prices rising again, FAO warns

Global food prices are on the rise again, the FAO warns, but a repeat of the 2007/08 spike does not look likely without the same disastrous confluence of factors.

News in brief

Kraft’s Cadbury bid review deadline delayed

European regulators have pushed back the deadline for their review of Kraft’s $16.1bn bid for Cadbury after the American company offered concessions, they said on Wednesday.

Soy waste compound may protect against inflammation

A compound often discarded as waste in soy-processing plants may stop inflammation, and protect against chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, says new research.

Buoyant Australian almond crop forecast as Asian snack demand grows

Australia's almond production is expected to rise by 25 per cent in 2010 - up from 36,500 tonnes this year to 46,100 tonnes, announced the Almond Board of Australia (ABA) during its annual trade visit to India.

EFSA signs co-operation pact with Japan

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has signed a co-operation agreement with its Japanese counterpart as part of a strategy to boost its knowledge pool and ability to track food across the globe.

Asian appeal still strong as sterol juice launches in region

The penetration of Asian markets by functional ingredients manufacturers continues apace with the launch of a juice containing cholesterol lowering plant sterols and stanols in the Philippines.

Weekly comment

Counting the human cost of recession

Return to profitability. It’s a phrase that businesses have been yearning for, but as more of them are starting to use it, it’s time to ask: At what cost?

Chinese food sector still has room to grow

The Chinese food market is poised for a new growth spurt, according Leatherhead, despite some slowdown in runaway rates as the recession took hold.

Maternal folic acid may slash heart problems in children

Folic acid supplements during pregnancy may not only reduce the risk of birth defects but also protect the children from congenital heart defects, says a new study from the Netherlands.

IFF targets Russian tastes with new Moscow facility

International Flavors and Fragrances cut the ribbon on a new facility in Moscow, which will help it get closer to its customers and understand tastes in the high-potential Russian market.

Asian food growth to drive flexible packaging sales recovery

Destocking, and lower volume orders have kept flexible packaging demand static in 2009, but growth is expected to return, as packaged food takes off in India and China, according to a new report.

Scientists identify natural yellow in onions

Japanese scientists have identified a yellow pigment in onions, a discovery that appears to answer a long-standing question in natural colours for foods.

News in brief

Price of National Starch’s Aussie acquisition revealed

AkzoNobel’s National Starch business acquired Australian specialty starch ingredients division of the Penford Corporation for US$12m last week, Penford has disclosed.

Fruit extracts offer promise for acrylamide cuts

Extracts from apples may inhibit the formation of acrylamide in potato chips, offering formulators an alternative to reduce levels of the suspected carcinogen.

Soy compounds may offer colon cancer protection

Natural lipid compounds found in soy may prevent the development of colon cancer, the third most deadly form of cancer, says a new study.

India trade group urges more food processing tax breaks

High taxation is curbing the growth of Indian fruit and vegetable processing sector and must be overhauled, said the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

Striving for sucralose market balance

CEO of JK Sucralose Alex An tells FoodNavigator-USA.com why his company is so confident in the future market for sucralose that it has invested to expand production capacity to 4000 tonnes by 2020.