Practical Guide to Metal Detection-Food Industry
Fortress Technology
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30-Jan-2004
Kwoks extends through Asda co-operation
Leading UK ready meals manufacturer, Kwoks, has opened a vastly extended and modernised facility in Grimsby, Yorkshire, which it says will help meet increasing demand from supermarket chain Asda.
Ball profits up for 2003
Global packaging supplier Ball has reported a strong fourth quarter and full year 2003, pushing the company's profits significantly higher than the previous year, on the back of a strong...
German mills unite to cut costs
Three German milling companies have joined forces to create a new group called Grain Millers which they claim will allow them to benefit from significant cost reductions in terms of...
Radio frequency ups traceability
Once the preserve of technology-driven corporate executives, wireless technology is increasingly making its mark in the food processing sector. One of the leading exponents of the technology has been APV's,...
Kraft pulls out of Hungary
Kraft Foods has said that it will close down its only production facility in Hungary and move production elsewhere. The company has hinted that production of confectionery and coffee could...
29-Jan-2004
Scottish & Newcastle to launch two brands in Russia
Scottish & Newcastle has confirmed that it will launch two of its existing beer brands on to the Russian beer market this year in an effort to tap in on...
Dairy progress relieves margins
Stronger sales in North America and developments in the dairy industry helped beat the impact of dollar-euro currency conversions in the first three months of the year. Weak growth in...
Central Europe steels for the future
The steel packaging industry in Central Europe is set to prosper, as long as outmoded means of production can be upgraded. The consumption of steel packaging in Poland, Hungary, Czech...
Supply opportunities in Russia's dairy sector
The Russian dairy market has seen phenomenal growth in recent years, driven largely by the development of Wimm-Bill-Dann and other western dairy companies. France-based dairy equpment supplier Erca-Formseal shares its...
EU eases testing on Brazilian poultry
The EU has agreed to ease strict testing requirements of poultry meat and products from Brazil for traces of the banned antibiotic nitrofuran. At present, EU Member States are obliged...
WHO calls for co-operation to combat bird 'flu epidemic
The World Health Organisation (WHO) held talks yesterday with drugs firms and international laboratories on developing a vaccine to fight the bird 'flu virus that is ravaging parts of East...
UK farmers stand up for CAP
The UK National Farmers Union this week slammed a report from Oxfam on farming and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Reform proposals, branding it as inaccurate and one-sided.
Europe confident of GM regulation
The European Commission held an orientation debate on GM crops yesterday, hours after proposing to authorise a GM sweet corn BT11 for food use. From the Commission's point of view,...
Restructuring hits Bon appétit results
Swiss food retailer and foodservice supplier Bon appétit finished the year with a strong December performance but this was not enough to help it overcome the effect of a number...
WHEAT FOCUS: The heat on wheat
There was a time when a widespread wheat shortage spelt inflation, and a global shortage meant global inflation. This year, with stocks at a 30-year low and wheat prices soaring,...
28-Jan-2004
High carbs the key to weight loss
Flying in the face of the massively popular low carb Atkins diet, controversy linked to the efficacy of the regime looks set to continue with new evidence suggesting the precise...
New detector promises safer processing
A new metal detector capable of picking up ferrous and stainless-steel contamination within aluminium foil-wrapped products has been developed. Manufactured by German technology firm Sartorius, the product, called the Observer,...
A leap forward for traceability technology
With BSE rocking the North American beef industry and Avian 'flu devastating East Asia's poultry industry at the moment, traceability has become a buzzword in food production. No surprise, then,...
Concern over public perceptions of bird 'flu
Following the Avian 'flu crisis in Asia, a major UK food retailer is already promising its customers that all its chicken products can be fully traced. Are European consumers getting...
Algry to launch new products to increase market share
Spanish manufacturer of choline salts Algry Quimica has signed several new research agreements to develop active ingredients for pharma and food applications.
Hercules sheds shares in CP Kelco
In a surprise move US chemical company Hercules is to sell its three-year old stake in hydrocolloid leader CP Kelco to emerging CMC player Huber, sparking speculation as to when...
GM legal battle overshadows EC proposal
The European Commission today backed a proposal to allow imports of Bt-11, a genetically modified (GM) maize type. This represents the first step towards lifting the EU's five-year unofficial ban...
FSA calls for industry code on sprouted seeds
Reducing the incidence of food posioning through eating sprouted seeds will form the heart of discussions with stakeholders at an upcoming seminar organised by the UK's food watchdog.
Cargill-D.D.Williamson : US friends unite in Europe
Carving a deeper position in Europe, US caramel colour leader D.D. Williamson has acquired a UK colour plant from French starch and starch derivative company Cerestar, now owned by agro...
27-Jan-2004
Food companies target winter tastes
The latest food and drink product launches from Mintel reveal a broad spectrum of innovative product launches for the Central and Eastern European region, which all carry a seasonally wintry...
Healthy developments in feed
Research at the University of Leeds into herbal remedies in the farmyard could soon see pigswill garnished with garlic and cows chewing on cinnamon-flavoured cud. With an EU ban on...
Parmalat debt reaches €14 billion
Italian food group Parmalat said on Monday that it had a net debt of €14.3 billion ($17.6 billion) in September 2003, almost eight times the figure given by former managers...
Fertile research
Many food producers believe that phosphorus fertiliser is necessary to increase yields of wheat, barley, corn and other crops - the problem is that it is expensive. But new research...
UK supermarkets to stay GM-free
Consumer indifference - not to say hostility - towards genetically-modified products in the UK means that British supermarkets are likely to stay firmly GM-free in 2004, according to an annual...
Tagging technology takes off
Wal-Mart's announcement that it requires its top 100 suppliers to place radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on all cases and pallet loads by January 2005 has effectively secured the future...
Diversifying food tastes prompt Nestlé to invest in research
Each country has its own distinct culinary taste, and this has proved to be both a help and a hindrance to the world's major food groups. The British, for example,...
EU addresses pig problem
The European pig meat sector faces a major crisis. The Euro is currently very strong against the dollar, feed prices are very high due to last summer's drought and consumer...
Making ready-to-eat meals safer
New aqueous ozone technology, designed to make food safer by eliminating Listeria, has been accepted by the US Department of Agriculture's food safety inspection service (FSIS). Manufacturer BOC claims that...
Value-added food additives to boost tomato industry
Over production, European enlargement, and emerging competitive markets are three key issues facing the European tomato processing industry today. But the development of new food additives from the skin and...
26-Jan-2004
EU GM food to be identified
Bioengineered food and feed sold in the European Union will have to be labelled with a unique identifier code beginning in April.
Time-starved Brits eat on their feet
Britain may not be the biggest country in Europe, but this does not stop its denizens from being among the most mobile. UK commuters spend more time travelling than all...
Crown goes to Africa
Crown Holdings is set to construct a new beverage can plant in North Africa. Crown and Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Bros. will each hold a 50 per cent share in...
EU ruminates on sugar regime
With the failure of WTO talks in Cancun last year, pressure has intensified on Europe's heavily subsidied sugar regime - trading at three times the world price- to change. While...
Meating demand in Slovenia
Slovenian meat and poultry processor Perutnina Ptuj has announced a 20 per cent increase in its revenues for 2003 on the back of strong domestic demand - results that are...
Are EU consumers at risk?
Thailand's tardy admission that its poultry industry is being decimated by an outbreak of Avian 'flu brought forth a swift EU response. A ban on Thai imports into the bloc...
A 'uniform' approach to building sales
Supermarkets are forever seeking new ways of driving up sales - expanding their product ranges, introducing new services such as banking and insurance, developing online shopping services - but building...
Safety water marks
NSF International (NSF) has unveiled a new protocol that establishes product safety and performance requirements for microbiological water purifiers. Protocol P231: Microbiological Water Purifiers is based on recommendations from the...
Looking to 2004 trends
Silk, allergies and convenience - a few of the directions that food formulations might take in 2004, according to market analysts Mintel.
23-Jan-2004
Latvia to link Russia and EU?
The Latvian Minister of Agriculture has proposed that the Latvian government acts as a medium between the EU and Russia in an effort to promote greater trade between the two...
Future of organics debated
Organic farming was recognised as a viable means of achieving sustainable development at the European Hearing on Organic Food and Farming yesterday. Franz Fischler, member of the European Commission responsible...
Poland lifts US beef ban
Poland has lifted its ban on the importation of certain US beef products, according to the USDA. This is the first country to rescind its beef import ban following the...
Thailand admits to Avian 'flu
After a week of denials and perhaps months of cover-ups, Thailand has finally admitted that it has been hit by Avian 'flu, the poultry virus that has ravaged other parts...
Raisio moves to protect 2004 result
Finland's Raisio Group has warned that write-downs in the fourth quarter will impact the period's results but should help profits for 2004.
US meat origin labels delayed
The US Congress has finally decided to delay country-of-origin labels on beef until autumn 2006, despite arguments that the labels would reassure consumers during the current mad cow disease crisis.
Antibiotics in food production investigated
A new article raises concern that the banning of antibiotics in food animals may harm both human and animal health. The report, published this month in the Journal of Antimicrobial...
Job cuts for Swiss flavours giant
Number one global flavours and fragrance player Givaudan is feeling the weight of acquisitions, currency conversions and higher raw material costs, taking a SF68 million (€43m) charge in 2003 and...
NBTY retailers see growing sales
New ownership for European health retailers appears to have paid off, with both the Netherlands-based De Tuinen chain and GNC's stores in Britain reporting first quarter profits.
'May contain' gets an overhaul
In a bid to clarify labels and in response to consumer concerns, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a consultation on the use of alternative phrases to 'may...
22-Jan-2004
Russia counts enlargement impact
The Russian Agricultural Ministry is already estimating the impact of EU enlargement on its exports of grains, claiming that soon-to-be implemented quotas could cost it more than €300 million year.
Enlargement still faces big challenges
In a speech given yesterday in Brussels, Dr Franz Fischler, EU Commissioner for Agricultural, Rural Development and Fisheries, outlined a number of pressing areas relating to enlargement, with quality and...
Bulgaria knuckles down to EU regulations
The Bulgarian government has given the domestic milk processing industry a grace period of one year to allow it to meet new labelling requirements. The stipulation falls in line with...
German GM bill causes concern
The adoption of a bill in Germany last week enforcing European regulations on genetically modified food and feed has done little to calm unease among many consumers.
Making airwaves
US-based Checkpoint Systems, the world's largest integrator of (RFID) technology into consumer product packaging, has announced the expansion of its RF source tagging design centre. This could be of interest...
Tesco continues convenience push
Tesco, the UK's biggest supermarket group, has decided how to spend the first £53.7 million of the £810 million cash pile it unveiled earlier this month. While the group has...
Parliament doubles EU food agency funding
Double the budget and a permanent location in the bag - life is looking up for Europe's first food agency.
Sonoco cans Brazil
Global packaging group Sonoco has just opened a new manufacturing facility in Brazil to produce steel easy-open closures for use on metal cans. Annual capacity of the plant is projected...
Thorntons bullish after good Christmas
Last summer's hot weather had a major impact on sales at Thorntons, the British confectionery retailer and manufacturer, but the company had a lot more to be happy about when...
Japan bans Thai poultry
In a move guaranteed to fuel further speculation that Thailand is covering up cases of Avian 'flu, Japan today suspended poultry imports from the south east Asian nation. The country...
Upping market share in seafood
This month sees the launch of the biggest research project that the EU has ever funded in the seafood sector. Spanning the entire chain, millions of euros poured into the...
FDA amends fish oil GRAS
The US food watchdog this week issued a 'tentative final rule' that amends the current GRAS status for a fish oil used in food ingredients, to control consumer intake of...
21-Jan-2004
Poland's meat and dairy sectors still struggling on EU compliance
The Polish government has announced that a significant number of the country's dairy and meat businesses are still struggling to comply with EU regulations which have to be met by...
Russia fends off cheese imports
The Russian cheese market is expanding at a faster rate than any comparative market in Europe as a whole, yet still the majority of cheese sold there is produced by...
Parnuts update for Scotland
The Scottish food watchdog has opened the doors for industry views on the imminent changes to the rules on 'parnuts' - foods for nutritional uses.
Convenience canned
The ring pull has been a godsend to consumers across Europe. Searching frantically for that elusive tin opener or cutting oneself on a poorly-executed can opening was once an integral...
Questions remain over Thai competence
European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection David Byrne yesterday expressed confidence that Thailand was free from avian flu that is ravaging other parts of East Asia.
New barcodes to increase traceability
MAP80 Systems, a Prisym Group company, has included RSS (reduced space symbology) barcodes in its labelling and identification software. The aim is to help manufacturers prepare for EU legislation on...
WFM - gambling on organic growth
The largest US organic and natural food retailer Whole Foods Market (WFM) has this week entered the European market with the acquisition of British group Fresh & Wild for $38 million.
Parmalat payments legit, says Tetra Pak
After conducting an internal review, Tetra Pak has categorically stated that all payments made to disgraced Italian dairy giant Parmalat were made directly to local Parmalat companies.
Restoring confidence: the task ahead
Two more cattle herds in Washington State, US were quarantined over the weekend as the number of animals linked to a cow infected with mad cow disease increased.
Traces of GM DNA found in digestive tract
As fierce opposition to genetically modified plants continues across the globe, findings from a breakthrough study in the UK suggest that foreign DNA can survive to the small intestine, providing...
20-Jan-2004
Spanish hypermarkets to claw back share
With tough rules on new store development curbing the growth of hypermarkets in Spain - designed to protect traditional retailers - most of the dynamism in the market has come...
Market boost for trehalose sweetener
Buying entry into the nascent European trehalose sweetener market last year from British Sugar, US company Cargill will welcome claims from scientists this week that the ingredient could ease Huntington's...
Pork analysis made simpler
Agilent Technologies has launched a simplified method for detecting sulphonamide antibiotics in pork. The company claims that the method reliably measures sulphonamides at lower than half the European Union and...
Stricter feed laws in the Netherlands
Legislation in the Netherlands has been passed that substantially reduces the number of ingredients that can be used in the manufacture of livestock feed. Food processors in Europe will be...
Consumer group attacks food industry over WHO report
A WHO report on obesity prevention, which would urge governments to promote healthy foods, is under threat from food makers supported by the US administration, said consumer groups last week.
Europe safe from Avian 'flu, say experts
Across Europe, governments have been working flat out to calm public fears about the dangers posed by the current avian 'flu crisis in Asia. The EU does not import any...
Holes in the USDA's BSE testing system
According to USDA records, no BSE tests were carried out on commercial cattle in Washington State in the first seven months of 2003. United Press International under the Freedom of...
BSE: food safety key to winning back business
In a bid to win back slashed beef sales, the FDA's head honcho will travel to Japan today to discuss recent events linked to the first case of mad cow...
EU packaging directive achieving compliance
A survey published today suggests that packaging companies across Europe are taking the EU's packaging and packaging waste directive's essential requirements seriously. The independent survey of Europen members shows that...
19-Jan-2004
Solbar invests in new production facility
Israeli firm Solbar is to build a soy protein plant in China in a bid to gain the lead in soy proteins in the Asia Pacific and Chinese markets, it...
Tighter traceability for GMOs
Laws on GMO traceability for food companies operating in the European Union moved up a gear on Friday with the Commission clearing a new system of coding for all GMO...
Turkeys to take vitamin supplements
Adding vitamin E to the diets of turkeys may reduce the likelihood of consumers contracting a serious foodborne illness from the meat, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in...
Voluntary labelling proposed
Meat processors, along with food retailers and wholesalers in the US, have agreed to draw up a programme to provide consumers country of origin information. The group believes this will...
Thailand denies existence of Avian 'flu
The recent outbreak of Avian 'flu in East Asia - described by a WHO spokesperson as being "potentially more dangerous than SARS," - is devastating the poultry industries of Vietnam,...
Organic retailer enters UK market
Whole Foods Market, the largest natural and organic food retailer in the US, is to make its first entry into the UK with the acquisition of Fresh & Wild, a...
Biotechnology in the food chain
Animal biotechnology applications in food production are about to take off, according to a recent report from market analysts Research and Markets. The report analyses how transgenic technologies are being...
FSA identifies food focus
The UK's food watchdog is looking to commission research and survey work for programme areas designed to 'inform and support' the formulation of policy.
16-Jan-2004
Estonia facing recycling dilemma
The Estonian Brewers' Association is concerned that a requirement to buy back empty beer cans for recycling could get out of hand once the country joins the EU in May....
Chewing the fat
The US Agricultural Research Service is working on technology that shows the ratio of lean meat to fat in a commercial cut of pork. According to scientists, the implications for...
BSE: FAO tells trading states to tighten controls
As the United States deals with the fallout from the first case of mad cow disease to hit the country, an international organisation warns countries to stay on the alert...
Asian poultry production under threat
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has expressed serious concern about the spread of Avian flu in East Asia. And perhaps more worryingly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has...
Designer eggs, latest US trend
Designer eggs - produced by chickens fed sea kelp, flax seed and other nutritious ingredients - are becoming increasingly popular in the US market among health conscious consumers.
Dairy opportunities in the east
A new report entitled Consumption trends for dairy and livestock products and the use of feeds in production in the CEE Accession and Candidate Countries suggests that food manufacturers operating...
EU accession threatens foie gras production
With Hungary's entry into the EU in May, producers of one of the country's main food specialities will face a particular challenge. Moves by the Union to phase out the...
In the genes
French-based technology group BioMérieux is developing gene chips that can be used to ensure food safety and enhance traceability. The company, which is set to launch the product next month,...
Cargill enters European flavour scene
Competition in European flavours heated up this week as Cargill, the largest private company in the US, signed on the dotted line for UK flavours group The Duckworth Group (TDG).
Challenging year for Europe's food industry
With 10 new Member States set to join the European Union on 1 May, 2004 is likely to be an extremely challenging year for the bloc's food and drink producers,...
Byrne puts record straight on health claims
Putting paid to media lip-service and the 'wildly false picture' it has painted, EU Commissioner David Byrne defends European proposals to clarify health and nutrition claims on food products.
15-Jan-2004
Poultry production costs rocket
Rocketing feed costs are pushing up poultry production costs, making a substantial price increase in poultry meat inevitable, warned the British Poultry Council (BPC) this week. Widespread drought in the...
Profits soar for Cargill but BSE casts shadow on future earnings
Agri-giant and leading beef processor Cargill sees profits soar in the first half of fiscal 2004. But as the fallout from the first mad cow case in the US begins,...
Should the spread of GM be a cause for concern?
For the seventh consecutive year, farmers around the world continued to plant genetically modified (GM) crops at a double-digit pace, with the 2003 total up 15 per cent to 67.7...
EU backs farmed salmon safety
The European Commission has rejected warnings about the safety of farmed salmon, saying that levels of harmful chemicals detected in a recent scientific study are within safe limits. EU officials...
New tests to fight foodborne disease
Food technology firm Oxoid has expanded its range of microbiological tests for the food industry to include two new diagnostic reagents kits - one for Salmonella and another for Listeria...
Swiss help Canadians battle BSE
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is using technology developed by Prionics, a Swiss-based company, as part of its ongoing BSE surveillance programme. The firm's Prionics-Check Western rapid BSE test...
Healthy and portable - the functional beverage success story
Functional waters have exploded onto the global drinks scene in recent years and become the fastest growing functional beverage, according to new data from market research firm Euromonitor.
Sensus expands roots in South America
Dutch ingredients producer Sensus has significantly expanded its presence in the South American market through new agreements with distributors in Argentina and Chile.
14-Jan-2004
Hungary facing foie gras challenge
With Hungary's entry into the EU in May, producers of one of the country's main food specialities will face a particular challenge. Moves by the Union to phase out the...
Another Russian vodka row brewing
Russia has already run roughshod over international trademark regulations with regard to one of the country's best known vodka brands, Stolichnaya, but it now appears that a second brand, Cristall,...
Mixed fortunes for European retailers
Most of Europe's leading supermarket groups have published trading figures in the last few weeks, covering both the key Christmas period and the whole of 2003. Today we look at...
Parmalat: suppliers to save the day?
There is a defining issue for dairy giant Parmalat that has virtually nothing to do with fraud. If it lives to trade another day, it will be because it hung...
Price pressure to dominate UK retail in 2004
If 2003 was all about Safeway, and in the end Morrison's, in 2004 the UK grocery market agenda will be dominated by price. That is the key finding of a...
German firm in alliance with CCL
German company Weener Plastik Packaging Group has entered into a strategic alliance with Canada-based CCL Industries, a global developer and manufacturer of packaging and labelling solutions. Both businesses believe that...
Restoring consumer confidence
US agriculture secretary Ann Veneman has announced a series of e-Government initiatives in response to public fears over beef. In a recent Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Health-Care Poll, over...
In the bag
Automated Packaging Systems launched its Autobag AB 255 large bagging system this month. The company claims that the AB 255 provides improved operation efficiencies for bags up to 16 inches...
Is Europe ready to embrace GMOs?
The German government has reached an agreement on the regulation of genetically modified crops. After months of bitter argument, the ruling coalition has finally put forward a proposed genetic engineering...
Ambitions in food safety
US-based firm e-Foodsafety.com has entered into a distribution partnership with Tru-Pure Ozone Technologies. Under the terms of agreement, e-Foodsafety.com has exclusive rights to market and distribute Tru-Pure's patented food safety...
US consumer turns back on beef?
As the first case of mad cow disease sends US cattle prices plunging on the markets and dozens of nations ban US beef imports, new research shows that problems are...
GM crops to hit wildlife, says advisory body
Throwing the cat among the pigeons, UK government advisors confirmed yesterday that GM herbicide tolerant (HT) crops could harm wildlife, including farmland birds.
13-Jan-2004
Chilled food growth on the rise
More than other area of the packaged food market, chilled food exhibits a qualitative difference between developed and emerging regions, according to a recent report by market analysts Euromonitor. For details...
Parmalat crisis: the impact on ingredients firms
An emergency decree passed late last month by the Italian government in a bid to save dairy giant Parmalat from collapse looks set to win support from the European Commission...
A natural solution to automatic milking
Scottish company IceRobotics is a step closer to bringing its robotic milking technology to market following a second round of investment from the National Endowment for Science, Technology & the...
An aluminium alternative
ExxonMobil Chemical Films Europe has developed two new metallyte films that provide an ultra-high-barrier alternative to aluminium. According to the company, a major advantage of these films, compared to metallised...
Tracking the progress of RFID
Radio frequency identification (RFID) will eventually be used to track every domesticated animal, claims an American beef industry specialist. The current BSE crisis in the US has generated renewed interest...
Tetra Pak denies allegations
Tetra Pak has denied allegations linking the packaging firm to irregularities in payments to Parmalat, the disgraced Italian dairy giant. In a statement, the company says that it will provide...
Lights out for SureBeam
US-based SureBeam, a leading provider of electron beam food safety systems and services for the food industry, will be out of business by the end of the week. The company...
UK food agency responds to salmon saga
The UK food watchdog has been quick to react to a controversial study published last week that highlighted the quantity of dioxins in farmed salmon.
Metro to roll out RFID tracking this year
When UK retailer Tesco announced in November last year that it was to expand trials of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags on a number of non-food items, its decision was...
India stretches whisky market lead
India looks set to consolidate its somewhat unexpected position as the world's largest whisky market in 2003, stretching further ahead of its nearest rivals, according to a new report from...
12-Jan-2004
EU grasps organics
Organic foods in Europe is the focus of an upcoming hearing organised by the European Commission with the ultimate aim to formulate an action plan to boost the sector.
Help for UK pigs
The British Pig Executive today announced a number of measures aimed at improving the UK's pork supply chain. New grants totalling more than £500,000 have been agreed upon as a...
Supporting the supply chain
US-based technology firm One Network Enterprises has launched Supply Chain On Demand, a new IT solution aimed at distributors and manufacturers. The company claims that the concept makes it easier...
Is cloning cattle the answer?
As the US government struggles to limit the economic and health risks associated with the discovery of the nation's first case of BSE, a group of scientists at the Virginia-Maryland...
Parmalat dealings with Tetra Pak questioned
Tetra Pak has launched an internal enquiry following claims by a former Parmalat executive that the world's largest packaging group made payments directly to the accounts of Parmalat's owners, the...
US pistachios face disease
Producing more than a quarter of the world's production of pistachios, scientists warn the relatively young industry in California that a devasting disease could put paid to future growth.
Carrefour shrugs off currency concerns
Carrefour , Europe's biggest food retailing group, has continued to prove that growth can be achieved by companies with a major international spread despite ongoing currency exchange rate concerns.
EU to promote plant sustainability
European companies and researchers should share the profits made on products using exotic plants such as ginseng and green tea with the countries of origin, urges a European Commission communication...
09-Jan-2004
USDA: progress is being made
The entire bull calf herd from which the suspected case of BSE belonged to has been euthanised, according to the latest USDA update on the current crisis. Over 450 animals...
Photo finish
Agfa-Gevaert has reached an agreement with Barco to acquire the assets and all staff of dotrix, a Belgian-based company which develops, manufactures and sells digital colour printing solutions for various...
Australia approves Monsanto's GM canola
Sparking criticisms, the Australian government's gene technology regulator has given the green light for the commercial use of a genetically modified canola from Monsanto - the second approval for GM...
Energy drink launches reflect changing times
The European energy drink market has seen something of a slowdown in growth in the last couple of years, as we reported earlier this week, with a plethora of 'me-too'...
Rising to the occasion
UK-based Stable Micro Systems, a leading designer and manufacturer of texture analysis instrumentation, is set to showcase what it calls a unique portfolio for the bakery industry at Food &...
A centre of packaging excellence
Innovative packaging is set to form a central component at this year's Total Processing & Packaging expo in Birmingham, UK. A spin-off event within the show, entitled Total Innovation Design...
Better fish labelling called for
UK pressure group Friends of the Earth has called for stricter controls and improved labelling for fish, following a study in the industry journal Science. The report showed higher levels...
Parmalat crisis deepens
As the scandal surrounding Italy's food and giant Parmalat deepens, Berlusconi's government rustles up emergency measures to tackle 'Europe's Enron', with a strategy to save jobs and pay the suppliers.
08-Jan-2004
Good but not good enough
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has called on food manufacturers to do more to improve their health and safety records. The agency confirmed yesterday that 62 enforcement orders...
Sweet opportunity
Food giant Cargill has opened a plant to manufacture erythritol, a sweetener that is claimed to taste like sugar but contain no calories. The group believes there is real potential...
Demand for suppliers
Coca-Cola and Pepsi's worldwide dominance of the soft drinks industry relies on an efficient and reliable global supply network. While Coke has been busy awarding its best suppliers, Pepsi has...
COOL a hot issue again
The current BSE crisis in the US has touched numerous industries and ignited countless issues. One of these topics that the crisis has brought back to life has been the...
USDA: BSE is under control
DNA evidence suggests - to a high degree of certainty - that the BSE-positive cow found in Washington State originated from a dairy farm in Alberta, Canada, according to the...
Another trademark victory for Budvar
The trademark battle between Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar and US giant Anheuser-Busch has continued this week with the resolution of a dispute between the two players in South Korea.
Irish food exports grow, but face tough new challenges
Ireland's food and drink industry had a good year in 2003, at least on export markets. The latest data from Bord Bia, the Irish food board, show that exports were...
Winter warms Greggs results
Sales of pastries and baked goods suffered last summer because of the exceptionally hot weather, but an excellent performance during the colder winter months helped UK baked goods and sandwich...
Foodchain focus for Irish presidency
Ireland kicks off the year with the presidency of Europe and, as part of the scientific programme linked to the six-month responsibility, the country will organise an international food conference...
07-Jan-2004
Hope on the horizon
Hope is on the horizon over the battle against mad cow disease. Research by North Carolina State University scientists, in conjunction with scientists from the Netherlands and biotechnology company BioResource...
Eggcellent results
Agricultural biotechnology company Embrex is set to supply Perdigao, the second largest broiler chicken producer in Brazil, with cutting edge in ovo (in the egg) technology designed to cut production...
Automatic milking in Northern Europe
The University of Maryland is embarking on a tour of the Netherlands and Denmark to discuss some of the problems that may face the users of milking machines that are...
Japan piles on the pressure
The US department of agriculture (USDA) has decided to cull the bull calf operation in Washington State where the single case of BSE was discovered last month. But this is...
Get real
US-based William Frick & Company, a leading supplier of custom printed labels, has launched a complete line of security labels for packaging, manufacturing and distribution companies. The AuthentiCal Rights Protection...
Belgium and Spain knuckles rapped over GMM rules
The European Commission has requested Belgium and Spain to comply with 2003 rulings of the European Court of Justice concerning their failure to adopt and notify national legislation implementing an...
Excellent first half from Colruyt
Belgian retail group Colruyt has posted impressive first half sales figures despite ongoing troubles at some of its non-food units.
Energy drinks market maturing in Western Europe
Growth in the West European energy drinks market has slowed down and market share is highly concentrated among the leading brands, reveals a new report.
06-Jan-2004
Brewing potential in China
Japanese brewing giant Asahi is the latest foreign company to try and crack the Chinese beverage market. The firm has teamed up with Japanese trade firm Itochu and leading Chinese...
Packaging partnership formed
Norwegian packaging firm Elopak is confident that the recently completed partnership agreement with Dutch company Variopak will reinforce the group's position within the European liquid food packaging market. This sector...
Jobs to go at Cadbury
Confectionery giant Cadbury Schweppes has announced plans to increase the efficiency and productivity of its Trebor Bassett manufacturing sites in Bournville and Somerdale, UK. The company has warned that as...
New markets for Nutrinova
Sales of the high intensity sweetener acesulfame K look set to rise for ingredients firm Nutrinova with the company confirming this week that the FDA has approved its non-carbohydrate sweetener...
Fighting foodborne disease
Enterobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can be dangerous to premature babies and young infants, could be more widespread than previously thought, according to recent research published in this week's issue...
Campofrio adapts to demands for traceability and safety
The recent announcement of a first confirmed case of BSE in the US shows that concern about the safety of meat and meat products is far from over, and that...
Organic opportunity
Organic meat sales are set to surge in the United States as BSE sparks consumers' fears for food safety, reports UK research company Organic Monitor. Late last month the US...
EU laws set to hamper growth in polyphenols market
Forthcoming European legislation on health claims could pose a roadblock to rapid market expansion of polyphenols, the plant-based antioxidants gaining increasing attention for their disease-fighting actions, warns a new report.
05-Jan-2004
Oil's well
UK-based company Rieke Packaging Systems has developed an innovative means of dispensing olive oil. The solution was achieved through close co-operation with Greek olive oil producer Minerva. Consumer research undertaken...
New Year solutions
Packaging solutions company SWF has entered the New Year with a number of new innovations designed to cut costs and increase efficiency. One of these is the new compact CE...
US vigilant in BSE battle
The ongoing BSE crisis in the US has forced the government to take drastic measures to contain the disease. Agriculture secretary Ann Veneman announced last week that additional safeguards to...
Dawn of new era for Bunge bakery business
Bunge, the world's top oilseed processor, last week said it was looking to cream off a gain of about $2 million, or 2 cents per share, on the sale of...
Nutrinova expands sweetener applications in US
German ingredients firm Nutrinova has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to market its Sunett brand of acesulfame K for general use in the US.
Bioethical council in favour of GM crops
Raising a hand for the pro-GM camp, UK scientists assert that there is an ethical obligation to explore the benefits that genetically modified crops could offer people in developing countries.
The future of traceability
US-based Orbid Corporation, a developer of secure track and trace systems used in the identification and protection of products, has announced a partnership with CCL Label, the company responsible for...
All go at Huhtamaki
Foodservice packaging giant Huhtamaki has entered 2004 as busy as ever. The Finnish firm has strengthened its position in the booming drinks market through the launch of a new range...
Carrefour quits Chilean market
Europe's largest food retailer Carrefour has followed its decision to withdraw from the race to acquire Ahold's Brazilian assets with a further reduction in its presence in Latin America.
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