World: Western culture, retail drive demand for chocolate, finds report
The growing influence of western culture, rising middle classes with higher disposable income, and changing eating habits of consumers are some of the major driver of chocolate market in Asia Pacific, according to report from Persistence Market Research entitled Chocolate Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2020. Moreover increasing storage and retail convenience due to rising food retail industry...
Europe: XL Group launches insurance solution for product contamination coverage
XL Group has launched its integrated insurance solution developed specifically for the food and beverage (F&B) industry. Designed to respond to multiple risk exposures, the solution combines product contamination coverage with public, product and employers’ liability with crisis management consulting through Response XL. It also provides an option to add environmental and cyber cover. “This solution provides companies in the F&B sector...
Europe: Researcher finds how saliva affects perception of food
A study at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) has shown how common chemicals found in foods and oral hygiene products can alter the structure of the protective film that human saliva produces. Saliva has a number of functions, one of which is to coat our mouth and teeth in a thin film, less than a thousandth of the...
Europe: La Morella nuts presents range of caramelized nuts
La Morella nuts, a Spanish nut specialist acquired by the Barry Callebaut Group in 2012, presents a range of high-quality caramelized nuts for the food industry in Europe. These mildly roasted chopped nuts, coated with a fine and crispy layer of sugar caramel add color and crunch to food creation. They can be used as an inclusion or a topping for...
Americas: Purdue University showcases food safety technologies
Purdue University food safety researchers have developed a number of patented available technologies through the Office of Technology Commercialization that could provide more secure, safe food handling, processing and consuming. Arun Bhunia, professor of food science, developed a laser sensor that can identify Salmonella bacteria grown from food samples about three times faster than conventional detection methods. Michael Ladisch, distinguished professor...
Europe: Cargill expands production facility in Belgium
Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business broke ground on a US$48 million investment to double the capacity of its Belgian chocolate production facility in Mouscron over the next two years. The additional capacity will meet growing demand for chocolate in confectionary, bakery, dairy and artisanal applications from European customers. Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business provides its customers with a variety of Belgian...
Americas: GLG develops ‘super’ Reb A seedling
Through its non-GMO 2014 agricultural program, GLG Life Tech Corporation has developed a new stevia seedling variety that is expected to decrease the cost of producing high-purity Rebaudioside A (Reb A or RA) stevia extracts by 50% to 60%. Dubbed the Super RA or SRA variety, this strain contains double the amount of total steviol glycosides (TSG) and nearly...
Asia Pacific: Parmalat Australia acquires dairy producer
Parmalat Australia Pty Ltd has signed an agreement to acquire Longwarry Food Park Pty Ltd (Longwarry), a company that operates Victoria, Australia. Longwarry produces milk powders, cream cheese, as well as fresh and ultra heat temperature milk products. The company owns a production facility and employs 50 people. Last financial year, Longwarry reported revenues of approximately €60 million (US$73.78 million). The stipulated enterprise...
Asia Pacific: Mistletoe could fight obesity, find Korean researchers
Researchers have found that a compound produced by a particular variety of mistletoe can help fight obesity-related liver disease in mice, according to the American Chemical Society (ACS). The study appears in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Jungkee Kwon and colleagues note that, according to recent research, Korean mistletoe produces a number of biologically active compounds, which includes steroids...
Europe: More knowledge needed to ensure safe use of botanicals in food
The challenges related to assessing the safety of botanicals in foods and food supplements and regulating their use were highlighted at a conference held in Denmark in November 2014. The conference identified a need for more data to be generated on the risks botanicals pose to human health. The participants called for harmonization of approaches and systems between countries so that...