Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

Major international project to boost South Asian cereal production

06-Jan-2009 - The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has announced a $30m collaborative project which aims to boost South Asian cereal production by five million tonnes a year.

UK anti-obesity ad campaign swings into action

05-Jan-2009 - The UK’s nationwide New Year’s Resolution, to curb obesity, swung into action over the weekend; the health minister has hinted at drastic actions for the food industry if it proves unsuccessful, say reports.

Organic still not mainstream

05-Jan-2009 - Organic foods are yet to gain mainstream acceptance by US consumers according to a new study by a marketing research and consulting firm in the consumer products industry.

News in brief

Kellogg’s launches Special K savoury snack range

05-Jan-2009 - Kellogg’s has launched a new range of savoury snacks under the Special K brand with the intention of targeting health-conscious snackers and women in particular.

Spicing up the American palate

23-Dec-2008 - An expert from Mintel gives a taster of new flavor trends in the US, and predicts how long it could be before we are all enjoying the likes of peri-peri, lavender and cactus.

Round-up: 2008 bakery mergers and acquisitions

23-Dec-2008 - As 2008 draws to a close, BakeryandSnacks.com recalls some of the mergers and acquisitions that have seen consolidation of bakery manufacturing over the past year.

Soybean oil prices tumble on petroleum fall

22-Dec-2008 - Falling petroleum prices and an abundance of other vegetable oils has brought soybean oil prices a new low – but other oils are eating away at market share.

Video season's greetings from Decision News Media

22-Dec-2008 - The Decision News Media team would like to bring you its seasonal greetings in person and show you around the offices.

Scientists set on busting the sugar-hyperactivity ‘myth’

18-Dec-2008 - An article published in the British Medical Journal today has dismissed the commonly held belief that sugar causes hyperactivity in children as a ‘medical myth’.

Shift to shelf-stable food amid volatile prices

17-Dec-2008 - Consumers are expected to switch from fresh food to more shelf-stable goods in 2009, but the food and beverage sector has a rocky road ahead, according to an industry analyst.

Food manufacturers mislead parents, claims BHF report

17-Dec-2008 - Manufacturers of children’s breakfast cereals and lunchbox snacks have been accused of misleading parents about high levels of salt, sugar and fat in a British Heart Foundation report.

News in brief

SOS Cuetara sells biscuit business to Nutrexpa

17-Dec-2008 - Spanish food group SOS Cuetara has sold its biscuit division to Grupo Nutrexpa in a deal valued at €215m.

Soaring demand for spelt sees product launches up 130 per cent

16-Dec-2008 - The popularity of spelt has rocketed in recent years, leading to a 130 per cent increase in European product launches containing the ancient grain over the past three years.

Weekly comment

Why is food science the ‘baddie' for consumers?

15-Dec-2008 - It sometimes seems as if life is a pantomime, and food science is the baddie, complete with boos and hisses from the audience.

News in brief

Premier Foods in talks with investors to cut debt

15-Dec-2008 - Premier Foods has announced that it has held talks with private investors in an effort to shore up its debt and reassure shareholders.

Low-carb diets may reduce cognitive ability: Study

12-Dec-2008 - Researchers at Tufts University have reported that low-carbohydrate diets may impair cognitive performance, following a study comparing an Atkins-type diet with a reduced-calorie regime.

News in brief

Sara Lee announces plan to shed 700 jobs

11-Dec-2008 - Sara Lee has announced that it will slash 700 jobs from its global workforce and outsource parts of its North American and European finance and information services groups.

Animal study suggests existence of sugar addiction, says scientist

11-Dec-2008 - Researchers at Princeton University claim that they have laid down the final pieces of evidence necessary to prove the existence of sugar addiction in animal studies.

News in brief

United Biscuits revamps its Phileas Fogg snack range

10-Dec-2008 - United Biscuits has relaunched its Phileas Fogg brand of crisps and snacks with a package redesign and a £2 million television advertising campaign.

Rival UK bagel companies in price-fixing investigation

10-Dec-2008 - Canada Bread has launched an investigation following an allegation that the managing director of its UK-based New York Bagel subsidiary attempted to fix prices in the UK.

News in brief

Milling-quality wheat fetches premium of £50 a tonne

09-Dec-2008 - The shortage of milling wheat has led to UK farmers being offered a premium of as much as £50 a tonne (approximately €57 at today’s rates) for their best quality crops.

‘Most expensive bread’ may reflect consumer resilience

09-Dec-2008 - Sourdough bread combining Roquefort cheese and almonds has become the UK’s most expensive loaf in uncertain financial times, though the product may yet reflect consumer resilience for higher value baked goods.

Weekly comment

Coping with health claim hurt

08-Dec-2008 - One of the most fiercely debated and amended pieces of European Union food law history is playing out before our eyes, and its effects are beginning to be felt.

Changes to wheat futures ‘good first step’: CFTC

05-Dec-2008 - The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has approved changes to the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat futures contract in an effort to bring prices back in line with cash values – but warned that they may not go far enough.