Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

Low-fat foods drive emulsifiers, other ingredients

Food ingredients that are key to low-fat foods are seeing the fastest growth in their sectors as the health and wellbeing trend continues, finds a new report.

Trans-fats harm mechanism proposed

Trans fatty acids (TFA), an enfant terrible of the food industry, may promote cardiovascular disease by triggering inflammatory processes in the cells lining blood vessels, American scientists report.

Danisco sponsors research on dietary fibres

Food ingredients, sugar and industrial bioproducts firm Danisco is sponsoring a professorship in healthy dietary fibres, which could help to develop foods with health-promoting benefits.

Ingredia to develop European market for StarchLite

Ingredia Nutritional is introducing white bean extract Starch'Lite to the European market - an ingredient tipped for weight management foods uses since it reduces glycaemic index and caloric intake.

United Biscuits demonstrates green methods at industry event

United Biscuits, Tate & Lyle and Cadbury Schweppes presented their carbon cutting methods at an industry event focused on developing a greener supply chain.

Tesco carbon footprint labels back organic, says Soil Association

Organic potatoes have the same carbon footprint as conventionally grown varieties, shows an assessment by supermarket Tesco.

Mars-Wrigley merger creates world's largest confectionery player

Leading global confectioners Mars and the Wrigley have announced that they will merge, creating what Bill Wrigley called 'the world's leading confectionery company'.

Food makers turn to potato proteins as clean label appeal soars

Newly- formed Dutch firm Solanic witnesses 'phenomenal response' to its potato protein portfolio, confirming growing market demand from food makers for vegetable-derived proteins as rising raw material costs continue to bite and the galloping health trend brings added appeal to clean label ingredients.

Record world wheat production forecast in 2008/09

The International Grains Council (IGC) and Rabobank Group, a specialist in food and agribusiness banking, forecast that the prospect of a record world wheat harvest in 2008/09 could help to reduce wheat prices on global markets.

Weekly comment

No quick fix to the food price crisis

The food crisis is neither new nor sudden. The several underlying causes have been independently, steadily gathering speed and have collided in a perfect storm not seen for generations. It is going to take a coordinated, long-term effort to untangle them.

Cross-linked pectin to lead to better emulsions for food?

Using enzymes to cross-link pectin may produce new emulsions with enhanced functional properties, and opportunities for food formulators, American researchers report.

Kraft Foods sells European assets

Kraft Foods announced on 24 April that it has signed agreements to sell its Artiach biscuits business in Spain to Barcelona-based bakery Panrico and its Balaton chocolate trademark in Hungary to Nestle.

Cargill cranks up European operations with Polish expansion

Ingredients firm Cargill yesterday completed the expansion of its Polish wheat processing facility, designed to meet consumer demand across the European bloc.

Rice bran tipped for debut in new European markets

NutraCea is expecting to see its first sales of stabilised rice bran in Central and Eastern Europe following this week's FiCEE trade show, where the ingredient has been warmly received for its potential to reduce manufacturers' costs.

Pecan Deluxe targets health and indulgence

UK ingredients firm Pecan Deluxe last week pledged to develop bakery, confectionery and ice-cream ingredients for the health and indulgence markets.

Potato convention explores opportunities of globalisation

Improving international activities in a time of increasing globalisation is the focus of this year's Potato Processing and Storage Convention.

UK firm takes soft approach to wholegrains

A new range of softer wholegrains do not need pre-soaking and so the 'hard bite' texture often associated with grain products is eliminated, the manufacturer claims.

Satiety feeds appetite for ingredient launches

Key trends for ingredient launches in 2007, such as products for satiety and weight management, will continue this year, though world economy will affect some areas of innovation, says LFI.

Syngenta sowing seeds to meet full-year sales growth

Syngenta expects to exceed its sales estimates for the 2008 fiscal year after a strong first quarter for its operations globally.

General Mills cereal goes gluten-free

Global food manufacturer General Mills last week said its US Rice Chex cereal will from now on be gluten-free, as part of the firm's plans to target the ever expanding free-from market.

Internet, text messages tout bad food to kids, says Which?

Which? has renewed calls for greater controls on food marketing to children, claiming that new technologies like text messages are contributing to the 'pester power' of manufacturers.

Milling method can improve functional properties of rice flour, study

Rice flour that has been pin-milled appears to make bread with a better texture than when common commercially-produced rice flour is used, say US researchers.

EC opens investigation into ABF yeast deal

The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation today into Associated British Foods' plan to buy parts of Dutch yeast producer GB Ingredients.

Natural rice bran extracts could tap healthy cookie market

Antioxidant-rich extracts from rice bran may extend the shelf-life and improve the nutritive profile of cookies, suggests new research from Pakistan.

Biodegradable packaging makes UK cereal debut

A new compostable laminate is making its UK market debut with the re-launch of a popular cereal brand.

Breast cancer study heaps more misery on trans-fats

An increased intake of trans-fatty acids may raise the risk of breast cancer by 75 per cent, suggest the results from the French part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

Rosemary preservative extends shelf-life of baked goods

A natural preservative can help extend the shelf-life of baked products as well as maintain fresh flavor profile, according to its manufacturer Vitiva.

FAO forecasts cereal production increase

A 2.6 per cent increase in world cereal production in 2008 could help ease the current tight global cereal supply, according to forecasts by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

US salmonella outbreak linked to cereal

A salmonella infection spreading through states in the US could be linked to a recently recalled batch of cereal, the nation's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said.

Americhem targets cross-industry pack innovation

Americhem, a manufacturer of encapsulated additives for the packaging industry, has opened a new research centre it claims will allow food and beverage processors to adapt technologies from other industries into their own products.

Cargill focuses on sustainability with wheat processing plant

Cargill's new UK wheat processing plant is aimed at ensuring market competitiveness and sustainability by localising the production of wheat glucose for sweeteners.

Russia could become top grain exporter, says Minister

Russia could become one of the world's top three grain exporters within five years, Russia's Agricultural Minister Alexei Gordeyev has been reported as saying.

French court protects Champagne appellation

A Paris French court yesterday ruled that the Swiss company Cornu - based in the Swiss village of Champagne - and its French subsidiary, cannot use the Champagne appellation to sell its biscuits in France.

New bread products focus on health

Most new bread and bread product launches over the past two years have been positioned in the health and wellness category, according to research from Mintel's Global New Product Database (GNPD).

High grain demand boosts CHS profits

Grains company CHS has reported record profits for the first half of tax year 2008, although higher sales costs led to a slight loss of margins.

Sugar reform and costs dog Real Good Food

Real Good Food today reported a drop in profits for 2007, which the UK-based firm blamed on ongoing EU sugar reforms as well as the escalating price of raw ingredients.

Puratos and Novozymes focus on cake freshness

Puratos and Novozymes have teamed up to develop a bio-solution to help industrial cake manufacturers increase the softness and freshness of their products, the companies have announced.

Scientists demand action on food additives

The researchers behind the Southampton study will push for a ban on food additives they found to be linked to hyperactivity at this week's Food Standards Agency board meeting.

Finsbury acquires gluten-free bakery firms

Finsbury has strengthened its position in the UK gluten-free bakery market with the acquisition of two manufacturers in the country - Yorkshire Farm Bakery (YFB) and A&P Foods.

Sime Darby plans major investment in oils and fats

Malaysian multinational Sime Darby is to channel €34m into expanding its value-added oils and fats presence in Europe, including upgrading its existing Unimills facility and setting up new palm oil facilities.

Weekly comment

HFCS and the battle for natural

It is hard for food companies not to get drawn into the temptation of using attractive label claims that may be shrouded by a veil of doubt. But the real risk comes when the 'if you don't know, don't ask' question is finally answered.

US corn decrease sparks price fears

Farmers in the US are expected to plant significantly fewer corn crops than last year, pushing the price up to a record high of $6 a bushel, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) warned last week.

Ocean Spray goes for Asian bakery market

Ocean Spray is continuing to push into the Asia-Pacific bakery market with a new partnership with Taiwan-based baker ChiaTe, the company announced yesterday.

Cosun defies sugar conditions to report growth

Cosun is expecting its recent acquisition of CSM Suiker to prop up its margins somewhat in the coming year, as conditions remain tough for the European sugar industry.

Inulin range offers obesity solutions

Cosucra Groupe Warcoing has launched two new ingredients designed to boost fibre and reduce sugar in food and beverage products.

PepsiCo extends presence in Med snacks market

PepsiCo and Strauss Group have completed their joint venture partnership to operate fresh dips maker Sabra, a move that confirms both companies' plans to extend their presence in the growing healthy Mediterranean foods market.

UK firm adopts US whole grain stamp

Bakels claims to be the first UK company to use the popular US Whole Grain Stamp, and will launch its new revamped packaging at the Bakery Industry Exhibition in Birmingham next week.

Coloured sugars aim to bring a spark to biscuits

A new range of coloured sugars could brighten up baked goods, either incorporated into a formulation or used as a topping, says manufacturer Food Design.

Rice bran offers health benefits over wheat flour

Using stabilised rice bran (SRB) in battered and fried products in place of wheat flour cuts fat, calories, sodium content and cost, according to new research.