Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

Tereos confirms interest in Danisco sugar

French sugar and food solutions company Tereos has confirmed it is hoping to acquire Danisco's sugar business, and that it is bidding against Germany's Nordzucker.

Sensible snacking benefits health

Sensible, nutritious, snacking twice a day combined with three small meals can form a healthy, balanced diet, claims Kellogg's Smarter Snacking Report published earlier this month.

Healthy new opportunities for US and European bakers

New opportunities are opening for the US bakery industry as consumers become more health-conscious mirroring trends in Europe, according to a recent report by consultancy Frost & Sullivan.

Salt reduction reaches limit for biscuits and cakes

Many UK biscuit and cake products have reached their salt-reduction limit, thanks to bakers' efforts to cut salt components, according to Barbara Gallani, manager of the Food and Drink Federation's Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery section (BCCC).

Wolff pledges to fight illegal honey claims

Ingredients company Alfred L Wolff is vigorously denying accusations against two of its US executives who were arrested for allegedly importing honey from China mislabelled as coming from Russia and the Ukraine.

New sucralose supplier enters European market today

Food makers to see alternative supplies for sucralose as new manufacturer for this booming sweetener hits European markets for the first time, launching today in Amsterdam.

Researching the perfect brown bread sandwich

The perfect wholemeal sandwich is moving closer to the plate thanks to research into bubbles in bread at the School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science at Manchester University in the UK.

Reduced sodium ingredients contribute to salt effort

Efforts to reduce salt in packaged foods involve more than just salt replacers and flavour enhancers, as suppliers contribute to overall efforts by tweaking processes to make lower sodium ingredients.

Agrana acquires half of Studen's sugar sales operations

Leading sugar and starch producer in Central and Eastern Europe, Agrana has announced it has acquired, subject to regulatory authority approval, 50 per cent of the shares in the sugar sales operations of the Studen Group, Vienna.

EFSA gives green light to six flavouring agents

Six flavouring agents used in a variety of foods are cleared by Europe's risk assessor but industry is still awaiting the outcome for seven other agents evaluated at the same time.

Weekly comment

The GSK weight loss wake-up call

GlaxoSmithKline's petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban dietary supplements from making weight loss claims, has opened a cupboard and only the deluded would deny the presence of one or two skeletons rattling around in there.

International wheat prices could decline, production rise

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Food Outlook report published yesterday confirms that wheat prices could decline in the new season.

Cocoa deficit forecast to fall but prices remain high

Latest figures from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) suggest that there will be a rise in world production of cocoa compared to last year and a rise, though smaller, in world grindings.

Erythritol use blossoms but regulatory, technical challenges remain

Manufacturers are getting more adventurous over erythritol use since it gained EU-wide approval this year, says Cargill, but the real boom will come when they can make a low-calorie claim in Europe.

Ulrick & Short launches non-allergenic glaze for baked goods

Ulrick & Short's ready to use Eziglaze for bakery products offers a clean label alternative to egg- and milk-based ready-to-use glazes, and can help a baker's bottom line, according to the company.

Sugar and currencies blamed for Tate & Lyle profit drop

Tate & Lyle has reported an 11 per cent drop in pre-tax profits to £244m (c €307.3m) for full year 2008, a result of troubles in international sugar trading and inclement exchange rates.

Wheat genetics research could benefit bakers

UK research group Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) lead a six year research project to identify links between wheat genetics and key baked product quality characteristics.

Popcorn linked to high whole grain intake: study

The consumption of popcorn is associated with a substantially higher intake of whole grains and dietary fibre, says research, indicating its benefits as a healthy snack.

News briefs: FSA bakery action

This week, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) announces a review of initiatives for salt reduction that could have a significant impact on baking, while one muffin manufacturer initiates a recall on some of its products over ingredient concerns.

Weekly comment

Time for an organic-GM peace treaty

The war between the GM and organic movements has been bitterly fought. However in the midst of a global food crisis the time has come for these old enemies to bury their differences and concentrate on the benefits an alliance may bring.

New EU rules for enzyme market one step closer

Rules authorising enzymes need to be updated and simplified, and enzymes should be authorised only where the consumer benefits, said Europe's Environment committee, clearing the next hurdle in a new legal framework for enzyme players.

Institute proposes policies to tackle food prices

Tackling the global food crisis requires emergency measures, including a possible freeze on grain-based biofuels - and a longer-term strategy to secure supply for the future and establish global trade systems, says institute.

Sonoco committed to cereal box innovation

US-based Sonoco says it is considering expanding its most recent developments in cereal packaging for manufacturers around the world.

More of the same for EU grain, says bakers group

Expected hikes in EU grain production will provide some encouragement for bakers in the bloc, but are not significant to turn around current supply concerns, an industry expert has said.

Cocoa prices bounce back, stay buoyant

The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) monthly review of the cocoa market suggests that a decline of the monthly average ICCO daily price in April compared to the previous month could be misleading as far as futures markets are concerned.

Bakery industry event to focus on sustainability

Sustainability in the bakery industry will be the focus of an event to take place next month in the UK, which aims to bring together ingredients makers as well as manufacturers of finished products.

Sweet tooth in the genes: study

A specific genetic variation may help explain why some people consume more sugary foods than others.

Rumours suggest no need for nano regulations

Forthcoming advice will be against establishing regulations specific to nanotechnology, suggest rumours circulating in the political press.

Bentley achieves fat reduction in bakery products

Ulrick & Short's fat replacers Delyte 5 and Delyte 6 have helped a UK family fun successfully reduce the fat content of its products by up to 40 per cent.

Premier recovers commodity costs through price rises

Premier Foods, the maker of Hovis bread, reports 'good progress' in recovering commodity inflation as price increases passed onto retailers offset high ingredient costs.

China takes big step forward in nutrition labelling

China has introduced new guidelines for nutrition labelling on packaged foods which, although not mandatory, will standardise presentation of information on products that already state nutrient levels.

Risk tool from Commission detects aflatoxin in food supply chain

European food industry must continue its crack down on food safety as the European Commission identifies six food alerts in just seven days.

Weekly comment

Innovation: the fast before the feast

Last week's Vitafoods trade show highlighted a drop in ingredient innovation with many companies placing the blame at the door of Europe's evolving health claims legislation.

Irish foods low in trans fats, high in saturated: survey

The results of a survey by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on the fat content and fatty acid composition of pre-packaged food products reveal that generally, levels of trans-fatty acids in the surveyed products are low.

EU sugar set for leaner and fitter future, Fischer Boel

The ambitious EU sugar reforms is on track and progressing at good speed, says Mariann Fisher Boel, confirming the positive outlook expressed by firms presently planning next steps for their sugar divisions.

Nestle collaboration to target genes and taste perception

A better understanding of how genes affect a person's sensitivity to taste could enhance the development of foods that meet specific consumer preferences and individual nutritional needs.

Major HFCS users unlikely to ditch it for sugar, expert

Some food and beverage manufacturers may switch from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to sugar as a result of high corn prices, but this is only likely to be the case for relatively small scale users, according to a consultant.

Ancient grains on the rise, says Datamonitor

New food and beverage products featuring ancient grains are appearing on markets worldwide, reports Datamonitor's Productscan Online, bringing new opportunities for lesser known types of grain.

India may ban food futures, reports

India is mulling a temporary ban on trading in food futures, according to reports, as it looks at ways to mitigate the effect of rising food prices on its population.

News briefs: Campbell, StarLink corn and Ebro

This week, Campbell announced a series of strategic moves designed to improve efficiency and profitability, the FDA withdrew its guidance for testing StarLink yellow corn, and Ebro Puleva's profits have increased in Q1.

Cargill opens innovation centre for bakers

Cargill has opened a new bakery product innovation centre in Minneapolis which is aimed at helping clients develop differentiated bakery products and reducing time to market.

Crackers to fight diabetes

Indian firm Avesthagen has launched crackers enriched with a bioactive that could help those who suffer from type II diabetes.

Ajinomoto and Asda draw battle lines over aspartame

Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe has launched a defamation law suit against US supermarket Asda over labelling on own-brand products that calls aspartame a 'nasty'.

Weekly comment

Adjusting to Mars' centre stage ambitions

While in the Hollywood stratosphere, it seems that you are not anyone these days unless you're a duo, in the glamorous world of food manufacture, the team-up route to success may not be quite as simple.

Frost tolerant wheat on the horizon

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have identified the genes responsible for providing frost tolerance for wheat, giving plant breeders hope that damage resulting from wheat frost could soon become a thing of the past.