Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

Organic nutrition review a call for stronger science

A new review of studies on the nutritional content of organic and conventional produce has broadly concluded that there are no differences – but the investigators raise big concerns over standard of the science.

Emulsifiers delay staling in gluten-free bread: Study

Formulating gluten-free breads with common emulsifiers may delay the staling of the products, leading to longer shelf-life, according to new research from Germany.

The fight for a fibre definition

Tighter definitions will assist, but not resolve, issues surrounding the marketing and understanding of various fibre forms, according to a Tate & Lyle-penned editorial appearing in the June issue of the British Nutrition Foundation Nutrition Bulletin.

FSA proposes cuts to saturated fat levels in bakery products

The Food Safety Agency (FSA) in the UK has proposed significant reductions in saturated fat levels in bakery products.

Corn Products International hit by lower demand, higher costs

The global recession has hit Corn Products International’s bottom line as its products – including high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) – experience lower demand, particularly in North America, the company said.

Snack Size Science: Unwrapping chocolate's heart benefits

NutraIngredient’s Snack Size Science brings you the top nutrition research news every two weeks. This week we spill the beans on the potential of chocolate to lower blood pressure.

UK’s largest food waste processing plant given green light

Proposals to build the UK’s largest food waste processing plant have been given the go-ahead.

Chocolate cake: Leavening agent key to healthy profile

Maintaining cocoa’s heart healthy compounds in a finished product depends on the presence of other ingredients, particularly leavening agents, says new research from the Hershey Company.

News in brief

China tightens food processing laws

Food producers in China must record all food processing procedures and keep records for least two years under a new food safety regulation that came into force today.

Weekly comment

Imagining a world where we eat less meat

Cutting back meat consumption is the new darling cause of pop stars. But if necessary environmental and health goals are to be achieved, the whole supply chain needs to be strumming along in tune.

Cadbury settles out of court with Amcor over price fixing allegations

Cadbury has settled out of court with Amcor on the eve of a AUS$236m (€135m) lawsuit in which the packaging supplier stood accused of price fixing.

Baking case firm installs high speed machine

Chevler has installed a new reel-fed machine that will allow it to produce over 250,000 muffin and cupcake cases an hour.

Deal promises to bring intelligent barcodes to snacks

Scanbuy has signed a deal with Du Pont and Printpack that could see people using their mobile phones to scan their snacks in order to learn about new offers and obtain product information.

New markets set to benefit from gentler MAP system

Bakery products and delicate perishables are just two markets set to benefit from the US launch of new modified atmosphere packing equipment that is gentler on fresh produce and extends shelf life, said Cougar Packaging Designers.

Huge differences in salt levels found in global food brands

New research on salt levels in global products from some of the biggest food manufacturers has revealed wide and random variations.

Gummy boost for refrigerated doughs

Adding xanthan gum to refrigerated dough mix may prevent the separation of liquid and solid, boosting consumer acceptance, says a new study.

Enzyme system offers extended shelf life for cakes

Caravan Ingredients has developed a new enzyme-based ingredient system which it claims can extend the shelf life of cakes, even those with a low fat content which tend to stale faster.

New coating systems aimed at cost wary bakers

Sono-Tek has developed ultra-sonic coating systems targeted at baked goods manufacturers keen to minimise wastage and cut costs.

Cargill stops hydrogenated oil production at Wichita plant

Cargill has announced that it will stop producing hydrogenated oil at its plant in Wichita, Kansas as manufacturers have increasingly sought to replace trans fats with healthier fats in their products.

News in brief

World's biggest cupcake enters the record books

A new Guinness World Record has been set with the creation of the world’s largest cupcake.

Breakthrough offers peanut allergy hope

Scottish scientists have reported a breakthrough that could slash the numbers of fatal cases of serious allergic reactions to peanuts and other foods.

Weekly comment

Mainstream press ‘exposed’ for health claim sensationalism

Not again! As if industry is not struggling enough with the severity of the European Food Safety Authority’s nutrition and health claims rulings so far, the situation has not been helped by the kind of articles that appeared in the UK press today and yesterday.

High-carb diet could aid slimming: Study

People who consume high levels of carbohydrates are more likely to be slim, according to a Canadian study published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Sara Lee sells three Spanish bakery plants

Sara Lee is selling three of its bakery plants in Spain to Grupo Siro because of weakness in the Spanish market.

Walmart sustainability index to put suppliers under spotlight

More than 100,000 suppliers to Walmart will be asked to prove their green credentials after the company unveiled plans yesterday to develop a world-wide sustainable product index.

Views canvassed on GM in Europe

The spectrum of opinions on genetically modified organisms is to come under new scrutiny in a European consultation project to assess EU legislation governing the controversial crops.

‘Metallic’ pine nut mystery stumps food analysts

The UK’s Food Standards Agency is investigating curious reports of a lingering metallic taste in the mouth of people who have eaten pine nuts, sometimes lasting as long as two weeks.

Asda claims victory in aspartame ‘nasty’ case

A High Court judge has found in favour of Asda in its court battle with Ajinomoto over food and beverage ‘no nasties’ labelling, which listed aspartame as an ingredient not used. Ajinomoto plans to appeal.

Consumers prepared to pay for nutritional panel: Study

Spanish consumers are more willing to pay a premium for food products that carry a nutritional panel on packaging than for those that just make a ‘light’ claim, according to researchers.

EFSA launches project to assess threat of climate change on aflatoxin B1 in cereals

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a project to predict how climate change could increase the amount of aflatoxin B1 in cereals.

Traditional French foods falling out of favour: Study

A new study of French eating habits has shown consumption changes over the last decade – especially among young adults who are hungry for packaged and convenient foods.

Monsanto buys wheat germoplasm specialist

Monsanto has bought WestBred for $45m in move that will expand its seeds and traits portfolio to include wheat.

News in brief

Online marketing helps boost Northern Foods' Q1 bakery sales

Northern Foods says Facebook and Twitter helped its bakery division achieve a 6.8 per cent increase in underlying quarterly revenue.

Calls for supermarkets to publish packing stats rubbished as publicity stunt

Calls by town hall chiefs to force UK supermarkets to publish packaging statistics have been dismissed as a publicity stunt by an industry body, which said retailers already use the minimum of packing material.

Weekly comment

Safety is no accident in food factories

Industrial accidents are not funny. Does anyone need a reminder? Apparently yes; judging by how some headline writers and bloggers made light of the plight of Vincent Smith who died last week after falling into a vat of liquid chocolate at a New Jersey processing plant.

High-dose plant stanols reveal new cholesterol benefits

Two studies using Benecol plant stanols have shown the ability of the clinically-backed extract to reduce cholesterol levels beyond previously held expectations.

E. coli remains a mystery as cookie dough production restarts

Nestle USA has said that it is gradually restarting production of its Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough after FDA inspections failed to find E. coli at its Danville, Virginia plant.

Private label peak has passed, says analyst

Branded food and beverage manufacturers are fighting back against private label, according to a Bernstein researcher, and after a switch caused by price ‘sticker shock’ many consumers go back to their favourite brands.

Bran may slash hypertension risk: Study

Increased intakes of whole grains, and bran in particular, may reduce the incidence of hypertension in men, according to new findings from Harvard.

Puratos invites UK customers to historic innovation centre

Puratos’ picturesque innovation centre in the UK has become a hub of customer activity following a major refurbishment, able to speed product development to short deadlines and meet very British bakery tastes.

Ulrick & Short spins new wheat starch for batters

A new wheat-based flour from Ulrick & Short can provide a crispy texture for tempura batters, the company says, and is an alternative to chemically-modified or high amylose starches.

News in brief

Breakfast trial puts morning meal on policy map

Campaigners to put breakfast on the public policy agenda have held a mock trial in Brussels to raise awareness of the importance of the first meal of the day.

Weekly comment

Defining nano: Size does matter

The Atlantic Ocean separates continents; it also separates schools of thought on the definition of nanotechnology. In order to educate manufacturers and consumers on nanotechnology a definition is critical.

Energy recovery system to save energy and cut costs

The Kaak Group has released a new Daub Energy Recovery System for bakers, allowing them to cut energy costs while boosting their green credentials, according to the company.

Codex fiber nutrient claims unlikely to promote consistency

Fiber nutrient content claims recommended last week by Codex are unlikely to generate consistency in product labeling due to widely varying national differences in serving sizes.

Folate linked to lower colorectal cancer risk: Study

Increased intakes of folate from the diet may reduce a woman’s risk of colorectal cancer by about 50 per cent, according to new findings from Korea.

Dispatches from EUSTAS stevia symposium

Early harmonisation urged for stevia standards, methods

As the stevia industry is poised for wide take-up, harmonisation and recognition of the need for standards is crucial to securing a good reputation from the outset, according to ChromaDex CEO.

News in brief

Cargill opens Russian animal feed mill

Cargill has invested US$12.5m in a new animal feed mill in Efremov, Russia, to handle co-products from other agro-industrial products at the site.

Codex adopts definition of ‘fiber’

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has adopted a new definition of fiber, designed to harmonize the use of the term around the globe.

Reformulated chocolate chip cookies for kids to combat disease risk?

Reformulating popular foods for school children to make them nutrient dense could be a key tool to slash risk factors for chronic disease, finds a new study.

Supermarkets still using too much packaging, says survey

UK supermarkets are using too much plastic packaging for food products and both retailers and packing manufacturers could do more, a new survey has concluded.

Focus on sweeteners among Mintel taste test winners

Sweeteners old and new were in the spotlight as Mintel announced the products that won its taste test from last month’s IFT trade show in Anaheim.

Tate & Lyle reveals global consumer research on fiber

With global consumption rates of fiber still well below recommended intake levels, consumers in Latin America and the US are most aware of the need to add more fiber into their diets, while awareness in Europe still lags behind.

News in brief

FDA probes ingredient supply chain in quest for E. coli source

The FDA is continuing its investigation into how E. coli found its way into Nestle’s Toll House brand cookie dough, after the outbreak strain’s presence was confirmed in a sample of the dough on Monday.

PepsiCo forms partnership with Japanese snack company Calbee Foods

Food and beverage giant PepsiCo has acquired a 20 per cent share of Calbee Foods Company; Japan’s largest snack firm.