Who can win an EU immunity claim? Yeast beta-glucan can?

German yeast specialist Leiber possesses the only immune health claim in the EU assessment system at the moment. But why should its beta-glucan yeast succeed when it has already failed...

Post Holdings suffers the ‘unfavorable commodity cost effect’

Unfavorable grain costs pressed full year earnings for Post Holdings, despite a sales surge in the fourth quarter, it said.

Flaxseed shows blood pressure-lowering potential: Study

Daily consumption of flaxseed-fortified bakery products may reduce blood pressure levels in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), suggests new data presented at the November American Heart Association 2012 Scientific Sessions.

Hovis boss quits amid Premier Foods’ uphill bread struggle

The managing director of Premier Foods’ bakery arm tasked with driving the struggling bread business forward has resigned and will leave the firm early 2013.

Guar gum buyers aren’t buying, sellers aren’t selling: Industry expert

Guar gum prices have dropped a long way from peaks of $20 to $25 a kilo – but there is now a standoff between buyers and sellers, according to hydrocolloids...

Smilde Bakery to close plant and shift production

Smilde Bakery plans to close its Mijdrecht factory in the Netherlands and will expand production at its Edam plant to enable it to grow share in international markets.

Sunwin to broaden stevia presence through Chinese private label bakery

Sunwin Stevia International hopes to penetrate the Chinese bakery sector further by targeting the private label segment with a range of stevia formulations.

Graphic Packaging pushes into Europe with second acquisition in a month

Graphic Packaging has announced its second deal in the space of a couple of weeks as it looks to build on its European packaging business.

News in brief

Operational Efficiency 2012: Free Access To Today's First Ever Dedicated Online Event!

Register now for free access to today's first ever online event devoted to Operational Efficiency in food and beverage processing, organized by FoodProductionDaily.com and William Reed Business Media.

News in brief

Sonoco investment expands recycling capability

Sonoco Recycling has invested $4m in one of its facilities so that it can accept additional materials.

Sweeteners linked to higher weight gain: Rat study

Consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners such as saccharin and aspartame could lead to increases in weight, according to new data in rats.

Hostess update: Union asks court for trustee to oversee liquidation

The bakers' union of Hostess Brands has asked the court overseeing the firm’s bankruptcy to appoint a Chapter 11 trustee to safeguard an orderly wind-down.

Scientists develop obesity-combating bread wheat

Researchers have developed modified bread and durum wheat that they claim could combat obesity and diabetes using a non-genetically modified technology known as ‘TILING’.

Comment

Pharma seeks bigger dose of booming nutra sector

In just a few years the global health and wellness (H&W) products sector will be worth $1 trillion dollars – that’s a lot of billion dollar blockbuster drugs.

Organic claims leave a sour taste when it comes to functional health, says study

Organic logos and claims generally have positive effects on consumers, but even the most positive supporter has negative inferences towards organic products when they are judged on functional health benefits,...

NBTY acquires Balance Bar Company

NBTY Inc. has announced the acquisition of Balance Bar Company from Brynwood Partners, its private equity owner. Details of the deal were not announced.

Breaking news

ConAgra to buy Ralcorp for $6.8 billion

After multiple abortive attempts in 2011, ConAgra Foods has announced that it has reached a ‘definitive agreement’ to buy Ralcorp Holdings, the largest manufacturer of private label food in the US.

Mondelez to lose Dinosaurus in Galletas Artiach takeover

Nutexpa has acquired Spanish biscuit manufacturer Galletas Artiach in a deal that means Mondelez International will lose its license for the Dinosaurus biscuit brand to Lotus Bakeries

Could a corn by-product provide industry with new ‘stealth health’ ingredient?

Dried distillers grain, produced during ethanol processing has until now only found use in animal feed. But that could soon change after US researchers developed a way to turn this...

Delay cake staling with novel enzymes, says DuPont

DuPont has launched a new range of enzymes that it claims keeps cakes fresher for longer.

Kraft designs production method for shelf-stable whole grain flour

Kraft Foods has filed a patent for a new method for a shelf-stable, nutritional whole grain flour for use in cookies, crackers and snacks.

Goodman Fielder ups bakery prices thanks to better retail relations

Australian food firm Goodman Fielder said that thanks to better dialogue with its retail partners, agreed price increases across its bakery arm will help boost business further.

Rising incomes in developing countries driving processing machinery growth, says report

The demand for bakery and confectionery food processing machinery is to increase over the next few years as employment and incomes rise in developing countries, according to Freedonia.

Set maximum arsenic and mercury levels for infant cereals, say researchers

A Spanish study has called for European rules on mercury and arsenic in infant cereal in light of high - in some cases ‘risk’ - levels found, particularly in organic...

Increased operational efficiency with new multi-way bakery tray

Packaging and distribution specialist Orbis has filed a patent for a multi-way bakery storage and distribution tray that it says ensures increased efficiency.

Hostess Brands: Let the bidding commence…

Twinkies, Wonder Bread, Ding Dongs et al. are up for sale as Hostess Brands wins approval to wind down operations and sell all assets.

UK food park continues development

The UK's Southglade food park is expanding further thanks to a fresh injection of cash from a local council, despite the current challenging economic environment.

Stealth health or loud and proud: When should food companies mention salt reduction?

Food companies should be cautious about when and how they talk about salt reduction, according to Euromonitor International's global head of health and wellness research Ewa Hudson.

Why do consumers prefer matching food brands? Because they match, says study

A belief that matching branded products are designed to work 'uniquely well together' means most consumers prefer to purchase matching branded foods, especially when those foods are to be consumed...

Zambian breakfast cereal to aid health, farmers and conservation

A Zambian company has launched a fortified breakfast cereal; the profits of which will secure business for poverty-stricken farmers and aid conservation work in the Luangwa Valley.

Hostess fallout: Twinkie imitations, Wonder Bread t-shirts and free publicity

The nearly extinct Twinkie has received a scurry of free publicity over the past two weeks and the saga may just lead to Wonder Bread t-shirts and Twinkie imitations coming...

PARNUTS update: Specialist foods reforms due for EU lawbooks

Revision of the laws governing specialist food products like sports foods, infant foods and gluten-free foods is set for a final vote in the European Parliament in December or January,...

News in brief

OFT investigating Graphic Packaging deal

The UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is reviewing Graphic Packaging’s £71m anticipated takeover of Contego announced last week.

Balance Bar launches Rainforest Alliance Certified nutrition bars

US nutrition bar specialist Balance Bar has launched a dark chocolate line using cocoa sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.

‘Innovation is the life lead of snacks’, says Kellogg as it looks to 2013

Innovation is the ‘life lead’ of Kellogg’s snacks arm and efforts will be pumped into new product development and flavor additions to set the segment soaring in 2013, the president of...

RAN urges Cargill to take stronger action on palm oil sustainability

The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has urged Cargill to take clear, decisive action to ensure its palm oil suppliers commit to sustainable production, while Cargill has said that RAN allegations...

Premier Foods: Catalysts, closures and consolidation…

Premier Foods will shut two bakery sites and remove 130 distribution routes at a cost of £28m ($44.5m); a move sparked by its lost Co-op bread contract.

DISPATCHES FROM BRAU BEVIALE 2012, NUREMBERG

Anti-microbial air treatment will become ‘important’ hygiene factor - Ecolab

Anti-microbial air treatment systems will become a “very important” hygiene factor in the food manufacturing industry in coming years, Ecolab’s Marcus Ley told reporter Mark Astley.

Frito-Lay slammed over new caffeinated Cracker Jack’D snack

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has slammed Frito-Lay on its plans to launch a caffeinated version of its Cracker Jack’D snack.

Hostess Brands throws in the towel: Strikes cause full business closure

Twinkies and Wonder Bread maker Hostess Brands has today filed a motion with the US Bankruptcy Court for permission to close the business and sell all assets.

Own label trumps brands in the soaring UK home baking market: Mintel

Brand owners must invest heavily in product development and target niche consumer groups to have a slice of the lucrative UK home baking pie, an analyst says.

French Senate rejects palm oil tax

The French Senate rejected its so-called ‘Nutella tax’ on Thursday, which aimed to quadruple the tax on palm oil, a key ingredient in the hazelnut-chocolate spread.

Graphic Packaging CEO: “Deal takes us into new end markets”

Graphic Packaging has agreed to acquire the European Food Carton Business of Contego for £71m to expand into new end markets.

Soda-Lo: Tate & Lyle's novel solution to sodium reduction (clue: it's salt, only much, much smaller...)

Engineered using a patent-pending process that re-crystallizes standard table salt to create microscopic free-flowing hollow ‘microspheres’, Soda-Lo can help firms slash sodium and retain their clean labels because it is...

Hostess Brands latest: We’ll liquidate if striking employees aren’t back at work by 5.00pm EST today

Twinkies and Ding Dongs maker Hostess Brands says that if employees on strike are not back at work by 5pm EST today, it will move to liquidate the company.

Sensient’s natural apple flavors to plug ‘positive nutrition’ desires

Sensient Flavors LLC has developed a new range of natural apple flavors to plug consumer demands for fruit varietals as ‘positive nutrition’ takes hold.

Diamond Foods CEO: Heavy discounting on Kettle Chips damaged its brand equity

Excessive discounting on Kettle Chips has damaged its premium positioning and hit margins, bosses at brand owner Diamond Foods have admitted.

GrainCorp rejects ADM’s takeover bid as full-year profits soar

Australian commodity giant GrainCorp rejected ADM’s $2.8bn takeover bid stating it ‘materially undervalues’ the business.

Hostess to union: If strikes continue we’ll liquidate company 'in a matter of days, not weeks'

Twinkie maker Hostess Brands says that if strike action at its bakeries does not end soon, it will move to “liquidate the company in a matter of days, not weeks”.

Eased wheat and corn prices set to stir again in Q1 2013, says Rabobank

Wheat and corn prices have eased over the fourth quarter but will spike again at the beginning of 2013 as impacts from demand rationing take hold, Rabobank says.

Tomra sorter defies gravity

Nut, fruit and vegetable processors have a new weapon in their quality control arsenal in the form of Tomra Sorting Solutions’ Best Nimbus N sorter, which can sort products in...

Glendale Foods refurb breaks new ground in UK

Frozen food manufacturer Glendale Foods has delivered a UK first with the installation of a high speed multi-forming machine that can make up to 3,000 meatballs a minute.

How consumer-friendly are hydrocolloids?

Many hydrocolloids are among the most clean label ingredients there are, but how do consumers perceive them?

Wake up to healthy morning snack prospects: Analyst tells manufacturers

The swelling morning snack occasion should be a target for manufacturers, but health, nutrition and convenience will be the tonic for success, an analyst says.

Kellogg-Wilmar JV will dive into immediate snacks opportunity

Kellogg and Wilmar’s 50:50 joint venture will dive into immediate opportunities in China’s developed snack market; using Pringles as its springboard, a Kellogg executive has said.

More snacks = healthier diet, report finds

Americans are snacking more than ever, and the more they snack, the healthier their diets, according to a new report.

Real Good Food Company on track for ‘critical’ Christmas period despite profit drops

Operating profits dropped in two of the Real Good Food Company’s (RGFC) bakery businesses – Haydens and R&W Scott – but analysts say the group is on track entering the...

Hostess Brands strike prompts three bakery closures; 627 jobs cut

Hostess Brands has permanently shut down three bakeries today as a result of nationwide union strikes; equating to 627 job losses.

Goldfish Crackers targeted in ‘natural’ lawsuit over genetically engineered soy as Prop 37 supporters launch ‘GMO inside’ initiative

While Prop 37 did not pass, the failure to disclose the presence of GMOs in foods that are marketed as ‘natural’ is still generating a steady stream of civil litigation,...

Return and rebuild or leave voluntarily: Hostess Brands tells strikers

Twinkies-maker Hostess Brands has called on its striking union workers to either return to help rebuild the struggling firm or leave voluntarily.

Green tea and coffee extract in donuts slashes acrylamide: Study

Donuts fortified with green tea and green coffee extract have heightened antioxidant properties and lower acrylamide levels, a new study finds.

French palm oil tax could increase trans fat consumption, says MPOC

A proposed 300% increase on French palm oil imports could lead to increased consumption of harmful trans fats and ignores the primary sources of saturated fat in the French diet,...

Danish government scraps fat tax, cancels planned sugar tax

The Danish government has officially scrapped its tax on saturated fat just a year after it was introduced, and has cancelled a proposed sugar tax.

TREND INSIGHT

Scratch bakery is a shift into super-artisanal, says analyst

The rising trend of scratch bakery in stores indicates a shift into super-artisanal and super-premium, an analyst says.

It’s a public health tragedy that PepsiCo’s baked chips are not taking off, expert

PepsiCo’s baked potato chips are an outstanding example of fat reduction in a popular snack and from a public health perspective it is a tragedy they are not a mainstream...

Americans chomp through the English sandwich

The English-born sandwich is a stern favorite with American consumers; consumed by a vast majority at least once a week, the Grains Food Foundation says.

Financials: Ajinomoto income down; AAK ingredients' record quarter

Only an extraordinary pension return of Y27.7bn (€268m) dragged Japanese food, ingredients and pharma player Ajinomoto into the black for the March-September period as ordinary income slid 11% to Y39.2bn...

The US ‘all things fiber’ trend trumps calorie counting in Europe, Beneo finds

The US trend for ‘all things fiber’ has steadily entered Europe with intake now considered more important than calorie counting among consumers, a Beneo research manager says.

UK bread wars: Allied Bakeries snatches Co-op contract from Premier

Allied Bakeries has secured an important win as it strikes a supply contract with UK retailer the Co-op that Premier Foods has been forced to cut, ABF’s finance director says....

India’s lift on egg ban brings welcome relief to baking industry

An Indian state bakery association has welcomed the country’s move to lift its ban on eggs and poultry from two important supply states.

Aluminium foil growth driven by flexible packaging demand, says EAFA

The first nine months of this year showed a positive development for the European manufacturers of aluminium foil, according to the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).

Sugar profits sweeten the deal for ABF as grocery and ingredients slump

A bumper performance in the sugar market has helped Associated British Foods balance sharply declining profits in its ingredients and grocery businesses.

AptarGroup to close two sites in European shake-up

AptarGroup is to restructure 12 facilities in Europe, including the closure of two sites, in a bid to boost future growth in the region.

Detectamet rolls out detectable accessories

Detectamet is rolling out a host of detectable accessories for food and drink manufacturers, from tote bin liners to ear plugs and hygienic gloves.

Pac Vending launches system for freshly baked baguettes

Pac Vending has launched a vending machine capable of delivering freshly baked baguettes to the customer in one minute.

Garuda International gets GRAS approval for oat beta-glucan

Garuda International has received GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) approval for its oat beta-glucan ingredient.

Baker’s Pride ups donut capacity with new Iowa facility

Baker’s Pride has upped donut capacity and expanded its portfolio as production commences at a new facility in Iowa.

Don’t forget mental health when targeting seniors, says Leatherhead

Fortified breads, snacks and cereals targeting mental health in older consumers is an avenue of opportunity for manufacturers, a Leatherhead analyst says.

Delicious and nutritious: Resistant starch may boost fiber content & taste of cookies

Replacing wheat flour with resistant starches may improve the nutritional profile of cookies that are also tastier than ‘conventional’ cookies, says new research.

Scientists report 'guidelines' for tagatose use in food and beverages

Using tagatose to sweeten food and drink products has taken a step forward as Korean scientists report the ‘first quantitative data on the relationship between the sweetness of tagatose and...

Weetabix China: Challenges to a Bright future

Bright Food closed its purchase of Weetabix today, but one analyst has reiterated the challenge it will face driving the iconic cereal brand in China.

Trade association highlights packaging innovation

Breakthroughs in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, colour changing film and packaging designed to extend shelf life are some of the latest innovations highlighted by the Active & Intelligent Packaging...

Kerry reports strong growth despite tough trading conditions

Strong growth in Kerry Group’s ingredients and flavours division has helps to balance out slow-down in consumer goods, as revenues increased by nearly 11% to €4.4 billion.

Maple Leaf CEO identifies signs of improvement in the bread market

Maple Leaf Foods recorded slightly lower bakery sales for the third quarter but its CEO said there were signs of improvement to the challenging bread market.

Fortified wheat-rye bread could aid diabetes and obesity prevention, study

Wheat-rye bread fortified with cereal dietary fiber, beta-glucan hydrogel and sourdough starter culture could be used in diabetes and obesity programs, a study suggests.

Mondelēz Canada to chew over 550 jobs after biscuit factory closure

Mondelēz Canada has announced plans to close its Lakeshore Bakery in the West End of Toronto in the third quarter of 2013 with 550 jobs hit.

Kellogg’s CEO on Mini-Wheats recall: It's the first time we've seen a failure like this

Kellogg’s boss John Bryant said he was "very disappointed" by the recent Mini-Wheats recall in a call with analysts yesterday, but insisted that it was not a reflection of "systemic"...