Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

FDA's folic acid policy a success, report

A new study demonstrates that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has scored a policy success through getting the dosage for folic acid fortification of flour right in the US, and any excessive intake is people is due to supplement usage, according to the opinion piece in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

News in brief

Syngenta receives GM corn approval in Argentina

Syngenta has received approval for its double-stacked trait for genetically modified corn in Argentina, combining herbicide tolerance and pesticide resistance, the company said on Tuesday.

Seasonal Video Greetings From Decision News Media

Welcome to this seasonal holiday video from Decision News Media. As we prepare to celebrate our tenth anniversary next year and first year as part of William Reed Business Media, we present 10 fun number facts about our company. And, later this week, the holidays begin.

No risk to 4 month old babies eating cereal-based foods, says EFSA

The introduction of complementary food such as processed cereal-based foods into the diet of healthy term infants in the EU between the age of four and six months is safe and does not pose a risk for adverse health effects, claims the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Health Canada proposes enzyme use to counter acrylamide

Health Canada has asked for comments on its proposal that asparaginase enzymes could be used to combat the suspected carcinogen acrylamide in food.

Weekly comment

Time to speed sustainable palm oil supply

Global food giants have vowed to source all their palm oil sustainably by 2015 – but consumer pressure could grease the wheels for more rapid change.

British Heart Foundation survey sparks festive food spat

UK food manufacturers have slammed the latest report from the British Heart Foundation which alleges they are misleading mothers with false information about the fat, salt and sugar content of their children’s foods.

Hazelnuts recalled on salmonella fears

Oregon hazelnut processor Willamette Shelling has recalled more than 114,000 pounds of shelled hazelnuts – also known as filberts – after finding salmonella in a production lot, the company has said.

Raisins do not cause hike in dental plaque acidity, study

Bran cereal with unsweetened raisins does not increase the levels of acid in dental plaque than bran flakes alone, which may put paid to the commonly held perception that raisins are acidogenic, claims a new US study.

DSM launches new natural beta-carotene colour

A new, natural-source beta-carotene formulation for colouring and fortifying food and beverages has been launched by DSM Nutritional Products.

Entire meal flavours giving kick to snacks, report

More complex flavours profiles such as those based around entire meals are generating growth in the snack market, according to a new report from Leatherhead Food Research.

News in brief

Sara Lee plans 20 percent salt reduction

Sara Lee intends to reduce the salt content in a range of products by an average of 20 percent over the next five years, the company has announced.

Bakery ingredient supplier recalls linseed products on GM discovery

Sweden-based firm, Lantmännen Cerealia, said that it has withdrawn some crushed linseed products manufactured under the GoGreen brand in Finland and Sweden after a batch of crushed linseed it had sourced from Russia tested positive for GM traces.

Nestlé and Kraft probe palm oil sources after sustainability claims

The globe’s two biggest food firms, Nestlé and Kraft, have launched internal investigations after a Greenpeace report claimed both purchase palm oil from Indonesian company PT Smart whose parent group Sinar Mas allegedly engages in widespread illegal deforestation and peatland clearance in Indonesia.

Hovis rolls advert not misleading, says ASA

A claim that an advert for Hovis rolls from leading UK manufacturer, Premier Foods, was misleading consumers has been rejected by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

News in brief

German organisation BfR explains food risk assessment process

The German risk assessor Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) has released a brochure assessing cadmium intake through foods as an example of how food risks are scientifically reviewed.

Fast food intake may boost salt preference: Study

A preference for fast food may enhance our preference for salt, says a new study from Korea with important implications for salt reduction targets around the world.

Green projects proving earners for cereal and snack makers, report

Cereal, bakery and snack makers are increasingly working to reduce their carbon footprint, reaping cost savings in the process and plugging into new business opportunities, according to a new report from UK industry representatives, the FDF.

Weekly comment

Bisphenol A becomes test of leadership for FDA

Each day the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dithers in delivering its verdict on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA), its authority is diminished and its credibility wanes.

EFSA gives polyol bulk sweetener a positive opinion

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has delivered a positive scientific opinion on polyglycitol syrup, a common bulk sweetener used in bakery products.

Concerns raised over folic acid in bread

Enforced consumption of folic acid introduces adverse health risks to a wider population and flour millers and bakers may be legally liable for health claims resulting from mandatory folic acid fortification, claims one of the leaders of the Australian flour milling industry.

Cargill agrees Australasian fats acquisition

Cargill has entered into an agreement to acquire the edible fats and oils business of Goodman Fielder in Australia and New Zealand, which it says will aid efficient future growth in the region.

Big changes needed to make diets sustainable, report

Reducing meat and dairy consumption, eating fewer fatty and sugary foods, and wasting less food are the three changes to consumption habits that will have the biggest impact on making diets more sustainable, says a new report.

News in brief

SCP roundtable gets critical mass

The Sustainable Consumption and Production round table has seen its membership swell in the 6 months since its launch, with nine new-comers announced this week.

Lactic acid bacteria could limit toxin and mould growth in bread, report

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can inhibit mould growth and limit mycotoxins in foodstuffs such as bread and cereals, but more research into how they do so is needed, claims findings from a review showing that LAB are promising biological agents for food safety.

Deal agreed following UK bakery collapse

Lees Foods, the parent company of Lees of Scotland and Waverley Bakery, has reached a settlement with the former directors and shareholders of Patisserie UK, which was placed into administration shortly after Lees acquired it.

Stevia could help reduce sugar in cereals, says PureCircle

Stevia could help ready-to-eat cereal manufacturers reduce the sugar content in their products without affecting taste, according to stevia-derived sweetener manufacturer PureCircle.

Bakery and cereals at forefront of digestive health market, report

The digestive health ingredients market will likely be driven by the prebiotics segment, with bakery and cereals among the more successful sectors, claims a report from market analysts Frost & Sullivan.

Scientists determine safe acrylamide levels

Tolerable intakes of acrylamide should be set at 2.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight to avoid the cancer risk, says a new toxicology study from the US.

Buoyant Australian almond crop forecast as Asian snack demand grows

Australia's almond production is expected to rise by 25 per cent in 2010 - up from 36,500 tonnes this year to 46,100 tonnes, announced the Almond Board of Australia (ABA) during its annual trade visit to India.

Special Edition: Cranberries

Regulation: Making claims on cranberry's future

For a fruit that has had more science conducted on it than most, it is surprising to some that France remains the only country to have approved a long-standing cranberry health claim.

Apple skin may boost fibre in bakery

Incorporating an apple skin powder, an under-utilised food-processing by-product, in bakery products could boost the fibre-content of the product, says new research.

Weekly comment

Counting the human cost of recession

Return to profitability. It’s a phrase that businesses have been yearning for, but as more of them are starting to use it, it’s time to ask: At what cost?

News in brief

Climate change action needed by industry

Climate crisis beings great opportunity for advanced technologies, but political leaders must push industry into actions, says Danisco’s CEO.

United Biscuits set on expansion in India, report

UK biscuit manufacturer United Biscuits is set to enter the India market through the purchase of a manufacturing plant, according to the Economic Times.

Special edition: Cranberries

Supply: Cranberries, from bog to cereal bar

In the second part of our special on cranberries, FoodNavigator looks at the supply for the berry, and asks ‘what issues are bogging down cranberry supply?’

Low global wheat stocks bolster China's role, report

China’s position as a global supplier of wheat has strengthened particularly due to the fact that worldwide stocks are at their lowest levels for 25 years, according to a new report from Leatherhead Food Research.

Maternal folic acid may slash heart problems in children

Folic acid supplements during pregnancy may not only reduce the risk of birth defects but also protect the children from congenital heart defects, says a new study from the Netherlands.

Tough measures at Hovis have increased market share

Over the last two years, Premier Foods has increased Hovis’s market share of the UK bread market by four percentage points up to 26.3 per cent, reports our sister publication Food Manufacture.

EU regulation will hinder FSA's fat reduction campaign, says FDF

The UK Food and Drink Federation claims a call from the Food Standards Agency to put more effort into the promotion of low fat and reduced fat products such as meat pies and savoury snacks will be limited by pending EU regulation on nutrition claims.

Fruit extracts offer promise for acrylamide cuts

Extracts from apples may inhibit the formation of acrylamide in potato chips, offering formulators an alternative to reduce levels of the suspected carcinogen.

Bioexx says canola protein has self-affirmed GRAS status

Canada’s Bioexx has announced it has that it has completed the self-affirmation process to qualify its specialty canola protein isolate Isolexx as self-affirmed GRAS (‘Generally Regarded as Safe’) for use in baked goods and other food products.

Inulin-rich chicory extract passes tolerance test

An inulin-rich extract that also contains polyphenols and other bioactive compound is very well tolerated, says a new study from France that builds the science behind an emerging product.

Checkweigher guidance can boost OEE for bakers, says Mettler Toledo

A new guide on checkweighers can help improve quality and maximise performance for the baking industry as well as other food production sectors, claims Mettler Toledo.