The issue of a tax on high-fat foods hit the headlines in the UK
this week. The BMA is expected to give its support to calls for the
introduction of VAT on products such as biscuits and snack foods.
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has called for public sector
caterers and their suppliers to reduce the amount of salt used in
their food production and supplies of processed snacks and foods.
World wheat production in 2003 is set to beat the figure set in
2002 by 3.6 per cent, according to the Food and Agriculture
Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
In the US, the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) is up
in arms this week claiming that new definitions for dietary fibre
compiled by Food Nutrition Board (FNB) are totally inadequate.
The 2003/04 outlook for wheat production in the United States is
very healthy according to the US Department of Agriculture. But
world wheat use is expected to exceed production.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has added its voice to the
calls for more information on sodium content, in particular about
the dangers of high levels of salt in the diet.
British food manufacturers have pledged to cut the levels of salt
in breakfast cereals, soups and sauces over the next few years, a
positive response to growing concerns over salt content.
Yesterday at the UK's Federation of Bakers Conference, Food and
Drink Federation (FDF) president John Sunderland outlined in a
keynote speech what he saw as the major issues affecting the baking
industry.
Consultancy firm Market Advice has reported that the production of
bread using domestic yeast still dominates the Russian market. This
trend continues despite attempts by international companies such as
Le Saffre to increase imports.
Despite an increasingly competitive environment and the impact of a
global economic downturn the biscuits market in Europe is alive and
well, according to a news report from Esmerk.
Risk assessors from the German Federal Institute for Risk
Assessment (BfR) repeated their call for the levels of acrylamide
in foods to be reduced as far and as quickly as possible. Speaking
one year after the Swedish National Food...
With the demise of breakfasts at home, spreads are coming under
increasing pressure as consumers demand increasingly convenient and
on-the-go foods - reveals the latest report from market analysts
Euromonitor.
The ARS and AACC's Cincinatti division jointly sponsored the 50th
annual research review conference yesterday in Wooster,Ohio in the
US, where the ARS' soft wheat unit received the 'best overall'
award.
The debate on the yield superiority of traditional crops over
organic crops is set to continue as a recent study reveals that
corn and soybeans were only minimally reduced when organic
production practices were used instead of conventional...
Snack producers in the UK have to invest and innovate in order to
survive, and the government should do more to help them, according
to a speaker at the BCCCA Technology Conference.
Good news comes this week for snack producers and bakers, as a new
study suggests that elderly people who eat more cereal-based foods
are less likely to develop heart disease.
Price discounting in Germany and the strength of the Swiss franc
severly reduced exports of biscuits and crackers from Switzerland
to Germany, by far the most important foreign market.
The UK Institute of Food Science & Technology, through its
Public Affairs and Technical & Legislative Committees, has
authorised an updated information statement on salt that replaces
that of September 1999. Read below for...
Reviewing current science on salt and its effects on health, UK
scientists say that while there is no proven evidence to support
intake restriction guidelines in the general population, no-one
would be disadvantaged by reducing their...
The artisan bread sector, and the convenience store baked goods
market in the UK, are likely to drive growth for Irish company IAWS
in the second half after a good performance in the first six
months.
Corman, the world's leading supplier of butters and milk fats to
the food industry, has launched three websites aimed at both
consumers and food manufacturers.
People should get no more than 10 per cent of their calories from
sugar - including sugar from honey, syrups and fruit juices -
experts say in a major new report published yesterday from two
United Nations agencies on how to stem...
Inter Link, the UK cake and confectionery producer, last month
completed its acquisition of the Soreen business, which gives it
control of the third-largest cake brand in the British market,
Soreen's malt loaf.
As research in laboratories across the globe continues into the
presence of potential carcinogen acrylamide in a variety of foods,
the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emphasised last week that
consumers should continue to eat...
Organisers of Ipack-Ima, the triennial event for the international
packaging and food processing industry, predict that this year food
processing will major role when the event opens its doors on 4
March.
Nutraceutical Clinical Laboratories International has said that its
NuPreserv manufacturing facility has received a 'superior' rating
from the American Institute of Baking International.
A panel of Dutch scientific experts has positively approved
Bakkerij Veenhuis' request for a health claim for the Vitaalbrood
Flora range of bread products containing Sensus' Frutafit inulin.
Research now underway will provide the means to develop novel forms
of bread, and other foods, which contain increased amounts of
soluble fibre, making them far healthier than they currently are.
Antex Biologics, through its AntexPharma subsidiary, has reported
that it is continuing to explore the potential effectiveness of its
anti-infective compounds in preventing bio terrorism attacks on the
food supply.
The European Parliament yesterday voted with an overwhelming
majority for a permanent ban on the use of the food additive E425,
otherwise known as konjac, in jelly confectionery.
Both snack and bakery producers need to carefully monitor the issue
of acrylamide in food in light of conflicting health warnings about
the possible effects of this substance, according to an
international law firm.
Food manufacturers in the UK were criticised this week labels after
the findings of a new report from the National Consumer Council
suggested that current labelling was confusing and misleading.
Foods with 'positive nutrition' elements such as added calcium or
fibre continue to grow in popularity, according to the latest data
from Mintel, but those with substances removed (sugar, fat) are
becoming less popular.
UB has announced plans to close its biscuit production site at
Ashby de la Zouch in the English Midlands at the end of next year
as part of its ongoing plan of restructuring its now profitable UK
biscuit operation.
Researchers in the US have pointed to growing consumption of
'nutrition' bars and functional beverages as a risk to health -
claiming some products cause oral health and obesity problems.
The heated debate on the labelling of foodstuffs in Europe and the
thorny issue of health claims was fired up once again this week
when UK press reports suggested that new proposals from the
European Commission outline tough new measures.
Four European research institutes have joined forces to found a new
research association that aims to encourage, co-ordinate and
disseminate research in the field of organic food and health.
Western Europe's cereal bars market is 'massively underexploited',
according to market research analysts Datamonitor. The report
suggests that this product could be a promising driver of growth
for confectionery makers...
The dictum 'breakfast like a king, lunch as a prince, and dinner as
a pauper' has been turned on its head as the findings of a new
report from the UK reveal that nearly a third of British school
children do not eat breakfast...
The Balkans will be the setting for the Food Technology group show
2003 to take place in Istanbul, Turkey from 27 to 30 March 2003.
The exhibition will concurrently run three separate shows: Food
Technology, Food Ingredients &...
US processing and packaging equipment supplier Reiser is stepping
up its presence in the important UK bakery market with the launch
of new equipment from the German Vemag stable.
A new study on the Turkish flexible packaging industry from market
intelligence firm PCI Films Consulting suggests the country's
progress in this field should be closely watched.
Anyone who has visited the United States will have witnessed the
generous portions that regale the multitude of eateries. But
according to new research to come out of the States, this is in
fact a new phenomenon, and one which has...
As the time-pressed, and stressed, European consumer increasingly
relies on semi- and ready-made foods, the food industry perseveres
in its desire to meet theses needs with the constant launch of new
processed products. An upcoming...
Greece, which has taken over the presidency of the EU, has been
urged to take action on a number of major issues affecting the
European food industry during its time at the helm. The future of
the CAP, GM labelling and EU enlargement...
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is slowly taking form -
several months behind schedule - with the announcement this week
that it is currently on the look out for scientists to join its
scientific committee and scientific...
Snack bars have evolved rapidly over the last few years, and have
been one of a number of products to quickly adapt to the growing
demand for healthy products, according to a recent report from
Mintel.
