Zimbabwe’s depleted bread supplies have markedly improved; Nestlé launches initiative in East Africa to potentially save lives; Sudan ups subsidies to lower bread prices and Kenya’s cereals board stares at a $39m loss.
Sudan, the world's biggest producer of gum arabic, has scrapped a government monopoly on the production and export of this naturally-sourced, 'Rolls-Royce' of gums widely used in food and drink formulations.
Ingredients suppliers say threats by Sudan's US ambassador to cut
off gum arabic supplies from the country are not serious, and an
embargo would not have a catastrophic effect on the world supply.
The Sudanese ambassador to the US has threatened to withdraw the
supply of gum arabic, an emulsifier and stabiliser used by the food
industry, in response to a pledge to impose sanctions to help bring
an end to the bloodshed in Darfur.
Food manufacturers must continue to be on the alert for a red devil
as the list of products containing the potentially carcinogenic,
and illegal, red dye Sudan I is far from tailing off. Now the UK
Food Standards Agency is alerting...