Top Headlines
Burden of ‘fat taxes’ questioned
Importers of food and drink to European countries that impose a ‘sin’ or ‘fat’ tax should pay close attention to how it impacts the market, according to one expert specialising in EU food law.
WHO debates industry’s role in child nutrition plan
The involvement of the private sector in child nutrition has proved contentious at a recent meeting of the World Health Organisation’s executive board (EB).
Animal fat and cholesterol may increase gestational diabetes risk: Study
A pre-pregnancy diet that is high in animal fat and cholesterol could almost double the risk of pregnancy related diabetes, says new research.
Food firms back government export plan
Food manufacturers have backed the government’s new plan to boost UK food and drink exports to emerging markets such as India and China, which aims to help towards the drive for 20% industry growth by 2020.
Spotlight
Retailer consultation urged for effective nutrition labelling research
Retailers need to work with manufacturers and regulators to track the impact of systems such as traffic light labelling on consumer purchasing behaviour of food and drink products, stresses a Brussels-based consumer information group as it releases a new report...
World organic food sales shine, but dairy in doldrums
The overall global market for organic food and drink is in good shape but dairy sales in the sector fell during the recession, due to high 2008 milk prices in particular, according to Euromonitor International...
Danisco acquisition provides bright spot for DuPont in 2011
DuPont benefited from last year’s acquisition of Danish specialty food ingredient company Danisco in the fourth quarter of 2011, as revenue more than doubled in its nutrition and health business – although the chemical group’s overall profit fell slightly...
Frying with ‘healthy’ oil not linked to heart disease, research finds
Consumption of food fried in olive or sunflower oil is not linked to heart disease or premature death, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ)...
Surimi ‘waste water’ could provide source of additional fish protein ingredients
Recycling protein from that is usually discarded in surimi processing water could provide an additional source of fish protein ingredients for the food industry, say researchers...
Global Industry News
England’s chief medical officer backs (free) vitamin D supplementsfrom NutraIngredients.com
England’s chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies has begun campaigning to the English medical fraternity that certain population groups like under-5s should take vitamin D supplements.
France faces court action over packaging waste law delaysfrom FoodProductionDaily.com
The French Government faces being hauled into court unless it can convince Brussels that it has adopted European legislation designed to cut packaging waste.
News in brief
Nonni's Foods acquires V.I.S cookie brandfrom BakeryAndSnacks.com
North American biscotti firm Nonni's Foods has acquired cookie maker V.I.S’s THINaddictives brand.
Bemis wields the knife as packaging demand and earnings fallfrom FoodProductionDaily.com
Soaring resin prices, falling demand in sectors such as confectionery, along with almost US$40m costs related to plant closures and job cuts saw fourth quarter operating profits in flexible packaging slump by 37% at the end of what Bemis called a “challenging” year for the company.