Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Frutarom acquires Oxford Chemicals
1/06/2009-Frutarom, Haifa, Israel, has signed an agreement to acquire the assets and business of the U.K.-based company Oxford Chemicals Ltd. for $12 million. Both companies produce flavor and fragrance ingredients. Established in 1973, Oxford Chemicals currently employs approximately 70 people. The acquisition is expected to enhance the product offering of Frutarom’s Fine Ingredients Division and its customer base around the world. Oxford’s management will join the management of Frutarom’s Fine Ingredients Division. The transaction is expected to be complete within the coming weeks.
Osem, Nestle buys Foodtech
1/06/2009-According to an article in Reuters UK, Osem Investments, which is 53.8% owned by Nestle, has completed a deal to buy Foodtech International for $20 million. Tivall, Osem’s unit that makes vegetarian and meat substitute products, will pay $10.6 million for U.S.-based Foodtech, also a maker of vegetarian food products. As part of the deal, Nestle will pay $9.4 million and will retain Foodtech’s intellectual property rights. Through this acquisition, Osem seeks to expand its meat substitute product sales to North America.
Unpasteurized milk, cheese linked to illness in Kansas
1/06/2009-An article in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) reports on a 2007 Kansas food poisoning outbreak in which 19 individuals were made ill by consuming fresh cheese made from unpasteurized milk. On Oct. 26, 2007, a nurse informed the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment (KDHE) that Campylobacter jejuni had been isolated from two ill persons from the same community in Kansas. By Oct. 29, 17 additional members of the community were ill. All 19 persons reported consuming fresh cheese on Oct. 20 that was made at a community fair from unpasteurized milk. Of 101 persons who ate the cheese, 67 (66%) became ill. Although all samples of cheese tested negative for Campylobacter, results of the epidemiologic investigation found an association between illness and consumption of fresh cheese made from unpasteurized milk. While unpasteurized milk could not be identified definitively as the source of the outbreak, it has been the source of numerous other Campylobacter outbreaks.
Emerson acquires System Plast
1/06/2009-Emerson, St. Louis, Mo., has acquired 100% of outstanding System Plast S.p.A. shares, according to an article in the Cincinnati Business Courier. Based in Telgate, Italy, System Plast is a producer of engineered modular belts and custom conveyor components used in the bottling, baking, food processing, and packaging industries. With projected 2008 revenue of 77 million euros, System Plast enhances Emerson’s ability to service marquee food and beverage customers around the globe. System Plast has become part of Emerson Power Transmission, which is part of the Emerson Industrial Automation business segment.
USDA examines food-purchase data
1/06/2009-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has published a report examining the accuracy of Nielsen Homescan data, which provide detailed food-purchase information from a panel of U.S. households. The credibility of the data has been questioned since the data are self-recorded and the recording process is time-consuming. Matching purchase records from 2004 Homescan data with data obtained from a large grocery retailer, it is evident that quantities purchased are reported more accurately in Homescan than are prices. Many of the price differences may be driven by the way Nielsen imputes prices: when available, Nielsen uses store-level prices instead of the actual price paid by the household. This analysis suggests that the Homescan data may contain recording errors in several dimensions, but that the overall accuracy of self-reported data by Homescan panelists seems to be in line with many other surveys of this type.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
EPA to conduct cumulative risk assessment for phthalates
12/31/2008-The National Research Council has recommended that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should examine, through a cumulative risk assessment, whether combined exposures to chemicals known as phthalates could cause adverse health effects in humans. Phthalates are used in a wide variety of consumer products, and recent animal studies have increased understanding of the potential risks from the chemicals. However, few human studies on the health effects of phthalates are available. To decide whether a risk assessment is warranted, two factors needed to be determined: whether humans are exposed to multiple phthalates at any given time, and whether sufficient evidence exists linking exposures to similar adverse health effects. The committee established that recent studies have shown widespread human exposure to multiple phthalates, including in utero exposure. In addition, the National Research Council recommends that this analysis should consider other chemicals that could potentially cause the same health effects as phthalates. Currently when conducting cumulative risk assessments, the EPA often considers only chemicals that are structurally related, on the assumption that they have the same chain of reactions that lead to a final health outcome. According to the Council, this practice ignores how exposures to different chemicals may result in the same health effects.
Kerry acquires X Café
12/31/2008-Kerry has acquired Portland, Maine-based X Café, a manufacturer of coffee extracts. The acquisition reinforces Kerry’s overall beverage strategy in North America, expands it breadth of beverage process and packaging capability, and enables the company to develop and deliver more integrated beverage solutions for its customers in the industrial and foodservice channels.
Fast food has fewer calories than restaurant meals
12/31/2008-A study conducted by James Binkley of Purdue University shows that the typical fast food meal is smaller and has fewer calories than the average meal from a table service restaurant. Binkley used data from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals to analyze fast food, table service restaurant meals, and meals prepared at home. Fast food was found to be more energy dense than food from a table service restaurant. However, fast food meals also tend to be smaller. Interestingly, the study found that table service diners are more likely to reduce their food consumption during the rest of the day than are those eating at fast food restaurants, most likely because of the difference in energy density. As a result, fast food may ultimately result in more calories. The study was published in Review of Agricultural Economics.
Cadbury exits soft drinks business
12/31/2008-Cadbury has agreed to sell its Australian beverage business to Asahi Breweries for 550 million pounds, completing its exit from the soft drink beverage business. The business had annual sales of 300 million pounds and includes brands such as Schweppes, Cottee’s, and Solo. The agreement is subject to a right of negotiation granted to Coca-Cola Co. in 1999, under which Coca-Cola has the right until March 2009 to negotiate with Cadbury regarding a potential acquisition of the business.
Coke debuts green billboard
12/31/2008-The Coca-Cola Co. will debut a new digital billboard in Times Square, New York City on Dec. 31 that harnesses wind power. Additionally, the billboard publicizes the company’s goal to recycle or reuse 100% of the aluminum beverage cans and PET plastic bottles it sells in the U.S. with the slogan: “Refresh. Recycle. Repeat.” This is part of the company’s Live Positively operating philosophy.
Alfred Schwan retires
12/31/2008-Alfred Schwan, Chairman of The Schwan Food Co., is retiring after 45 years at the company. Schwan, 83, served as the company’s Chairman for 15 years, and was President and CEO for five years before that. Schwan’s last day is Dec. 31. The company is expected to name his replacement in early 2009. Earlier this year, Schwan was inducted into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame by The American Frozen Food Institute and the National Refrigerated and Frozen Foods Association.
EU maintains ban on US chicken
12/31/2008-The European Union agriculture ministers have rejected attempts voted to keep U.S. poultry out of European market because of U.S. cleaning practices. Eighteen of 26 agriculture ministers voted against the attempted move by the European Commission. The ban, in place since 1997, results from the fact that U.S. poultry can be rinsed with chlorine which is not allowed in the EU.
Monday, December 29, 2008
USDA solicits Committee nominations
12/29/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). The full Committee consists of 16–18 members, and each person selected is expected to serve a two-year term. The Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary on meat and poultry inspection programs. Nominations for membership are being sought from persons representing industry, academia, state and local government officials, public health organizations, and consumers and consumer organizations. The names of nominees and their curricula vitae or resumes must be postmarked no later than Jan. 23, 2009.
Gerber to expand in Michigan
12/29/2008-According to an article in BusinessWeek, Gerber Products Co. plans to invest $75 million and create 200 jobs over 10 years in Fremont, Mich. This expansion will include upgrading its research facilities, adding production lines and building a call center for its life insurance business. It currently employees 1,100 people in Fremont.
USDA develops new sugarcane cultivars
12/29/2008-Scientists from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have developed two new sugarcane cultivars—CP 00-1446 and CP 00-2180. They were developed to provide growers with more cultivars that yield well on Florida’s sand soils. The new cultivars are the result of cooperative research with the Univ. of Florida and the Florida Sugar Cane League, Inc. Florida produces more sugar than any state in the U.S., and 20% of the state’s sugarcane acreage is grown on sand soil.
EU food labeling proposal changes
12/29/2008-The European Parliament’s (EP) Environmental, Public Health, and Food Safety Committee recently released its draft report on the European Commission proposal for a new food labeling regulation. The EP Committee deletes the proposed 3 mm minimum font size requirement for all mandatory information (except the energy content declaration) based on the argument that font size alone does not guarantee the legibility of a text. Instead the EP proposes to define legibility as “text written, printed, embossed, marked, engraved, stamped, etc. in such a way that a normally-sighted consumer can understand the substance of food labels without using optical aids; legibility is contingent on the font size, the typeface, the stroke width, the spacing between letters, words and lines, the width-height ratio of the letters, and the degree of contrast between the print and the background.” In addition, the EP Committee amends the proposed requirement to include the mandatory nutrition declaration on the front of the package. Also, country of origin labeling remains voluntary for most products unless its absence misleads consumers. For poultry and meat, other than beef and veal, the Commission proposes that the country of origin may be given as a single place only where the animals have been born, reared, and slaughtered in the same country. In other cases, information on each of the different places of birth, rearing, and slaughter must be given. As a new Parliament will be elected in June 2009, the first reading vote on the Commission’s food labeling proposal may be delayed until the new Parliament sits in plenary session in the fall of 2009.
California Prop 65 Amendment
12/29/2008-The California EPA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has adopted a Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) for the di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP), a plasticizer used in a wide range of polyvinyl chloride-based consumer products. The MADL for the substance is 2,200 micrograms/day (oral). The regulation was filed with the Secretary of State on Dec. 2, 2008 and will become effective Jan. 1, 2009.
Friday, December 19, 2008
USDA examines oil crops’ outlook
12/19/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has released its latest monthly update on oil crops. This report, entitled “Slowing domestic demand weighs on soybean prices,” includes information on soybean, cottonseed, peanuts, sunflower seed, tropical oils, corn oil, and animal fats.
USDA releases monthly WASDE report
12/19/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has released its latest monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, which provides USDA’s comprehensive forecasts of supply and demand for major U.S. and global crops and U.S. livestock. The report gathers information from a number of statistical reports published by USDA and other government agencies, and provides a framework for additional USDA reports.
USDA issues monthly FATUS update
12/19/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has issued its monthly Foreign Agricultural Trade of the U.S. (FATUS) update, which provides year-to-date quantities and values of U.S. agricultural exports and imports.
Increase in retail sales of ready-to-eat foods
12/19/2008-According to a report conducted by The NPD Group, Inc., retail ready-to-eat meal and snack purchases increased 2% for the year ending Aug. 2008. The quick service restaurant (QSR) segment, with which retail stores directly compete in providing convenience meal solutions, served only 1% more meals and snacks. In fact, 6% of the roughly 62 billion commercial foodservice meals and snacks consumed in a year are purchased at retail stores. The report dispels the popularly held belief that supper is the prime daypart for retail meal and snack solutions. Supper accounts for only 17% of retail meal solutions consumed, but it is steadily growing, whereas it’s a weakening daypart for QSR. PM snack represents the largest share (35%) of ready-to-eat food consumed, followed by lunch with 27%, and then morning meal with 21%. Consumer motivation in purchasing prepared meals and snacks from retail stores include convenience, availability of healthier options, variety, and affordability, according to the report.
USDA releases futures-price forecasting model
12/19/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has released its latest data in which a futures-price forecasting model is used to provide season-average price forecasts for corn, soybeans, and wheat. Farmers and policymakers are interested in the level of counter-cyclical payments (CCPs) provided by the 2002 Farm Act to producers of selected commodities. CCPs are based on the season-average price received by farmers. This data product provides three Excel spreadsheet models that use futures prices to forecast the U.S. season-average price received and the implied CCP for corn, soybeans, and wheat. Users can view the model forecasts or create their own forecast by inserting different values for futures prices, basis values, or marketing weights. Example computations and data are provided.
Associated British Foods acquires Spanish sugar producer
12/19/2008-Associated British Foods (ABF) has reached an agreement with Ebro Puleva SA to acquire its Spanish sugar business, Azucarera Ebro SL, for a value of 385 million euros. Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is likely to occur in early 2009. The consideration will be in cash with 20 million euros of the payment deferred over two years. Pro-forma results for Azucarera Ebro were revenue of 586 million euros and operating profit of 44 million euros for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007. Azucarera Ebro produces around 50% of the 1.6 million tons of sugar consumed in Iberia. Azucarera Ebro will strengthen the existing EU operations of British Sugar, owned by ABF. “The acquisition of Azucarera Ebro is an exciting development for British Sugar,” said ABF Chief Executive George Weston. “The business enjoys a leading position in Iberia supported by modern beet factories and a new cane refinery that will benefit from our partnership with Illovo Sugar. Azucarera Ebro and its growers have enjoyed considerable support from regional governments in recent times and we look forward to working with them in continuing to develop the business and the beet industry.”
Symrise expands Vienna site
12/19/2008-Symrise has announced the opening of a 1,300-sq-m addition at its Vienna, Austria location. The addition includes new offices and laboratories for the sales, category management, development, and applications technology departments. In addition, there is now a gourmet kitchen where clients work with Symrise to develop new product concepts. Symrise activities in the Austrian capital revolve around developing culinary concepts and fat-based products such as margarine and mayonnaise. Also, the site is the home of the applications technology department for sweets, snack items, and beverages for southeastern Europe.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
FDA clears use of stevia-derived sweetener
12/18/2008-The Food and Drug Administration has declared that rebaudioside A (rebiana), derived from the stevia plant, is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as a general purpose sweetener. The FDA faxed approval letters late on Dec. 17 to Cargill Inc. and Merisant Co.’s Whole Earth Sweetener unit, which are teaming up with Coke and Pepsi, respectively, to market the sweetener. The GRAS status clears the way for Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. to release their planned beverages containing the sweetener. This month, Coke plans to introduce a reduced-calorie version of Sprite, called Sprite Green, which will have 50 calories for each 8.5 oz and contain some natural sugar along with the sweetener. Additionally, Coke will introduce some Odwalla juice drinks with the sweetener. Pepsi will launch three flavors of a zero-calorie SoBe Lifewater next week, and an orange juice drink called Trop50, containing half the calories and sugar of orange juice, in March. Coke and Pepsi hope the sweetener—called Truvia by Coke and PureVia by Pepsi—will allow them to introduce reduced-calorie beverages and boost their sales.
Irish pork dioxin contamination update
12/18/2008-The U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced that the Republic of Ireland has put in place measures to restore supplies of Irish pork and bacon. This follows last week’s announcement by the Irish government that dioxins had been found in pigs slaughtered in the Republic of Ireland that had eaten contaminated feed. In the U.K. and the rest of Europe, shops, manufacturers, and caterers that can trace the origin of any pork, directly to a farm that is unaffected by contaminated feed, are able to continue selling their products. This follows confirmation from the FSA of Ireland that checks are in place. In the Republic of Ireland, pork will carry a special label. Any pork on U.K. shelves will have been approved for sale, whether it carries a special label or not. Products like pizza, sandwiches, and meat sauces that contain less than 20% of Irish pork do not have to be tested or withdrawn from sale. Food businesses will be testing products like pork pies and sausages, which contain more than 20% of Irish pork from affected farms to make sure that they don’t contain illegal levels of dioxins.
Nanotechnology used to detect Salmonella
12/18/2008-A U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist has developed a microscopic biological sensor that detects Salmonella bacteria in lab tests. ARS engineer Bosoon Park at the Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit in Athens, Ga., and cooperators at the Univ. of Georgia used nanotechnology to develop the biosensor. The biosensors include fluorescent organic dye particles attached to Salmonella antibodies, which hook onto Salmonella bacteria and the dye lights up like a beacon, making the bacteria easier to see. According to Park, the sensor could be adapted to detect other foodborne pathogens as well. For his research, Park recently received the first place Innovation Nano Research Award at the Sixth International Nanotech Symposium and Exhibition, in Ilsan, Korea.
Pierre Foods concludes Chapter 11 restructuring
12/18/2008-Pierre Foods, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, has officially concluded its Chapter 11 restructuring after meeting all statutory requirements for its Plan of Reorganization. In addition, the company has named William Toler CEO. Toler succeeds Norbert Woodhams, who is retiring. Toler has more than 25 years of industry experience, most recently as President of Pinnacle Foods. Pierre Food’s new Board of Directors includes: Steven Kaplan (Chairman), William Toler (Director), and Matthew Wilson (Director). The company expects to announced the appointment of two new members of the Board in the coming weeks.
Kraft names Clarke President, Kraft Europe
12/18/2008-Kraft Foods, Northfield, Ill., has named Michael Clarke President of Kraft Europe, effective Jan. 2009. In his new job, Clarke will be responsible for Kraft’s European business, based in Zurich, Switzerland. In addition, he will become a member of the Kraft Executive Team. He joins Kraft from The Coca-Cola Co., where he served most recently as President of its Northwest Europe and Nordics business unit.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Obama selects Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary
12/17/2008-According to an article in The New York Times, President-elect Barack Obama has selected former Gov. Tom Vilsack, 58, of Iowa to serve as his Agriculture Secretary. Vilsack, a lawyer based in Des Moines, Iowa, is a strong proponent of renewable energy and developing the nation’s alternative fuel industry. One of the first major decision Obama and Vilsack may have to make is whether to grant the ethanol industry’s request for billions in federal aid in the stimulus bill, which Obama has said he hopes to sign into law quickly. In addition, Vilsack will be writing rules for the new farm bill and will have to undertake the demand for food assistance in the wake of the economic turmoil.
Coke to launch natural diet drink this week
12/17/2008-According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, Coca-Cola Co. is expected to launch a drink in the U.S. this week containing the natural, calorie-free sweetener derived from the stevia plant. The sweetener has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Coke plans to market three flavors of a juice drink in it Odwalla line that contain the sweetener—called Truvia. PepsiCo Inc. has several drinks ready to go that also contain the stevia-derived sweetener—called PureVia. However, Pepsi is waiting for the FDA to clear the additive before launching three flavors of SoBe Lifewater and an orange-juice drink called Trop50. Although a “no objection” letter from the FDA isn’t required under the voluntary notification program through which the sweetener is being evaluated, many consumers and retailers feel products shouldn’t be marketed until they receive the FDA’s approval. Currently, the FDA doesn’t have a specific date for completion of the review.
DSM to cut 1,000 jobs
12/17/2008-Royal DSM N.V., Heerlen, the Netherlands, has announced that it will cut its workforce by about 5% or 1,000 positions in order to address the current difficult market conditions and prioritize cash over short-term profitability. In addition, the company will reduce the number of temporary contract workers, postpone certain projects, and focus more strongly on purchasing prices. This decision results in a revised full year guidance for 2008 operating profit of above 900 million euros, around 10% higher compared to 2007. In the short term, the measures taken will have an adverse effect of 50–100 million euros on the company’s earnings, but over the longer term DSM believes they will put it in an even stronger position to capture growth opportunities. DSM’s Life Sciences businesses, especially Nutrition, and DSM Dyneema have been relatively unaffected by the current economic circumstances.
Symrise CEO Resigns
12/17/2008-Symrise CEO Gerold Linzbach has announced that he does not intend to extend his contract beyond the end of Oct. 2009. According to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Andreas Schmid, the Board has initiated the process to find Linzbach’s successor. “My decision to leave Symrise at the end of my contract has been made for personal reasons,” said Linzbach. “The business remains strong and stable and is performing in line with market expectations. I have given the Board my personal commitment to work with my colleagues to continue to develop the business in the meantime and to ensure an orderly handover to my successor.”
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Selenium, vitamin E don’t prevent prostate cancer
12/16/2008-A study led by scientists at The Univ. of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic found that selenium and vitamin E taken alone or in combination for an average of 5.5 years did not prevent prostate cancer. The study followed 35,533 participants from 427 sites in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. The randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind trial divided the participants into four intervention groups: selenium, vitamin E, both selenium and vitamin E, and placebos. The study found that there were no statistically significant differences in the rates of prostate cancer between the four groups (placebo, 416 cases [5-year rate of 4.43%]; selenium, 432 cases [4.56%]; vitamin E, 473 cases [4.93%]; selenium + vitamin E, 437 cases [4.56%]). The study was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Local food proves popular in Chicago
12/16/2008-Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand was initially opened from Oct. 1 through Dec. 23, 2008, as part of a pilot program administered by the city’s Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with Chicago’s existing local and sustainable food communities. The Farmstand’s popularity has led to the decision to reopen it on a permanent basis as of Feb. 3, 2009. The Farmstand offers edible local products all produced within 250 miles of Chicago, and serves as a hub for the local food industry, offering education programs, classes, and activities.
China launches food safety campaign
12/16/2008-According to an article in the Washington Post, China has launched a four-month food safety campaign to weed out illegal or excessive chemicals in food. The drive is being conducted by nine central government departments and targets food and additive producers across the country. The campaign is being conducted in three phases. In the first month, companies are being asked to conduct internal checks. In the following two months, authorities will inspect producers of meat, dairy, and other products rich in protein, and conduct checks on markets. The third phase in the last month will focus on stemming the supply of illegal food additives by targeting producers and punishing companies that use such chemicals. The chemicals being focused on are those that have been issues in past domestic food scares. These include: malachite green, a possibly cancer-causing chemical used to treat fungal infections in fish; the industrial dye sudan red, which was being used to color egg yolks; and the more recent melamine, which was being used to make dairy products appear to be higher in protein.
Food safety suffering from funding cuts
12/16/2008-The Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) has released its sixth annual report—Ready or not? Protecting the public’s health from diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism. The report contains state-by-state health preparedness scores for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. based on 10 key indicators to assess health emergency preparedness capabilities. Food safety is one of the main topics included in the report. The 2008 report finds that cuts in federal funding for state and local preparedness since 2005, coupled with the cuts states are making to their budgets in response to the economic crisis, are putting the progress toward improved public health preparedness at risk. “The economic crisis could result in a serious rollback of the progress we’ve made since Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina to better prepare the nation for emergencies,” said Jeff Levi, Executive Director of TFAH. “The 25% cut in federal support to protect Americans from diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism is already hurting state response capabilities.” Some 2008 health emergencies included the Salmonella outbreak in jalapeno and Serrano peppers and the largest beef recall in history, which occurred in Feb. The report stated that America’s food safety system has not been fundamentally modernized in more than 100 years. In addition, the report showed that 20 states and D.C. did not meet or exceed the national average rate for being able to identify the pathogens responsible for foodborne disease outbreaks. The report concluded with suggested food safety reforms to make the U.S. food safety system preventative, instead of reactive: 1. Unified and prevention-oriented statutory mandate and organizational structures. 2. Increased resources for research, standard-setting, inspection, enforcement, and education. 3. Risk-based resource allocation.
Nuts may lower metabolic syndrome risk
12/16/2008-In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine,, scientists found that people who added nuts to a Mediterranean diet lowered their risk for metabolic syndrome—a group of risk factors including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and abdominal fat. According to the American Heart Association, 50 million Americans have metabolic syndrome. The researchers studied 1,224 Spanish participants, age 55–80, of which, 751 (61%) had metabolic syndrome at the start of the study. Those with metabolic syndrome were spread evenly across the three diets. The low-fat group was given basic advice about reducing all fat in their diets. Another group ate a Mediterranean diet with extra nuts, while the third group ate a Mediterranean diet with more than four tablespoons of olive oil a day. The two groups on the Mediterranean diet were advised by a dietician to use olive oil for cooking; increase fruit, vegetable, and fish consumption; eat white meat instead of beef or processed meat; and prepare homemade tomato sauce with garlic, onions, and herbs. After one year, nobody lost weight, and about the same number of people developed newly diagnosed metabolic syndrome in each group. But among patients who already had metabolic syndrome, those in the nut group were 70% more likely to have reversal of metabolic syndrome than those in the control group. The researchers caution that although nut eaters had a reversal of metabolic syndrome, the study did not continue long enough to find out whether they actually had less heart disease.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Gene linked with desire for fattening foods
12/15/2008-A study led by Dr. Colin Palmer at the Univ. of Dundee, Scotland, suggests that the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene could be associated with a desire for high-calorie foods. The scientists genotyped 2,726 Scottish children, age 4–10, for the FTO variant rs9939609. In addition, their height and weight measurements were taken. Nearly two-thirds of the children had at least one copy of the gene variant. After confirming the obesity link in the larger group, the researchers examined 97 of the children. They took a number of measurements, including body fat and metabolic rate. The researchers wanted to figure out if the FTO gene also had to do with the eating behavior or whether it involved how the body burns calories. The children were given three meals at school to evaluate their eating behavior. The researchers found that children with the gene variation showed no difference in metabolic rates, levels of physical activity, or the amount of food eaten. However, they found that the children with the gene variant were eating higher-calorie foods, and consuming, on average, 100 more calories than the children without the gene. The researchers concluded that the presence of the FTO variant “may have a role in the control of food intake and food choice, suggesting a link to a hyperphagic phenotype or a preference for energy-dense foods.” The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
USDA reports farm business remains strong
12/15/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service has released its report on farm business and household income, farm profitability, government payments, production expenses, debts and assets, and other areas of farm finance for the nation, regions, and selected states. This report examines historic and the most recent sector-level and farm-level data and concludes that the American farm sector as a whole is in a relatively strong financial position entering 2009. Despite recent price declines, 2008 remains a historically strong year for the agricultural economy. The past four years have witnessed exceptional earnings for U.S. agriculture. Including the forecast for 2008, crop and livestock production values each will have established new highs in three of the last five years (2004, 2007, and 2008). Likewise, agriculture’s net value added to the U.S. economy will have established three new record highs. Net cash income has also established multiple record highs between 2004 and 2008.
Sara Lee opens coffee academy
12/15/2008-Sara Lee has opened its Douwe Egberts Cafitesse Academy in Joure, the Netherlands. The training center will educate employees about Sara Lee’s liquid coffee solution—Cafitesse. Joure was the birthplace of the Douwe Egberts brand in 1753 and is still one of the company’s main coffee plant locations. “The Cafitesse Academy is a great way to educate our employees about the efficient concept and great taste our liquid coffee through an experience that they will not easily forget about,” said Sara Lee International Foodservice Senior Vice President Nick Snow.
USDA tests for melamine in meat and poultry products
12/15/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will be conducting sample testing of meat and poultry products for the presence of melamine. The Agency intends to collect and test a total of 45 samples per week over a 12-week period. This decision comes after melamine was found in certain imported food products. FSIS’s sampling will focus on those meat and poultry products that contain milk-derived ingredients such as non-fat dried milk, casein, whey, evaporated milk, and milk powder. Thus, FSIS has chosen the following five types of products for testing: 1. Baby food (containing a significant amount of meat or poultry products) 2. Cooked sausages (including hot dogs or frankfurters with and without cheese products) 3. Breaded chicken (bite sized morsels or nuggets with and without cheese products) 4. Meatballs 5. Meat and poultry wrapped in dough and pizza (including calzones)
Muntons opens US office
12/15/2008-Muntons PLC, Stowmarket Suffolk, U.K., has opened its first office in the U.S. Muntons produces malt and malted ingredients and is well-known in the global baking, confectionery, and brew markets. The opening of the Seattle, Wash.-based office marks the second stage of the company’s overseas expansion, complementing the opening last year of its office in Singapore. Terry McNeil of Muntons Malted Ingredients serves as the North American Sales Manager. He has been with the company for four years.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Dioxins found in cattle feed in Ireland
12/11/2008-Ireland’s Food Safety Authority (FSAI) has confirmed that feed contaminated with dioxins has been fed to some cattle in Ireland. The U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) verified that cattle on nine farms in Northern Ireland have also been affected. While the FSAI has evaluated samples taken from affected herds and is satisfied that these samples raise no public health concern, the FSA is conducting its own tests to establish the level of chemicals that might be present in meat from affected herds in Northern Ireland. As a precaution, stock and carcasses from affected Irish and Northern Irish herds are being held and are not allowed to enter the food chain. This comes just days after the FSA advised consumers not to eat pork or pork products from the Irish Republic or Northern Ireland, after dioxins were found in slaughtered pigs that are thought to have eaten contaminated feed. “We would expect that the risk from dioxin in beef is significantly lower than in pork,” said Andrew Wadge, FSA Chief Scientist. “Cattle consume a wider variety of feeds and the way their bodies process the feed is different, which makes the risk of contamination much lower. We’re waiting for the results of the scientific tests to check for levels in Northern Ireland.”
Restaurants get creative to keep customers
12/11/2008-The hard economic times mean that many people are dining out less to save money. This is taking its toll on restaurants, which have to come up with new ways to get people in the doors. A Mintel Menu Insights report forecasts restaurant trends for 2009 and sees the emergence of five main themes. 1. Comfort food reinvented. In times of economic recession, people turn to comfort food for the warm, familiar favorites. In 2009, restaurants will make comfort food new by increasing their use of slow-cooking. Slow-baked, slow-grilled, braised, and poached will become “it” preparation methods. 2. Cocktails that rock. Mintel forecasted a rise in classic and creative cocktails for 2008. This will continue in 2009, with some interesting new ingredients, such as ginger, cucumber, chile pepper, and even beer, to add flavor and texture to cocktails. 3. Fresher food. “Fresh” labeling has increased by 22% since early 2006, and Mintel expects to see 2009 menus abound in fresh and artisan ingredients. “I think we’ll see a strong increase in the presence of local farm names on menus, as restaurants attempt to convey the fresh, inherently good nature of their food,” said Mintel Menu Insights Director Maria Caranfa. 4. More Mediterranean. Flavors of Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Middle East will abound in 2009, with restaurants stretching beyond familiar items like tapas, gyros, and hummus. Menus will begin to call out the specific country of origin, such as Spanish olives, Greek cheese, and Middle Eastern yogurt sauce. 5. Storytelling. By telling stories on the menu about a food’s preparation, health benefits, or origin, restaurants can help people feel good about what they’re eating. This is especially beneficial in hard economic times.
Texas to ban trans fat
12/11/2008-According to an article in El Paso Times, State Sen. Elliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) has filed a bill that would ban a foodservice establishment in Texas from packaging, storing, or using trans fat to prepare or serve food if passed by the 81st Texas Legislature when it convenes in Jan. The bill, SB 204, will apply to restaurants starting in 2010 and to baked goods starting in 2011. It makes two exceptions—for deep-frying yeast dough or cake batter and packaged food served in an original package with a label indicating that the food has a trans fat content of less than 0.5 g per serving. According to the Texas Dept. of State Health Services, nearly 66% of Texas adults and 32% of high-school students were overweight or obese in 2007.
Local produce tops 2009 restaurant trends
12/11/2008-A National Restaurant Association (NRA) survey of more than 1,600 professional chefs reveals that locally grown produce is rated the No. 1 trend on restaurant menus for 2009. The NRA asked the chefs to rate 208 individual food/beverage items, preparation methods, and culinary themes as a “hot trend,” “yesterday’s news,” or “perennial favorite” on restaurant menus in 2009. Several of the top 20 trendy items are related to the emerging trend of philosophy-driven food choices, including local sourcing, organics, artisanal items, sustainable seafood, and free-range pork/turkey. “As the wider trend of health continues to grow, the trend of choosing certain foods to follow one’s personal philosophy has also gained momentum in the culinary world,” explained NRA President and CEO Dawn Sweeney. Nutrition/health as a culinary theme ranked No. 11 in the survey, underscoring the growing trends of consumer interest in healthful living. Among the top 20 items, nutritionally balanced children’s dishes and side items, produce and fruit items, smaller dishes, fish, and gluten-free/allergy-conscious meals illustrate that restaurant menus will continue to expand options for health-conscious diners.
Naturex receives organic certification for French facility
12/11/2008-Naturex, Avignon, France, has received organic certifications for its French manufacturing plant. It now complies with the expectations of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) 7 CFR Part 205, certified by the Institute for MarketEcology, and the E.C. directive 2092/91, certified by Bureau Veritas. These official certifications enable Naturex to produce organic ingredients and to distribute them worldwide. The company also plans to progressively extend these certifications to its other plants.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Over-50s represent growth market for online food shopping
12/10/2008-According to a survey by IGD, people age 50+ in the U.K. are the key to continued growth in online food and grocery shopping. In a survey of more than 1,200 shoppers over age 50, 27% said that they would start shopping for food and grocery online in certain circumstances. Additionally, 48% of those considering online grocery shopping would do so if various price issues were dealt with, such as the delivery charges, guaranteed same prices as in stores, and the same promotions available. Improving the security of online shopping would also convince about half to give online food shopping a try. Currently, the over-50 population accounts for 51% of national food and grocery spend, while representing just 34% of the population. By 2051 there will be as many as 32 million over age 50—a growth rate of 53%.
Suggestions for Obama\'s Secretary of Agriculture
12/10/2008-According to an article in The New York Times, 88 notable figures in the world of sustainable agriculture and food have sent a letter to President-Elect Obama with their top six picks for the next Secretary of Agriculture. The hope is that the new secretary will be less aligned with industrial agribusiness and commodity farming than secretaries past. The many tasks the group sets forth for the new Secretary of Agriculture include: recreating regional food systems; supporting the growth of humane, natural, and organic farms; and protecting the environment, biodiversity, and the health of our children while implementing policies that place conservation, soil health, animal welfare, and worker’s rights as well as sustainable renewable energy near the top of their agenda. Here is the group’s top six picks: • Gus Schumacher: former Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and former Massachusetts Commissioner of Agriculture. It should be noted that Rep. John Salazar, Democrat of Colorado, a potato farmer, is said to be on Obama’s short list of candidates for the position.
• Chuck Hassebrook: Executive Director, Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, Neb.
• Sarah Vogel: former Commissioner of Agriculture for N.D., lawyer, Bismarck, N.D.
• Fred Kirschenmann: organic farmer, Distinguished Fellow at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Ames, Iowa, and President of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, Pocantico Hills, N.Y.
• Mark Ritchie: Minnesota Secretary of State, former Policy Analyst in Minnesota’s Dept. of Agriculture under Gov. Rudy Perpich, Co-Founder of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.
• Neil Hamilton: Dwight D. Opperman Chair of Law and Director of the Agricultural Law Center, Drake Univ., Des Moines, Iowa.
Selenium may protect against high-risk bladder cancer
12/10/2008-Researchers from Dartmouth Medical School found that selenium may help prevent p53 positive bladder cancer in women. They compared selenium levels in 767 individuals newly diagnosed with bladder cancer to the levels of 1,108 individuals from the general population. Findings showed that women (34%), moderate smokers (39%), and those with p53 positive cancer (43%) had significant reductions in bladder cancer with higher rates of selenium. This is the first study to show a relationship between selenium and p53 positive bladder cancer. One of the major pathways by which bladder cancer evolves entails alterations in the p53 gene. The researchers hope to replicate these findings on a larger scale in order to examine the connection between selenium and bladder cancer in women and those with p53 tumors.
FDA announces labeling compliance date
12/10/2008-The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established Jan. 2, 2012, as the uniform compliance date for food labeling regulations that are issued between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010. Note: Jan. 1, 2010 is the uniform compliance date for the food labeling regulations issued between Jan. 1, 2007 and Dec. 31, 2008.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
WHO sets tolerable daily intake for melamine in food
12/09/2008-The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.2 mg/kg body weight of melamine. While WHO believes that there is no good reason to have any melamine in food products, the TDI is meant to help national authorities set safe limits in food for withdrawal purposes should melamine be detected as a result of intentional adulteration. This threshold is lower than the European Union’s limitation of 0.5 mg. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration originally set its limit at 0.63 mg but because infants may be more sensitive than adults to exposures the FDA applied an additional 10-fold safety factor. This results in a TDI/10 of 0.063 mg melamine/kg body weight. The TDI is the outcome of a meeting organized by WHO held Dec. 5 in Ottawa, Canada.
Dioxins found in Irish pork
12/09/2008-The U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising consumers not to eat pork or pork products, such as sausages, bacon, salami, and ham that are labeled as being from the Irish Republic or Northern Ireland, while it continues to investigate whether any products contaminated with dioxins have been distributed in the U.K. After dioxins were found in slaughtered pigs that are thought to have eaten contaminated feed, the Irish Government has been recalling all pork products made in the Irish Republic since Sept. Dioxins are chemicals that get into food from the environment and they are associated with a range of health effects when there is long-term exposure to them at relatively high levels.
Report pushes for enhanced monitoring of GE crops
12/09/2008-The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report in which it examines the current state of regulation over genetically modified crops and makes suggestions on how to improve oversight of the crops. Due to the unauthorized mixing of some GE crops with non-GE crops, GAO felt it necessary to examine: 1. unauthorized releases of GE-crops; 2. coordination among the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and 3. additional actions they have proposed to improve oversight. While the USDA, EPA, and FDA have proposed regulatory changes intended to improve their oversight of GE crops, GAO concluded that they could improve their efforts. GAO recommends that: 1. FDA make public the results of its early food safety assessments of GE crops. The FDA agreed with the first recommendation, and, with the USDA, agreed in part with the second. In addition, the agencies agreed in part with the third recommendation.
2. USDA and FDA develop an agreement to share information on GE crops with traits that, if released into the food or feed supply, could cause health concerns.
3. USDA, EPA, and FDA develop a risk-based strategy for monitoring the widespread use of marketed GE crops.
PepsiCo’s Chicago office reduces energy use
12/09/2008-PepsiCo’s Chicago, Ill. site has received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC), according to an article in QSR Magazine. The office has reduced its energy use by 10% in less than a year, cutting water to 37% below Energy Policy Act performance standards, and eliminating almost 226 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through energy saving programs. PepsiCo’s “Performance with Purpose” sustainability vision led the office to focus on four critical elements: energy savings, waste reduction, recycling, and air quality. Among other accomplishments, the program has diverted 70% of the buildings solid waste to recycling centers, and all janitorial and cleaning products were replaced with products that meet the USBGC’s stringent Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials standards.
USDA helps test for pesticide residue in beef
12/09/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will be cooperating with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) as AMS conducts testing of high consumption meat and poultry products for pesticide residues through its Pesticide Data Program (PDP). This survey of pesticide residue levels in beef will begin on or about Dec. 15, and should end by Sept. 30, 2009. It will consist of 600 muscle and adipose (fat) tissue samples from beef cows, diary cows, steers, and heifers. The data collected by this survey will be used by the Environmental Protection Agency to make informed decisions on dietary exposures to pesticide residues resulting from consumption of beef products.
Seniors most likely to use natural products
12/09/2008-A survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Sambucol finds that 80% of U.S. adults have used natural products for their potential health benefits, according to an article in PRWeb. Multivitamins are the most popular (55%), followed by vitamin C (43%), and green tea (35%). Also, usage of natural products increases with age, with 82% of those age 55 and older being the most likely to use natural products. Americans were more inclined to use a natural product if they received a recommendation from their doctor (66%) or pharmacist (55%) and if there was clinical proof of effectiveness (65%). The survey results showed that berries were among the more popular natural products used for their health benefits, although people were unsure as to which berries deliver the most antioxidants or in what form.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Biotech gets boost from purple tomatoes
12/08/2008-The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service has released a report that describes research to develop tomatoes with high levels of anthocyanins, which could help consumers see the benefits behind biotech crops. While recent surveys in Europe and the U.K. have shown that there is an increased understanding and acceptance that biotech crops can provide benefits, particularly in helping feed a growing world population, there is still concern and hesitation about biotech’s food safety. Researchers at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, England, have developed purple tomatoes high in anthocyanins, an antioxidant thought to provide protection against a range of illnesses, including heart disease and cancer. The tomatoes were produced by inserting two genes from the snapdragon (Antirrhinum) plant into regular tomato plants. The researchers also added promoter sections of DNA that give rise to high levels of anthocyanin pigments in the fruit. While toxicological studies still need to be carried out, the report states that “it is hoped that purple tomatoes and other ‘second generation’ biotech products with tangible consumer benefits could encourage more consumers to accept GM.”
Jungbunzlauer wins Ingredient of the Year Award
12/08/2008-Jungbunzlauer, Basel, Switzerland, has won the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Ingredient of the Year Award in the European functional ingredients market for its Sub4salt product. This additive can be used as a substitute for salt and is capable of reducing sodium content in processed foods by up to 90%. It is a 1:1 replacement for salt that does not compromise on food taste and quality, which is often a major challenge for formulators trying to reduce sodium in foods. Sub4salt complies with the new EC regulation 1924/2006 pertaining to nutrition and health. It also meets the latest purity requirements of the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) and the Commission Directive 96/77/EC and contains only permitted additives that comply with the EC Directive 95/2/EC. The Frost & Sullivan Ingredient of the Year Award is presented to the company that has demonstrated excellence in new ingredient development and launch within its industry.
Lance purchases Archway Cookies
12/08/2008-Snack food manufacturer Lance, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., has announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has approved Lance’s bid to purchase substantially all of the assets of Archway Cookies LLC for approximately $30 million. The transaction is expected to close no later than Dec. 15. “We’re excited about this acquisition,” said Lance’s President and CEO David Singer. “Archway was founded in the 1930s, and has built solid market share in its niche of soft, home-style cookies. Archway is an excellent addition to our growing portfolio of consumer preferred niche brands. We are looking forward to reopening the Ashland, Ohio production facility, where we intend to produce Archway cookies. This facility will also provide the capacity to support growth in our existing business and capabilities that will broaden the products we can offer our Private Brands customers, thus supporting our growth goals for our non-branded business.”
EU bans imports of Chinese soy-based food
12/08/2008-The European Union has banned imports of Chinese soy-based food products for infants and young children after melamine was found in Chinese soybean meal, according to an article in Guardian. All other feed and food containing soya and soya products originating from China will have to be tested before they are imported. Only feed and food containing under 2.5 mg of melamine per kg will be allowed into EU markets. Last year, the EU imported around 68,000 metric tons of various soy products or products containing soy for a total value of some 34 million euros ($43 million). Melamine is the chemical that was found in Chinese infant formula in September and has been blamed for killing at least three babies and making thousands of others ill.
Saputo completes acquisition of Neilson Dairy
12/08/2008-Saputo, the Montreal, Canada-based dairy processor, has completed the acquisition of Neilson Dairy, the dairy division of Weston Foods Canada Inc. The purchase price of $465 million on a debt-free basis was paid in cash by drawing on available lines of credit and additional financing. This transaction is expected to enable Saputo Dairy Products Division (Canada) to increase its presence in the Ontario fluid milk and cream market. Neilson Dairy primarily operates within the retail market segment and, as part of the transaction, Saputo inherits Neilson Dairy’s long-term relationships with its customers. Neilson Dairy employs approximately 390 people at its two facilities located in Halton Hills and Ottawa, Ontario. It generates annual sales of approximately $600 million and annual earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization of approximately $50 million.
Friday, December 05, 2008
PepsiCo appoints Chief Marketing Officer
12/05/2008-PepsiCo has appointed Jill Beraud to the newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer. Beraud comes to PepsiCo after spending the past 13 years at Limited Brands, where she was most recently Chief Marketing Officer of Victoria’s Secret. “We have some of the world\'s strongest brands and some of the world’s greatest marketers, but never have we integrated our marketing efforts in a holistic, global, and disciplined fashion across the PepsiCo enterprise,” said Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO. “Jill has a proven track record of building brands and delivering profitable sales growth through innovative marketing. Her experience overseeing the entire Limited Brands portfolio as well as her consumer goods background will enable us to integrate our brand marketing efforts and stay ahead of macro consumer trends with a deeper level of sophistication.”
In her new role, Beraud is responsible for developing global marketing strategies for PepsiCo’s $39 billion portfolio of Frito-Lay, Pepsi-Cola beverages, and Quaker products.
Updates on Pilgrim’s Pride Chapter 11 filing
12/05/2008-According to an article in PRNewswire, Pilgrim’s Pride has announced approval of “first day” motions by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. The company received interim approval to access $365 million of its $450 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing. This DIP financing, combined with the cash generated from ongoing operations, will allow Pilgrim’s Pride to satisfy its customer business obligations, including the payment of employee wages and payments to vendors. In addition, the company received approval to pay pre-petition employee wages, health benefits, and other employee obligations during its restructuring. Also, the company is authorized to continue to honor all of its current customer policies without interruption, including marketing development, rebate and prepayment programs, coupon programs, product replacement, and customer refunds. The company filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions on December 1.
Sara Lee sells its direct delivery coffee business
12/05/2008-Sara Lee Corp., Downers Grove, Ill., has signed an agreement to sell its U.S. Direct Store Delivery (DSD) Foodservice coffee business to Farmer Bros. Co. for $45 million. As part of the transaction, the Superior Coffee, Cain’s, Ireland, Justin Lloyd, McGarvey, Metropolitan, Prebica, Suntipt (U.S. only), Wechsler, Café Royal, and Royal Kona brands will be sold to Farmer Bros., which will license these brands back to Sara Lee for a transition period. Farmer Bros. will acquire more than 20,000 additional customers and Sara Lee’s Foodservice DSD coffee business’s 60 branch facilities, a fleet of delivery vehicles, a coffee manufacturing plant in Houston, Texas, and a distribution and spice facility in Oklahoma City, Okla. In addition, about 640 Sara Lee employees will be transferred to Farmer Bros. “We are pleased to announced the sale of our Foodservice DSD coffee business, which is consistent with our commitment to simplifying our business to focus on areas where we have a clear, sustainable point of difference and can leverage our scale,” said Sara Lee’s COO for North America CJ Fraleigh.
Kellogg acquires Mother’s Cake & Cookie’s recipes
12/05/2008-Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich., has acquired the trademarks and recipes of Mother’s Cake & Cookie Co., a brand with a loyal customer following in Western U.S. The Mother’s Cookie brands will be managed as part of Kellogg’s Snacks business unit. Kellogg plans to reintroduce many of Mother’s Cookie’s most popular cookies, which include iced animal crackers, sandwich cookies, and wire cut cookies. “Mother’s Cookie’s brands are a complementary fit to our existing cookie portfolio,” said Kellogg’s President and CEO David Mackay. “We will use our brand-building and innovation expertise, our understanding of the cookie category, as well as our existing distribution infrastructure to grow the Mother’s Cookie business.”
EFSA okays genetically modified corn
12/05/2008-The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms has declared that genetically modified 59122 x NK603 corn is as safe as its non-GMO counterpart and the overall allergenicity of the whole plant is not changed. This decision comes after Pioneer Hi-Bred International asked the Panel to deliver an opinion on the authorization of the insect-resistant, glyphosate- and glufosinate-tolerant corn. Also, the GMO Panel concluded that it is “unlikely to have any adverse effect on human or animal health or on the environment in the context of its intended uses.” The scope of the application is for food and feed uses, import and processing of genetically modified 59122 x NK603 maize and all derived products, but excluding cultivation in the EU. The maize was produced by crosses between maize inbred lines containing 59122 and NK603 events to combine resistance to certain coleopteran species trait in 59122 and the tolerance to glyphosate in NK603. Both 59122 and NK603 have been authorized under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and 258/97, respectively. A comparative analysis of agronomic traits and composition was undertaken and the safety of the newly expressed proteins and the whole food/feed was evaluated with respect to potential toxicity, allergenicity, and nutritional quality. In addition, an assessment of environmental impacts and the post-market environmental monitoring plan were also undertaken.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
McCormick releases its 2009 Flavor Forecast
12/04/2008-McCormick & Co., Inc., Hunt Valley, Md., has released its Flavor Forecast 2009—10 emerging flavor duos that the company believes will appear on America’s menus in the coming year. The 10 flavor duos are: 1. Toasted sesame and root beer
2. Cayenne and tart cherry
3. Tarragon and beetroot
4. Peppercorn mélange and sake
5. Chinese five spice and artisan-cured pork
6. Dill and avocado oil
7. Rosemary and fruit preserves
8. Garam masala and pepitas
9. Mint and quinoa
10. Smoke paprika and agave nectar
FDA and WebMD team up
12/04/2008-The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has formed a partnership with WebMD, the popular health news and information Web site, to expand consumers’ access to the FDA’s timely health information. As a part of the partnership, a new online consumer health information resource will be created on WebMD—www.webmd.com/fda. Here, consumers can access information on the safety of FDA-regulated products, including food, medicine, and cosmetics, as well as learn how to report problems involving safety of these products directly to the FDA. In addition, WebMD will bring the FDA public health alerts to all WebMD registered users and site visitors that request them.
USDA traces genetic roots of cocoa
12/04/2008-Researchers from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Mars, Inc. have traced the genetic roots of cocoa—the key ingredient in chocolate. The ingredient comes from the Theobroma cacao tree. The researchers extracted DNA from the leaves of 952 cacao trees from 12 South American countries. They were able to pinpoint where cacao has the greatest genetic diversity and where it likely originated: the upper Amazon basin of Peru. In addition, the researchers were able to find 10 major genetic groups, instead of the commonly accepted three groups. David Kuhn, Molecular Biologist at the ARS Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, hopes the findings will support crossbreeding among the 10 groups, which would reduce outbreaks of disease that penetrate tree fruit, destroy seed-bearing pods, and can cause farmers to lose up to 80% of their crop. This research was published in PLoS One.
Cuba to plant first GM corn crops
12/04/2008-According to an article in Reuters, Cuba is awaiting regulatory approval to plant 124 acres of genetically modified corn for the first time. GM corn could help reduce Cuba’s dependence on costly food imports, which account for 60% of the country’s food. It is expected that regulators will approve this initial crop, which would provide enough seed to expand to 14,830 acres next year. In addition, Cuban laboratories are working on producing genetically modified soy, potatoes, and tomatoes.
Survey reveals lack of knowledge about soy
12/04/2008-According to Business Wire, an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Stremicks Heritage Foods found that 55% of adults admit they are not knowledgeable about soy foods and beverages. The survey was conducted in Oct. 2008 among 2,114 U.S. adults age 18+. While 83% of adults know at least one nutritional benefit of soy, only 17% consume soy products weekly and only 34% consume soy products monthly.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Symrise announces top position appointments
12/03/2008-Symrise Flavor & Nutrition, North America has named Matthias Guentert as President. Guentert has been with the company for 22 years and most recently played a leadership role in the integration that followed the Chr. Hansen acquisition. He continues as a member of Symrise’s Global Flavor Leadership Team. In addition, Claus Oliver Schmidt has been named Senior Vice President, Global Quality Control & Regulatory and Innovation Management. Schmidt transfers to the U.S. from Germany where he previously held, and now retains, his position at the helm of Innovation Management. He continues as a member of Symrise’s Global Flavor Leadership Team. Finally, Scott Mortensen joins Symrise Flavor & Nutrition, North America, as Senior Vice President, Beverages Unit. He has an extensive background in the beverage industry, previously with IFF and Givaudan Flavors. Mortensen was also named as a member of the Global Flavor Leadership Team.
CSM opens Belgium Innovation Center
12/03/2008-Bakery products company CSM, Diemen, the Netherlands, has opened it Innovation Center in Merksem, Belgium on Nov. 27. The facility, which will focus on margarines and bakery fats, is the third of four European Innovation Centers that the company has opened. The other three centers focus on frozen and bakery products, bakery ingredients, and sweet ingredients. “We aim to be the first in mind of our customers when it comes to creativity, innovation, and problem solving in bakery supplies,” said CSM CEO Gerard Hoetmer. “The new CSM Innovation Center for bakery margarines is an important step in further building our position as a global market leader.”
DeMet’s Candy acquires Nestle brands
12/03/2008-DeMet’s Candy Co., Stamford, Conn., has completed the acquisition of the Treasures and Stixx confectionery brands from Nestle USA, Inc. DeMet’s will merge these two brands into its existing portfolio of confectionery products, which includes Turtles and Flipz brands. DeMet’s is owned by Greenwich, Conn.-based Brynwood Partners. “The Treasures and Stixx brands will enable us to reach a broader consumer base,” said DeMet’s Candy Senior Vice President of Marketing James Gerbo. “These products appeal to segments within the category that we currently do not serve.”
Depression may lead to abdominal weight gain
12/03/2008-A study conducted by researchers at VU Univ. Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, found that older adults with symptoms of depression are more likely to gain abdominal fat than people who are not depressed. Participants, 2,088 adults age 70–79, were screened for depression at the beginning of the study and their overall and abdominal obesity were recorded then and again after five years. At the beginning of the study, 4% of participants had depression. This group of people gained, on average, 9 sq cm of visceral fat. In contrast, the 2,004 people who weren’t depressed lost visceral fat, on average, 7 sq cm. Visceral fat is linked with an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes. The researchers noted that chronic stress and depression may activate certain brain areas and lead to increased levels of the hormone cortisol, which promotes the accumulation of visceral fat. The authors concluded, “Our longitudinal results suggest that clinically relevant depressive symptoms give rise to an increase in abdominal obesity, in particular visceral fat, which seems to be stronger than and independent of overall obesity.” The study was published in Archives of General Psychiatry.
USDA requests comments on avian influenza
12/03/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is requesting public comment on a draft quantitative food safety risk assessment for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus associated with the consumption of poultry products, shell eggs, and egg products. While there are no reported epidemiological data linking the consumption of poultry products, eggs, or egg products to human illness from HPAI virus, the possibility remains a concern to food safety experts. In Asia, two cases of HPAI infection may be related to food consumption of infected raw duck blood products, although contact with live or dead HPAI-infected poultry could not be not be epidemiologically excluded. In light of the recent HPAI outbreaks in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and of the lack of clear evidence of a risk from exposure through consumption of poultry products, eggs, and egg products, a draft risk assessment was developed by an Interagency Workgroup. This group was formed from representatives from FSIS, FDA’s Dept. of Health and Human Services, and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Comments should be submitted by Feb. 2, 2009.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Pilgrim’s Pride files for bankruptcy protection
12/02/2008-Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Pittsburg, Texas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Dec. 1, saying that as of Sept. 27 it had $3.75 billion in assets and $2.72 billion in debts, according to an article in Time. The primary cause of the large debt is thought to be its $1.3-billion acquisition of Gold Kist Inc. in 2007. Pilgrim’s Pride has already had to extend its temporary credit line three times since Sept. and it has delayed filing its 2008 annual financial report, which had been due Nov. 26. It expects to post a loss of $802 million on sales of $2.17 billion for the fourth quarter, which ended Sept. 27. Shares of Pilgrim’s Pride fell 52.6 cents, or 46%, to 62.4 cents before trading was halted Dec. 1. The company’s stock has nearly eroded from its 52-week high of $29.59. According to the company’s spokesperson Ray Atkinson, the company was reorganizing and not liquidating its assets, and it will continue operations throughout the reorganization process. It has asked the court for additional authorizations so it can continue to pay salaries, provide benefits, and work with its customers.
EU launches labeling study
12/02/2008-A three-year, EU-funded research program—Food Labeling to Advance Better Education for Life (FLABEL)—was launched on Nov. 24, 2008. The goal of this project is to provide science on nutrition labels and consumer behavior, as well as best practice guidelines for future research, industry, and policy-makers. To thoroughly address the potential of food labeling as a useful source of nutrition information, FLABEL will examine the aspects that lead from label availability to effects on dietary intake. FLABEL is made up of a consortium of 12 partners from eight countries. The partners range from academic experts, retailers, small- and medium-sized business (SME) representatives, to not-for-profit organizations. The group has two key research objectives: 1. To determine how nutrition information on food labels can affect dietary choices, consumer habits and food-related health issues by researching both the label and other factors/influences. 2. To provide the scientific basis on use of nutrition information on food labels, including scientific principles for assessing the impact of different food labeling schemes, to be shared with the EU institutions, the food industry, SMEs, and other stakeholders.
USDA researchers develop disease-resistant lettuce
12/02/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service plant geneticists Beiquan Mou and Edward Ryder have developed a leafminer-resistant green leaf lettuce. Leafminers (Liriomyza langei) are black flies that ruin the lettuce leaves when they puncture them to feed on sap. The geneticists screened more than 100 kinds of lettuce before selecting the Salinas 88 lettuce and a red leaf lettuce as parents for the new green leaf. The lettuce, known as MU06-857, was put through seven years of laboratory, greenhouse, and field tests, before being made available to plant breeders and researchers earlier this year. In addition, the new lettuce has resistance against the virus that causes lettuce mosaic.
Processors approve biotech white corn
12/02/2008-Many farmers will add genetically modified white corn to their crops this year after receiving the okay from food processors, according to a Des Moines Register article. Although there were initial concerns surrounding biotech crops, many millers have changed their minds due to the better grain quality and higher yields often associated with the biotech crop. And now that companies such as Frito-Lay have approved the use of genetically modified white corn in their products, the popularity of the biotech crop will likely grow. According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center at Iowa State Univ., the domestic use of white corn has been growing about 4–7% each year as the Latino population has grown, although white corn still represents a fraction of overall corn production.
FDA’s Food Protection Plan progress report
12/02/2008-The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a report on the progress made since the implementation of the Food Protection Plan, launched one year ago. The Plan is designed to address food safety and food defense for both domestic and imported products and covers the full lifecycle of food, by encouraging the building of safety into every step of the food supply chain. The Plan has three core strategies: The prevention of outbreaks of food-borne disease, and intervention and response if they occur. Here are some of the FDA’s accomplishments from the past year in each core area. • Prevention. The FDA is establishing offices in five regions that export food to the U.S.—China, India, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. The agency has already hired staff for its offices in China and India. In addition, the FDA has released the CARVER self-assessment tool for industry, to minimize the risk of intentional contamination of food, and has conducted training seminars on how to use the tool. There are plans to hire an International Notification Coordinator to manage the information exchanges between the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities. • Intervention. During 2008, the FDA completed inspections of 5,930 high-risk domestic food establishments. Also, the agency developed a rapid detection method that uses flow cytometry to indentify E. coli and Salmonella in food. This method is now being used in poultry-processing facilities to detect and prevent bacterial contamination. The FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection jointly issued a final rule on Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipments, and an accompanying Compliance Policy Guide on Oct. 31, 2008. • Response. The FDA continues to work with the industry and the public to identify best practices for tracing fresh produce throughout the supply chain. Following the detection of melamine in infant formula and milk products from China, the FDA worked with its state and local counterparts to canvas more than 2,100 vendors of Asian products to remove any Chinese infant formula from the market. Along with this, the FDA provided regular updates on its Web site to keep consumers up-to-date as to which products to avoid. Additionally, the FDA hired two emergency/complaint-response coordinators to improve its response to emergencies that involve animal feed, including pet food.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Tea is less damaging on teeth than soda
12/01/2008-Researchers at Temple Univ. School of Dentistry compared green and black tea to soda and orange juice in terms of their erosive effect on human teeth. An accelerated in vitro test was used to monitor how short- and long-term exposure to these fluids affected the topography and morphology of the coronal segments of the human dentition. This 20-week test used vinegar and water as active and passive control fluids. Thirty-six human premolars were selected at random and immersed in the fluids (the four trial beverages and the two control fluids) at room temperature. Results showed that the vinegar has the highest erosive effect on human enamel, while orange juice and soda fall within the middle range. The lowest degree of erosion occurred with black tea, green tea and water. However, even with the tea, long-term exposure induced low-grade damage, primarily to the cervical enamel. In addition, the tea, particularly the black tea, displayed enamel staining. As the study states: “In view of the countless systemic and dental health benefits of brewed tea and its minimal potential for erosion of human enamel, this beverage should be encouraged as a substitute for acidic drinks.” The study was published in General Dentistry.
2009 food price estimates decrease
12/01/2008-The falling cost of energy means that food price estimates for 2009 have gone down, according to an article in Reuters. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has lowered its food inflation rate forecast for 2009 by 0.5%, reflecting lower prices for meats, eggs, dairy, and cereal and baking products. Beef, pork, and poultry estimates for 2009 were lowered and are now expected to each rise 3%. The forecast for dairy was reduced to an increase of 2.5%, while the rise for cereal and bakery items was cut to 3%. Despite the new forecast, it is looking like 2009 will be the third straight year that food prices rose by at least 4%. Currently, prices are expected to rise 5.5% for 2008, marking the largest increase in two decades.
Melamine found in U.S. infant formula
12/01/2008-According to an article by the Associated Press, traces of melamine have been detected in some brands of U.S. infant formula. Previously undisclosed tests show that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected melamine in a sample of one popular formula and the presence of cyanuric acid, a chemical relative of melamine, in the formula from a second manufacturer. Additionally, another formula maker told the AP that in-house tests had detected trace levels of melamine in its formula. These three companies—Abbott Laboratories, Nestle, and Mead Johnson—manufacture more than 90% of all infant formula produced in the U.S. According to Stephen Sundlof, Director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the melamine found is “in the trace range, and from a public health or infant health perspective, we consider those to be perfectly fine.” However, this differs from the impression that the FDA’s Oct. 3 statement had on the general public: “FDA is currently unable to establish any level of melamine and melamine-related compounds in infant formulas that does not raise public health concerns.” The FDA says that it couldn’t set an acceptable level because it hadn’t had enough time to understand melamine’s effects on infants’ kidneys. Melamine is the chemical found in Chinese infant formula that has been blamed for killing at least three babies and making thousands of others ill. However, the concentrations of melamine in those cases were particularly high, as much as 2,500 ppm, while the concentrations in the U.S. samples were 10,000 times smaller—the equivalent of a drop in a 64-gal trash bin.
EFSA finds xylitol chewing gum reduces tooth decay
12/01/2008-The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved a health claim that chewing gum sweetened with 100% xylitol reduces the risk of tooth decay. The claim was submitted by LEAF Int., Leaf Holland and Leaf Suomi Oy to EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies. Five studies were presented investigating the effects of chewing gums sweetened with 100% xylitol as compared to no treatment in children. Although the Panel noted some limitations of the studies, the higher number of studies and the consistency of the results led the Panel to determine that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the consumption of xylitol-sweetened chewing gum and the reduction of the risk of tooth decay in children. The scientific justification of the claim is related to the consumption of 2–3 g of chewing gum sweetened with 100% xylitol at least three times per day after meals. The same claim put forth that pastilles sweetened with at least 56% xylitol also reduced the risk of tooth decay. However, due to the weakness of the three studies presented, the Panel determined that a cause and effect relationship was not established in this case.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Villa Enterprises opens test kitchen
11/26/2008-Global restaurant franchisor Villa Enterprises has opened Villa Fresh Food Lab, its new test kitchen located at the company’s headquarters in Morristown, N.J. The facility serves as the company’s research and development center for flavor exploration, menu development, taste testing, etc. for Villa quick service restaurant brands (Villa Pizza, Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen, Banana’s, Green Leaf’s, and South Philly Steaks and Fries), as well as its full service restaurants located in the New York metro area. “What’s unique about Villa enterprises and the Villa Fresh Food Lab is that we can pull from our 44 years of culinary expertise across the breadth of our restaurant brands, both full and quick service,” explained Villa Fresh Food Lab Corporate Chef Travis Young.
USDA tracks dissemination of parasite
11/26/2008-The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) has found that human travel led to the dissemination of the parasite Trichinella spiralis. Trichinella spiralis can be found in the muscle tissue of a wide range of mammals and can infect humans who consume undercooked meat contaminated with the parasite. While it is no longer a threat to the U.S. food supply, the problem persists in some European countries. Scientists at the ARS Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory in Betsville, Md. used Trichinella DNA collected from 28 countries on four continents to evaluate potential links between parasite hosts, geographic distribution and species diversity. Although T. spiralis is believed to be 20 million years old, the scientists were surprised to find that parasite samples from Europe, North Africa, and the Americas could be grouped into a single “Western” strain of the parasite. This suggests that the T. spiralis found in Europe first evolved after the domestication of swine. According to the scientists, “settlers on their way to the New World and elsewhere traveled with swine for food, and some of these pigs were infected with T. spiralis.” Thus, the team concluded that human travel was the primary source of disseminating T. spiralis throughout the New World.
Cereal for breakfast leads to healthier habits
11/26/2008-A new study shows that eating cereal for breakfast is associated with healthier eating and increased physical activity throughout the day. The study, “Consumption of breakfast cereal is associated with positive health outcomes,” looked at evidence from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study, which recruited 2,379 girls age 9–10. The purpose of the study was to examine three possible explanations for the documented association between cereal consumption and positive health outcomes. The results showed that cereal eaten at breakfast provided more fiber, iron, folic acid, and zinc and less fat, sodium, sugar, and cholesterol, compared with the nutrients in foods eaten during other breakfasts. In addition, eating cereal for breakfast appeared to facilitate milk consumption (leading to increased calcium intake) and to displace fats/sweets, quick breads, soda, and meat/eggs as breakfast foods. Along with this, it led to increased consumption of fiber and carbohydrates and decreased consumption of fats throughout the day. Finally, eating cereal for breakfast led to greater physical activity during the day. As the study concludes, “cereal consumption as a part of a healthy lifestyle may play a role in maintaining adequate nutrient intake and physical activity among girls.” The study was published in Nutrition Research.
Top Thanksgiving foods
11/26/2008-The NPD Group, a market research company, has listed the top Thanksgiving meal foods consumed. They are: 1. Turkey Interestingly, only 30% of households will actually prepare a turkey on Thanksgiving Day, but 82% of consumers eat it. In addition, the consumption of pumpkin pie on this holiday will make it the second most popular pie in America for the year. Apple pie is number one because people eat it more often.
2. Potatoes
3. Vegetables
4. Pie
5. Stuffing
6. Fruit
7. Rolls
8. Salads
9. Bread
10. Sandwiches
Transporting broiler chicken spreads bacteria
11/26/2008-A study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found increased levels of bacteria on surfaces and in the air inside cars traveling behind trucks that carry broiler chickens. Typically, broiler chickens are transported in open crates on the back of flatbed trucks with no barrier to prevent release of pathogens into the environment. The study was conducted on the Delmarva Peninsula—a coastal region shared by Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, which has one of the highest densities of broiler chickens per acre in the U.S. The researchers collected air and surface samples from cars driving two to three car lengths behind the poultry trucks for a distance of 17 miles. The cars were driven with the air conditioners and fans turned off and with the windows fully opened. Air samples collected inside the cars showed increased concentrations of bacteria (including antibiotic-resistant strains) that could be inhaled. The same bacteria were also found deposited on a soda can inside the car and on the outside door handle. The strains of bacteria collected were found to be resistant to three antimicrobial drugs widely used to treat bacterial infections in people. The study’s findings support the need for further exposure characterization, and attention to improving methods of biosecurity in poultry production. The findings are published in the Journal of Infection and Public Health.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
USDA requests comments on genetically engineered corn
11/25/2008-The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comment on a petition to deregulate corn genetically engineered to produce a microbial enzyme that facilitates ethanol production. The petition for deregulation was submitted by Syngenta Seeds, owned by Syngenta AG of Basel, Switzerland. Comments must be submitted on or before Jan. 20, 2009. Once the comment period is over, APHIS will deregulate the genetically engineered crop as long as it can conclude that the organism does not pose a plant pest risk. If deregulated, the product could be transported and planted without the requirement of permits or other regulatory oversight by APHIS. According to APHIS, “the scientific evidence indicates that there are unlikely to be any environmental, human health, or food safety concerns associated with the GE corn.”
Jian Joins D.D. Williamson
11/25/2008-D.D. Williamson, Louisville, Ky., has hired He Jian, Ph.D., to its Science and Innovation team. The new food science position was created to add strength to Science and Innovation efforts and manage increased demand from customers for application projects. Jian received his Ph.D. in Food Science & Technology from Ohio State Univ., where he studied anthocyanin properties.
Kellogg expands, funds Battle Creek revitalization
11/25/2008-According to an article in the Battle Creek Enquirer, Kellogg Co. has announced plans to build a 122,500-sq-ft building in downtown Battle Creek, Mich. It will enable the company to relocate approximately 680 employees who currently work in the city’s Porter Street office complex. While the building plan is still contingent on securing local and state incentives, it is expected to be operational in late 2010. This expansion has sparked the beginning of a complete redevelopment of downtown Battle Creek by economic development firm Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU). The $85 million proposed plan will include physical improvements to the downtown landscape and also focus on making the city a national leader in food science. As a part of this, the plans include creating a food science and technology development and commercialization program in which BCU will collaborate with area educators and employers to establish internship programs that will allow area students the opportunity to increase their awareness of career options available locally. In addition, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has approved up to $35 million to fund the various components of the plan. “We’ve sat here and been watching Grand Rapids re-invent itself in the area of health care and Kalamazoo re-invent itself with pharmaceuticals,” said Jim McHale, Kellogg Foundation Senior Vice President for programs. “This is an opportunity for the greater Battle Creek area to re-invent itself.”
Sabra Dipping Co. plans for new facility
11/25/2008-Sabra Dipping Co., a joint venture between PepsiCo and Strauss Group, has announced plans to open a plant in Richmond, Va. The $61 million facility is expected to start production in mid-2010, and will facilitate further production and development of the company’s refrigerated dips and spreads. “Strauss continues to invest in the refrigerated dips and spreads market under the growing health and wellness trend, together with PepsiCo, our strong strategic partner in the U.S. Sabra Dipping Co., which continues to grow at a strong rate, has become a leading company in North America,” said Giyora Bar Dea, CEO of Strauss North America. “Given the success and high potential of this activity, Strauss and Frito-Lay, a business unit of PepsiCo, have decided to continue investing in Sabra Dipping Co. and establish a state-of-the-art plant that would utilize the most advanced production technologies available today.”
Half of Americans losing trust in food supply
11/25/2008-According to a recent national food safety and labeling poll conducted by Consumer Reports National Research Center, American consumers are concerned about food safety, and they want the government to inspect the food supply more frequently. While 73% polled currently regard the overall food supply as safe, 48% said their confidence in the safety of the nation’s food supply is slipping. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspects domestic food production facilities once every five to 10 years, and foreign facilities less frequently. Two-thirds of respondents said the FDA should inspect domestic and foreign food-processing facilities at least once a month. Additionally, eight in 10 consumers strongly agree that when food safety problems arise, the FDA should disclose to the public the location of retailers who sold the potentially harmful food, including fish, produce, and processed foods, as the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) is currently required to do for meat. On Nov. 19, the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board approved standards that would allow organic fish farmers to use wild fish as part of their feed mix provided it did not exceed 25% of the total. Yet, 93% of Americans agree that fish labeled as organic should be produced by 100% organic feed. Finally, while the FDA recently proposed allowing meat or milk products from cloned or genetically engineered animals to be sold without labels, 94% of those polled believe that meat and dairy products from cloned animals should be labeled as such. As Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., Senior Scientist and Policy Analyst at Consumers Union explained, “The American public wants to know more about their food, where it comes from, how safe it is, and will vote with their dollars to support highly meaningful labels.”
Monday, November 24, 2008
Probiotics research grants available
11/24/2008-The Global Probiotics Council (GPC), a committee formed by Groupe Danone and Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd., announced the availability of two grants for the second annual Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research (YIGPRO). Each grant will provide $50,000 over one year, and this year the grant focus is on the role of probiotics and gastrointestinal microbiota in health and disease. The grants are designed to contribute to the advancement of probiotics and gastrointestinal microbiota research in the United States and to attract promising, young researchers into this field of study. The deadline for applications is Feb. 10, 2009. “Groupe Danone and Yakult Honsha are committed to benefiting human health by advancing research on probiotics,” said Sven Thormahlen, Executive Vice President R&D, Danone Research. “We established the GPC to raise awareness of probiotics and their health benefits through science-based education.” Researchers applying for the grant must be interested in understanding the health benefits of probiotics and the relationship among probiotics, gastrointestinal microbiota, and the body.
Symrise grows dairy flavor business
11/24/2008-Symrise Flavors, Teterboro, N.J., has formed a strategic business alliance with First Choice Ingredients of Germantown, Wis. The relationship is designed to secure and grow Symrise’s dairy flavor portfolio, particularly in enzyme modified diary (EMD) flavors. EMD flavors are important to product segments such as snacks, savory, dairy, and prepared foods. Symrise’s goal is to better leverage the fermentation competencies into other lipid- and protein-based substrates to further expand its portfolio of natural fermentation-derived flavor offerings. “After our acquisition of the Chr. Hansen Flavor and Seasoning business, it became clear that we would benefit from working with First Choice Ingredients as our strategic partner,” explained Matthias Guentert, President of Symrise Flavor & Nutrition North America. “Doing so would allow us to ensure a flawless supply of the acquired dairy flavors to our customers, and also enhance our dairy team by adding the Milwaukee group to our staff.”
General Mills to expand Albuquerque plant
11/24/2008-According to an article in the New Mexico Business Weekly, General Mills is planning to invest $100 million in an expansion of its existing Albuquerque, N.M., plant. The facility currently employs about 190 people, but the new addition will add about 160,000 sq ft and employ 60. The addition will focus on manufacturing snack products.