Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

Study shows antimicrobial effective against listeria in soft cheese

03-Dec-2008 - Enterococcus faecium WHE 81, a multi-bacteriocin producer, is effective as an antimicrobial against Listeria monocytogenes in Munster cheese, a red smear soft cheese, according to a French study.

Report uncovers melamine in US infant formula

26-Nov-2008 - Some leading brands of infant formula manufactured and sold in the US have been found to contain traces of the industrial chemical melamine, albeit it at small amounts, news reports suggest.

Antibiotic resistant E.coli could spread, warns Soil Association

19-Nov-2008 - A newly discovered antibiotic resistant strain of E.coli is at risk of spreading, the Soil Association has warned, as no restrictions have been made on the herd where it was identified.

New bacteria species may spoil refrigerated raw milk

18-Nov-2008 - Scientists have discovered new species of bacteria that can grow at low temperatures, and may even spoil raw milk during refrigeration.

FDA gears up for food safety rule revision

13-Nov-2008 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will bring current federal food processing safety rules up to date in an effort to provide additional protection against foodborne illness.

Weekly comment

Beijing Olympic Games clean-up a dirty business

10-Nov-2008 - This year’s Beijing Olympic Games may have been good for China’s public image but the smooth running of the event was built on multiple state-prompted sacrifices and the food ingredients industry was one of the lambs that copped it in the neck for ‘the greater good’.

FDA criticised over BPA assessment

03-Nov-2008 - An advisory board to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that the agency ignored evidence that suggested bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and formula cans could be damaging to children.

News in brief

Fonterra cleared over Bangladesh melamine fears

30-Oct-2008 - New Zealand-based dairy group Fonterra says that a branded milk powder marketed in Bangladesh has been cleared for sale in the country after impendent testing found the product free from the industrial chemical melamine.

News in brief

Exploding milk powder rocks California Dairies

30-Oct-2008 - An explosion at a California Dairies Inc plant in Visalia has caused around $200,000 in damage to equipment, according to reports.

Bisphenol risks highlighted by FDA subcommittee

30-Oct-2008 - Fresh doubts about the safety of bisphenol A, found in baby bottles and some food packaging, have been raised by the Science Board sub committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

News in brief

Dairy goat research herd gets funding

27-Oct-2008 - The Wisconsin Dairy Goat Association has been awarded $13,400 funding by the American Sheep and Goat Center towards the establishment of the first dairy goat research herd in the Upper Midwest USA, geared towards preserving the health of the state’s goat herds.

Study does not prove BPA link to disease: EFSA

27-Oct-2008 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) claims a recent study did not provide sufficient proof of a causal link between Bisphenol A (BPA) and heart disease, type 2 diabetes and liver enzyme abnormalities, and, as a result, the established Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) is sufficient.

News in brief

Chinese dairies aim to restore confidence after melamine crisis

24-Oct-2008 - Chinese dairy companies Mengniu and Yili tried to restore faith in their products after the melamine scandal by inviting journalists to tour Yili’s processing and packaging facilities at Hohhot in central northern China, reports the news agency Xinhua.

Terror & melamine fears spur milk transport investment

23-Oct-2008 - A US-based prototype scheme to improve automisation and traceability in global milk distribution has received further funding amidst fears over milk safety hazards from potential contamination and terrorism.

News in brief

Chinese dairy company imports $15m of melamine testing tools

22-Oct-2008 - Chinese dairy company Yili said it has spent about $15m (€11.6m) on importing melamine testing equipment from the US and Japan to restore confidence after the melamine scandal, according to the state news agency Xinhua.

Yoghurt can benefit bladder cancer, say researchers

21-Oct-2008 - Two servings of yoghurt per day can reduce the risk of developing bladder cancer by up to 40 per cent, say Swedish scientists.

Arla, Fonterra sticking to scandal hit Chinese dairies

20-Oct-2008 - Two of the world’s leading suppliers and manufacturers of dairy goods have moved to play up their commitments in China as the legacy of the ongoing melamine scandal continues to impact on their operations.

Commission tightens rules on Chinese products further

15-Oct-2008 - The European Commission has adopted a new decision to prohibit the import of all composite infant formula products containing milk and milk from China, and to require testing of all other Chinese milk-containing products.

US study claims BPA induces chemotherapy resistance

09-Oct-2008 - A new US study shows that the exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), the chemical compound used in the linings of metal food and beverage cans and baby bottles, may reduce the efficacy of chemotherapy treatments.

Melamine recalls not an issue for US dairy groups

08-Oct-2008 - As US authorities issue further recalls for some Chinese products that may contain the chemical melamine, domestic dairy manufacturers are not concerned that their products may become contaminated.

Melamine detection service offered to EU food and drink sector

02-Oct-2008 - A new melamine detection and testing service is targeted at companies in the European food and drink sector including food and ingredient manufacturers and food importers, says Leatherhead Food International.

Probiotics may reduce eczema in young children: Study

01-Oct-2008 - Daily supplements of a probiotic strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus may reduce the incidence of childhood eczema by about 50 per cent, according to a new study.

Weekly comment

What to do when safety studies smell a rat

29-Sep-2008 - Using animals, and specifically rats, to build the science behind ingredients is vital, but dismissing conflicting studies just because a rat is not a human is not acceptable.

EU reviews milk content policy for Chinese foods

29-Sep-2008 - EU member states are now required to inspect any Chinese products containing more than 15 per cent milk in light of the ongoing melamine contamination scandal that has rocked the nation’s dairy industry.