DAIRYREPORTER.COM SPECIAL: DAIRY PRODUCT QUALITY TESTING

Leader of the pack: Innovations to boost dairy product quality and safety

A Mintel global packaging expert examines the potential that several packaging features have to boost dairy product quality and safety, from time temperature indicators (TTIs) to active packaging.

Magnesium is just as vital as calcium for kids bone development: Study

Magnesium intake may be just as important as calcium is for healthy bone development, and parents should know that, suggest experts.

News in brief

CLA-based dairy drink seeks new Las Vegas Acclaim

Wisconsin firm LiveGreat Foods is launching a rebranded version of its Clarinol CLA-fortified milk Acclaim at the forthcoming Healthy Beverage Expo in Las Vegas (June 7-9).

Chr Hansen targets dairy players with vitamin K-boosting probiotic

Probiotic leader Chr Hansen is targeting dairy players with an L. Lactis probiotic strain it says produces vitamin K at significant enough levels to utilise approved health claims.

DAIRYREPORTER.COM SPECIAL: DRIVING UP QUALITY, DRIVING DOWN COST

'No magic ingredient': Ensuring healthier dairy launches don't suffer a quality slide

There is no ‘magic ingredient’ dairy producers can use to counteract changes in product stability resulting from pressure to cut sugars, salt and fat, although newer non-thermal processes can help, according to a leading food microbiologist.

MINTEL PREDICTS STRONG US GROWTH FOR HEALTHY KIDS YOGURT DRINKS

Dannon took two years to win 25% Danimals Smoothies sugar cut

Dairy giant Dannon (Danone) says it spent two years reformulating its Danimals Smoothies for kids in the US to achieve a 25% sugar reduction, as Mintel predicts strong growth for kid-friendly yogurt drinks with health and wellness benefits in the country for ‘years to come’.

CHILDREN'S FOOD CAMPAIGN SLAMS 'EVER ACCOMMODATING ASA'

ASA-OK with us! Nestlé escapes Nesquik rap on ‘poor nutritional habits’ claim

Nestlé milkshake brand Nesquik has escaped UK Advertising Standards Authority censure after viewers of a TV ad alleged that it encouraged ‘poor nutritional habits’ among children, but the Children's Food Campaign slammed the 'ever-accommodating ASA'.

Breast milk substitute wins 17 process patents

Dutch supplier IOI-Loders Croklaan has won 17 process patents for its breast milk alternative Betapol and has another four pending.

'A big step forward': Probiotics may alter brain activity in healthy people, says Danone/UCLA data

Daily supplements of a fermented milk product containing five different probiotic strains may affect the parts of the brain linked to emotion and sensation, says a new study from UCLA and Danone.

EFSA to deliver baby and children’s milk opinion

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been asked by the EU to produce a report on the nutritional value of follow-on formulas and children’s or toddler’s milks which may inform labeling updates across the block.

Soy industry: FAO protein findings only useful in malnourished populations

The European soy sector says a UN report that found dairy proteins offer a superior amino acid profile to plant proteins is only meaningful for the malnourished.

EU sugar quota reform: 2015 v 2020? Is it time to give sugar beet a caning?

On the day 27 associations issued a joint open letter imploring the EU to keep to its word and scrap widely despised sugar quotas across the bloc in 2015 - not 2020 as the sugar industry wants - Tate & Lyle Sugars jumped into the debate by saying neither plan would fix a “dysfunctional” market.

Easy on the salt: Chr. Hansen develops sodium-reducing cheese concept

Chr. Hansen has developed a salt-reducing concept that enables cheese manufacturers to cut sodium levels by up to 50% while maintaining similar taste and texture properties.

Clean label starch technology opens up markets

Ingredion’s new clean label starch technology offers fresh opportunities in tough markets, Cathrin Kurz, marketing manager, wholesome ingredients, for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), told FoodProductionDaily.com.

Ultra-fine wheat bran plugs health and can improve texture and structure, says Limagrain

Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients (LCI) has extended its fibre range with a new ultra-fine wheat bran ingredient that it says can improve structure, texture and nutrition in a broad range of food and beverages.

Chr Hansen eyes pharma sector with €20m probiotic plant expansion

Global probiotics leader Chr Hansen is throwing €20m at the expansion of its Danish freeze-drying capacity with increasing global pharma  and food supplement demand the key driver.

Editor’s blog

Which 2 global health brands grew by $1bn in 2012?

Something probiotic? Omega-3? A diet cola? Nope. 

NHCR article 13.5 shakedown

Latest EFSA article 13.5 rejections down to “lousy science”: Consultant

There is no surprise in the latest batch of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) article 13.5 health claim rejections as the science presented in six dossiers was “lousy”, a consultant told us today.

Guest article

Global digestive breakdown: Pre-probiotic yoghurt still number 2 in functional food

The probiotic and prebiotic sectors are tackling some serious issues around claim restrictions in the EU, but the global digestive health picture remains upbeat with yoghurts alone putting on $1.7bn this year, says Euromonitor analyst Diana Cowland in this guest article.

Nestlé deal saves day as core profits drop 30% at Swedish probiotics supplier

Core activity profit fell 30% in 2012 at Swedish probiotics supplier BioGaia – although a cash-rich, five-year licensing deal with Nestlé kept overall figures high even as that very deal simultaneously destroyed margins in its cultures business.