Legislative package for EU dairy sector planned for 2010

The new EU agriculture Commissioner has revealed plans for a legislative package to be presented by the end of the year to improve the functioning of the European dairy sector.

Danone invests €10m to reorganise French production

Danone is reorganising production in France to improve facilities at its factories and give each a more specific mission.

Campden reports on health risks from contaminated cheese

Campden BRI has revealed that there could be a problem regarding the health risks posed by Escherichia coli O157 and Mycobacterium bovis in cheeses made from unpasteurised milk.

Green tea market buoyant regardless of EFSA opinion, says Martin Bauer

High consumer awareness of the benefits of green tea and a growing market for functional green tea products means health claim substantiation is not essential, says a German green tea...

Comment

Making the food industry fair for SMEs

No race should have rules that favour the strongest competitors. But unless the capabilities and interests of SMEs are taken into consideration before the starting gun is fired for new...

USDA: Low-fat bakery possible with oil microdroplets

Microdroplets of trans-fat-free cooking oil, encapsulated in cornstarch or wheat flour may enable a range of low-fat cake and frosting for bakery applications, according to new findings from the USDA’s...

News in brief

FDA warns on raw milk

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on the potential danger of consuming raw milk, following a campylobacteriosis outbreak that has been linked to at least 12...

New dairy infusions promise added spice

SpringThyme Oils has developed a new range of infusions that combine butter fats and oils with herbs and spices to add new flavours to dairy-based foods.

Scientists claim fat-free milk could relieve constipation

Full-fat milk may be associated with constipation but new research suggests that drinking fat-free milk could be a way of solving irregularity problems.

Omega-3-fortified dairy effective for heart health: Study

Consuming dairy products fortified with omega-3 fatty acids does benefit heart health, and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, says a new study from Germany.

Fat types affect women’s womb health

Increased intakes of trans fats may increase a woman’s risk of endometriosis by almost 50 per cent, but omega-3s may slash the risk, says a new study from the US....

News in brief

Organic co-op splashes omega-3 milk

Twenty-three-year-old North American organic cooperation, Organic Valley Family of Farms, has launched an omega-3 milk containing 50mg of fish oil-sourced DHA and EPA per serving.

Fonterra sticks by improved milk price forecast in trading update

Fonterra has claimed that ingredients prices are recovering and market confidence is returning as a group of US senators accuse the New Zealand-based co-op of holding a virtual monopoly of...

Analyst outlines emerging market opportunities for dairy firms

Growth forecasts from Leatherhead Food International for different dairy product sectors suggest that processors have plenty to gain from investment in emerging markets.

Inquiry into dairy collapse sets out vision for stronger co-ops

A UK parliamentary inquiry has outlined ways to strengthen agricultural co-ops after concluding that the Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFB) sowed the seeds of its eventual collapse by spending too...

Replace saturated fats with omega-3 to boost heart health: Harvard study

Reducing intakes of saturated fats in the diet, and consuming polyunsaturated fats in their place, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 19 per cent, says a new...

News in brief

Perrigo pays $808m for infant formula brand

Virginia-based pharma player Perrigo has acquired $300m-per-year infant formula brand holder PBM Holdings for $808m in an “adjacent category” for Perrigo.

Meat and dairy intakes not linked to climate change

Reducing intakes of meat and dairy may not alter changes in the climate and would only lead to hunger, a US-based air quality expert has said.

Comment

Supply chain transparency only answer to hostile campaigns

Food companies must ensure their supply chains are transparent and socially responsible in order to prevent backlashes from consumer activists and non-governmental groups on Facebook or Twitter, which could have...

Danone: EFSA is damaging reputation of scientific peer review process

The president of Danone Baby Nutrition (DBN) says European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim assessment methodologies are threatening the reputation of the scientific peer-review process and sections of the...

Amcor rejects price fixing estimate for damages

Amcor has dismissed claims that it should pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages over allegations it took part in a packaging price fixing cartel.

News Briefs: First Milk closes cheese plant, Foremost Farms invests in mozzarella

First Milk has revealed plans to end cheese production on the Isle of Bute, Scotland as Foremost Farms in the US looks to double mozzarella production in Wisconsin.

Dairy industry is set for further consolidation

A recent flurry of merger and acquisition activity in the dairy industry could be a sign of things to come as companies look to adjust to a more volatile marketplace.

News in brief

Chr Hansen reshuffles board

Ingredients firm Chr Hansen has announced two new additions to its board, as one members step down.

Europe moves closer to mandatory country of origin labelling

The Environment Committee of the European Parliament has voted in favour of mandatory country of origin labelling for several foods including dairy products.

New test method makes staphylococci detection quicker and easier

A new diagnostic test method will make the identification and enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) in foods both simpler and significantly quicker, said Oxoid.

Seda UK unveils £12m investment boost

Seda UK has announced a four-year investment programme totalling £12m will boost capacity and competitiveness at its plant in Wales.

News in brief

Fonterra welcomes farmers from collapsed organic co-op

Fonterra has offered to sign up the famers left stranded after the recent collapse of the New Zealand Organic Dairy Farmers Co-operative (NZODFC).

FrieslandCampina pledges to reduce dependence on dairy basics

FrieslandCampina is seeking to become less dependent on milk powder, casein, and basic cheese after these categories contributed to a double-digit drop in revenue for 2009.

Milk beats sports drink in female resistance training study

Skimmed milk may be a better training aid for female resistance athletes than a sports drink thanks to its calcium and protein content, according to a new study.

UK investigates baby milk marketing enforcement

A UK government committee looking into European Union baby milk marketing laws has raised issues with local enforcement procedures which it says need to be addressed.

Flexible dual freezing system boosts capacity and efficiency

A unique two-in-one cryogenic freezing system offers cost savings and optimises efficiency, while its versatility allows producers to adapt to changing market demands, said manufacturer Air Products.

SPECIAL EDITION: DECONTAMINATION

Active and intelligent packaging regs - evolution and innovation

New active and intelligent packaging rules and guidelines introduced last year across Europe should bring much-needed clarity to the sector and pave the way for innovation, said one expert as...

Nampak builds biggest milk bottle in-plant in Ireland

Nampak Plastics has invested £3m to build what it claims will be the biggest milk bottle in-plant in Ireland at a Dale Farm dairy.

Glanbia sale promises to be a 'win-win' deal

Analysts and industry commentators have described the mooted sale of the Irish business of Glanbia Plc to Glanbia Co-op as a ‘win-win’ deal for both parties.

Special Edition: Decontamination

Ozone and vapour proving to be best in class for food pathogens

New research from the UK shows that whole room disinfection techniques are more effective that traditional chemical fogging, and while take up by food processors is relatively low, suppliers claim...

News in brief

Two more listeria cases in Austria

A further two people were hospitalised this week in Austria with listeriosis, the country’s food safety agency confirmed.

Japanese dairy firm obtains GRAS notice for 1960’s probiotic

Morinaga Milk Industry has obtained GRAS with FDA non-objection for a probiotic strain that the Japanese firm has used in its own products for over 30 years.

New culture could bring Russian milk drink to new markets

Danisco is introducing a new culture to make industrial production of ryazhenka easier and more consistent, and is expecting the traditional Russian milk drink to garner interest worldwide in the...

SIG Combibloc blazes green trail in China

The first FSC-labelled cartons are to be launched onto the Chinese market, said SIG Combibloc as it seeks to raise awareness of sustainability issues in the global economic powerhouse.

Plant design and personal hygiene crucial to reducing listeria risk

Cheese contamination has hit the headlines in recent weeks after Austrian authorities linked seven listerioisis deaths to Prolactal cheese. In light of this news, food safety expert Dr. Eleftherios H....

Omega-3 milk producer Ebro Puleva looks set to quit dairy category

Spanish food giant Ebro Puleva is set to depart the dairy category where its Puleva Omega-3 milk has been a pioneering product, following an agreement to sell off its dairy...

New spray technology guide aims to address clogging challenges

A new white paper evaluates the causes, ramifications and remedies for clogging in cooling, cleaning, coating and other spray applications within the food and beverage manufacturing sectors.

Glanbia considers sale of Dairy Ireland to co-op owners

Glanbia is in talks about selling off its Dairy Ireland operations and other businesses to its majority shareholder Glanbia Co-operative Society Ltd.

News in brief

Nestle doubles capacity of Indonesian milk-processing plant

Nestle has spent $100m doubling the capacity of a milk-processing plant on the island of East Java in Indonesia.

Tetra Pak banks on emerging markets for growth

Tetra Pak said stronger sales in the final quarter of 2009 and emerging markets offset declining demand in Eastern Europe and Central Asia as it posted an increase in...

Institut Rosell-Lallemand acquires DSM probiotic line

Dutch chemical company, DSM has sold its LAFTI range of probiotic strains targeted at immunity enhancement to the Institut Rosell-Lallemand but is to retain the dairy segment.

News in brief

Dairy firms sign up to new UK carbon targets

Arla, Dairy Crest, Danone Dairies, Muller Dairies and Robert Wiseman were among the signatories to a new voluntary agreement in the UK to reduce the carbon impact of grocery packaging...

Scientists tackle fouling in UHT-processed chocolate milk

Australian scientists have sought to discover the optimal balance of carrageenans and sugar to minimise fouling in UHT-processed chocolate milk.

Arla Foods reports higher profits in 'turbulent' year

In what Arla Foods called a “turbulent and challenging year”, the company has reported a 6.5 per cent decline in revenue for 2009.

Senator Gillibrand backs dairy COOL

New York’s Senator Gillibrand has added her voice to a call for country of origin labeling (COOL) to be expanded to dairy products, following a further recall last month of...

Inulin-blend offers low-fat dairy opportunities: Study

Low-fat dairy products that taste like their full-fat varieties may be formulated with a blend of long and short-chain inulin, says a new study from Spain.

Chr Hansen makes cultures for more ‘super kosher’ cheese

Chr Hansen is expanding its range of Kosher for Passover cheese cultures, which will enable cheese makers to produce cottage cheese, cheddar, and white brined cheese that meet Judaism’s highest...

Dung beetles and human error explain Prolactal cheese contamination

Prolactal has revealed that an error led to the wrong cultures being used in the production of cheese that authorities in Austria and Germany have linked to seven deaths.

Symrise celebrates recession resilience

Germany’s Symrise has reported a year of above-market growth, buoyed by especially good sales in South America and acquisitions in the US.

News in brief

Spotlight on new packaging regulation at Foodex

Foodex this year sees a series of seminars on the latest regulation pertaining to third party inspection certification and packaging aswell as new food hygiene initiatives, research and innovation developments...

Milk’s fat content may influence tea’s antioxidants

The choice of adding full-fat or skimmed milk to tea may influence the antioxidant capacity of the beverage, says new research from the UK which may have public health implications.

News in brief

Yakult submits 13.5 health claim for respiratory health

Probiotic leader Yakult Europe has submitted a health claims dossier for its famous Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota via article 13.5 (emerging and proprietary claims).

New Codex is tool for ethical practice, says USP

Food manufacturers aspiring to ethically sound practices should seek ingredient quality assurance, says US Pharmacopeia, the standards-setting authority behind the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC).