Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

Arla flies in new team for UK dairy challenge

Arla Foods has overhauled its leadership in the UK as it looks to make a fresh start and improve earnings for its dairy operations in the country.

Celebrities join milk health push

A group of UK celebrities led by the footballer Wayne Rooney's fiancée have linked up with dairy firms to promote the health benefits of milk among teenage girls.

New processing toxins linked with aging diseases

A new class of toxins produced when meats and cheeses are grilled, fried or broiled, can lead to a host of diseases associated with aging, say researchers.

Danone on course for 2007 ambitions

Decline within Group Danone's Asian operations failed to dampen a strong first quarter performance for the company as like-for-like sales underwent a 10.1 per cent rise to €3.6bn.

Special edition: Global food trade

What's going down with Doha?

Two weeks ago world leaders extended the deadline on the beleaguered Doha trade round to the end of this year. Exhortations not to let the opportunity pass have ensued, but big barriers must still be overcome before a positive conclusion can be reached.

Dairy linked to Parkinson's disease, study

Men who consume large amounts of dairy foods may increase their risk of developing Parkinson's disease, says new research.

DSM unveils novel antibiotics test for milk

A 'next generation' antibiotics test for milk, capable of saving dairy firms and labs time and money, will be launched by Dutch firm DSM this week.

Milk prices debate keeps dairy in the spotlight

Public debates over farmgate milk prices will take place across Britain over the next couple of weeks, as producers and campaign groups look to maintain pressure on retailers and processors.

EU toughens pasteurisation testing

The European Union has set new standards that regulate dairy pasteurisation testing, which bring bloc into line with international standards already in place.

Infant formula with leptin may cut obesity

Adding the hunger hormone leptin to baby formula may protect against obesity later in life, if results from a rat study can be translated to humans.

Weekly Comment

Ditch the marketing madness

Marketing strategies - two words that incorporate everything from pseudo scientific research to shock value advertising campaigns. But shouldn't honesty be the best policy?

Nestle taste research may benefit salt reduction

Scientists at the Nestle Research Center have identified a network of molecules behind our ability to taste salt, research that could aid in the push to reduce salt levels in foods without affecting taste.

Tension marrs Irish dairy sales rise

Rising commodity prices in the second half of 2006 helped the Irish Dairy Board to a five per cent sales rise for the year, but producers warn they are not reaping the benefits.

Exclusive interview

Inside Nestlé's R&D world

In the first of a new series of exclusive interviews, Professor Peter van Bladeren, Nestlé's director of science and research, tells Stephen Daniells how collaboration is key to innovation at the Nestlé Research Center.

Ireland dishes out funds for dairy research

A range of development projects, from functional dairy proteins to cheddar cheese, will benefit from a multi-million euro investment in Ireland's dairy industry, the country's government has announced.

Salt reduction may slash heart disease risk - study

Cutting salt intake may slash the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 35 per cent, says a new multi-centre study from a group of leading US universities.

Irish court judges in Glanbia's favour in probiotic case

The Irish Commercial Court has judged that the Yoplait Essence brand does not infringe on Danone's Essensis trademark, and that the French dairy giant's trademark should be revoked, as it is not a genuine market brand.

Arla milks Chinese potential with new plant

Danish group Arla Foods has started construction of a new powdered milk production plant, to expand its presence in the China's dairy sector.

Ice cream makers look to the skies

A dose of early summer sun and talk of another record-breaking heat wave around the corner has put the UK ice cream industry in a cautiously optimistic mood for 2007.

Nestle offloads dairy plant to milk core brands

Food Giant Nestlé has sold off one of its Vietnamese dairy plants to local group Anco Foods, as it looks to shift focus in the region to the production of its core brands.

Arla joins rush to raise milk price

As Tesco again displayed its power in the UK food chain with another profits rise, dairy group Arla Foods joined a growing list of processors to raise farmgate milk prices.

Perspectives for Food 2030

EU research needs conference begins

About 150 experts are gathering here today in Belgium's capital city for a peak into the future of the food industry.

Weekly comment

Food contamination: time for action

At a time when so many resources are being pumped into improving consumer health through food, it is pitifully ironic that more and more people are getting sick or dying from what they eat because of safety slips.

Project to develop international testing standards

The EU has launched a €12m project to develop standards for analysing food safety and quality.

New calls for a supply chain watchdog in UK

An independent watchdog is needed to ensure fair dealings between supermarkets and food suppliers, says a UK economics group, echoing similar calls from parts of the dairy industry.

Energy, commodity price pressures to ease says S&P

A lesser increase in prices of energy and commodities compared with 2006 will ease the pressure on processors, according to a new report by Standard and Poor's.

Silver Spoon in milkshake recall

Thousands of bottles of strawberry milkshake have been recalled in the UK by manufacturer Silver Spoon, due to concerns the products may make consumers ill.

Cargill culture makes ripened cheese smell fruity

Cargill is introducing a new aromatic cheese culture to create subtle fruity aromas in the rind and mould of ripened cheese, a quality said to be sought after by consumers.

Weekly comment

You cannot judge a juice by its cover

Have you heard this one before? There are two blackcurrants, one has a high vitamin content and the other - well it doesn't.

Unilever moves closer with GM ice cream protein

Low fat ice cream made using a GM yeast moved closer to being approved for the European market, as the FSA published its draft opinion on Unilever technology under novel foods regulation.

A third of UK dairy farmers may quit, survey

Tesco may have waded in to rescue UK dairy farmers last week, but confidence in the sector is at its lowest point since 2004 and more producers intend to quit in the near future, a new survey says.

Bravo! pours milk into sports drinks

A range of milk-based sports and energy drinks will be launched by US fortified beverage specialist, Bravo!, expanding the dairy sector into traditional soft drink territory.

Wahaha rebuffs Danone's advances

Chinese beverage group Wahaha has hit out at plans by business partner Danone to acquire the groups remaining assets.

Arla signs up for Russian dairy venture

Scandinavian dairy giant Arla Foods has agreed to form a joint venture with its Russian distributor, Artis, as competition for space on the growing Russian dairy market intensifies.

UK dairy summit to tackle environment issues

Growing concerns over the food industry's impact on climate change have prompted a dairy industry conference on farming and the environment in the UK.

Project aims to tear strips off packaging problems

The effectiveness of tear strips used in cardboard packaging is being tested as part of a new project, which aims to market the findings later this year.

Tesco offers better deal to dairy farmers

Dairy industry leaders in the UK have welcomed an announcement from supermarket giant Tesco that it would pay more money to dairy farmers via new direct contracts.

Frutarom offers omega-3 dairy formulation

Frutarom is now offering the added value of omega-3 as part of its food systems service for dairy products - a development that will allow customers to tap opportunities in the functional dairy market.

New easy open seals close packaging dilemma

Two different packaging seals offer easier opening with security -- while one is designed for industrial and commercial use, the other meets increasing consumer demand, the manufacturer claims.

EU slices through butter mountain

Nearly all remaining butter stocks being held in the EU's intervention system will be sold off on the common market, member states have agreed.

Elections may boost France's depressed consumers

Food firms should be crossing their fingers that a new French president can blow away the black cloud hanging over consumer confidence in the country, says a new survey.

UK launches junk food ad ban

Stage one of controversial new restrictions on advertising of foods to children came into force in the UK this week, a move criticised as 'draconian' by the country's dairy industry.

Unilever, Provexis collaborate for healthy products

The identity of the mystery multinational with which Provexis has been exploring new formats of its Fruitflow technology is unveiled as Unilever; and the two companies also plan to collaborate over new IP on related products and processes.

Weekly comment

Wanted: testing for supplements

The dietary supplement industry needs an independent testing program that is recognizable to consumers in order to enhance the credibility of its products as well as encourage solid science and sourcing.