Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

Weekly comment

The food industry after Lisbon

In the face of another rejection of a European Union treaty, the bloc's food industry has one glaring path ahead: business as normal.

Processors must pay price for organic demand

The organic milk market continues to show huge potential for growth, though the industry must be ready to pay more to protect the product at its source, says a leading UK farmers' cooperative.

EU dairy outlook defies supply and nutrition challenges

Prices on the EU dairy market are expected to stabilise during the remainder of 2008 despite wider-global supply concerns, says the president of the European Dairy Association (EDA).

First food players sign up to lobbyist register

The European Commission's voluntary register of lobbyists and their interests went live on Monday, and already contains over 60 entries - but will food industry players take a pledge on transparency?

Cottage cheese cultures go full circle

The cottage cheese industry is turning back to direct vat cultures rather than the cheaper bulk starter method which replaced it as costs are reduced, according to Chr Hansen.

Nanotechnology-enabled packaging regulation roadmap offered:study

A new study provides a roadmap for consumers, food manufacturers and government through potential US regulatory issues for nanotechnology-enabled food packaging, claims the report's author.

Green scheming offers profit sustainability - Tetra Pak

Manufacturers seeking long-term cost efficiency should consider forsaking immediate profitability by making wide reaching environmental commitments in their operations, says the vice president of development for Tetra Pak.

Fortified cheese as good as supplements for vitamin D: study

Eating cheese fortified with vitamin D results in the same blood rises in the vitamin as from supplements, reports new research from Canada.

Value of sustainability to be studied as emissions cuts rewarded

As the UK's Carbon Trust initiates a scheme to reward companies for genuine carbon emission reduction, a new study will determine how influential a company's sustainability image is in terms of consumers' purchasing decisions.

Solutions abound for polyphenol-fortified milk: study

Adding fruit flavours and cyclodextrin to milk may boost consumer acceptance of polyphenol-enriched dairy, without the need for added sugar, report New Zealand scientists.

Healthy and fun drive ice cream innovation at new Unilever centre

Unilever's new global Centre of Excellence Ice Foods is aimed at increasing ice cream innovation by developing healthier products that are more exciting and provide varied sensory experiences.

Danisco pledges research, acquisitions in healthy ingredients

Danisco plans to further strengthen its health and nutrition ingredients offering in areas in which it is not a market leader, as it positions to for a bio-based future.

Weekly comment

GM: Breaking the stalemate

Food industry voices are joining those of politicians in the GM debate, hailing the controversial technology as the answer to the food supply crisis. But the hearts and minds of consumers must still be won.

Cereal and dairy groups eye nutrition push

A UK-based breakfast cereal association says it is teaming up with its dairy counterparts to this month kick off a new promotion scheme playing up the nutritional benefits of consuming the products.

Packager claims rapid zip flow-wrapping now in the bag

A new development in zip-pack packaging for cheese and other perishable products can offer processors high-speed resealable flow-wrap production, according to its manufacturer.

News briefs: Milk contamination case, Parmalat

This week, two dairy farmers reportedly plead guilty at a US court for their role in an alleged E. coli milk contamination, and Parmalat settles its ongoing dispute with UBS.

Foodmakers welcome MEPs amendment on by-products

The adoption by MEPs this week of amendments to the European Waste Framework Directive has been welcomed by the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries in the EU (CIAA).

France attracting overseas investment in functional foods, report

The functional foods industry in France is booming, according to a report from Invest In France that claims the sector attracted 7 per cent of all new foreign investment projects in the country between 2002 and 2007.

Bagged-milk highlighting green dairy development

A new milk packaging initiative by a leading UK retailer designed to cut package waste is just one of many green container innovations being carried out by dairy processors, according to the industry.

Food processors cut food miles by sharing transport

A collaboration between leading food manufacturers and retailers aims to reduce the environmental impact of transporting food and groceries in the UK, claims scheme pioneer IGD.

Innovation required to milk sheep and camel dairy potential

Milk derived from sheep, buffalo and even camels could open up promising new avenues for dairy processors, providing that innovation and investment is made to squeeze their potential.

Flavour challenges key for folic acid in dairy

The choice of flavour may be key to consumer acceptance of folic acid fortified yoghurts and other dairy, suggests a new study from the US.

Chr Hansen to launch next generation cheese coagulant

Denmark's Chr Hansen is set to launch a second-generation Fermentation Produced Chymosin (FPC) for the cheese market, promising cost-efficiency and better process control.

Weekly comment

The value of hyperactive curiosity

For a little yellow flower, it's ignited a huge debate. Believe the headlines and St John's wort won't help hyperactive kids, but last week's study asks more questions than it answers. It's time to put funding disclosures in the dock.

Arla ready to pay price over organic milk needs

Cooperative Arla Foods says it is looking to increase the supply of milk from its member farmers to tackle growing concern over organic supply, particularly in its Swedish and Danish markers.

New aseptic technology delivers high outputs, says Cryovac

Sealed Air Cryovac said they have designed, in partnership with Catelli Food Technology (CFT), a film for aseptic packs that allows high machine outputs and is robust enough to sustain handling and distribution despite reduced material.

No risk to consumers from Bisphenol A, says ECB

The European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) said that there is no risk to consumers from using packaging containing Bisphenol A (BPA), which follows similar findings from TNO last month.

News briefs: Bulgarian protests, Lifeway farmers pledge

This week, Bulgarian farmers following in the footsteps of their fellow EU counterparts in protests over milk production costs and Lifeway Foods plays up hormone free milk.

Organic market should remain resilient amid spiralling costs

The growing success of the organic market will be only slightly marred by soaring food prices, which are tightening consumers' purse strings across Europe, say industry experts.

Supply uncertainty drives ingredient firm expansion

Dairy ingredients group Meadow Foods says it is aiming for further expansion within its operations as part of moves to offset spiralling energy and distribution costs.

New cost cutting, sustainable technology for dairy processors, claims Tetra Pak

A new processing line can provide dairy processors with lower operating costs and energy savings, claims manufacturer Tetra Pak.

Commercial emulsifier may hold key to whipped cream mimicry

Use of the commercial emulsifier lactam may help food scientists crack how to produce emulsions that mimic traditional whipped cream, says new research.

Honed cheese flavours point the way to low-fat options

The trend towards low and reduced-fat food is creating opportunities for enzyme-modified cheese flavours to create intense cheese-tasting food without the calories.

Weekly comment

Food crisis: Time to stop the squabbling

Bickering gets you nowhere. It's a lesson to be learned early in life, but which seems easily forgotten when it comes to tough political issues like measures to curb the food crisis.

Calcium pills beat fractures in new clinical trial

Daily supplements of calcium may reduce the risk of fractures in a healthy population by 72 per cent, according to results of a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Microbubbles could extend shelf-life on food foams

Microscale bubbles could whip up a range of long-lived, stable foam products whilst giving formulations interesting sensory properties, according to research published in Science.

Farmers claim milk-battle victory

Dairy farmers across Europe say they are temporarily calling for an end to ongoing strikes that have threatened milk supply in the bloc, after industry players agreed to enter talks over the pricing for their products.

Raw milk camembert rule approved

French authorities have approved revisions for the production of camembert cheese, which only allows products derived from raw milk to carry the sought after AOC Appellation Contrôlée (AOC) Camembert de Normandie.

Trans fats harm may pass from mother to infant in breast milk: study

The potentially damaging effects of trans fats may also be passed from a mother to her child during breast feeding, suggests a new study that heaps more misery on the enfant terrible of the food industry.

Consolidation to continue for $18bn flavor market

The top ten global flavor players possess two thirds of the total market, but still the market continues to consolidate, confirms a report.

Parliament heart group advocates colours on front of packs

The European Parliament's Heart Group has declared its preferred best approach to front of pack labelling for food so consumers can see at a glance whether a product is good for their heart: four key nutrient quantities, plus colour coding.

Milk Link invests to target packaging innovations

Milk Link, a UK-based dairy cooperative, has announced it has completed a major investment at its Oswestry cheese-packaging plant, which its claims will become one of the most advanced sites of its kind in the country.

Dairy groups call for end to farmer milk protests

Tensions have risen this week between European dairy farmers and processors as blockades and protests rage over the profitability of production.

News briefs: Campina, Fonterra and Emmi

This week, Campina invests in its German liquid milk operations, Emmi sells off its stake in cheese group Baer and Fonterra increases its predicted member payout for the current season.

Integrated packaging line cuts operating costs, says Tetra Pak

A new integrated, aseptic carton packaging line offers processors reduced costs, as well as increased equipment reliability and capacity, claims manufacturer Tetra Pak.

Weekly comment

Yesterday's food complacency proves hard to swallow

For too long, the developed world has taken food for granted. For years, ample food stocks, a well-supplied export trade and rapidly rising agricultural productivity have confined food fears, in the west at least, to history and the memories of older generations.