Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

Healthy half year for Danone's nutrition ambition

Danone has increased like-for-like sales by 8.2 per cent to €7.5bn during the first half of the year as it continues to refocus its operations towards health and nutrition.

Unilever protein gets UK go ahead

Unilever's plans to adopt a new protein for ice cream production that uses a genetically modified (GM) ingredient came a step closer to fruition today after receiving provisional approval from the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Goat milk prevents iron deficiency - study

A study of the nutritional benefits of goat milk, compared to cow milk, at preventing iron deficiency could prove to be a huge benefit to human health.

Cheese taste and aroma boosted by prebiotics - study

The sensory aspects of cheese could be boosted by the addition of prebiotic ingredients, in addition to improving the nutritional profile of the product, suggests new research.

Tetra Pak expects profit in green focus

Packaging group Tetra Pak had today revealed it remains on track with its aim of a 10 per cent cut in CO2 emissions by 2010, in a bid to reduce the environmental impact and costs of its operations.

Expert comment

Nitrite free: Where does the truth end?

Cured meat products are appearing on the market as 'naturally cured', 'no nitrite added', 'without added nitrite' or even 'nitrite free' to promote a health image to consumers. Industry expert Gerhard Feiner believes such statements can be misleading.

European dairy concerned over WTO reforms

Europe's dairy processors are calling for a renegotiation of World Trade Organisation (WTO) proposals to cut subsidies, claiming these would put industry into a "straitjacket".

Dairy firms merge, blame CAP

French dairy firms Sodiaal and Entremont Alliance announced Tuesday a merger of activities, a move they claim is due to financial pressure brought on by reforms to the EU's system of agricultural subsidies.

Sales surge offsets Fonterra cost spike

A spike in commodity costs failed to dampen Fonterra's results for the financial year ended 31 May, as the company lifted sales by AUS$881m (€566m) to AUS$13.9bn (€8.9bn).

Dairy Crest to ride omega-3 trend

A third omega-3 enhanced spread is being planned by UK's Dairy Crest - a move which rubber stamps the increasing trend for food companies to take advantage of the health benefits of the fish oil.

Organic meat and dairy linked to better quality breast milk

The breast milk of mothers consuming organic meat and dairy contains higher levels of beneficial fatty acids, and has an overall improved quality, suggests new research.

Parmalat reaches settlement - supposedly

A US federal judge last week approved a $50m partial settlement in a lawsuit over dairy firm Parmalat's bankruptcy, according to Reuters.

Polymer opal films shed light on spoiled foods

New polymer opal films use nanotechnology to change colour, a quality that can be used to indicate when foods have become spoiled, say scientists.

Arla sells yoghurt top cups division

Arla Foods announced yesterday the sale of Crispy Food International, a leading producer of "cereal tops" for dairy breakfast foods, to Denmark-based Koff.

Weekly Comment

Could the E-number be up?

The European Food Safety Authority's review of additive safety could have a bigger effect on the ingredients industry than the ejection of certain colours and flavours with a suspect safety record. It could give the natural ingredients trend an extra push, and possibly prove the death-knell for the ne'er loved E number system.

High dairy prices affect Hershey's earnings

High dairy prices meant Hershey's operating margins fell to 3.1 per cent for the quarter ended 1 July, compared to 17.3 per cent for the same period in 2006.

US milk yield on the rise

Milk production in the US is up from last year for the sixth month in a row, according to a new report.

Full-fat ice cream worth the guilt, says consumer survey

The majority of US consumers say they believe full-fat ice cream is worth the guilt, and would rather eat this than full-fat versions of other snacks, according to a new survey.

Dairy Crest achieving profit goals

UK Dairy Crest said yesterday that profit for the year will meet expectations, thanks to strong sales of its brands, cost cutting in operations and price increases.

Lipogen takes PS to functional dairy

Lipogen is now bringing its phosphatidylserine (PS) ingredient to functional dairy products as a means of leveraging the wide market potential the popular food category offers.

Cheese makers face raft of legal changes

Proposed changes to international food safety standards could affect the way cheese makers sell their products worldwide.

S&P upgrades Wimm-Bill-Dann credit rating

Standard & Poor's announced yesterday that it has raised its credit ratings on Russian company Wimm-Bill-Dann, after an improved financial performance in 2006.

Danone sells Danao in France

Danone France is selling its Danao brand, a mixed milk and fruit juice, in the country to cider company Cidreries du Calvados la Fermiere (CCLF).

EU milk cheapest in Poland

Milk and cheese products are more than twice as expensive in the rest of the 27 European countries than in Eastern Europe, according to a Eurostat report.

Marfin acquires stake in Vivartia

Greek investment firm Marfin is today expected to complete the purchase of a one-third stake in the country's largest dairy and food group Vivartia.

EPI's deal with Solarec to boost milk powder ingredients supply

France's EPI Ingredients is expanding its supply milk powders with a new deal with Belgian dairy firm Solarec, which will give it the rights to commercialise all the powders produced at the latter's Recongne-Libramont facility.

Chr Hansen launches 'natural' spray-dried dairy flavors

Chr Hansen has launched a new line of spray-dried dairy flavors in the US, which the firm claims provide some of its most successful flavors in a more convenient application form.

S&P downgrades Danone's credit rating

Standard & Poor's announced today that it has lowered its credit ratings on French company Danone, based on the projected increased debt due its proposed acquisition of Numico.

Glanbia reports gains despite dairy difficulties

Glanbia remains on course for an estimated 20 per cent increase in profits, despite difficulties within its dairy production unit, the company said yesterday.

Danone eyes Numico for healthier future

Danone yesterday tendered a €12.3bn offer for nutrition group Numico in a bid to dominate the growing market for high margin, added-value products.

Weekly comment

The aspartame science kerfuffle

The publication of a new animal study on aspartame last month has - as expected -sparked yet another bout of head butting from the two opposing sides of the debate. But it also highlights a bigger issue: one of transparency.

Handbook outlines energy strategy for small companies

A new handbook aims to help the EU's small and medium sized processors cut down on their energy requirements.

Campina keener on Thai yoghurt cultures

Campina will end a local joint-venture agreement for private label milk production in Thailand to concentrate on creating yoghurt-based products with another.

CEOs of top processors pledge to cut water use

In a sign that environment issues have risen high on the list of boardroom priorities, the chief executives of Nestlé, Coca-Cola and SABMiller have signed a UN commitment to manage water use at manufacturing plants more efficiently.

Parmalat steps up compensation drive

Parmalat has stepped up legal proceedings against banks alleged to have failed to prevent its 2003 financial collapse as it continues its drive to re-establish itself as a leading global dairy company.

Kirin discusses further dairy diversification

Japanese brewer Kirin yesterday announced that it had opened "preliminary discussions" with rival San Miguel over the possibility of acquiring a stake in its Australian dairy and soft drink subsidiary National foods.

Nestle focuses on Chinese milk powder potential

Nestle today opened a state-of-the-art dairy plant in China as it continues to tap growing demand for milk powder products in the country.

Quality and quantity drive Stora Enso expansion

Packaging group Stora Enso will invest €15m into liquid packaging board production in Finland in a drive to boost competitiveness within its operations.

Long-term dairy fears allayed by OECD report

Growing fears among dairy processors over continued increases in the cost of ingredients like milk powders could be allayed by new findings from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Oxygen restriction feeds Listeria bacteria

When Listeria pathogen are starved of oxygen, they become 100 times more powerful, according to a scientific study.

Bangladesh success reflects Arla's Asian ambition

Dairy group Arla continues to profit from its partnerships within the emerging markets of Asia as sales of its powdered milk brands in Bangladesh continue to rise rapidly.

Lactalis milks regional demand with Czech buy

Lactalis has acquired a majority stake in Czech dairy Mlekarna Kunin as it looks to tap into the potential for dairy products in the country.

Sampler tests air for pathogens

A new automatic air sampler is designed to monitor pathogens at food manufacturing sites.

Weekly comment

M&A: Urge to merge

Mergers and acquisition activity is always ongoing in every segment of industry, but this summer looks to be a particularly hot one for food and beverage manufacturers.

Dairy may protect smokers from prostate cancer - study

Increased intake of dairy foods may cut the risk of smokers developing prostate cancer by about 40 per cent, suggests a new study from the US.

UK dairy sector remains competitive, says report

UK dairy companies must continue to strive for innovative production techniques to retain their lead over international rivals, according to a new industry report.