Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

Researchers study more efficient refrigeration techniques

In a bid to cut energy use in the UK's food processing plants, researchers at the University ofBristol have launched a government-funded project to come up with more efficient refrigerationtechniques.

Ditching doorstep delivery prompts Arla revival

Arla Foods UK said it had seen a significant improvement during its second half, helped on by the sale of underperforming doorstep milk business to rival Dairy Crest.

Fonterra uncovers secret to long life yoghurt

A new manufacturing process has the potential to extend the shelf life of yoghurts while preserving live and active cultures.

Food mile focus pays off for Dairy Crest

Adverts praising Dairy Crest's Country Life butter for being made in Britain while lambasting brands shipped in from abroad appear to have paid off for the firm, in another round of branded sales rises.

Europe needs a strong CAP

Europe needs a strong Common Agricultural Policy but this must reflect current realities, argues EC minister Mariann Fischer Boel.

Fluid processor designed for clean room production

A new fluid processor for clean room production areas, provides an alternative to the more expensive high-pressure fluid processors or traditional homogenizers, its manufacturer claims.

Nutrition labels may confuse public

If formulators are worried verbose FDA-approved health claims fog the message they are trying to get across to consumers, they should maybe question one of the basic foundations of nutrition packaging: the nutrition label.

Dislike of veggies is in the genes

The reason why some people dislike vegetables such a broccoli and sprouts is due to the genetic defence mechanism to potentially harmful compounds in the plants, a result that deepens our understanding of taste.

Amendments to change range of EU hygiene regulations

A package of amendments to the EU's food hygiene regulations sets out the changes meat, fish and dairy processors will have to follow in their plants.

Small xanthan gum amounts boost gelling of proteins

Canadian researchers are looking into the effects of gelling of whey protein isolates with xanthan gum in concentrations well below that usually reported, and have already filed for a patent on the technique.

Industry squabbling hits UK dairy meeting

A dispute between two of Britain's largest dairy industry associations erupted at a show this week, over calls to establish a national dairy body that can regulate farmgate milk prices.

Life without EU milk quotas

Phasing out the milk quota system across the EU will help larger dairy producers and processors to become more competitive in the world dairy market, says a new report.

EU waste rules leave by-products in limbo, say food makers

Plans to revise the EU's waste management policy must clarify the legal status of by-products from food processing if they are to improve efficiency and save resources, says a food industry body.

High speed labeller ups efficiency, firm claims

A new machine can put labels on both oblong-shaped containers and round bottles at high speeds, claims its manufacturer.

Organic milk is not healthier, says UK food watchdog

Organic milk producers took a blow Tuesday after UK food authorities said their milk was not healthier than conventional varieties just because it contained more omega-3.

UK dairy processors told to look abroad

Dairy processors in Britain must be more adventurous on the international market if they are to compete with foreign rivals and achieve their commercial potential, says industry body Dairy UK.

Chr Hansen cultures promise texture without the fat

Chr. Hansen has developed six new cultures that it claims can offer yoghurt manufacturers up to 20 per cent more texture.

Cooling tunnels help hot cows to up milk yield, study

Herding cows into special cooling tunnels during hot weather could increase milk yields, says a study, after a heatwave across Britain sent milk production plummeting this summer.

Dairy Crest plots cheese sale

Dairy Crest confirmed it was in talks to sell its retailer cheese division to rival dairy group First Milk, as the firm looks to branded products for growth.

Health claims adoption blocked by 11th hour hitch

The new European Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation hit an unexpected barrier to its adoption yesterday, since it was found to contain the wrong comitology procedure. Rectifying the oversight could take months and may re-open debate on nutrient profiling.

Britons love their local dairy, survey says

Buying British remains a priority for the majority of dairy consumers in the UK, a new poll has found, bolstering the domestic dairy industry as it tries to raise earnings down the supply chain.

Weekly Comment

The functional food fudge

In today's competitive food industry, healthy products mean healthy sales but the scramble to keep up with the obesity backlash can have dangerous repercussions.

Emmi consolidates to defend fondue lead

Swiss dairy group Emmi said it would shift all fondue and cheese production to one factory by 2010, improving efficiency in an attempt to remain the world's number one fondue maker.

Soya beverages evolve to reach mainstream market

Soya beverage makers are using more subtle marketing of their key ingredient and merging with more traditional segments like juice and dairy in a bid to bring their products into the mainstream, according to industry experts.

Food allergies could be gone within a decade

Food allergies could be consigned to the history books within a decade if the combination of biotechnology and vaccines work as planned, Dutch researchers have told the BA Festival of Science in England.

UK dairy industry opens up to school children

A new UK scheme to help school children learn more about how dairy products get from cows' udders to their lunch boxes is being launched to improve children's understanding of the dairy industry.

Price fixing allegations hit Wiseman shares

Shares in dairy firm Robert Wiseman have struggled to recover in recent days after Britain's competition watchdog accused the group of fixing milk prices in Scotland.

Yili expands milk powder production

China's biggest dairy group Yili will build a CNY208 million (€20.7m) milk powder factory in northwest China, it revealed last week.

Weekly Comment

Sweet nothing for global trade

The transition to the new EU sugar regime is a reminder of what was lost when the Doha round of WTO trade talks collapsed.

Infant formulas evolve to replicate breast milk

The infant formula market presents opportunities for proven nutritional ingredients within the updated EU regulatory framework, and follow-on products and those aimed at mothers' are also targeted by suppliers.

Draft law focuses on packaging contaminants

Proposed EU legislation would define the manufacturing practices the bloc's processors would have to take in ensuring that packaging materials do not migrate into foods.

USDA proposal could redefine grass-fed meat

Plans by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand the definition of grass-fed animals, has caused concern in the industry that the growing market for organic pastured meats could be undermined by commercial operations.

Glanbia dairy grapples with EU reform

Ireland's dairy and ingredients giant, Glanbia, reported a dip in sales and profits for its first half of 2006, stung by cuts to EU support for the dairy sector.

Australian dairies invest $15m in innovation

Australian dairies will drum up A$15 million in funding over the next three years to support a new innovation centre that will be tasked with finding ways to better compete with a challenging marketplace.

Edible packaging seen as next wave of innovation

Edible coatings based on various mixes of milk serum proteins, starch, and mesquite gum could be the basis for the next innovative wave in food packaging, says a researcher in Spain.

Lactose intolerant kids shouldn't ignore dairy, say experts

Children with lactose intolerance are missing out on essential nutrients by avoiding dairy, and could benefit from probiotics and aged cheeses, say a review from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

CoolBrands to sell dairy ingredients division

Eskimo Pie Corporation, a subsidiary of CoolBrands International, is to sell its dairy ingredients division to a leading manufacturer of specialty flavors for the ice cream industry, it emerged last week.

Trial supports recycled plastic milk bottles in UK

Work on the UK's first factory able to recycle HDPE resin from plastic milk bottles for re-use in food packaging could start within a year, according to a government-funded recycling agency.

Tasting robot could be next generation quality and safety tool

A "tasting" robot that can identify foods, drinks and their ingredients through the packaging provides a glimpse into the future direction of safety and quality control in manufacturing plants.

Weekly Comment

The truth is out there, in the middle ground

Food can polarise opinion more than most issues, but can we please have some balance and debate, rather than mudslinging and crop burning to get to the truth?

Waste management proposal could lead to more costs

A proposed revision to the EU's waste management policy would give preferential treatment to reusable packaging, such as bottles, over recyclable materials.

Australians seduced by posh Lurpak

Sales of Lurpak butter are expected to treble in Australia this year, according to its maker Arla Foods, highlighting a potential market 'down under' for luxury dairy brands from Europe.

Does donkey dairy contain the key to longevity?

Donkey milk has been hailed as the secret of long life by a family in Ecuador, but is there any science behind claims for milk that is supposedly the closest thing to human milk?

NFU slams supermarkets in UK grocery chain probe

Consumers in Britain will be forced to buy lower quality and less safe foods if supermarkets continue squeezing the supply chain as they do now, the National Farmers' Union has told a Competition Commission inquiry.

Lactalis targets African dairy with Celia takeover

French dairy firm Lactalis has bought out domestic rival Celia in its latest move to expand, giving the group a foothold in the emerging North African dairy market.