Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

Quarterly EU report says market tone appears stable

A quarterly report on the dairy market from the Commission has remarked on a continued improvement in the overall situation compared to last year.

Special edition: Robotics

Robots still a nascent technology in confectionery processing

Robot-based product packaging and palletizing remain the areas for quick wins in the confectionery sector but robots, albeit in the leading EU based confectioners, are gradually taking on more tasks a step earlier at the processing stage.

Fortified milk may reduce acne

Milk enriched with the whey protein lactoferrin may reduce the effects of acne, according to researchers.

SPECIAL EDITION - ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION

Food sector set to embrace robotic technology - BARA

Take up of robotic technology in the food sector is set to steadily increase as processors are forced to seek further efficiency gains and demand could challenge that of the automotive industry within a decade, said the head of a leading trade body.

News in brief

USDA says Italian dairy sector is on the mend despite price war

The Italian dairy sector is starting to look up after a long period of restructuring that forced more than 30,000 farmers to shut down but tensions remain between producers and processors over prices, according to a USDA report.

Abbott infant formula recall to cost US$100m

Abbott said its recall of five million cans of Similac powdered infant formula because of possible contamination with beetles is likely to cost US$100m in lost revenues.

EU fails to agree on dairy market reforms

European Union farm ministers failed to reach a consensus last Monday over a report proposing controversial changes to dairy competition rules.

Nano-coatings cut milk fouling in gasketed plate heat exchanger - research

The application of nano-composites to gasketed plate heat exchangers can reduce milk fouling and cut cleaning time of the equipment by up to 80 per cent, according to new research.

Comment

High fructose corn syrup: A sugar by any other name

Once upon a time sugar was sugar, and sugar was most definitely not good for you. So the Corn Refiners Association move to rebrand high fructose corn syrup as corn sugar is a daring move – but should do little to sweeten its reputation.

Industry collaboration needed to secure Irish milk targets, expert

The development of closer working relationships among all stakeholders involved in dairy processing sector in Ireland will be required to meet the challenge of increasing milk output 50 per cent by 2020, says the head of leading Irish dairy firm Dairygold.

No common lactose tolerability limit, concludes EFSA

Most people with a lactose intolerance can cope with up to 12g in a single sitting and more if spread throughout the day, but the huge variation between individuals means it is not possible to give a firm level that applies to all.

Extra cultures help diversify cheese flavours

The addition of adjunct bacteria cultures is a “promising strategy” in the production of new artisan cheeses with more diverse flavours, say researchers.

Food for Health Ireland turns in 1st birthday milk mining report

A year after Food for Health Ireland (FHI) was launched CEO Jens Bleiel explains what has been achieved and what prospects and challenges lie ahead.

Europe to lead world dairy quality standards and welfare, says expert

Europe will set the standard for the world dairy industry, specifically for milk quality and cow welfare, an international dairy expert has told a recent conference in Brussels staged by Pfizer Animal Health.

Graham's grabs bigger share of milk market with Claymore buy

Scotland’s leading independent dairy business, Graham’s, has boosted its share of the regions’ milk market by buying out rival Claymore Dairies amid the current highly competitive trading environment for the sector.

Huhtamaki to sell bulk of European rigid packaging ops in cut price deal

Huhtamaki has reached an agreement to sell most of its European rigid packaging operations for €52m as part of an ongoing strategy to offload what it sees as a non-core business.

Glanbia R&D execs discuss failed bid to split company

At the annual meeting of Food for Health Ireland (FHI) in Cork, two R&D executives at Glanbia discussed the recent move to split the company.

News in brief

Dairy Crest announces milk price increase

Dairy Crest UK has announced a 0.5p/litre milk price increase for its suppliers from 1 October 2010.

Nampak to trial 30% recycled milk bottles

Nampak Plastics is planning to trial 30 per cent recycled content bottles after a university study found that 50 per cent recycled content was a reasonable target for the packaging specialist.

Bone health still niche, but sharp rise in NPD

The UK market for functional foods on a bone health platform grew 6.8% in the year to March 2010, but at just £38M, it still represents a niche part of the £556m functional foods market, according to new data from Kantar Worldpanel.

China arrests six in latest melamine milk powder scare

Executives at another Chinese dairy company have been arrested for allegedly producing milk powder tainted with the industrial contaminant melamine.

Dairy UK expects more responsible debate over coming super dairy plans

Nocton Dairies is expected to soon re-submit plans for a large scale dairy farm in Lincolnshire and this time around Dairy UK director general Jim Begg expects a more responsible debate.

Comment

Why cavemen could hold the key to healthy eating

There’s something incongruous about the hi-tech modern food industry sniffing around the Palaeolithic era for the next big consumer trend. But hold the side order of cynicism. There might just be some logic to good old-fashioned instinctive eating.

No food safety threat from cloned animals, EFSA re-confirms

There is no indication that eating meat and milk from cloned animals holds any greater food safety risk than consumption of non-cloned food, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said.

Dairy leading processing innovation at IPA 2010

Investments in European food processing machinery R&D are up on 2008 levels, with considerable innovation noted among exhibiting companies, reports the organisers of a trade event in Paris next month.

Growth in Kazakhstan shop bought milk could open UHT market

A growth in UHT milk sales in Kazakhstan over the next five years, coupled with the country’s limited production capacity could give international brands opportunities in the country, says a research analyst from Euromonitor.

Report seeks to avert drop in Hispanic dairy consumption

A white paper from the Innovation Center for US Dairy has warned that Hispanic consumption of dairy products could go into decline.

Research project aims to replace saturated fats in milk

The University of Reading in the UK has been awarded a grant of almost £300,000 to research ways of reducing the saturated fat content of milk without increasing trans fat production.

Danone rejects high-dose bone yoghurt launch in France

Danone has decided not to roll out its high-dose, calcium-fortified bone health yoghurt Densia in France after a disappointing trial in a small French town.

Organic dairy sector rebounds as industry aims to ‘win hearts and minds’

Sales of organic milk and yogurt are up but cheese is still suffering, as the industry strives to win “hearts and minds”after the recession, says farmers' co-operative OMSCo.

Fonterra invests in UHT milk processing capacity

Fonterra has completed an NZ$8m investment in its UHT milk processing facilities in Auckland in a bid to meet growing demand in Asia and the Pacific.

Pfizer investigation over spring in baby milk container

Leading baby milk manufacturer, SMA has launched an investigation after a mother made claims about finding a rusty spring in one of its can containers.

Breakthrough study shows personalised nutrition future for probiotics

Probiotic bacteria may affect gene activity and the cellular reactions they control in the human intestine, a study has revealed for the first time.

Arla buys into Westbury joint venture

Arla Foods is to join First Milk and Milk Link as a shareholder in the joint venture company Westbury Dairies.

Comment

Time to embrace balanced kids’ marketing regulation

Kids are not going to stop liking chocolate, pizza, ice cream, or fries. Heck, neither am I. So why is industry so afraid of mandatory restrictions on marketing to children?

News in brief

Arla Foods UK finally reveals location of £150m mega dairy

Arla has revealed that its £150m ‘super dairy’ will be located on a 70-acre site in Aston Clinton, Aylesbury.

Nestle looks to expand Sri Lankan dairy industry

Nestle is investing in a new chilling centre in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka, to take advantage of peace in the north to expand the dairy industry there.

Tetra Pak begins to offer FSC cartons to Swiss customers

Tetra Pak is bringing the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label to its cartons in Switzerland as the company continues to add the sustainable sourcing logo to its products across the world.

Survey questions ambitious Irish milk targets

Irish food industry employees have questioned the ability of the dairy sector to meet the challenge of increasing milk output 50 per cent by 2020.

New factory to boost dairy production in Jersey

Jersey Dairy’s multimillion pound 3,000m2 factory, at Trinity in Jersey, is complete.

Earthquake update: Fonterra escapes major damage

New Zealand’s largest exporter of dairy, Fonterra has managed to escape any major damage from the earthquake that hit the country on Saturday.

Fytozimus targets new enzyme at unusual cheese markets

Fytozimus BioTech has launched a new milk-clotting enzyme to make cheeses from low fat and skimmed milk, including milk from camels, goats and buffalos.

Dairy UK sets out recommendations for EU policy

Dairy UK has warned that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should not be allowed to become an EU Common Food Policy.

More calcium and vitamin D may aid weight management

Increasing intakes of calcium and higher blood levels of vitamin D may boost weight loss, suggest findings from a two-year clinical trial.

News in brief

New guidelines help dairy processors calculate carbon footprint

New guidelines will ensure that UK dairy processing companies benefit from a common approach to calculating carbon footprints across the whole supply chain.

Intelligent shelf life indicator could slash food waste

A new intelligent technology that gives a running countdown of a product’s shelf life by analysing time and temperature data could replace traditional ‘use by’ dates on food labels, said the Norwegian company spearheading the development.

Whey proteins show blood pressure lowering powers

Beverages formulated with whey proteins may offer a dietary approach to reducing blood pressure in people at risk of hypertension, suggests a new study.

Cross-linked milk protein may reduce allergy concerns

Cross-linking milk proteins could reduce their digestibility, leading to increased satiety, and reduced allergic reactions, according to new research from Finland.

Mintel: Luxury tastes drive big value growth in Euro ice cream

A growing desire for premium and indulgent ice cream has fed high value growth in Western Europe, helping manufacturers defy the recession.

Commodities to rise but you’ll cope, analyst tells industry

European food manufacturers will experience commodity inflation in the second half of 2010 but it will be more manageable than it has been in the past, predicts an analyst.

Prices rebound at latest Fonterra auction

Prices at the Fonterra globalDairyTrade auction have rebounded after two successive months of decline, suggesting renewed firmness in the market.

Dairy UK: Gov’t must take more science-based approach to nutrition

Trade body Dairy UK has urged the UK government to take a more science-based approach to nutrition policy when staff from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) join the Department of Health (DoH) in the autumn.

Lactofree sales up 37% as Arla posts profit surge

Arla's lactose-free brand Lactofree is generating value growth of 37% year-on-year, bosses have revealed as the dairy giant unveiled a sharp rise in interim profits.

Kerry ups forecast as H1 beats expectations

Ireland-based Kerry Group has upped its earnings forecast for the full year after reporting strong growth in overseas sales, supported by a recovering dairy sector.

FrieslandCampina grows strongly despite European weakness

FrieslandCampina has reported strong overall growth in the first six months of the year despite a disappointing performance in Europe.