Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

Pressure group claims university ‘worryingly close’ to dairy industry

A row has erupted after Wageningen University rejected pressure group claims that its academics are “worryingly close” to the dairy industry, after the institution issued a press release that allegedly exaggerated research findings.

Indian researchers develop non-dairy calcium foods

Researchers in India have developed non-dairy-based calcium-rich foods, which they say could be commercialized for sale as processed food products like instant mixes for breads and biscuits.

Discounters' dilemma as Wiseman ups milk margins

Milk price discounters may have to raise prices above the £1 for four pints mark that has held for two years, as Robert Wiseman Dairies pushes through improved margins.

Milk Link: biggest creamery investment for 20 years

Dairy cooperative Milk Link is to invest £20M at its Lockerbie Creamery in the UK’s largest investment in cheese-making for 20 years.

Polish dairy sale will not stop our growth in ‘strategic market’, Arla insists

Danish-Swedish dairy company Arla says that the sale of its Mozzarella cheese plant in Goscino, Poland will not deter it from pursuing a sought-after strategic partnership and acquisitions in the country.

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Bioplastics exemplify bio-based economy, Dutch MEP

Bioplastics are a clear and tangible example of the bio-based economy, a Dutch MEP has told EU policymakers and stakeholders.

We are not ‘milking the poor’ in Bangladesh, Arla insists

Arla has defended itself after a charity report attacked its corporate social responsibility record in Bangladesh, and accused it of benefiting unfairly from EU subsidies that impoverished local producers.

Four-year plan sees Granarolo target acquisitions and €1.6bn turnover

Italian dairy company Granarolo says it is pursuing a €1.6bn turnover as part of a four-year growth plan that will see the firm pursue more acquisitions both at home and internationally.

Controversial Arla super dairy gets green light

Arla has secured planning approval for its new £150m UK ‘mega dairy’, despite widespread local opposition to its plans.

Cargill flavours buy not transformational but good fit for Kerry, analyst

Kerry’s acquisition of Cargill’s flavour systems for €168m ($230m) is by no means transformational but will boost the Irish ingredient firm’s beverages and dairy flavours portfolio, claims an analyst.

Beetroot extract could provide natural replacement for carmine: Synthite

A newly developed natural food colouring made from beetroot extracts could be a solution to replacing carmine colours made from insects, according to ingredient producer Synthite.

FSA warns consumers over ‘killer’ ice cream

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned allergic consumers to check ‘dairy-free ice cream’ ingredients to ensure products don’t contain milk protein.

Danisco: Freeze-dried cultures and value-added ingredients range to satisfy Indian dairy market

Danisco has developed a new range of freeze-dried cultures for the Indian dahi market and has also targeted its health and nutrition ingredients range for use in the country’s dairy products.

Fonterra recalls cheese products

The New Zealand-based dairy giant Fonterra has announced a recall of its cheese products that are being sold in the Australian market, it said in a statement issued this week.

Greek yogurt sales surge at General Mills as new capacity comes online

General Mills expects to see a sharp acceleration in Greek yogurt sales this year after bringing on new manufacturing capacity and ratcheting up advertising spend.

'Record' results see Fonterra secure ingredients for overseas success

Improved performance within Fonterra’s ingredients businesses worldwide has seen the firm announce a record turnover of NZ $19.9bn (€11.6bn) in 2010/11.

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Blaze wrecks Adams Foods’ cheese warehouse

More than 100 fire crew spent last night fighting a blaze at a cheese warehouse in Somerset operated by Adams Foods.

Lat Bri purchase sees Granarolo top €1bn turnover

Granarolo has ramped-up its presence within the EU dairy sector by acquiring Italian cheese producer Lat Bri, in a move that will take its turnover above €1bn.

Carrefour recalls cheese after Listeria contamination.

Supermarket chain Carrefour has recalled a range of cheeses from stores in France and Monaco, after they were found to contain potentially deadly Listeria Monocytogenes bacteria.

New yogurt stabilisers address soaring gelatin prices: Cargill

Cargill has unveiled a new stabiliser system that it says will help dairy food manufacturers avoid the rising cost of gelatin in yogurt production.

Consumers continue to seek alternatives to artificial flavours, reports Leatherhead

Consumers are set to treat artificial flavourings with an ever greater degree of suspicion, if not hostility, claims a UK report looking at future flavour trends in the food and drink additives market.

NZ carbon tax will damage dairy competitiveness, Fonterra warns

Dairy giant Fonterra is concerned that applying ‘carbon costs’ to New Zealand's agriculture sector will make it harder for dairy firms to compete and push production to less emission-efficient countries.

EC expects "smooth adoption" of article 13 health claims list in Q1 2012

The European Commission’s directorate for health and consumer affairs, DG Sanco, has said it is close to finalising the 2758 claim-strong list of generic claims for publication in the European Union register of claims.

Premium Ingredients cuts casein with new pizza products

Spanish ingredients company Premium Ingredients is poised to launch two new pizza topping ingredients targeted at cutting casein levels to reduce end product cost.

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Uniq writes-off £20m in yogurt and dessert sales

UK chilled and convenience foods firm Uniq said today that it would lose £20m, following the closure of its 'everyday' desserts business at Minsterley by June 2012.

Dairy UK supports DEFRA date-marking changes

Trade body Dairy UK says its supports the UK government’s new initiative on date marking as a “major step forward in reducing food wastage in the home”.

Enzymes make gains in food and drink additives market

A new report shows enzymes, acidulants and hydrocolloids are the best performers in terms of global food and drink additive growth but preservatives and sweeteners are suffering due to the industry migration from artificial ingredients.

Ecolab unveils new clean-in-place formulations

Improved performance and a reduction in carbon footprint are benefits claimed by Ecolab for its new range of clean-in-place (CIP) formulations for food and beverage processors.

Increased dietary potassium reduces stroke risk, study suggests

Increased intake of dietary potassium sources such as dairy foods, fruit and vegetables can reduce one’s risk of suffering a stroke, according to a new study by scientists in Sweden.

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Dragon's Den's star Deborah Meaden slams mega dairy 'treadmill'

Dragons' Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden has hit out at mega dairies in a new report, where she and her co-contributors said they tied US dairy farmers to a "treadmill of seeking ever-greater yields and economies of scale".

Arla close to sealing deal for Allgäuland

Arla Foods announced today that it was a "step closer" to acquiring German dairy firm Allgäuland-Käserien, after the last of the latter's constituent co-operatives voted in favour of joining the dairy giant.

Hain Celestial breaks new ground in dairy-free with almond milk yogurt

Hain Celestial is planning to break new ground in the dairy alternatives sector with the introduction of an almond milk-based yogurt, its chief executive has revealed.

Probiotic intake linked to fewer birth complications

Regular consumption of dairy-based probiotic formulations are associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of pre-eclampsia, suggests new data from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

US research agreement probes ‘next generation’ dairy ingredients

Cornell University and the Dairy Research Institute have agreed a dairy research partnership with the Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center to help "strengthen the US dairy industry and dairy innovation pipeline".

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Senior management changes at Arla

Arla will reoganise its senior management team from October, in a move that it says will shorten decision-making timeframes and devliver the DKK 75bn turnover growth demanded by its strategy to 2015.

Tunnel freezer aimed at small processors poised for European launch

Affordability, ease of use and space savings are all benefits claimed by Air Products for its cryogenic tunnel freezer to be launched in Europe later this month.

PureCircle gets ready for EU stevia backing, opens UK office

In anticipation of stevia approval in Europe, leading producer, PureCircle, has announced that it is setting up its European headquarters in the UK to support customers in their launches throughout the region.

Avery Dennison launches novel ‘shrinking without wrinkling’ labels

Avery Dennison is launching a new pressure-sensitive labelling solution at the Labelexpo trade show in Brussels from September 28 that it claims will revolutionise meat and dairy packaging.

Brussels looks set to end sugar quotas by 2016

The EU is set to abolish the system of sugar production quotas for the bloc as well as guaranteed minimum prices from 2016, according to a Brussels source.

Rabobank takes cold comfort in EU cheese

The EU cheese market is changing from a “comfortable place” where most producers are assured of growth to a cut-throat environment where rising raw milk prices are threatening margins.

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Milk committee chair calls for Scottish dairy growth strategy

National Farmers' Union (NFU) Scotland Milk Committee chairman, Kenneth Campbell, has urged the Scottish dairy sector to adopt a new growth strategy to capitalise upon profitable global dairy markets.

Industry hails first global measurement system for packaging sustainability

New global guidelines on packaging sustainability will help companies reduce their carbon footprint while boosting efficiency and spur more effective communication between players throughout the supply chain, said Unilever’s Nigel Bagley.

UK children could exceed ADI levels for Sunset Yellow, finds EFSA

A decision is awaited from the Commission on the use of Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110) in non-alcoholic flavoured drinks following a revised exposure assessment from EFSA showing some children in the UK could still be over the ADI levels for the additive.

R&R Ice Cream acquires Pilpa as French sales soar

R&R Ice Cream has acquired Europe’s largest private-label ice cream manufacturer Pilpa in a deal worth around €17.65m, plus stock on completion estimated at €9m.

China Dairy Summit: China needs to walk before it can run

China still has a long way to go in developing its dairy industry to international standards, according to the China Dairy Summit.

Arla confident despite Allgäuland takeover setback

Arla Foods remains confident that its ‘take it or leave it’ takeover bid for Southern German dairy co-op Allgäuland-Käsereien will succeed, despite its initial rejection.

Whey more potential in protein market, claim new partners Fonterra and First Milk

European food and sports beverage makers are set to benefit from a new dairy ingredients joint venture, which is aimed at increasing whey protein manufacturing capacity in Europe as well as improving the speed and reliability of the supply of such ingredients, claims Fonterra.

Allergen labelling in UK under the spotlight

Allergen labelling comes under the spotlight in the UK, with a new Food Standards Agency (FSA) survey aiming to get insight into the relevance of current approaches.

Dannon opens R&D center to speed yogurt innovation process

Dannon has opened a new $9m research and development center at its White Plains, NY headquarters, in order to improve collaboration between departments and bring new products to market more quickly.

Dairy foods linked to better brain function: Study

Frequent intake of dairy foods are linked to better mental performance, suggests data from a study of about 1,000 people in the US.

Australian dairy export future may not be so rosy: Analyst

A new report raises serious doubts about the future prospects of Australia’s dairy exports, citing various reasons why the country's production levels will not be able to keep pace with demand for dairy.

Fine filtered milk gets thumbs up in test market

Initial feedback from a trial in Ohio suggests milk fine filtered to remove ‘impurities’ could be a big hit with US consumers, claims Dean Foods subsidiary WhiteWave Foods.

New Biocatalysts enzyme opens lactose-free doors for Kosher/Halal applications

Britain’s Biocatalysts has released a new lactase product suitable for use in Kosher and Halal applications, thereby offering opportunities for new development in dairy.

Tetra Pak promises sparkling results from intelligent CIP system

Tetra Pak said the latest version of its ‘cleaning in place’ solution for food processing and packaging systems is quicker, greener and generates greater cost savings.

EFSA stands by probiotic cheese rejection

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) health claims panel says there are no grounds for it to alter its rejection of a claim that sought to link probiotic cheese consumption and healthy blood pressure.

European scientists asked to help cut UK bakery salt intake

Research groups and universities throughout Europe have been invited to help UK food manufacturers cut the level of salt in baked goods, confectionary products and other foods.