Dispatches from Pack Expo

Clear clamshell wins consumer packaging vote

Clear plastic clamshell packaging won the consumer vote in a recent eye tracking survey conducted for materials manufacturer Klockner Pentaplast, results of which  it revealed at Pack Expo 2012 in...

Reducing cheese trade barriers strengthened Swiss market - report

The reduction of cheese trade barriers between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) in 2007 has resulted in increased market competition and strengthened the Swiss cheese industry, a government-commissioned study...

News in brief

Lactalis agrees to acquire Slovenian dairy processor

Lactalis has agreed to acquire a majority stake in leading Slovenian diary processor Ljubljanske Mlekarne – a move the French dairy giant hopes will strengthen its position in South East Europe.

Milk price talks cannot continue alongside farmer protests – Müller Wiseman

Milk price talks cannot take place against the continuing backdrop of militant dairy farmer protests, UK dairy processor Müller Wiseman has claimed.

Unilever and FrieslandCampina expand sustainability partnership

Unilever and Dutch dairy giant FrieslandCampina have expanded their existing sustainability partnership with a pledge to co-operate on development and innovation while promoting sustainable production, packaging, and logistics.

DISPATCHES FROM PACK EXPO 2012, CHICAGO

Bosch launches flow wrapper at Pack Expo

Bosch Packaging Technology is slashing waste and boosting shelf life with the introduction of a new flow wrapper at Pack Expo 2012 in Chicago.

Sealed Air sells Diversey Japan for $377m

Sealed Air has sold Diversey Japan to The Carlyle Group for ¥30bn (US$377m) to focus on higher growth markets.

DISPATCHES FROM PACK EXPO 2012

PTI showcases packaging solutions at Pack Expo

PTI Inspection Systems is displaying a range of packaging solutions, including packaging machinery and testing systems, at trade show Pack Expo in Chicago.

TETRA PAK EXCLUSIVE

Fluid dynamics cut Evero Aseptic development by years – Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak claims to have cut the development time of its recently launched Tetra Evero Aseptic carton bottle by years through the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental...

Probiotic, vitamin-enriched milk is ‘affordable health’ – manufacturer

A Northern Ireland-based dairy processor has rolled out its new ‘Super Healthy Milk’ – Europe’s first and only probiotic and vitamin K2-enriched fresh milk.

News in brief

Coesia Group to acquire Oystar North America

Coesia Group has signed a deal to buy Oystar North America (NA), from Oystar Group for an undisclosed amount.

Fonterra launches NZ$500m investment opportunity for non-farmers

Fonterra has launched a fund worth at least NZ$500m ($420m) on the New Zealand and Australian stock markets – offering non-farmers the opportunity to invest in Fonterra for the first...

Parmalat confident as LAG acquisition hearing begins

Parmalat has voiced confidence that “nothing wrong was done” in relation to its May 2012 intra-group acquisition of Lactalis American Group (LAG) – just hours after court proceedings surrounding the deal began...

Royal DSM to acquire Cargill’s enzymes and cultures business

Royal DSM has said it will acquire Cargill’s enzymes and cultures business in an all-cash deal worth €85m.

Higher dairy intake lowers semen quality – Harvard study

Young men with a high daily intake of full-fat dairy may be risking their chance of having children, US researchers have claimed.

A2C to enter Chinese market through distribution deal

A2 Corporation (A2C) – the manufacturer of a2 brand milk products – looks set to enter the Chinese market after agreeing a distribution deal with an in-market state-owned firm.

News in brief

Placon expands food container range

Placon has expanded its range of food packaging available with up to 100% post-consumer recycled content.

News in brief

BIOTECON validation for pathogen detection systems

BIOTECON Diagnostics has received validation from MicroVal for global distribution of its pathogen detection systems targeting the baby food market.

Enzyme reduces UHT milk processing downtime – DuPont

Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk manufacturers can limit the frequency of cleaning cycles, reduce production downtime and cut their costs through the addition of a new enzyme, ingredients manufacturer DuPont has...

Skooshed: UK yoghurt rapped over multiple misleading claims

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has invoked new European Union health claim rejections due to come into force on December 14, in a ruling...

Dispatch from IPA 2012

Manufacturers' 'bold gamble' on R&D

European food and drink manufacturers are making a "bold gamble" on research and development (R&D) investment in the tough economic climate, according to results from the latest IPA 2012 survey....

No evidence that organic dairy better for children – paediatric study

There is no evidence to support claims that organic dairy products offer more nutritional benefits to children than conventionally-produced food, a US paediatric study has claimed.

Aurora Organic Dairy to aid first Russian organic milk development

Aurora Organic Dairy executives will assist a Russian regional government in the establishment of the country’s first organic dairy farm and processing facility.

News in brief

Glanbia signs Ingredients Ireland JV contracts

Glanbia is a step closer to completing its Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII) joint venture with majority shareholder Glanbia Co-operative Society Ltd.

Majority of Indian milk violates standards - government

More than two-thirds of milk in India violates national food safety standards, the Indian government has revealed to the country’s Supreme Court.

Milk quota penalties could impact supply - EDA

European Commission (EC)-issued milk quota penalties could impact the production of milk and leave dairy processors short, according to the European Dairy Association (EDA).

EU dairy sector hit with milk quota penalties

Dairy farmers in six European Union (EU) Member States have been hit with ‘superlevy’ penalties totaling more than €78m for exceeding their milk quotas in the 2011/12 season.

Danone must cut prices to compete with private label brands – analyst

Danone must cut the prices of its branded dairy products significantly in parts of Europe to compete with lower-price private label brands, French banking giant Societe Generale has claimed.

News in brief

Cathedral City cheddar brand valued at £250m

Cathedral City cheddar cheese brand has been valued at £250m – a first for any UK brand in the pre-packed cheese category, owner Dairy Crest has claimed.

Kraft Foods orders evacuation after German gas cloud incident

Food processing giant Kraft Foods was forced to order the evacuation of around 1,800 people after a mixing error at a cream cheese factory in Germany created a cloud of...

Emerging markets continue to drive Nestlé sales

Food and nutrition giant Nestlé has reported improved sales in its 9-month results driven by growth in emerging markets, but Q3 was a little slower than last year.

Mead Johnson Nutrition facing lawsuit over US meningitis death

Mead Johnson Nutrition is facing court in the US over allegations that its Enfamil brand powdered baby formula was responsible for the death of one infant and two cases of...

Danone reconfirms targets after ‘solid’ baby nutrition and water sales

Danone has reconfirmed its full year targets after recording “solid growth” in its Baby Nutrition and Waters business segments in the third quarter of 2012.

SternMaid pumps cash into fluid bed processing

SternMaid has invested €14m in its Wittenburg factory to enlarge capacity and extend the range of its products and services, involving the introduction of new fluid bed technology.

Cheese products given Irish advertising ban reprieve

Cheese has been exempted from a Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) ban on the television and radio advertisement of food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar (HFFS) before...

News in brief

Greek and Greek-style products accounted for 29% of US yogurt launches in year to June 2012

Launches of Greek and Greek-style products accounted for 29% of US yogurt launches in the 12 months to the end of June 2012, according to new data from Innova Market Insights.

News in brief

Arla Milk Link increases milk price to 27.5ppl

Arla Foods has announced that the Arla Milk Link milk price will increase by 0.5 pence per litre (ppl) from 1 November 2012.

FAGE Dairy announces Greek exit as financial crisis deepens

Greek dairy giant FAGE has announced that it is transferring its headquarters from Athens to Luxembourg – a move that some consider an attempt to reduce its exposure to the...

Dean Foods recalls ice cream over peanut butter Salmonella concerns

Dean Foods has initiated a recall for two varieties of ice cream over concerns that a peanut butter ingredient used in the products could be contaminated with Salmonella Bredeney.

Chobani class action litigants join forces over evaporated cane juice complaint

Civil litigation against Greek yogurt giant Chobani over its use of the term ‘evaporated cane juice’ to describe sugar (dried cane syrup) is about to move into a new phase...

Ultima Foods invests $22m in latest Granby yogurt plant expansion

Ultima Foods has committed an additional $22m ($22.5m, €17.5m) in an effort to increase yogurt production capacity at its Granby plant – the second investment of its kind at the...

Starches can reduce cheese producer reliance on proteins – Ulrick & Short

Ulrick & Short has launched a range of tapioca-based starches for cheese production – a development it hopes will reduce the industry’s current reliance on expensive proteins.

News in brief

Kraft Foods recalls Jalapeno cheese products over packaging concern

Kraft Foods has initiated a recall for a batch of its Jalapeno variety String Cheese product over concerns that a packaging error could present a choking hazard.

SIG Combibloc launches ultra-slim carton to meet increasing small-format demand

SIG Combibloc has launched a range of extra-slim, small-format beverage cartons in an effort to meet demand for smaller, more convenient packaging from emerging market consumers.

US COMMODITIES CORNER

US milk price increase continues

Milk prices have continued to increase in the US, hitting $19 per hundredweight in September. But will the positive impact on dairy sector cash flow outweigh the long term negative...

Hybrid collection-delivery trailer will cut road miles – Arla Foods UK

Arla Foods UK hopes to cut the distance it travels to collect raw milk and deliver finished products through the introduction of a half milk tanker, half refrigerated container hybrid.

Natural surfactant opens up label benefits for food & beverage manufacturers

A natural surfactant from a South American tree matched the established synthetic Tween 80 for the formation and stabilization of emulsions, says new data from a leading emulsion scientist and...

Parmalat denies wrong-doing as prosecutors open file on LAG acquisition

Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into the legality of Parmalat’s May 2012 $904m intra-group acquisition of Lactalis America Group (LAG).

Probiotic found to reduce eczema symptoms over long-term period

Clinical trials have found that a dairy culture probiotic shows significant long-term benefit for children suffering from eczema, even after they have stopped taking the supplement.

Parmalat tight-lipped on shareholder criticism of LAG acquisition

Italian dairy giant Parmalat is remaining tight lipped following reports that its $904m intra-group acquisition of Lacatalis America Group (LAG) was met with criticism from shareholders.

News in brief

Yoplait launches US frozen yogurt range

Yoplait is making its debut in the freezer aisle through the launch of its new Yoplait Original and Greek Frozen Yogurt range in the US.

Fonterra to close Australia plant following efficiency review

Fonterra has announced plans to close its Cororooke, Australia manufacturing plant following a review of its manufacturing operations in the country’s Victoria region.

Milk protein may offer cancer protection: Study

The milk proteins may have anti-cancer properties, say researchers, after new in vitro tests reveal the cancer fighting potential of lactoferricin4-14.

Israel dairy import increase unlikely despite duties cut - Rabobank

The influx of Western brands into the Israeli dairy market is unlikely, despite government plans to reduce long-standing import duties on milk-based products, Rabobank has claimed.

Bright Dairy issues apology over 2012 food safety scandals

Chinese dairy processor Bright Dairy Co has issued a public apology to consumers following a series of food safety scandals relating to its products.

NZ researchers breed first hypo-allergenic milk producing cow

Researchers in New Zealand have genetically engineered a dairy cow that produces hypo-allergenic high-protein milk.

Unilever UK cleared over 'misleading' ice cream website info

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has dismissed a complaint that the website for Unilever-owned Walls Ice Cream gave a misleading nutritional “impression” of its ice cream products.

News in brief

Partnership will grow long life offering - Nampak

Nampak has joined forces with Alternapak and has targeted growth in its long life offering throughout Africa.

Arla Foods unlikely to pursue more dairy consolidation – M&A expert

Arla Foods has “plenty on its plate” and is unlikely to pursue further European dairy industry consolidation in the near future, a food sector mergers and acquisitions expert has claimed....

News in brief

Three men facing cheese smuggling charges in US

Three men, including a police officer, have been arrested and charged in regards to a large-scale US cheese smuggling and distribution operation in Canada.

Processors have responsibility to reduce dairy waste - EDA

Responsibility for the reduction of dairy product wastage lies with supply chain figures as well as consumers, the European Dairy Association (EDA) has claimed.

Global dairy market headed for ‘supply scarcity’ repeat - Rabobank

The global dairy market appears to be headed into another period of milk “supply scarcity” in the next 12 months as production growth begins to slow in the world’s major export...

UK ice cream manufacturer fined after worker injury

A UK ice cream manufacturer has been fined £10,000 (€12,500) after a worker had his forearm broken when it got caught in a conveyor belt.

Comment

Wimm-Bill-Dann’s Russian rainbow enrages anti-gay activist group

PepsiCo subsidiary Wimm-Bill-Dann is reportedly being paid by storm clouds at a rainbow's end, as anti-homosexual activists target the packaging design of its major milk brand 'Jolly Milkman'

European Commission adopts approved flavouring list

The European Commission has approved plans to harmonise the use of food flavours in the European food industry with a list of permitted flavouring substances.

Commission launches packaging cartel probe

The European Commission (EC) has informed 13 firms supplying packaging for meat, fish and cheese products that they may have participated in a cartel for up to eight years.

Danone to expand experimental Indian business unit

The experimental business unit that is dedicated to rolling out new Danone products for the masses in India has been deemed a success and will be expanded to other cities...