Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

Video season's greetings from Decision News Media

The Decision News Media team would like to bring you its seasonal greetings in person and show you around the offices.

Melamine takes its toll on ingredient sales in China

The impact of this year’s melamine dairy crisis has rumbled through the food chain and although quality assurance measures can benefit responsible firms, downturn in Chinese dairy has still led to lost of ingredients sales.

US coop settles over 'price fixing' amidst market turmoil

A leading US dairy cooperative hopes to close the book on allegations of price fixing by agreeing a multi million-dollar settlement that it says is not an admission of guilt or innocence.

Analyser aims for automation ease in dairy development

Ensuring cost effective processing of dairy ingredients is the aim of new developments in automating and analysing production line control, says the equipment’s manufacturer.

Campina and Friesland get merger green light

Dairy co-ops Campina and Friesland are to become one at the end of this year, following competition clearance subject to conditions, and a favourable final vote by the councils of both.

Food safety driving 2009 research, says LFI

Projects evaluating the spoilage patterns of foods, the use of natural antimicrobials, and the effect of processing treatments on allergen detection methods constitute a significant part of new research at LFI, says the group

Chr Hansen targets Middle Eastern yoghurt tastes

Chr Hansen has introduced a new yoghurt culture specifically designed to meet taste and texture preferences of Middle Eastern consumers, and help producers make cost savings.

Dairy industry committed to research in trans fat odyssey

With ongoing debate over the health impacts of naturally occurring trans fatty acid (TFA) consumption, European dairy representatives say they remained committed to pushing ahead with research in the field.

FDA to undertake further research on BPA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday it has no plans to review its stance on bisphenol A (BPA), but will continue to research the chemical found in food packaging.

Weekly comment

Why is food science the ‘baddie' for consumers?

It sometimes seems as if life is a pantomime, and food science is the baddie, complete with boos and hisses from the audience.

Euro ‘cow tax’ talk is all hot air – says EDA

Ongoing talks in the US over a potential tax on methane emissions from dairy cows and other livestock farming is unlikely to be rolled-out globally and would not be welcomed within European dairy, according to one industry expert.

SIG Combibloc eyes added-value pack potential

A supplier of carton packaging for global dairy manufacturers is targeting increasing interests in added-value products as part of a new cooperation agreement in Russia.

Symrise invests in southeastern European growth

Symrise is expanding the capabilities at its site in Vienna in a bid to gain more traction in the southeastern European market, with a particular focus on fat-based products.

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA rejects five probiotic health claims

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued negative opinions on a further five health claims – this time in the area of probiotics.

Emmi gets steamy with new eco-commitments

European processor Emmi has become the latest dairy group to attempt to play up its environmental credentials after announcing a new scheme to make greater use of what it calls ‘greener’ energy in its operations.

End of life: a new dawn for pack-ad focus

Packagers and manufacturers may find opportunity in looking beyond promoting renewability in bio plastics and looking at how the end of life may be sellable to consumers, according to one leading supplier of alternative plastic materials.

FDA revokes ban on antimicrobial

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it has revoked the order prohibiting the extralabel use of cephalosporin antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals.

EU dairy groups look to generic health claims future

A number of recent studies have continued to suggest links between dairy consumption and certain nutrition benefits, though their impact on helping on securing industry-wide European health claim approvals looks uncertain.

Cheese dairy dominance faces emerging market challenges

Cheese continues to dominate growing global dairy product demand, which has risen by 15 per cent to 40.9 million tonnes in the last five years, though the product’s dominance may yet be challenged, suggests a new report.

Carbery boosts whey response

Irish dairy and ingredients group, Carbery, is promoting research employing its hydrolysed whey protein ingredient, Optipep, that it says demonstrates its superiority to regular whey protein in terms of insulin response.

News in brief

Mice suspected in million-dollar cheese destruction

Mice are the unlikely villains of a new setback for the Italian cheese industry after allegedly spoiling more than $1m (€777,000) of products in the Northern city of Parma, say news reports.

The private label potential for functional foods

Private label will become a major avenue of opportunity for innovative functional products, which could make their mainstream debut via this “historically unlikely source”, according to a firm specializing in functional food development.

Enzyme launched for low-lactose taste saving

The development of a new enzyme for low-lactose milk and dairy products can cut out the formation of off-flavours following processing, according to its manufacturer.

Weekly comment

Coping with health claim hurt

One of the most fiercely debated and amended pieces of European Union food law history is playing out before our eyes, and its effects are beginning to be felt.

A new belt can help recycle product waste, claims Habasit Rossi

The belt manufacturer said its new Habasit LINK M0870 Micropitch Flat Top 0.3” pitch system is most applicable to the conveying of delicate small footprint food products such as baked goods or confectionery between conveyor systems as the extremely tight transfer, enhanced tracking and product stability of the belt reduces gaps in nose bar transfers.

Arla aims for cost and taste ice cream protein potential

The ingredients arm of Scandinavia-based cooperative Arla Foods predicts there is further potential ahead for ice-cream innovation as it launches a new range of proteins it claims can reduce processor reliance on skim milk.

Pall launch targets ease for brine salting cheese

Next month will see the global rollout of a new system designed in a bid to reduce spoilage and contamination within cheeses during the process of brine salting.

Future for green pack design may lie in the past

With a seemingly endless number of halls pushing greener solutions at this year’s Emballage trade show, one possible future for packaging could be in looking to the past and getting back to design basics.

General Mills rapped over probiotic claims

General Mills has been told to amend advertising for its functional yogurt product, Yoplait Yo-Plus, for making misleading claims.

Tea yoghurt may expand healthy dairy options

Addition of green and black teas to yoghurt may boost the colour and flavour of the product, without affecting the starter cultures, says a French-Tunisian study.

Study shows antimicrobial effective against listeria in soft cheese

Enterococcus faecium WHE 81, a multi-bacteriocin producer, is effective as an antimicrobial against Listeria monocytogenes in Munster cheese, a red smear soft cheese, according to a French study.

Separation system targets whey protein purity

A new chromatography development used to isolate whey-based proteins like alpha-lactalbumin can ensure higher quality, cost efficient ingredients for dairy formulation, according to its manufacturer.

KKR speculation highlighting Chinese milk potential

As speculation mounts over equity group KKR’s rumoured bid for Chinese milk producer Modern Farms, a source close to the potential deal suggests that the country’s dairy sector may see a wealth of future investments.

Weekly comment

Why farm support puts food on plates

“Four legs good, two legs bad.” When the pigs take over the land in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, they have no hesitation; any creature with four legs is beyond reproach and any human is bad, mad and dangerous to know.

Global dairy price rises back on the horizon: Rabobank

Despite an expected recovery in the price of dairy ingredients, significant price swings are still expected, according to a new report from Rabobank.