All news articles for September 2017

SACN’s advice is for the first year of life

Give babies iron and calcium from six months: science body

By Noli Dinkovski

Complementary foods for babies should be encouraged from around six months of age and should include iron- and calcium-containing foods, a draft report from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has recommended.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told conference Labour was ‘on the threshold of power’. Photo credit: Chatham House

Labour conference draws mixed response

By Michael Stones

The Labour Party conference in Brighton this week drew a mixed response from food manufacturing and business leaders, with plans for a new industrial strategy drawing praise but criticism of business finding less favour.

The food supply chain could become more efficient by reducing waste at farms, claimed WRAP

Food waste on farms costs supply chain £30M

By Gwen Ridler

The UK food supply chain become could become more efficient and competitive and save the industry £30M a year by tackling food waste on farms, according to a new report from waste organisation the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Food Manufacture’s new look website

Food Manufacture’s new website

By Michael Stones

Watch out for the Food Manufacture Group’s new, refreshed website, coming to your smartphone, tablet or desktop on Tuesday (October 3).

Waitrose has recalled four chocolate products, after a manufacturing error contaminated some of the bars with small pieces of plastic

Plastic contamination forces Waitrose recall

By Gwen Ridler

A manufacturing error has forced the recall of four of Waitrose’s own-label chocolate bars, after a small number were contaminated with pieces of plastic.

The mix can be combined with different flour varieties to create a range of seeded breads

New ancient grain mix for healthier bread

By Noli Dinkovski

Growing consumer demand for healthier bakery products is being met with the launch of a new multiseed concentrate containing ancient grains.

The starch is suitable for processed meats, chicken nuggets and meat-containing ready meals

Potato-based starch offers boost to meat yields

By Noli Dinkovski

A new potato-based starch is able to improve the yields of “cost-sensitive” meat products by 10–20%, while remaining effective in food cooked at lower meat core temperatures, according to its maker.

Faccenda’s planned joint venture with Cargill Chicken UK will lead to scrutiny of overheads, predicted Shore Capital

Cargill and Faccenda deal ‘to prompt cost scrutiny’

By Michael Stones

The poultry joint venture proposed by Cargill Chicken UK and Faccenda will lead to scrutiny of overhead costs, according to City analyst Shore Capital, as Unite the union offered a cautious welcome to the plan.

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union has voted unanimously to ballot it members on strike action at Tulip Coalville

Tulip workers one-step closer to strike action

By Gwen Ridler

Workers at Tulip’s Coalville factory moved one-step closer to strike action, following a unanimous vote by the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) to ballot members to test support for industrial action.

The packaging industry will continue to give consumers exactly what they want, Waterhouse said

Food Manufacture’s 90th birthday

Food packaging ‘must mirror changing society’

By Matt Atherton

Packaging will continue to mirror the changing needs of society as it has over the past 90 years, says the Packaging Society’s chairman Chris Waterhouse.

Training courses should be offered to children of all ages to help plug the manufacturing industry’s growing skills gap

Training courses for kids, urged by engineering firm

By Gwen Ridler

Teaching children of all ages practical engineering skills through ‘pre-apprenticeship’ schemes will help plug the skills gap in the manufacturing industry, according to engineering firm Adi Group.

Nutrition is more important than the latest food trend, said Judy Buttriss

Food Manufacture’s 90th Birthday

Nutrition ‘more important’ than latest food fashion

By Matt Atherton

Providing healthy, nutritious food is more important than trying to identify the latest food craze, urged the British Nutrition Foundation’s director general Professor Judy Buttriss.

Prime Minister Theresa May has set out plans for a two-year Brexit transition period, in which the terms of trade should remain unchanged

Food industry welcomes PM’s transition period plan

By Michael Stones

The food and drink industry has welcomed Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan for a two-year transition period, in which the terms of trade should remain unchanged, to ease Britain’s exit from the EU.

Workers' productivity fell last year, resulting in 5% less revenue per worker

Food manufacturers lose £400M as productivity falls

By Matt Atherton

Falling productivity cost food and drink producers an extra £400M in labour costs last year, a report has revealed, as manufacturers are urged to make strategic changes ahead of more challenging market conditions.

Food and drink new products gallery led by unicorns and Kit Kat

Unicorns and Kit Kat lead new product gallery

By Gwen Ridler

A novel type of chocolate, Halloween-inspired toffee apple ice cream and Kellogg’s Fruit Loops cereal lead our latest photogallery of new product developments (NPDs) by food and drink manufacturers.

Eleven SMEs embarked on a food and drink trade mission to China

Manufacturers embark on China trade mission

By Matt Atherton

Food and drink manufacturers are joining a trade mission to the “prime market” of China to meet distributors and buyers, in a bid to boost exports.

Portion sizes: ‘A 500g [gluten-free] ready meal could actually have a lot of gluten’

Sainsbury calls for agreed allergen threshold limits

By Rick Pendrous

Sainsbury’s head of analytical testing has called for agreement on threshold limits for the presence of allergens in food and drink to provide reassurance to food manufacturers, retailers and, most importantly, consumers about the risk of allergic reactions.

Müller has unveiled its £100M investment plans

Müller reveals £100M investment plan

By Gwen Ridler

Dairy processor Müller is to invest £100M in its UK yogurt and desserts business over the next three years, with plans to upgrade capacity and capabilities at its three sites in Shropshire.

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union are considering strike action at Tulip’s Coalville factory

Tulip workers consider strike action after pay row

By Gwen Ridler

Staff at Tulip’s Coalville site are considering strike action, after senior management refused a pay rise, claimed the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union’s (BFAWU’s) regional officer. 

Unite has welcomed a new pay deal from Cadbury UK

Cadbury pay deal welcomed by Unite

By Gwen Ridler

Cadbury UK’s new pay deal, designed to counter the rising cost of inflation, has been welcomed by Unite, the union. 

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