Health and nutritional ingredients

Missed Budget opportunity? Cutting diesel duty by 2.5p per litre would have created an extra 175,000 jobs with no loss of revenue to the Exchequer, claimed the Freight Transport Association

The Budget for food manufacturers – in quotes

By Mike Stones

As pundits continue to pick through the fine print of Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget, we capture the implications for food and drink manufacturers in key quotes. There’s a a summary box too, listing the main points for food and drink firms.

A case of mixed reaction. Food manufacturers welcomed plans to simply the carbon reduction commitment but regretted that it was not scrapped altogether

Food manufacturers’ mixed reaction to budget

By Mike Stones

Food and drink manufacturers have given a mixed reception to Chancellor George Osborne’s budget after he introduced measures affecting energy, red tape for small businesses and introduced VAT on sports nutrition drinks and takeaway hot food.

Bottle job: GSK's new Ribena Plus and other Ribena lines will be bottled at the the firm's new plant

New £18M bottling facility for Ribena and Lucozade

By Freddie Dawson

Glaxo SmithKline (GSK), the makers of iconic brands Ribena and Lucozade, are to invest £18M in a new bottling facility at its Coleford, Gloucestershire, which will create 20 new jobs.

Bakkavör has blamed an Asda contract loss for job cuts at its two Yorkshire sites

Bakkavör blames Asda contract loss for job cuts

By Dan Colombini

Fresh food manufacturer Bakkavör has blamed a key contract loss from retailer Asda for its decision to cut 140 jobs at its English Village Salads (EVS) business in East Yorkshire.

Strong growth is forecast for probiotic yogurt sales in the UK, according to the virtual conference

Potential lifeline for probiotic yogurt claims

By Rick Pendrous

Loopholes in the law may save probiotic yogurt manufacturers from having to remove products from sale when the new EU nutrition and health claims legislation comes into effect.

MEPs have been urged to vote in favour of the revised nutrition claims list

MEPs urged to vote for revised nutrition claims

By Mike Stones

UK and European food industry representatives have urged Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to vote in favour of the revised nutrition claims list, which aims to make food reformulation easier, during their plenary vote tomorrow (February 2).

People not exposed to sufficient sunshine are among those at risk of a vitamin D deficiancy

BDA supports government vitamin D review

By Dan Colombini

The government’s decision to review the advice issued on vitamin D after research identified large deficiencies among high risk groups has been backed by the British Dietetic Association (BDA).

Organic food firm What on Earth's decision to trade with independent retailers has resulted in a strong 2011 performance

Supermarkets blamed for organic market slump

By Dan Colombini

The decision by UK supermarkets to cut shelf-space for less profitable products has hit sales in the organic food market, according to industry representatives.

Firms have six months to comply to a 'yes'

Break health claims law 'at your peril'

By Freddie Dawson

Manufacturers must review any health claims they make – on TV, in products, print advertising, and online – over the coming eight months or risk falling foul of new EU legislation, experts have warned.

Innophos has launched ingredients that can help cut sodium in cheese and meat products

Innophos puts cash into low sodium options

By Rod Addy

Innophos is investing in global manufacturing to boost efficiency and production as it continues to launch new phosphate-based ingredients for the food industry.

Abbott:

Enemy of the obese state

By Rick Pendrous

Shadow minister for public health Diane Abbott is no friend of the food industry or the coalition government's health policy. Reports Rick Pendrous

Fast food outlets are feeding the obesity epidemic, says Abbott

Planning law 'must stem fast food tide'

By Rick Pendrous

Shadow minister for public health Diane Abbott has called for tougher local planning controls to restrict the proliferation of fast food outlets in poor inner city areas. She says the outlets are feeding the obesity epidemic afflicting the nation.

Chocolate sales enjoy a tasty festive boost

UK chocolate bucks EU confectionery trend

By Tom Chandler

Chocolate-hungry consumers are helping UK manufacturers buck the European trend of stagnant confectionery sales, according to market research organisation Mintel.

Health and wellness: a food and drink trend that will run and run

Health tops Leatherhead 2012 food trends

By Mike Stones

Renewed interest in health and wellness leads the top 10 trends set to dominate the UK food and drink sector in 2012, according to Leatherhead Food Research.

The free-from food sector is seeing meteoric growth

Meteoric growth for free-from foods: Mintel

By Rick Pendrous

Britain’s free-from food sector is witnessing meteoric growth as more consumers report intolerance to certain foods, according to a new report about to be published by market research company Mintel. Retail sales are set to soar from £303M a year to £519M...

Tasty prospects for gluten-free product sales

New gluten-free meals signal the move to mainstream

By Freddie Dawson

The launch of two new gluten-free products by Dr Schär UK is further evidence of the category’s move from niche to mainstream lifestyle choice, according to the free-from manufacturer.

Europe is up with the larch

Europe is up with the larch

By Rod Addy

Larch extract taxifolin is nearing approval as a novel food ingredient in the EU following endorsement by the Food Standards Agency's (FSA's) Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) last month.

Pasteur Institute builds food research

Pasteur Institute builds food research

By Rod Addy

Rod addyThe Pasteur Institute in Lille is making progress on a range of nutritional studies, including work with Roquette on eye health investigating the potential of feeding hens lutein and zeaxanthin to enrich eggs.

Europe gives toothy smile

Europe gives toothy smile

By Rod Addy

Ingredients suppliers have welcomed positive Article 13.1 health claim opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for their products.

Cocoa loco

Cocoa loco

By Michelle Knott

People have been promoting the health benefits of dark chocolate and cocoa for years. But new research goes a step further, elevating cocoa beans to the status of a super fruit, rivalling blueberries, cranberries and pomegranates.

GOLDEN EGGS

GOLDEN EGGS

Regulatory woes notwithstanding, there’s never a dull day working in R&D at the world’s leading supplier of vitamins, carotenoids, and other biochemicals, discovers Elaine Watson