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Instrumentation |
ESFA finds Red 2G a safety concern
The European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) has adopted its first opinion in a series of re-evaluations it is currently undertaking on the safety of food additives.
Food color Red 2G (E 128), which is only permitted for use in certain breakfast sausages and burger meat, has raised potential health concerns among the Panel on Food Additives, Flavorings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food.
The Panel noted that Red 2G is extensively converted into aniline in the body. Aniline has been found to have cancer-causing properties based on studies using rodents.
As animals and man share a similar metabolism of aniline, a carcinogenic risk for man therefore cannot be excluded. Therefore the Panel decided that it would be practical to regard Red 2G as a safety concern and has withdrawn the Acceptable Daily Intake for Red 2G.
The ESFA is continuing to re-evaluate all currently permitted food additives as part of a request by the European Commission.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yokogawa’s new building in Singapore to play significant role in expansion plans
Yokogawa Electric Corporation has opened a facility in Singapore that will be home to its international and regional operations. The 12-storey building will house a customer call center, a production excellence solutions center, a research and development center and the newly-established EJA Transmitter manufacturing line, which is set up for quick delivery to enhance customer support.
It will play a critical role in Yokogawa’s vision to be the top global industrial automation player by 2010 at a time where the global market is growing at an annual rate of six percent.
At present, the company already has the largest market share in Asia and is expected to maintain its current 13-percent growth rate until at least 2010. “Our industrial automation and control business accounts for 71 percent of our revenue in fiscal year 2006. Currently, 56 percent of that comes from outside of Japan. We are aiming to grow aggressively by organic expansion of operations internationally,” explains Shuzo Kaihori, president and chief operating officer of Yokogawa Electric.
Singapore supports almost two-thirds of Yokogawa's sales and manages close to 9,000 employees of the Yokogawa group.
Officiating at the opening ceremony, Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says: “Japanese companies should go beyond seeing Singapore as a lower-cost production base, and instead see Singapore as a ‘value-creation’ solution, as other multinationals from the US and Europe have done and have expanded their operations here.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kalbe Morinaga opens infant formula powder plant in Indonesia
Japanese dairy and confectionery manufacturer Morinaga and its Indonesian distributor Kalbe Farma have opened their infant-formula powder plant in Indonesia.
Work on the milk-powder facility was completed in January, and engineering design, automation, equipment and project management was supplied by APV Asia in Singapore.
The plant deals with receival and storage of raw materials, batch preparation, clarification, homogenization, pasteurization, intermediate storage and two-stage spray drying.
Employees are able to control and monitor from a central control room or from any of a number of human-machine interface access points located throughout the plant. This automated control system is based on Siemens PLC using Invensys Wonderware monitoring and control software.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Connection between Western diet and breast cancer in Asian women
Postmenopausal Asian women on a Western diet are at higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to a study by researchers at the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Claiming to be the first such link, they found that high intake of a “meat-sweet” or Western diet was associated with a greater than twofold increased risk of estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer among overweight postmenopausal women.
The results showed no overall association of breast-cancer risk with the “vegetable-soy” pattern. Researchers established the existence of two primary dietary patterns after interviewing Shanghai Breast Cancer Study participants and residents of Shanghai.
The “meat-sweet” diet consists of meats as well as candy, dessert, bread and milk while the “vegetable-soy” diet includes different vegetables, soy-based products, and freshwater fish.
“Our study suggests the possibility that the ‘meat-sweet’ pattern increased breast cancer risk by increasing obesity”, says Marilyn Tseng, an associate member in the population science division at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
South-East Asia growth driving Heineken reforecast
Strong economies, favorable weather, increased demand for international premium beers have all driven Heineken to raise its forecast for organic net profit growth for the full-year ending December 31.
Heineken now expects that organic net profit growth for the full-year will be in the range of 20 to 25 percent instead of the 10 to 13 percent announced earlier this year. The increase in forecast is being driven by strong volume growth in several regions of the world.
In the first six months of 2007, consolidated beer volume grew by 9.3 percent from 53.3 to 58.2 million hectoliters. Volumes showed particular strong growth in South-East Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and Africa.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FDA finds no strong link between tomatoes and reduced cancer risk
A FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) review has found only limited evidence for an association between eating tomatoes and a decreased risk of certain cancers, according to an article published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Several studies have reported a connection between the consumption of lycopene, an antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red hue, and a decreased risk of some cancers, particularly prostate cancer.
The review article describes the agency’s 2005 evaluation of the scientific evidence linking tomatoes or tomato-based foods, lycopene, and reduced cancer risk. Their analysis found no evidence that tomatoes reduced the risk of lung, colorectal, breast, cervical, or endometrial cancer.
However, there was very limited evidence for associations between tomato consumption and reduced risk of four cancers - prostate, ovarian, gastric, and pancreatic.
Even then, the FDA issued a statement saying that there is little scientific evidence supporting the claim that “eating one-half to one cup of tomatoes and or tomato sauce a week may reduce the risk of prostate cancer”.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PepsiCo limits advertising to children
By next year, PepsiCo will only market two of its products to children under 12.
Advertising for Gatorade will be in association with the promotion of encouraging sports participation and in helping children become competent in sports skills, while Baked Cheetos will feature kids participating in active lifestyles.
This is part of an industry initiative where companies commit to devoting at least half its advertising aimed at kids under 12 to promoting healthier products, good nutrition and active lifestyles.
In addition, PepsiCo has pledged to have zero advertising in elementary and middle schools.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Nordenia buys out Malaysia’s Nordenia-Thong Fook
Nordenia International is purchasing the remaining 50 percent of Nordenia-Thong Fook in Malaysia from its previous JV partner, the Thong Fook Corporation.
Subject to approval from the Malaysian authorities, the deal would mean the German manufacturer of flexible packaging, technical films, and product components would for the first time have its own company in Asia.
In the last business year, Nordenia recorded double-digit growth rates in Asia in the area of labeling films. “We are now able to fully exploit our growth potential in the South-East Asian market and intend to use our new options in a targeted manner,” says Andreas Picolin, vice chairman of the executive board of Nordenia International.
Philippe Bartoli will stay on as managing director of the Malaysian Nordenia company which employs more than 300 employees.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Calories basis for food cravings
Food cravings are for calories, not carbohydrates, as is widely assumed, according to results from the first six-month phase of a calorie-restriction study. Some of the most commonly-craved foods among participants were foods that have high sugar plus fat, such as chocolate; and salty snacks, such as chips and French fries.
“The craved foods do have carbohydrate, but they also have fat, and some protein, too. The most identifiable thing about the foods people crave is that they are highly dense in calories,” says corresponding author Susan Roberts, director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging’s Energy Metabolism Laboratory.
Participants that had a higher percentage of weight loss craved foods with higher calorie density, compared with those who lost a lower percentage of body weight.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
McDonald’s powers delivery trucks with recycled cooking oil
McDonald’s is driving into a green future by fueling its UK delivery fleet with its own used cooking oil.
The high-quality biodiesel will initially be made from 85-percent used cooking oil collected from around 900 McDonald's restaurants with 15-percent rapeseed oil.
Still, the world’s biggest restaurant chain says it will continue to work with suppliers in order to minimize the need for pure rapeseed oil in the manufacturing process.
The carbon saving of the move will be 1,675 tons annually when the roll-out of 155 vehicles is completed. This is equivalent to removing 2,424 family cars from the road each year.
“This is a great example of how businesses can work together to help the environment, and is a natural complement to the work we are doing to our delivery schedules to cut food miles and fuel consumption,” says Matthew Howe, senior vice president of McDonald’s in UK.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Low nutrient intake can cause teens to develop respiratory symptoms
A low dietary intake of certain nutrients increases the likelihood of respiratory symptoms such as asthma, according to findings of a study published in a peer-reviewed medical journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.
Results showed that low dietary intakes of fruit, vitamins C and E, and omega-3 fatty acids are associated with decreased lung function and a greater risk of chronic bronchitic symptoms, wheeze, and asthma.
These risks were further increased among students with the lowest intakes and who also smoked. The study also found that at least one third of the students’ diets were below the recommended levels of fruit, vegetable, vitamins A and E, beta-carotene, and omega-3 fatty acid intake.
“Vitamin supplements can help teens meet their daily recommended levels,” says Jane Burns, lead study author from the Harvard School of Public Health, “surprisingly, even relatively low levels of omega-3 fatty acids appeared to protect teens from higher reported respiratory symptoms.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Partnership between Barry Callebaut and Hershey
Chocolate manufacturer The Hershey Company and Cocoa and chocolate-products manufacturer Barry Callebaut have completed agreements for a supply and innovation partnership.
Barry Callebaut will start chocolate ingredients deliveries to Hershey in the next few months under a long-term supply agreement that expects to see 80,000 metric tonnes of chocolate to Hershey a year.
Barry Callebaut will start to operate chocolate-making equipment at a Hershey factory in the US at the beginning of September as well as build a factory in Mexico to produce and supply chocolate to Hershey. This factory is expected to be operational by the summer of 2008.
The companies will collaborate on research and development activities with a focus on new chocolate taste experiences, premium chocolate, health and wellness, ingredient research and optimization.
They will also work together on achieving sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
“The agreement will transform our business in the Americas by significantly increasing our production capacities for chocolate and by optimizing our operational setup in the region,” says Patrick De Maeseneire, chief executive officer of Barry Callebaut.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Senomyx’s new patent covers human taste receptor that responds to sweet and savory taste
Senomyx, developer of novel flavor ingredients for the packaged food and beverage industry, has been issued a US patent that covers a taste receptor that is useful for identifying compounds that affect both sweet and umami (savory) taste.
The human T1R3 taste receptor, is a subunit of both the human umami and sweet taste receptors. The umami receptor was the basis of assays used to identify novel savory ingredients that have been incorporated into food products that are now being marketed by one of the company’s collaborators.
Similar assays with the sweet receptor are being used to screen a host of natural extracts and synthetic compounds in order to discover new sweet taste enhancers and low- or non-caloric natural high potency sweeteners.
The new patent extends the intellectual property protection provided by Senomyx's previously issued patents that described the use of T1R subunits in assays to identify new flavor ingredients that enhance or impart sweet taste.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Habasit opens Modular Belt Innovation Center
Habasit has opened a state-of-the-art "Modular Belt Innovation Center" at the company’s headquarters in Reinach near Basel, Switzerland.
Featuring testing equipment for HabasitLink and KVP plastic modular belts, Habasit is pooling its experience and exploring synergies in a central location, and in greater depth.
Here, the conveyor belts are tested in a practical setting and are thoroughly examined to prevent unexpected problems during the start-up phase.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Spring accesses overseas markets
Spring Singapore has launched a dedicated website for easy-to-understand access to overseas food regulations and import requirements. The Food Import Regulations and Standards (FIRS) database (www.spring.gov.sg./etac) aims to help Singapore food manufacturers navigate through the maze of technical requirements in different countries.
Vijayandran Joseph, general manager of Super Continental (a subsidiary of Super Cofeemix Manufacturing) knows all too well about the benefits of venturing overseas. As a presenter at Spring Singapore’s seminar entitled “Food Export Into Emerging Markets—The Market Potential and Regulatory Issues”, he told the audience about Super Continental’s experiences in Russia.
“Our experience has been bitter and sweet,” he conceded. “But it’s a huge market.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
San Miguel to venture into "new engines of growth"
San Miguel is planning ventures into “new engines of growth” that will deliver optimum value for shareholders. Short-listed industries include mining, power, infrastructure, water, other utilities and property.
The new businesses will constitute only a fraction of total portfolio with the larger portion still consisting of its core businesses of food and beverage.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thai Bev drops Anhui Gujing acquisition
Negotiations between International Beverage Holdings Limited (IBHL) and the Bozhou State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission to purchase 100 percent of all the equity interests in Anhui Gujing Group Limited (AGGL) have been terminated. IBHL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thai Beverage, says it will not proceed with the acquisition of AGGL.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Metro Group expands RFID use with Intermec
Metro has approved two Intermec radio frequency identification (RFID) starter packs, specially tailored to the needs of the consumer-goods industry, which will be offered to its suppliers. The preconfigured application contained in the packs makes it possible to easily fit pallets and boxes with RFID tags.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alcoa withdraws offer for Alcan
Alcoa is no longer looking to buy Alcan in light of Rio Tinto’s announced agreement to purchase Alcan. It is also reinstituting its share-repurchase program, which had been suspended during the Alcan offer. In January, Alcoa’s Board authorized the repurchase of up to 87 million shares.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GE Fanuc partners with Softing for process systems
GE Fanuc Automation has entered into an agreement with technology partner Softing North America to provide Foundation fieldbus connectivity to the upcoming release of GE Fanuc’s new Proficy Process Systems solution for Process Control. This will give Fanuc customers more options for fieldbus technologies they need for their applications.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dairy produce staves off metabolic syndrome
A daily helping of dairy foods may protects you against metabolic syndrome—which has been linked to diabetes, coronary artery disease, and premature death—suggests a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Men were 62 percent less likely to develop it if they drank 1.5 cups of milk.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ShotPak completes vodka energy drink formula
Claimed to be the first-of-its-kind, the newly formulated ShotPak Vodka Energy drink will be launched in a patented 50-milliliter stand-up pouch. The energy drink market is a multi-billion dollar industry and has become a favorite mixer for vodka in bars and restaurants.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Decline in crop yield could lead to food shortage in 28 countries
The FAO reports that a predicted decline in cereal production this year in many low-income food-deficit countries could lead to serious food shortages in 28 countries which include Nepal and Sierra Leone. In Asia, forecasts for coarse grain and rice crops are reported to be favorable.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
New spray-dried technology by Haldin
Haldin has added spray-dry technology to its production line, in response to demand for ready-to-drink, instant drinks, confectionery, and bakery applications. Here, fluid-bed technology is used to create, diversify and form the particle size of powder produced into range of products categorized as fine, agglomerated and with carbon-dioxide injection.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Regional cooperation strengthens Asia
Asia is enjoying robust growth, showing resilience to external shocks just a decade after the Asian financial crisis. This magnifies the value of regional economic cooperation and integration says Haruhiko Kuroda, president of Asian Development Bank at an international symposium.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
UN reports huge drop in poverty but rising inequality in Asia
In Southern Asia, almost 30 percent of the population is still living on a dollar a day; while in Eastern Asia, the poorest quintile of the population declined from 7.3 percent in 1990 to 4.5 percent in 2004. Still Asia is falling short of reaching the target of halving the proportion of underweight children.
The European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) has adopted its first opinion in a series of re-evaluations it is currently undertaking on the safety of food additives.
Food color Red 2G (E 128), which is only permitted for use in certain breakfast sausages and burger meat, has raised potential health concerns among the Panel on Food Additives, Flavorings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food.
The Panel noted that Red 2G is extensively converted into aniline in the body. Aniline has been found to have cancer-causing properties based on studies using rodents.
As animals and man share a similar metabolism of aniline, a carcinogenic risk for man therefore cannot be excluded. Therefore the Panel decided that it would be practical to regard Red 2G as a safety concern and has withdrawn the Acceptable Daily Intake for Red 2G.
The ESFA is continuing to re-evaluate all currently permitted food additives as part of a request by the European Commission.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yokogawa’s new building in Singapore to play significant role in expansion plans
Yokogawa Electric Corporation has opened a facility in Singapore that will be home to its international and regional operations. The 12-storey building will house a customer call center, a production excellence solutions center, a research and development center and the newly-established EJA Transmitter manufacturing line, which is set up for quick delivery to enhance customer support.
It will play a critical role in Yokogawa’s vision to be the top global industrial automation player by 2010 at a time where the global market is growing at an annual rate of six percent.
At present, the company already has the largest market share in Asia and is expected to maintain its current 13-percent growth rate until at least 2010. “Our industrial automation and control business accounts for 71 percent of our revenue in fiscal year 2006. Currently, 56 percent of that comes from outside of Japan. We are aiming to grow aggressively by organic expansion of operations internationally,” explains Shuzo Kaihori, president and chief operating officer of Yokogawa Electric.
Singapore supports almost two-thirds of Yokogawa's sales and manages close to 9,000 employees of the Yokogawa group.
Officiating at the opening ceremony, Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says: “Japanese companies should go beyond seeing Singapore as a lower-cost production base, and instead see Singapore as a ‘value-creation’ solution, as other multinationals from the US and Europe have done and have expanded their operations here.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kalbe Morinaga opens infant formula powder plant in Indonesia
Japanese dairy and confectionery manufacturer Morinaga and its Indonesian distributor Kalbe Farma have opened their infant-formula powder plant in Indonesia.
Work on the milk-powder facility was completed in January, and engineering design, automation, equipment and project management was supplied by APV Asia in Singapore.
The plant deals with receival and storage of raw materials, batch preparation, clarification, homogenization, pasteurization, intermediate storage and two-stage spray drying.
Employees are able to control and monitor from a central control room or from any of a number of human-machine interface access points located throughout the plant. This automated control system is based on Siemens PLC using Invensys Wonderware monitoring and control software.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Connection between Western diet and breast cancer in Asian women
Postmenopausal Asian women on a Western diet are at higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to a study by researchers at the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Claiming to be the first such link, they found that high intake of a “meat-sweet” or Western diet was associated with a greater than twofold increased risk of estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer among overweight postmenopausal women.
The results showed no overall association of breast-cancer risk with the “vegetable-soy” pattern. Researchers established the existence of two primary dietary patterns after interviewing Shanghai Breast Cancer Study participants and residents of Shanghai.
The “meat-sweet” diet consists of meats as well as candy, dessert, bread and milk while the “vegetable-soy” diet includes different vegetables, soy-based products, and freshwater fish.
“Our study suggests the possibility that the ‘meat-sweet’ pattern increased breast cancer risk by increasing obesity”, says Marilyn Tseng, an associate member in the population science division at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
South-East Asia growth driving Heineken reforecast
Strong economies, favorable weather, increased demand for international premium beers have all driven Heineken to raise its forecast for organic net profit growth for the full-year ending December 31.
Heineken now expects that organic net profit growth for the full-year will be in the range of 20 to 25 percent instead of the 10 to 13 percent announced earlier this year. The increase in forecast is being driven by strong volume growth in several regions of the world.
In the first six months of 2007, consolidated beer volume grew by 9.3 percent from 53.3 to 58.2 million hectoliters. Volumes showed particular strong growth in South-East Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and Africa.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FDA finds no strong link between tomatoes and reduced cancer risk
A FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) review has found only limited evidence for an association between eating tomatoes and a decreased risk of certain cancers, according to an article published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Several studies have reported a connection between the consumption of lycopene, an antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red hue, and a decreased risk of some cancers, particularly prostate cancer.
The review article describes the agency’s 2005 evaluation of the scientific evidence linking tomatoes or tomato-based foods, lycopene, and reduced cancer risk. Their analysis found no evidence that tomatoes reduced the risk of lung, colorectal, breast, cervical, or endometrial cancer.
However, there was very limited evidence for associations between tomato consumption and reduced risk of four cancers - prostate, ovarian, gastric, and pancreatic.
Even then, the FDA issued a statement saying that there is little scientific evidence supporting the claim that “eating one-half to one cup of tomatoes and or tomato sauce a week may reduce the risk of prostate cancer”.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PepsiCo limits advertising to children
By next year, PepsiCo will only market two of its products to children under 12.
Advertising for Gatorade will be in association with the promotion of encouraging sports participation and in helping children become competent in sports skills, while Baked Cheetos will feature kids participating in active lifestyles.
This is part of an industry initiative where companies commit to devoting at least half its advertising aimed at kids under 12 to promoting healthier products, good nutrition and active lifestyles.
In addition, PepsiCo has pledged to have zero advertising in elementary and middle schools.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Nordenia buys out Malaysia’s Nordenia-Thong Fook
Nordenia International is purchasing the remaining 50 percent of Nordenia-Thong Fook in Malaysia from its previous JV partner, the Thong Fook Corporation.
Subject to approval from the Malaysian authorities, the deal would mean the German manufacturer of flexible packaging, technical films, and product components would for the first time have its own company in Asia.
In the last business year, Nordenia recorded double-digit growth rates in Asia in the area of labeling films. “We are now able to fully exploit our growth potential in the South-East Asian market and intend to use our new options in a targeted manner,” says Andreas Picolin, vice chairman of the executive board of Nordenia International.
Philippe Bartoli will stay on as managing director of the Malaysian Nordenia company which employs more than 300 employees.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Calories basis for food cravings
Food cravings are for calories, not carbohydrates, as is widely assumed, according to results from the first six-month phase of a calorie-restriction study. Some of the most commonly-craved foods among participants were foods that have high sugar plus fat, such as chocolate; and salty snacks, such as chips and French fries.
“The craved foods do have carbohydrate, but they also have fat, and some protein, too. The most identifiable thing about the foods people crave is that they are highly dense in calories,” says corresponding author Susan Roberts, director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging’s Energy Metabolism Laboratory.
Participants that had a higher percentage of weight loss craved foods with higher calorie density, compared with those who lost a lower percentage of body weight.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
McDonald’s powers delivery trucks with recycled cooking oil
McDonald’s is driving into a green future by fueling its UK delivery fleet with its own used cooking oil.
The high-quality biodiesel will initially be made from 85-percent used cooking oil collected from around 900 McDonald's restaurants with 15-percent rapeseed oil.
Still, the world’s biggest restaurant chain says it will continue to work with suppliers in order to minimize the need for pure rapeseed oil in the manufacturing process.
The carbon saving of the move will be 1,675 tons annually when the roll-out of 155 vehicles is completed. This is equivalent to removing 2,424 family cars from the road each year.
“This is a great example of how businesses can work together to help the environment, and is a natural complement to the work we are doing to our delivery schedules to cut food miles and fuel consumption,” says Matthew Howe, senior vice president of McDonald’s in UK.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Low nutrient intake can cause teens to develop respiratory symptoms
A low dietary intake of certain nutrients increases the likelihood of respiratory symptoms such as asthma, according to findings of a study published in a peer-reviewed medical journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.
Results showed that low dietary intakes of fruit, vitamins C and E, and omega-3 fatty acids are associated with decreased lung function and a greater risk of chronic bronchitic symptoms, wheeze, and asthma.
These risks were further increased among students with the lowest intakes and who also smoked. The study also found that at least one third of the students’ diets were below the recommended levels of fruit, vegetable, vitamins A and E, beta-carotene, and omega-3 fatty acid intake.
“Vitamin supplements can help teens meet their daily recommended levels,” says Jane Burns, lead study author from the Harvard School of Public Health, “surprisingly, even relatively low levels of omega-3 fatty acids appeared to protect teens from higher reported respiratory symptoms.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Partnership between Barry Callebaut and Hershey
Chocolate manufacturer The Hershey Company and Cocoa and chocolate-products manufacturer Barry Callebaut have completed agreements for a supply and innovation partnership.
Barry Callebaut will start chocolate ingredients deliveries to Hershey in the next few months under a long-term supply agreement that expects to see 80,000 metric tonnes of chocolate to Hershey a year.
Barry Callebaut will start to operate chocolate-making equipment at a Hershey factory in the US at the beginning of September as well as build a factory in Mexico to produce and supply chocolate to Hershey. This factory is expected to be operational by the summer of 2008.
The companies will collaborate on research and development activities with a focus on new chocolate taste experiences, premium chocolate, health and wellness, ingredient research and optimization.
They will also work together on achieving sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
“The agreement will transform our business in the Americas by significantly increasing our production capacities for chocolate and by optimizing our operational setup in the region,” says Patrick De Maeseneire, chief executive officer of Barry Callebaut.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Senomyx’s new patent covers human taste receptor that responds to sweet and savory taste
Senomyx, developer of novel flavor ingredients for the packaged food and beverage industry, has been issued a US patent that covers a taste receptor that is useful for identifying compounds that affect both sweet and umami (savory) taste.
The human T1R3 taste receptor, is a subunit of both the human umami and sweet taste receptors. The umami receptor was the basis of assays used to identify novel savory ingredients that have been incorporated into food products that are now being marketed by one of the company’s collaborators.
Similar assays with the sweet receptor are being used to screen a host of natural extracts and synthetic compounds in order to discover new sweet taste enhancers and low- or non-caloric natural high potency sweeteners.
The new patent extends the intellectual property protection provided by Senomyx's previously issued patents that described the use of T1R subunits in assays to identify new flavor ingredients that enhance or impart sweet taste.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Habasit opens Modular Belt Innovation Center
Habasit has opened a state-of-the-art "Modular Belt Innovation Center" at the company’s headquarters in Reinach near Basel, Switzerland.
Featuring testing equipment for HabasitLink and KVP plastic modular belts, Habasit is pooling its experience and exploring synergies in a central location, and in greater depth.
Here, the conveyor belts are tested in a practical setting and are thoroughly examined to prevent unexpected problems during the start-up phase.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Spring accesses overseas markets
Spring Singapore has launched a dedicated website for easy-to-understand access to overseas food regulations and import requirements. The Food Import Regulations and Standards (FIRS) database (www.spring.gov.sg./etac) aims to help Singapore food manufacturers navigate through the maze of technical requirements in different countries.
Vijayandran Joseph, general manager of Super Continental (a subsidiary of Super Cofeemix Manufacturing) knows all too well about the benefits of venturing overseas. As a presenter at Spring Singapore’s seminar entitled “Food Export Into Emerging Markets—The Market Potential and Regulatory Issues”, he told the audience about Super Continental’s experiences in Russia.
“Our experience has been bitter and sweet,” he conceded. “But it’s a huge market.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
San Miguel to venture into "new engines of growth"
San Miguel is planning ventures into “new engines of growth” that will deliver optimum value for shareholders. Short-listed industries include mining, power, infrastructure, water, other utilities and property.
The new businesses will constitute only a fraction of total portfolio with the larger portion still consisting of its core businesses of food and beverage.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thai Bev drops Anhui Gujing acquisition
Negotiations between International Beverage Holdings Limited (IBHL) and the Bozhou State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission to purchase 100 percent of all the equity interests in Anhui Gujing Group Limited (AGGL) have been terminated. IBHL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thai Beverage, says it will not proceed with the acquisition of AGGL.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Metro Group expands RFID use with Intermec
Metro has approved two Intermec radio frequency identification (RFID) starter packs, specially tailored to the needs of the consumer-goods industry, which will be offered to its suppliers. The preconfigured application contained in the packs makes it possible to easily fit pallets and boxes with RFID tags.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alcoa withdraws offer for Alcan
Alcoa is no longer looking to buy Alcan in light of Rio Tinto’s announced agreement to purchase Alcan. It is also reinstituting its share-repurchase program, which had been suspended during the Alcan offer. In January, Alcoa’s Board authorized the repurchase of up to 87 million shares.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GE Fanuc partners with Softing for process systems
GE Fanuc Automation has entered into an agreement with technology partner Softing North America to provide Foundation fieldbus connectivity to the upcoming release of GE Fanuc’s new Proficy Process Systems solution for Process Control. This will give Fanuc customers more options for fieldbus technologies they need for their applications.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dairy produce staves off metabolic syndrome
A daily helping of dairy foods may protects you against metabolic syndrome—which has been linked to diabetes, coronary artery disease, and premature death—suggests a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Men were 62 percent less likely to develop it if they drank 1.5 cups of milk.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ShotPak completes vodka energy drink formula
Claimed to be the first-of-its-kind, the newly formulated ShotPak Vodka Energy drink will be launched in a patented 50-milliliter stand-up pouch. The energy drink market is a multi-billion dollar industry and has become a favorite mixer for vodka in bars and restaurants.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Decline in crop yield could lead to food shortage in 28 countries
The FAO reports that a predicted decline in cereal production this year in many low-income food-deficit countries could lead to serious food shortages in 28 countries which include Nepal and Sierra Leone. In Asia, forecasts for coarse grain and rice crops are reported to be favorable.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
New spray-dried technology by Haldin
Haldin has added spray-dry technology to its production line, in response to demand for ready-to-drink, instant drinks, confectionery, and bakery applications. Here, fluid-bed technology is used to create, diversify and form the particle size of powder produced into range of products categorized as fine, agglomerated and with carbon-dioxide injection.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Regional cooperation strengthens Asia
Asia is enjoying robust growth, showing resilience to external shocks just a decade after the Asian financial crisis. This magnifies the value of regional economic cooperation and integration says Haruhiko Kuroda, president of Asian Development Bank at an international symposium.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
UN reports huge drop in poverty but rising inequality in Asia
In Southern Asia, almost 30 percent of the population is still living on a dollar a day; while in Eastern Asia, the poorest quintile of the population declined from 7.3 percent in 1990 to 4.5 percent in 2004. Still Asia is falling short of reaching the target of halving the proportion of underweight children.
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