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Russia Bans Wheat Exports Through Rest of 2010
September 23rd 2010Russian president Vladimir Putin announced last week that the country will institute a ban on wheat export through the end of this year, BBC News reports. The announcement comes in response to several weeks of wildfires which, along with drought, have brought ruin to millions of acres of wheat and other grains in the country.
PepsiCo to Develop Sweeteners for Low-Calorie Drinks
September 23rd 2010PepsiCo today announced a four-year partnership with flavors firm Senomyx Inc. to develop and commercialize natural sweeteners and sweetness enhancers. New discoveries will be used to lower the calorie content of future PepsiCo beverages."This relationship with Senomyx reflects our increasingly long-term approach to research and development as well as our belief that global food and beverage companies can play an important role in identifying new ingredients that can lead to healthier products," said Mehmood Khan, PepsiCo's chief scientific officer.
U.K. Finalizes Shake-Up of Food Standards Agency
September 23rd 2010When several cloned cows were confirmed to have entered the U.K. food chain last month, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) received blame for a lack of oversight. As of September 1, responsibilities within the U.K government have now shifted, with the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department of Health assuming some of the FSA...s previous responsibilities.
FDA to Consider Genetically Modified Salmon for U.S. Consumption
September 23rd 2010The case for allowing genetically-modified food to enter the U.S. marketplace has taken a strong step forward. FDA recently (Rockville, MD) announced its intent to hold a meeting in mid-September with AquaBounty Technologies (Waltham, MA), a biotech company wishing to bring its genetically-modified salmon to market. The company says its AquAdvantage salmon grow twice as fast as conventionally grown salmon; but they do not grow bigger.
CRN Urges Congress to Vote on FDA Food Safety Modernization
September 23rd 2010Summer is winding down, and we have yet to see S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act receive a vote in Congress. The Council for Responsible Nutrition sent a letter to Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), reaffirming their support of a bill that, as of today, has the bipartisan support of 17 cosponsors (9 Democrats and 8 Republicans).
Cyvex Nutrition Enhances Alfalfa Ingredient
September 23rd 2010Cyvex Nutrition (Irvine, CA) has introduced Alfapro Agglomerated, a highly dispersible grade of the company...s alfalfa protein concentrate. Suitable for powdered beverages, sachets, and stick packs, the company...s ingredient provides 50% protein, amino acids, and plant-based omega-3s, among other nutrients.
Soluble Fibers to Grow Market Share
September 23rd 2010Fiber ingredients will see rising sales as more food and beverage companies seek to launch fiber-fortified products, says market researcher Packaged Facts. Rises are expected for all types of fiber, including soluble, insoluble, and digestive-resistant forms. Packaged Facts... publisher Don Montuori says that fiber sales are set to increase 'indefinitely, as the market for fiber-enhanced foods is still in its infancy. There is a great deal of room across almost all food categories, which presents an opportunity for the many different fiber ingredients.'
ConsumerLab Finds Fault with Ginseng Suppliers, Identifies Products
September 22nd 2010The dietary supplement market still needs enforcing, as evidenced by a new ConsumerLab report on ginseng supplements. ConsumerLab released a report on Monday stating that 5 out of 11 ginseng supplements the group recently tested had less ginseng than stated on the label or were contaminated with lead or pesticides. The group's report included Asian or "Korean" ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius).
Iowa Company Recalls 380 Million Eggs Over Salmonella Risk
September 22nd 2010FDA (Rockville, MD) reports that Wright County Egg (Galt, IA) has initiated a voluntary recall of an estimated 380 million shell eggs at risk of carrying Salmonella Enteritidis. The company's recall is on eggs that were shipped out to national U.S. food distributors in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa as far back as May 16, 2010.
New Report: Intense Sweeteners
September 22nd 2010The food industry currently accounts for 90% of worldwide usage of intense sweeteners'”in part, thanks to growing popularity of diet and low-sugar foods, according to market researcher Leatherhead Food Research...s 'The Global Market for Intense Sweeteners' report. The remaining 10% of the market is used by the pharmaceutical industry. A growing influence of China-based producers is among the trends impacting the market, says Leatherhead.
Monk Fruit to Rival Stevia Someday?
September 22nd 2010The stage could be set for luo han guo, also known as monk fruit, to eventually see the growing market success that stevia is currently experiencing in the United States, according to market researcher Innova Market Insights. Market penetration will largely depend on regulatory approvals. Currently, luo han guo, said to be 300 times sweeter than sugar, is mostly confined to supplements in the United States, and not food. (Innova says that most 2010 U.S. launches involved liquid, capsule, and tea-concentrate supplements.)
Scientists Shock Potatoes to Increase Antioxidant Levels
September 22nd 2010A team of scientists has discovered that ultrasound and electric shock can increase the polyphenol content in potatoes, according to research presented on Sunday at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS reports the findings as 'simple, inexpensive ways' to increase the antioxidant content of potatoes.
Cranberries Improve Prostate Symptoms in Six-Month Study
September 22nd 2010Researchers in the Czech Republic claim to have discovered 'the first firm evidence' that cranberries may improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), according to research published online in the British Journal of Nutrition, this week. The researchers assigned 41 male subjects to 1500 mg of dried powdered cranberries or no cranberry treatment daily, for six months. At baseline, and at three and six months, many prostate-related measures were accessed.
Green, Black Tea Blend Provides Synergistic Antioxidant Action
September 22nd 2010Kemin Health (Des Moines, IA) has launched Enlivitea, a proprietary blend of green and black tea formulated for high antioxidant value. The company ensures that the tea extracts in Enlivitea provide high concentrations of specific antioxidants and work synergistically to provide antioxidant health benefits.
NPA Certifies First Home-Care Ingredient
September 22nd 2010The Natural Products Association (NPA; Washington, DC) has awarded its first natural certification for a home-care ingredient to Zemea propanediol, a natural solvent by DuPont Tate & Lyle BioProducts. To qualify for NPA...s Natural Home Care Standard and Certification program, ingredients must be evaluated by both NPA and a third-party auditor. Ingredients are screened to ensure they are 100% natural, are sourced from a renewable resource found in natural, have no petroleum compounds, and are processed under certain conditions.
Mintel/SPINS Foresee 2010 as Biggest Fiber Year Ever
September 22nd 2010Market research groups Mintel (Chicago) and SPINS (Schaumburg, IL) are forecasting 2010 to be the biggest year ever for fiber consumption. According to recent research from Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), more than 3,700 products were launched since 2005 with a 'whole grain' claim in the US.
GMO Beets Put on Hold in California
September 22nd 2010Sugar beets supply half of the nation's sugar, but a U.S. federal district court judge has prohibited the cultivation of genetically-modified Roundup Ready sugar beets previously approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA; Washington, DC), The Center for Food Safety reports.
Rebaudioside D and F Now GRAS Approved
September 22nd 2010FDA has issued a 'no objections' GRAS approval for SG95, a new stevia product from PureCircle (Oak Brook, IL). The product...s GRAS approval not only covers seven previously GRAS-approved steviol glycosides, but also two new steviol glycosides, Rebaudioside D and F, contained in SG95'”the first time the two glycosides have been GRAS approved.
Artinia Considered Safe in Europe
September 22nd 2010The European Food Safety Authority...s (Parma, Italy) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA Panel) has determined that Artinia, a chitin-glucan ingredient by Stratum Nutrition (St. Charles, MO), shall be considered safe for consumption under established terms in the European Union. In the NDA Panel opinion, the ingredient is referred to as KiOnutrime-CG, the brand name used by Stratum...s European partner KitoZyme (Herstal, Belgium).
FDA Warns Major Companies over Unlawful Green Tea Claims
September 22nd 2010Just weeks after researchers reported finding low levels of nutrients in store-bought green tea beverages, FDA (Rockville, MD) has now reprimanded two major companies for using misleading claims on their green tea beverages. On August 30, the agency sent a warning letter to Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (Plano, TX) over its Canada Dry Sparkling Green Tea Ginger Ale.
FTC Files Suit Against Marketer of Acai Supplements
September 22nd 2010The Federal Trade Commission (FTC; Washington, DC) will formally announce a lawsuit next Monday against a marketer of acai berry supplements for weight loss and colon cleansing, according to a press release posted yesterday on FTC...s website.