Immunologists in the UK have reported fruit and vegetables are slowly replacing the peanut as the major cause of allergies in children, with doctors in Australia also noting a rise in reactions to some fresh produce. Despite the rise, allergies are more mild when it comes to fruit and veg and doctors stress that fresh produce remains a key to a healthy diet. George Du Toit, an allergist and immunologist in London, reports that fruit and vegetables allergies are around five times more common than... ...Read more »

Woolworths Chief Executive Michael Luscombe, fresh from announcing another strong sales result, has suggested that a change in the trading terms offered to suppliers of Coles could hurt their rival. Coles reportedly increased trading rebates by four per cent earlier this year without offering suppliers any benefits beyond maintaining their shelf space. The chain said the savings would be passed onto their customers but a number of suppliers were agitated by the move, according to reports. “Significant... ...Read more »

The American Dietetic Association has suggested functional foods can benefit a person’s health when consumed as part of a varied diet, encouraged further research and urged continued efforts to educate the public on such foods, with their New York branch since compiling a list of their top five ‘functional foods’ based on proven health benefits. “All foods are functional at some physiological level, but it is the position of the American Dietetic Association that functional... ...Read more »

A pistachio recall in America last month has been responsible for the recall of up to 14 products in Australia and posed questions about the mass production of food. The food regulatory body in the US, FDA, acted swiftly to withdraw over 500 products linked to the company Setton – after traces of salmonella were found. The FDA is still unaware if the pistachios have actually caused any illnesses, but are unwilling to take any chances given recent events. In the past 12 months they have overseen... ...Read more »

Integrated, cross-media advertising campaigns are the leaders of modern marketing, and cross-media campaigns have an undisputed effect on perception, new research has confirmed. The synergetic effect on buying behaviour has been analysed by Google, Coca-Cola and research group GfK, with the results highlighting that cross-media campaigns have a greater effect than single-media campaigns, and internet use has a direct impact on purchasing decisions. The starting point of the survey was the Coca-Cola... ...Read more »

New research reveals two-thirds of Australian parents find it too time consuming and difficult to involve their children in cooking, and may be doing more harm than good keeping their kids out of the kitchen, according to experts in child nutrition. Parents would, however, like to involve their children more in healthy food preparation. The research, conducted by Newspoll on behalf of Flora, found 44 per cent of Australian parents say their children have no interest in food preparation, and a further... ...Read more »

Sara Lee has announced the opening of its new North American innovation campus, The Kitchens of Sara Lee, which they hope will stimulate significant growth in the years ahead. The 120,000 square-foot research and development centre, located at the company’s headquarters in Illinois, took over two years to construct and houses more than 100 research and development professionals; including chefs, scientists, engineers and packaging designers. “Our dedication to innovation, and in turn... ...Read more »

Woolworths has reported third quarter sales growth of 6.5 per cent, surpassing analyst expectations. Woolworths’ Chief Executive Officer, Michael Luscombe, suggested the $12.3 billion sales result highlighted a resistance to the downturn. “We are pleased to report another strong overall sales result,” he said. “Woolworths continues to reinvest in all its businesses to improve our stores, create jobs, add services, deliver value, and create an even better experience for our... ...Read more »

The recently established Humboldt Forum for Food and Agriculture has urged the immediate adoption of a five-point plan of action, entitled “Food First”, to counter concerns about food security and global malnutrition. According to the Forum, agricultural productivity growth has fallen from around 4 per cent annually in the 1960s to about one per cent each year today, due largely to an ongoing decline in agricultural research investment. Meanwhile, they predict that the price of food will... ...Read more »

The Exhibition Director of one of Australia’s premier food industry events, Fine Food, has announced he will be stepping down this month. Timothy Collett said that after 16 years with the show he feels the time is right for a change. “I have enjoyed every minute of the experience but feel I have taken the current show as far as I can. It is now time for some new faces and ideas. It is also time for me to try something different,” he said. “After a few months travelling with... ...Read more »