Increased demand and widespread rain have boosted the outlook for post-farm gate agribusinesses, with the March Quarterly Agribusiness Survey from the National Australia Bank (NAB) showing improved confidence. NAB’s General Manager of Agribusiness, Khan Horne, said both domestic and export demand have lifted. “Survey respondents reported an increase in export sales for the first time since March 2008. This is expected to continue, although slowly, because of the high Australian dollar... ...Read more »

The latest push to cut salt (or sodium, as our US cousins call the ingredient) from packaged foods has taken off across the Atlantic, much to the satisfaction of consumer advocates. However, for all the laudable moves by some of the largest food manufacturers in the US, there remains a concern that their plans to cut salt may not gain the traction needed to improve public health – for the simple notion that consumer demand for low-sodium or sodium-free foods is in question. Kraft Foods, Heinz... ...Read more »

The European Consumers Association (BEUC) yesterday (27 April) insisted that a pledge to stop advertising junk food to children under the age of 12 throughout the EU needs to go further. Five European snack makers have decided to sign up to the EU Pledge, which was originally set up in 2007. Back then, manufacturers including Kraft Foods and Danone committed to stop any advertising on TV, in print and on the Internet that was targeted at children under the age of 12. This week, more companies, including... ...Read more »

A new report for just-food by industry expert Julian Mellentin forecasts the ten key trends for food, nutrition and health in 2010. According to the report, digestive health continues to be the biggest trend. Its importance to consumers has been underscored by the impressive growth rates of digestive health brands, with sales of even premium brands increasing by 10%-20% during the recession. And yet digestive health still has huge areas of untapped potential in most countries around the world, especially... ...Read more »

A new report released by Go Grains, reviewing the latest science on the health benefits of wholegrains and legumes, was launched in Adelaide today by the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health, The Hon Mark Butler, MP. The report, co-authored by Associate Professor Peter Williams of the University of Wollongong, emphasises the extensive health benefits of wholegrain foods and legumes. “Studies in this report show eating just 2-3 serves of wholegrain foods a day – the equivalent to 2-3... ...Read more »

CSR has won its Full Federal Court appeal against the blocking of a proposed demerger of the CSR sugar and renewable energy business, Sucrogen. The planned demerger was blocked by Justice Margaret Stone in February on the grounds that the demerger might leave CSR unable to cover the costs of its creditors, particularly asbestos claimants.  CSR appealed the decision on the grounds of errors in law. On Friday, Federal Court Chief Justice Patrick Keane and Justice Peter Jacobson released a joint judgement... ...Read more »

The New South Wales Food Authority has reported NSW food outlets for a number of violations, including two outlets who served cockroaches in food, and one butcher who adulterated meat with sulfur dioxide. Delicious Noodle Taree was fined $2420 for selling food with cockroaches, as well as having live and dead cockroaches on the premises and failing to take pest control measures. The Bankstown Bakehouse was fined $550 for selling a loaf of bread with a cockroach baked into one slice. Yagoona Halal... ...Read more »

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday announced a major joint initiative between the city and a group of US food companies to cut salt in produced and restaurant foods back to 1970s levels. The campaign has already signed up Kraft Foods, Heinz, Subway, Unilever, McCain Foods and Starbucks, as well as a variety of other chain restaurants and manufacturers. Bloomberg himself admitted to loving salt, in moderation. “I put salt on my popcorn — as a matter of fact, popcorn without salt... ...Read more »

European fish processor Findus Group has indicated that it will increase its commitment to sourcing sustainable fish supplies, sharpening its focus on farmed fish. The company announced today that it aims to buy all the wild-caught fish for its Young’s and Findus brands from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified suppliers by 2012. The move would mean that an estimated 50 million retail packs will carry the MSC logo each year. A spokesperson for the group revealed that, while there will be... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has called for tenders for two major programs this month. The government standards organisation is calling for an outside contractor to assist with filling the gaps in its knowledge of the nutritional content of the foods we eat. FSANZ is also asking for an outside contractor to analyse breads, to check on the success of last year’s changes to the mandatory fortification, specifically the addition of folic acid and switch to iodised salt. The National Health... ...Read more »