Chocolate that will help with oral health care and a drink designed to “bridge the hunger gap” between meals are among the world’s newest consumer goods which have led the experts at Product Launch Analytics to predict the emerging trends which are hitting shelves in Asia-Pacific region. * A natural appetite suppressant said to help consumers with weight loss and oral health care, Pinno Thin is a new ingredient added to the confectionery sector. ‘Ador Chocolate’, launched... ...Read more »

NHS watchdog NICE has called for trans-fats to be eliminated from food in the UK.Some “tens of thousands” of lives could be saved by producing healthier food. according to NICE guidance published yesterday (22 June). The watchdog has also called for the UK food industry to further reduce the salt and saturated fats in the food it produces, building on the work already started. “This guidance aims to save lives and reduce the terrible toll of ill health caused by heart disease and... ...Read more »

“Coles, the major sponsor of Channel 10′s MasterChef, has reported rushes on ingredients and kitchen equipment featured on the show. Coles General Manager Corporate Affairs, Robert Hadler, said the featured recipes on the show could be directly linked to increased sales. “There was a 30 per cent uplift in sales of our MasterChef meat for the stroganoff overnight,” he said. Other featured products have shown strong sales increases, including rib roasts (up 200%), salmon fillets... ...Read more »

A study of twins has shown that men eating a Mediterranean-style diet had lower risk factors for coronary artery disease, even after accounting for genetic risks. Using data from the Emory Twins Heart Study, researchers found that men eating a Mediterranean-style diet had greater heart rate variability (HRV) than those eating a Western-type diet. Heart rate variability refers to variation in the time interval between heart beats during everyday life – reduced HRV is a risk factor for coronary artery... ...Read more »

A warning has been issued for seafood from Lake Tuross on NSW’s south coast after what is believed to be creosote oil, a wood preservative, was spilled in the lake. The oil is believed to have come from a drum, washed into the lake by storms at the end of May. Lake Tuross is home to a number of oyster farms and is popular with recreational fishers. The Greater Southern Area Health Service’s Director of Public Health, Tracey Oakman, said skin irritation can occur after contact with creosote,... ...Read more »

Starbucks has congratulated the winners of the betacup innovation challenge, designed to look for ways for the company to reduce paper cup usage. The winning idea, Karma Cup, suggests a simple chalkboard by the counter, marked once for every reusable cup brought in, with every tenth customer winning a free item. Starbucks Coffee Company sponsored the contest as part of its aim to serve 100% of its on-demand beverages in reusable or recyclable cups by 2015. the betacup is a development of Colaboratorie... ...Read more »

SABMiller announces that Pacific Beverages, its joint venture with Coca-Cola Amatil in Australia, has commenced brewing at its new US$105 million Bluetongue brewery in Warnervale, approximately 95km north of Sydney. The state-of-the-art facility has a capacity of 500,000 hectolitres and will incorporate two brewhouses in the one brewery. This ‘twin stream brewhouse’ will enable the production of a combination of the popular domestic brands in addition to SABMiller’s international brands... ...Read more »

Japan has announced that it will give complete market access to Australian grapefruit, where previously it only accepted fruit from fruit-fly-free areas. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said the decision is good news for citrus producers across the nation. “The decision by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries allows new access for producers from all over Australia to export to the lucrative Japanese market,” Burke said. “The result is important... ...Read more »

Battle of Bosworth Wines from McLaren Vale, South Australia have released their first preservative-free. The aptly-named Battle of Bosworth Preservative Free Shiraz was made using organically grown and certified grapes from the exceptional 2010 vintage, grown at the Bosworth vineyards located in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges in McLaren Vale. Battle of Bosworth and Spring Seed Wines are owned and run by husband and wife team Joch Bosworth and Louise Hemsley-Smith, and the vineyards have... ...Read more »

Go Grains has appointed Robyn Murray, formerly of Sara Lee, Campbell, Arnott’s and Kellogg’s, as its new General Manager. The group, established by the Federal Government’s Grains Research and Develepment Corporation and BRI Australia (formerly the Bread Research Institute of Australia) is described as an opportunity to “make scientifically based information about grains, legumes and health available in the public domain to help combat the ever-increasing volume of material... ...Read more »