US conglomerate ConAgra Foods has joined forces with Mars Inc to launch a range of confectionery for the Christmas season. ConAgra’s Peter Pan peanut butter brand and Mars’ M&M’s Holiday milk chocolate candies have joined to create three products, the manufacturers announced yesterday (23 November). Holly Jolly Peanut Butter Cookies, Jingle Bell Balls and Holiday Magic Peanut Clusters will be promoted on Facebook and via 5m on-pack lid stickers for the Peter Pan brand. As part... ...Read more »

A Chapel Street favourite of long-standing, in the five years since it was first launched, Hoo haa has cemented a well-deserved reputation as one of Melbourne’s hippest bars and lounges.More recently Hoo haa’s restaurant has also emerged as a destination for seriously good food in the competent hands of new Head Chef Jess Barnes. Jess spent his formative years working alongside Guy Grossi at Grossi Florentino and honing his experience overseas, before returning to Melbourne recently to... ...Read more »

Current high levels of consumer confidence in Europe’s food industry could be damaged if the use of nanotechnology is not properly regulated or managed, the CIAA Congress in Brussels was told on Friday. In its final conference session, delegates debated the question of trust between food manufacturers and the public. Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, executive director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stressed a recent report by the EU’s Eurobarometer survey that had shown European... ...Read more »

General Mills announced today that it is selling its Croissant King and van den Bergh’s frozen bakery businesses in Australia to Kerry Group, a global food and ingredients company headquartered in Ireland. The sale includes frozen dough and pastry products sold to professional bakers under those brands, as well as two plants located in Mansfield, Queensland, and Camellia, New South Wales.  About 110 employees dedicated to the frozen bakery business will transfer to Kerry with this sale, effective... ...Read more »

A Federal Government-led investigation to shed light on the extent and impact of foreign investment in Australian agriculture and its supply chain has been welcomed by new National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President Jock Laurie as “long overdue”. “We need to recognise that the growth and expansion of Australian enterprises – including agriculture, which accounts for 12% of GDP – greatly depends on foreign investment,” Laurie said. “Equally, I think most people would be alarmed by... ...Read more »

Metcash and Pick n Pay, owner of the Franklins supermarket chain, today announced that they have agreed to extend the cut-off date for the proposed sale of the chain to Metcash. Metcash announced that it will “take further steps to proceed with the proposed transaction”, despite the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s opposition of the sale. The ACCC opposed the sale of the supermarket chain to Metcash on the grounds that it would create a monopoly on wholesale supply... ...Read more »

The review process being used by the Food and Drug Administration to assess the safety of a faster-growing transgenic salmon fails to weigh the full effects of the fish’s widespread production, according to analysis by a Duke University-led team in this week’s Science. The salmon, whose genome contains inserted genes from two other fish species, could become the first genetically modified animal approved for human consumption in the United States. The FDA held two days of hearings in... ...Read more »

Queensland’s Runcorn State School’s tuckshop has been stocked with more environmentally friendly food products after year 7 student Nicholas Buddle discovered noodles on sale contained palm oil from farms which replace habitat of the threatened orangutan. Queensland’s Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones presented Nicholas with the top award at today’s inaugural Green Lane Diary Environmental Hero Awards, held at the Queensland Museum. “Nicholas has shown real leadership... ...Read more »

WBC Bircher muesli has released a new gluten-free museli, designed as a nutritionally-optimised breakfast option for coeliac sufferers and those who prefer a gluten-free taste. The museli uses uncooked rolled rice in place of oats, with added almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds and pepitas (roasted Mexican-style pumpkin seeds), as well as cranberries, coconuts and sultanas for a sweet twist. In addition to being gluten-free, the muesli is high in fibre, protein and omega fatty acids. WBC is available... ...Read more »

The CEO of French dairy manufacturer Yoplait has described Nestle as its “ideal” partner, as part-owner PAI Partners looks to sell its stake in the company, according to reports. Lucien Fa, the CEO of Yoplait, told Swiss publication Le Matin Dimanche that Nestle has the “money, structures and people” and would be an “ally” to reduce the gap between it and rival Danone. He added that the company wants to “conquer” a number of major international markets... ...Read more »