French yoghurt maker Yoplait, itself the subject of frenzied takeover speculation, has bought Canadian organic yogurt brand Liberté. Yoplait has acquired the business for an undisclosed sum from Liberté’s shareholders, private-equity firms Swander Pace Capital and Roynat Capital and the Canadian firm’s management team. Yoplait said Liberté would give it “the opportunity to acquire a strong market position in a new and rapidly growing market segment”. In 2009, Liberté generated... ...Read more »

McDonalds has defended their iconic Happy Meals against a lawsuit alleging that the fast food company’s use of toys is unfair and deceptive marketing, and lures children into unhealthy choices. America’s Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) announced in June that they would sue McDonalds if McDonalds continued to include toys in the meal, and yesterday announced their support for California mother-of-two Monet Parham in filing her class-action lawsuit against the company. “I... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has reviewed a request by Cargill to increase the maximum permitted levels of steviol glycosides, the sweetening agent in stevia, in order to provide a better taste profile. If accepted, the maximum stevia sweetener content would be raised for ice cream, water based beverages, brewed soft drinks, formulated beverages and flavoured soy beverages. An acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0-4 mg/kg bodyweight, expressed as steviol equivalents, was established by FSANZ... ...Read more »

Australian dairy giant Bulla has kicked off a new Bulla Cream Masters competition, with the assistance of their new brand ambassador and Masterchef personality George Calombaris. The competition asks consumers to upload their best original cream-based recipe to the competition’s website. The competition, judged by Calombaris, offers ten winners a place in an all-expenses-paid Bulla Cream Masterclass in Melbourne. “Good food is all about great ingredients because great ingredients provide... ...Read more »

Vegetable industry peak body AUSVEG has expressed its concern about the level of vegetable imports from China, following reports by the Agence France-Presse from China of the discovery of mushrooms with unsafe whitening agents that can cause health problems including liver damage and skin allergies, uncovered by an 11-year-old school boy from Beijing and since verified by the China Agricultural University. “This is yet another food safety incident in China that heightens our ongoing concern with... ...Read more »

General Mills has said that its new Australian acquisition Pasta Master is “a great fit” for the US food group’s operations in the country. The company announced on Tuesday that it had struck a deal to buy Pasta Master, which makes Italian meals, pasta and sauces. The sale, which is expected to complete in March, includes the Victorian business and a production facility in Bendigo. General Mills’ Australia and New Zealand division forms part of the firm’s international... ...Read more »

Stevia supplier GLG Life Tech has signed a deal to sell and distribute zero-calorie food and beverage products in China that are sweetened with the natural sweetener. GLG will join forces with China Agriculture and Healthy Foods Co. (CAHFC) to set up a joint venture, Dr Zhang’s All Natural and Zero Calorie Beverage and Foods Co (ANOC). CAHFC, which will take an 20% stake in ANOC, has spent two years developing the venture’s production capabilities and GLG said the Chinese firm has developed... ...Read more »

Coles Supermarkets has announced a recall of its Coles Bakery Fresh Mars Cookies 6 pack, which may have been contaminated with undeclared peanuts and tree nuts. The recall applies only to the 6-pack, with Baked On and Best Before dates from 25 October to 22 December. Coles apologised for any inconvenience, and said that any products can be returned to Coles for a full refund  Read More →

IGA supermarkets in Victoria have raised $4,999,590 in funds this year through its IGA Community Chest and associated programs.  These much needed funds will benefit three charities, not-for-profit organisations and community groups throughout the state. The three major beneficiaries are Country Fire Authority, Run For The Kids and the Reach Foundation. This year also saw the IGA Community Chest and associated programs reach an impressive $8,108,412.92 million in funds raised through IGA stores... ...Read more »

Nestle has announced it will soon complete the takeover of weight-loss organisation Jenny Craig. The chocolatier and multinational food company said today it would acquire, at an undisclosed price, all shares of the group that controls the Jenny Craig franchise in Australia and New Zealand. This final share purchase will complete the takeover which began in 2006 with the $US600 million buy-out of Jenny Craig in every country bar Australia and New Zealand. Jenny Craig chief executive Patti Larchet... ...Read more »