Milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, affecting about 2.5% of children under the age of 3. But a small study at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital Boston offers hope for sufferers and their parents, with immunologists and allergists effectively desensitizing their patients with the help of an allergy drug called omalizumab. The drug allows children to build up resistance quickly, with limited allergic reactions, allowing researchers... ...Read more »

An Australian food company is offering a freeze-dried powdered alternative to fresh fruit and vegetables, which it says will combat price rises in fresh fruit and vegetables and extend shelf life. Super Sprout offers 10 freeze dried powders which have the same benefits as fresh produce, with only water and moisture removed from fruit and vegetables during the production process. The powders include new “super foods” broccoli sprouts and barley grass sprouts, which can be used in recipes including... ...Read more »

German competition authorities have imposed fines totalling EUR38m (US$53.2m) on three food companies – Kraft Foods, Unilever and Dr. Oetker – for illegally sharing “competition-relevant information”. In a statement released last week, the Bundeskartellamt said that the fines were imposed after information was provided to the competition regulator by Mars Inc, who made an application for leniency. Under the Bundeskartellamt’s leniency programme, Mars avoided being fined. The... ...Read more »

The South Australian State Government has announced a $620,000 investment in a Riverland fruit packing house, in a move it said would add up to $30 million to the state’s gross domestic product and create 150 casual jobs. Regional Development Minister Gail Gago today announced that $620,000 from the $20 million Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund will fast track improvements to the AgriExchange facility at Murtho and create 150 new seasonal jobs. Gago said the Government was contributing 50 percent... ...Read more »

The Northen Territory’s iconic mangoes made more than $43 million for the industry last year, despite an unusually wet season, according to NT Primary Industry Minister Kon Vatskalis. Northern Territory mango production for the 2010 season reached around 17 800 tonnes – representing about 2.4 million trays. These figures were presented to the annual Northern Territory Mango Industry workshop at Acacia, where growers and representatives from the Department of Resources analysed the season... ...Read more »

Coles has announced plans to introduce more certified sustainable seafood options for customers, as well as phasing out sales of several overfished and at-risk species, in an effort to decrease the supermarket’s impact on fish stocks. Coles said it has enlisted the WWF to help it review all Coles fresh seafood and advise where action is needed to ensure fish is sourceed on a sustainable basis. In an agreement signed last week with WWF, Coles has agreed not to stock any seafood without taking... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil and Beam Global Spirits and Wine have announced a new 10-year agreement, allowing CCA to continue the manufacture, sales and distribution of the Beam premium spirits portfolio – including Jim Beam, DeKuyper, Laphroaig, Maker’s Mark, Courvoisier, Canadian Club and Teacher’s. Australia represents Beam Global’s second largest market in the world, with Jim Beam Bourbon taking the top spot in spirit sales, and Jim Beam and Cola topping the ready-to-drink sales. In... ...Read more »

Unilever has said it will begin selling its Magnum ice cream range in the US next month. The company said on Friday that the brand, which was launched in the UK in 1987, was the first hand-held ice cream “targeted as a premium adult offering” and  is now one of the “world’s leading ice cream brands, selling one billion units annually worldwide”. Unilever is launching the range in the US with an original film series directed by Karl Largerfeld and starring actress Rachel... ...Read more »

SPAR Australia has announced that since 1st December 2010, it has converted 11 Metcash supplied stores to the group. SPAR also announced that it is currently in negotiations with “a large number of independent retailers who are looking for a better service option and making the switch from their current supplier.” The latest of these conversions are 7 IGA stores in South-East Queensland, belonging to Keith and Margaret Simpson. Simpson said he felt his business will benefit from the better... ...Read more »

AUSPACK PLUS 2011 will officially the largest packaging, plastics and processing trade exhibition in the expo’s history, with more exhibitors than ever before. The exhibition will provide visitors a unique opportunity to experience over 263 separate exhibiting companies, more than 102 brand new exhibitors, more than 45 international exhibitors and over 1044 brands all under one roof. AUSPACK PLUS exhibitors will be showcasing a wide range of products and solutions to cater for all industries... ...Read more »