The Coca-Cola Company has launched new plant-based recyclable plastic bottles for its Dasani bottled water and Odawalla juices, juice drinks, smoothies and protein drinks across the US. The new PlantBottle packaging is made from sugarcane ethanol instead of fossil fuels. Single-serve Odwalla packages are made from “up to 100 percent” plant-based materials with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. PET bottles for Dasani are made with “up to 30 percent” plant-based materials. The... ...Read more »

Australians will be in for a treat this winter, with quantity and quality of the Aussie grown navel expected to be the highest in several seasons. CEO of Citrus Australia, Judith Damiani, said more than 240,000 tonnes of Aussie navels would be produced this year, compared to 177,000 tonnes in 2010, with quality expected to be high. “This year’s Australian orange season is shaping up to be the best we have seen in many years due to favourable growing conditions, so I’d encourage Australian’s... ...Read more »

Food giant Unilever’s scientists have found a new way to reduce salt from people’s diet – by tricking their brain into thinking food is saltier than it really is. The company said the breakthrough findings could pave the way for improved consumer health, by allowing tasty products with a lower salt content. Excess sodium intake has been linked to serious health problems such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The scientists found that they could enhance people’s perception of... ...Read more »

PepsiCo is using reformulation and the development of healthier brands to strengthen its health and wellness agenda, a leading PepsiCo nutritionist in has indicated.Describing PepsiCo as a “business in transition”, PepsiCo Europe nutrition director Sue Gatenby told the UK’s Food and Drink Federation’s biscuit, cake, chocolate and confectionery sector group annual conference that the maker of Quaker oats and Walkers crisps is a “business in transition”. The company... ...Read more »

Iconic Australian poultry brand Steggles has announced that its classic Family Feast whole chicken will now be available in all Coles Supermarkets across the country. Feeding up to eight people, the Family Feast is a tender, lightly marinated and succulent whole chicken, perfect for family dinners, festive occasions like Easter and warming winter roasts. Steggles brand manager Celeste Moroney said: “The Steggles Family Feast is becoming increasingly popular among Australians, and we’re excited... ...Read more »

Chocolate and cocoa supply giant Barry Callebaut has announced plans to strengthen its offering of healthier confectionary alternatives, with plans to reduce saturated and hydrogenated fats, and practically eliminate the use of trans-fatty acids. The company, which supplies many of the world’s largest food companies with their confectionary raw materials and ingredients, said that it was developing healthier confectionary applications in response to growing demand for products with lower saturated... ...Read more »

An Italian court has backed Parmalat’s plan to delay a shareholder meeting that would likely have seen France’s Lactalis assume a greater role in the management of the Italian dairy firm, which owns Australian dairy giant Paul’s. Lactalis, which took a 29% stake in Parmalat last month, was expected to gain majority board representation at the company’s annual shareholder meeting – originally scheduled for the end of April – after it proposed a slate of directors... ...Read more »

Simplot’s tuna brand, John West, has released a new offering in canned tuna – John West No Drain. The new cans contain a significantly smaller amount of liquid than standard canned tuna, meaning the fish can be taken straight out of the tin without draining. The new tuna, available in 130g snack-size varieties, is aimed at the single-serving tuna market – lunches and quick meals. Each can contains skipjack tuna, and is available in springwater, brine or olive oil varieties. All... ...Read more »

The UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has voiced its opposition to the introduction of regulations governing nutrient and guideline daily amount (GDA) labelling on food products at a European level. Speaking at the FDF’s biscuit, cake, chocolate and confectionery (BCCC) sector group annual conference last week (6 April), BCCC chairman Nick Stuart said that the BCCC was working within European trade bodies to present a unified voice on such issues. With 85% of food legislation affecting... ...Read more »

Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast are offering free ice cream today, to celebrate Ben & Jerry’s Global Free Cone Day – Tuesday April 12. The company’s four scoop shops in Australia – located in Manly and Broadway in Sydney, Chadstone in Melbourne and at Movie World on the Gold Coast – are offering up “as many scoops as you can shake a digeridoo at” – one at a time, of course. Parent company Unilever said... ...Read more »