One of Australia’s leading public health research bodies, The George Institute, has launched a new smartphone app which gives a Traffic Light rating based on the amount of total fat, saturated fat, sugars and sodium per 100 grams – green for ‘low’, amber for ‘medium’ and red for ‘high’. The new app, called ‘FoodSwitch’, is able to rate 20,000 packaged food products found in Australian supermarkets. The initiative is part of a new partnership with Bupa, one of Australia’s... ...Read more »

EU researchers believe that whey protein’s future potential as a packaging material could reduce or replace the use of petrochemicals in food packaging. Researchers working on the EU’s “Wheylayer” project have developed a whey protein layer to replace a petrochemical-based polymer layer in packaging. The natural ingredients in the whey extend the shelf life of food products, and the whey protein layer is biodegradable. Currently, transparent multilayer films, in which each... ...Read more »

Australian restaurant chain Eagle Boys has launched what it claims to be Australia’s first profiterole pizza, the ‘Profiterizza’. Eagle Boys CEO Todd Clayton said, “At Eagle Boys we’ve focused on developing a real taste menu made from flavoursome ingredient combinations. We know our customers are always looking for something different to satisfy their tastebuds. The Profiterizza contains Bavarian custard, strawberries, chocolate fudge and patisserie crème filled profiteroles. Eagle Boys... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest dairy processor, Parmalat, in conjunction with packaging giant Tetra, has launched a new white milk carton. Parmalat, which fields fresh white milk brands Pauls Full Cream, Rev and Skinny Milk in Victoria, claims the new packaging is the “first significant innovation in fresh white milk packaging for 10 years”. Parmalat’s Rowville processing plant, in Victoria, has been undergone a A$2.2 million refit to allow a shift from existing gable top cartons to the... ...Read more »

SPC Ardmona has announced the release of three new fruit snacks aimed at kids of all ages into supermarkets across Australia. The Coca-Cola Amatil subsidiary said the three snacks, SPC Fruit Squeezies, SPC Fruit Crush-Ups and SPC Power Pulp, are designed specifically to make fruit fun for kids of all ages, from preschoolers to teens. “According to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, kids aged four to 18 should eat between one and five serves of fruit each day. However the latest National... ...Read more »

Australian snacks manufacturer Snack Brands have announced a new offering in their CC’s corn chip brand, featuring two flavours in one bag. The new 2 Flavour Smash chips will include the brand’s popular Tasty Cheese and Sour Cream & Chilli corn chips mixed in one packet. CC’s brand manager Tom Mayson said that the launch has strengthened CC’s reputation as the innovator in the Australian corn chip segment. “Two flavours of corn chip in one bag is a first for the... ...Read more »

Nestlé has launched a new addition to its Kit Kat range, the Kit Kat Chunky3, which features the brand’s signature wafer, topped with three breakable chunks containing three separate textures – fudge, crisp and sauce. The new chocolate bar will be available in three flavours – chocolate, caramel and cookies & cream. The new line was developed over two years from an idea sourced from the factory floor at the Nestlé factory in Campbellfield in Melbourne, which produces the majority... ...Read more »

French dairy giant Danone, through its joint venture with dairy co-op Murray Goulburn, has announced the Australian launch of its popular yoghurt Activia. A leading global brand, Activia is sold in 68 countries, with more than 32 million 125g units of Activia consumed every day around the world. The yoghurt will be marketed largely to women, with a new advertising campaign citing commissioned research by Galaxy that “two out of three Australian women feel fat, lethargic and lack confidence... ...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 »

Patties Foods has announced a new addition to its Four’N Twenty Hungry Man range, the Cheese & Bacon Sausage Roll. The product features Four’N Twenty’s traditional recipe with a blend of bacon, herbs and spices, encased in pastry, and layered with cheddar cheese. The 280g ‘massive-sized’ sausage roll is more than double the size of the Four’N Twenty King Size, and will be marketed to men with a view to capturing the bigger-is-better appeal. “The Hungry Man concept... ...Read more »