Rising diagnosis rates of coeliac disease, combined with an increased awareness of the perceived benefits of a gluten-free diet, are driving growth in the free-from sector in the UK. Euromonitor forecasts that the gluten-free sector will grow by almost 10% between 2011 and 2015 to become a channel worth GBP95.5m (US$155.2m) a year. According to Norma McGough, head of diet & health at charity Coeliac UK, some 14,000 people are newly diagnosed each year, a number which she says was “assumed... ...Read more »

We can lower our risk of heart disease significantly, just by using flour containing 40 per cent lupin beans in the place of conventional wholemeal flour, according to research by Victoria University dietitian Dr Regina Belski and colleagues from The University of Western Australia. Over the course of a year, working with the Centre for Food and Genomic Medicine in Perth, researchers monitored more than 100 overweight, but otherwise healthy, Western Australian men and women, to whom they provided... ...Read more »

Associated British Foods has announced that its Allied Bakeries business is investing in growing its healthy bread brand Burgen in the United Kingdom. Burgen, developed by ABF’s Australian subsidiary George Weston Foods in 1994, was the first soy linseed bread on the Australian market, and has a substantial market share in Australia. Associated British Foods, which also manufactures the Allinson and Kingsmill bread brands, will invest GBP 200,000 (A$305,496) in a bid to increase awareness of... ...Read more »

Shares in Associated British Foods tumbled in morning trade yesterday after the George Weston and Don/KR Castlemaine parent company cut its full-year profit outlook, despite an improved first-half performance from its sugar and grocery businesses. The company, which had predicted a rise in full-year earnings, said that price competition and higher cotton prices were hitting its Primark discount fashion business, and that profits are “now expected to be similar to last year’s”. The... ...Read more »

Bread giant Goodman Fielder has announced a reduction in its expected profits following a “soft” third quarter, with businesses affected by retailer competition between Coles and Woolworths, fallout from the floods, commodity costs and the high Australian dollar. “At the time of the release of the company’s Interim results, the company anticipated that NPAT for the year would be in line with the prior year’s normalised earnings. The company now expects FY 2011 NPAT to be in... ...Read more »

Foodbank last night awarded its annual Foodbank Patron’s Award to partner Goodman Fielder Baking, in recognition of the company’s ongoing committment to food charity, particularly its ‘Daily Bread’ program. The award, presented in Sydney by Governor-General and Patron of Foodbank Australia, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, is given in recognition of a company that has demonstrated unrivalled commitment over time to Foodbank’s objectives and is an inspiration and role... ...Read more »

With most people unable to get enough vitamin D from sunlight or foods, scientists are suggesting that a new vitamin D-fortified food — bread made with high-vitamin D yeast — could fill that gap. Their study, confirming that the approach works in laboratory tests, appears in American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. In Australia, FSANZ requires that margarine be fortified with vitamin D, but it remains one of the most common vitamin deficiencies in... ...Read more »

Marcel Smits, the chief executive of Sara Lee, defended the US food group’s plans to split the business in two, amid questions over whether the move will benefit shareholders. Smits, who also admitted today that Sara Lee had decided against pursuing “unsolicited indications of interest” from unnamed parties to buy the company, said the decision to divide the group was “in the best interests of the business and shareholders”. The Dutchman was addressing Wall Street analysts... ...Read more »

A study in the Medical Journal of Australia shows that blood folate levels have significantly improved since the introduction of mandatory fortification of bread flour with folic acid in 2009. The news has been welcomed by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King. “Since September 2009, Australian millers have added folic acid (a form of the B vitamin folate) to wheat flour for making bread,” King said. “I congratulate industry for the work they’ve done in implementing... ...Read more »

South Africa’s Pioneer Foods has taken disciplinary action against 41 employees involved in the price-fixing scandals that have recently engulfed the company.An external, independent presiding officer looked into the matter and 38 employees admitted guilt and received written warnings. One was found not guilty and two cases are still being processed. Besides the written warnings, executive management did not receive any incentive bonuses, while the company’s executive directors did not... ...Read more »