Australian Food Regulators have commenced a formal request today to wholesalers and importers to voluntarily withdraw White Rabbit Brand Candies from shops pending further results of testing for melamine.Testing in New Zealand released late today has confirmed that this product contains sufficiently high levels of melamine which may, in some individuals, cause health problems such as kidney stones if consumed in high quantities over a long period. The product is sold in retail packs through Asian... ...Read more »
The number of infants sickened by tainted milk products has swelled to 53,000 according to the latest reports from the Chinese Government, with China’s Chief Quality Supervisor, Li Changjiang, stepping down in the wake of the scandal. Li is the highest ranking official brought down so far by the dairy product contamination scandal, according to the official news agency of the Chinese Government (Xinhua). Wu Xianguo, the Communist Party chief of Shijiazhuang City - where Sanlu Group, the first... ...Read more »
Australian company Unistraw is continuing to expand their offering of straws to focus on the booming functional sector of the beverage market. Unistraw International Ltd. first came to prominence with the release of the ‘Sipahh’ - a straw which adds flavour to milk. Inventor Peter Baron came up with the idea just over a decade ago, as he sought to find a way to flavour milk at a low cost and with less sugar. Commercialisation on a global scale begun in 2004 after years of development... ...Read more »
New research released by The Dairy Council highlights an increased interest in both food labels and dairy products amongst consumers. Just under 98% of British respondents reported that they consume dairy products - a slight increase from 96% in 2007. Of the respondents who consume dairy products, 93% eat or drink them every day; representing an increase from 88% in 2007. Consumers’ use of food labels as a source of information about healthy foods has increased by 14% year on year.... ...Read more »
Global consumption of milk drinks has risen by 13% from 214 billion litres in 2002 to 242 billion litres in 2007, according to a new report from leading food and drink consultancy Zenith International. “Asia has seen the most consistent growth, mainly due to booming demand in China,” commented Zenith Dairy Market Intelligence Manager Esther Renfrew. “Consumption in Asia/Australasia has increased from 18.3 litres per person in 2002 to 22.9 litres in 2007.” Milk sales have... ...Read more »
Fonterra’s Chief Executive Andrew Ferrier has told media today that he has been “frustrated” with the handling of the contaminated milk issue by Chinese authorities. A baby milk formula produced by Sanlu, a company which NZ dairy giant Fonterra has a 43 per cent share in, has reportedly been responsible for two deaths and over 400 cases of illness amongst infants. The Sanlu Board and Fonterra were made aware of the contamination of the formula on August 2, when a trade recall was... ...Read more »
A probiotic, or “good bacteria”, isolated by Fonterra, has been found to be effective in reducing the occurrence of eczema in young children by almost 50 per cent.A two-year trial of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain HN001, or DR20, conducted by the University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine and Auckland University also showed that by the age of two, infants who had been given DR20, but who contracted eczema, had less severe symptoms than children who had not taken... ...Read more »
Parmalat has attempted to quash rumours of an Australian exit, which have escalated in the wake of their failed attempt to purchase Dairy Farmers. Parmalat had planned to bid for Dairy Farmers but failed to come to a suitable arrangement with their proposed joint venture partner - Murray Goulburn - and consequently pulled out of the race for the Australian dairy co-operative. Prior to sale of Dairy Farmers, Parmalat Chief Executive Enrico Biondi indicated that a sale of their Australian dairy... ...Read more »
Following the announcement of the National Foods proposal to acquire Dairy Farmers last week, the Australian dairy co-operative has posted strong double digit earnings growth at the higher end of earnings guidance despite incurring an additional $170 million in costs during the period. Dairy Farmers Chief Executive Rob Gordon said a 25 per cent surge in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) during fiscal 2008 to $71 million was achieved in a particularly hostile operating... ...Read more »
Mainland is conducting a voluntary recall of their Feta Crumble product due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in a limited number of samples. Their 200G Feta Cheese is to be recalled from Coles and independent supermarkets, with the 500G variety to be withdrawn from cafés and restaurants until the issue has been resolved. Food Product: Feta Cheese Name of Product: Mainland Feta Crumble 200g & 500g packs Package Description & Size: Pouch pack with zip lock - 200g & 500g Use... ...Read more »