A probiotic developed from dairy cultures by New-Zealand based Fonterra Nutrition has been reported to have significant long term benefits for children suffering from eczema; a condition that affects around 1 in 4 children in Australia before the age of two. Fonterra’s Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 was shown in a previous trial to help reduce the occurrence of eczema symptoms in children by almost 50 per cent when they took the probiotic up to two years of age. Now, a follow-up study published... ...Read more »

The Australasian-New Zealand based dairy processor and foodservice group Fonterra (owner of many of Australia’s best known dairy brands such as Western Star butter) is inviting participants to enter a Fonterra-sponsored competition for  apprentice chefs. Fonterra Foodservice today announced that entries are now open for Fonterra Proud to be a Chef 2013, a mentoring program for apprentice chefs across Australia and New Zealand. The winning standout apprentice will receive the major prize of an... ...Read more »

The New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority (NZ ASA) has forced New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra to amend its website after complaints about five “misleading” health claims for its dairy products. The five statements claimed that dairy is a “superior source of calcium” and holds essential nutrients. The statements included, “Dairy has the building blocks for life. Whether we are a toddler or over 50 – we all need it”, “No other source of calcium can be absorbed as well by the... ...Read more »

Food manufacturers have the opportunity to receive government money if the money is able to be used for replacing “energy-inefficient” equipment with “clean technology”. Major Australian food manufacturers, such as Bega Cheese and Fonterra, have already received funding from the Food and Foundries portion of the Clean Investment Program. The scheme is part of the Federal government’s $1 billion Clean Technology Investment Program and is continuing to encourage eligible manufacturers to... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has invited submissions on proposed changes to the Food Standards Code that would allow the use of hydrogen peroxide as a processing aid, as well as ethyl lauroyl arginate as a food additive in sausages. Multi-national dairy co-operative, Fonterra, has applied to use hydrogen peroxide as a processing aid to maintain a stable pH balance in the production of its dairy products manufactured using lactic acid producing microorganisms. Ethyl lauroyl arginate... ...Read more »

Dairy multinational co-operative Fonterra has reported a first-half profit rise of 18 per cent for the six months leading to February 2012. However, the dairy giant’s consumer business profits in New Zealand and Australia have continued to drop. Announcing its results today, Fonterra said its net income rose to NZ$346 million in the six months ended, from NZ$293 million a year earlier. Fonterra cited surging demand from Asia for the strong half year results, adding that the volume of shipments... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest dairy exporter, the Murray Goulburn Co-operative, has become the third major dairy supplier to participate in the New Zealand-based GlobalDairyTrade auction platform, joining Fonterra and Dairy America. Murray Goulburn will begin offering lactose through the auction platform from 3 April 2012. GlobalDairyTrade began in 2008 as a single-seller auction for whole milk powder. It appears to be transforming into a platform for companies to trade commodity dairy products internationally.... ...Read more »

One million litres of milk will be going to people in need under an historic new partnership between Foodbank Australia and the Australian dairy industry, which is being supported by the Australian Government. The Australian Government has pledged A$4 million over the next four years to Foodbank Australia in this year’s budget to ensure the organisation builds new partnerships with food growers, producers and manufacturers. The Collaborative Supply Program for Milk is the first time an entire industry... ...Read more »

A market report on Australia’s packaged food sector from market research consultancy Euromonitor predicts that ongoing economic uncertainty and weak consumer confidence could provide Australia’s packaged food retailers with enhanced opportunities to grow retail volume sales. Euromonitor’s ‘Packaged Food in Australia’ market report, released yesterday, says the packaged food industry displayed resilience against lowered consumer confidence following the global financial crisis of 2008 and... ...Read more »

Fonterra Australia, a subsidiary of New Zealand-based multi-national dairy giant Fonterra, has launched a guide for dairy farmers on how to manage the electricity cost increases of carbon pricing. John Doumani, Managing Director of Fonterra Australia New Zealand, today said that the unique electricity demands of dairy farmers need to be understood when it comes to carbon pricing and compensation. He said that Fonterra is advocating for greater assistance for farmers to help them in transition to... ...Read more »