New Zealand can no longer rely on being the lowest cost producer, with its food industry needing to raise its game to adapt to the changing economic climate of the global industry, according to Professor of Food Marketing Dr David Hughes from the Imperial College London. His advice, while primarily directed toward the New Zealand food industry, is also relevant to Australian producers and manufacturers. Quality products, not fancy packaging Consumers, despite more difficult economic conditions, are... ...Read more »

New legal controls, including cross-border laws, are needed to halt all marketing of junk food and soft drinks to children up to 16 years, according to new proposals from the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO). The only promotions permitted to target children should be for foods which meet strict criteria for a healthy diet, says IASO’s policy arm, the International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF). An IOTF working group is calling for legal steps as part of an international... ...Read more »

The US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service has discovered that the use of nutritional labels by American consumers has fallen since the mid nineties. The only increase in interest by consumers came with regard to fibre. Packaged and processed foods sold in the United States began carrying standardized nutrition labels in 1994. A standardized ‘Nutrition Facts’ panel, standardized serving sizes and limits on the content and format of health and nutrition claims on the... ...Read more »

The UK’s leading retailer, Tesco, has unveiled a “£5 a day” meal plan, which will highlight to consumers the potential to feed a family of four for such a low cost as consumers begin to struggle with the high cost of living expenses. A Tesco chef has created a special seven day meal plan including meat, pasta, ice cream and enough fruit and vegetables to merit each family member getting three healthy meals including their five vegetable portions a day. The chef’s menu comes... ...Read more »

The Council of Better Business Bureaus has released its first report on the progress that participants in BBB’s groundbreaking self-regulation program - the ‘Children’s Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative’ - have made in changing the children’s food and beverage advertising landscape. BBB has assessed the participants’ compliance with their pledges regarding child-directed advertising of their food and beverage products and concluded that the participants... ...Read more »

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), which represents the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies, has announced that it has awarded The Clorox Company and Kettle Foods, Inc. the 2008 CPG Awards for Innovation and Creativity. Now in its sixth year, the prize is given to companies who have demonstrated uncommon creativity, innovation, and have made a significant contribution to the industry knowledge base.”A critical function of GMA is to foster learning,... ...Read more »

The Australian Food and Grocery Council, the national body representing Australia’s food and grocery products manufacturers today welcomed the New South Wales Government’s $36 million initiative aimed at tackling obesity. The NSW Government yesterday unveiled their ‘Obesity Strategy’, with a $36 million commitment designed to decrease obesity levels amongst children from 25 per cent to 22 per cent by 2016. It involves a social marketing campaign, a research centre, advice... ...Read more »

Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of American consumers say they notice nutritional information on food packaging more often now compared to two years ago, according to a new global online survey by The Nielsen Company. Nielsen also discovered that, while two-thirds (67 per cent) of US consumers claim to “mostly” understand the nutritional information on food packaging, less than half (44 per cent) of global consumers suggest they do. “As obesity rates continue to rise globally... ...Read more »

Fred’s Minit Mart, an American convenience store, recently announced their self-branded fountain drink line (Minit Mix), which involves the company changing the way they sell their beverages. Minit Mix machines offer sixteen different soft drinks, flavour syrups on demand and “pellet” style ice. Unlike many fountains, customers can choose between PepsiCo, Dr. Pepper and Coca-Cola products and mix them with the four flavour syrups available: vanilla, cherry, raspberry and lime. Other... ...Read more »

For the first time, retailers, media, advertisers, food & drink manufacturers, fitness and healthcare companies partner with Government in the quest to fight against obesity. The industry consortium, spearheaded by the Advertising Association and working in partnership across Government, will aim to encourage healthy diets and physical activity in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics and make a significant and measurable contribution to fighting obesity in the UK. The firms involved,... ...Read more »