Hot Right Now: A world without cocoa, Asia's top food safety risks, ANZ alcohol labelling and more trending stories feature in our round-up
A world without cocoa? Lab-grown chocolate and other technologies may provide alternative, but not replacement – expert panel
Current trending solutions to the cocoa price crisis such as lab-grown or cocoa-free chocolate technologies may provide a niche alternative to the lack of cocoa bean supply, but are unlikely to replace the role of authentic cocoa in the food system, according to an expert panel.
The panel convened at at the recent Cocoa Association Asia (CAA) International Cocoa Conference 2024.
It was comprised of Barry Callebaut AMEA Regional Marketing Director Racheal Toh, Junglegold Bali Founder and CEO Tobias Garritt, ofi APAC Cocoa Regional Marketing Head Renee Tay, PROVA APAC Regional Director Julien Le Ky Huong and Innova Market Insights Customer Success Manager APAC Felicia Kristianti.
No safety, no security: Asia food system facing triple threat of microbe, chemical and physical contamination - expert insights
The food system in Asia is facing a triple food safety threat in the firm of microbiological, chemical and physical contamination, all of which are being exacerbated by climate change and putting national food securities at risk.
This was the main message delivered by South East Asia Food and Agricultural Science and Technology. (SEAFAST) Senior Scientist and former Codex Alimentarius Vice President Prof. Dr. Purwiyatno Hariyadi to the floor at the recent Fi Asia Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.
He urged for food safety and relevant measures to be considered as a necessity in order for nations to achieve food security of any form.
"Without food safety, there can be no food security because there can essentially be no food if it is not safe to eat - this makes food safety a prerequisite of food security,", he said.
New alcohol labelling requirements for Australia and New Zealand move a step closer, industry generally supportive
Moves to introduce new alcoholic labelling standards in Australia and New Zealand, including listing carbohydrate, sugar, and energy values on pack, have moved a step closer.
The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is expected to consider the proposals in late 2024 or early 2025. This comes after the completion of public consultations on the alcohol labelling proposals.
The New Zealand Food and Grocery Council (NZFGC) is supportive of including sugar content for alcoholic beverages with more than 1.15% ABV.
Edible cutlery: Singapore start-up seeks to reduce plastic waste in Asia with nutrition-packed products
Singapore start-up Crunch Cutlery is seeking to tackle plastic waste with its edible cutlery made from chia, buckwheat and jowar.
Established in 2021, the firm is aiming to establish a tripartite model that brings together sustainability sponsors, F&B partners, and consumers to reduce plastic waste.
According to the World Economic Forum, six of the 10 highest plastic-polluting countries are in Southeast Asia.
“In Singapore alone, we throw away 500 million units of disposable cutlery items,” said Crunch Cutlery co-founder Anna Lam.
Mandatory health star ratings? ANZ ministers concerned with slow uptake, nutrition info panel update also planned
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is considering making the Health Star Rating (HSR) mandatory after sluggish uptake from brands, while also reviewing updates to the nutrition information panel (NIP) information on packaged foods.
This is part of the food authority’s work to improve front- and back-of-pack nutrition information labelling, which is aimed at helping consumers make informed and healthy choices.
“FSANZ’s Consumer Insights Tracker identified Australian and New Zealand consumers are looking to make healthy food choices, and they rely on food labels to help them do that.
“The work on HSR and the NIP provides a unique opportunity to consider how nutrition labelling on the front and back of packaged food can be enhanced to better provide consumers with the information they need to make healthy choices,” said FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert.
