Concentrate-d cuppa: Nestle banks on convenience trend in Vietnam to launch new Nescafe products
Nestle Vietnam has set its sights to capitalise on rising demand for convenient beverage options in the country to drive the growth of its Nescafe a ready-to-serve liquid concentrate.
According to the firm, Nescafe stepped up its format and product innovation to keep up with the latest trends and consumer demands.
“Vietnam, in particular, is a country with a very rich coffee culture, and there have also been some novel popular trends emerging over the past few years,” Nestle Vietnam Business Executive Officer Mostafa Youssef told FoodNavigator-Asia.
“Cold coffee tends to be more popular here, and interestingly there has also been a movement towards liquid coffees – which is why we have recently launched a new innovation in the form of a coffee concentrate in a stick.
“The convenience factor is strong with these as all consumers need to do is open up the coffee stick, pour over ice – and that’s all done, they can enjoy a very quick cup of coffee with no need to source hot water to dissolve powder or dilute the coffee unless they want to.”
India’s spice industry under fire: How can the authorities prevent another contamination scandal?
FoodNavigator-Asia has asked experts in India to weigh in with recommendations for India’s spice sector bounce back from two high profile contamination scandals this year.
Carcinogenic ethylene oxide is a pesticide that was found in spice powders from major Indian brands Everest and MDH, putting the country’s spice industry under intense scrutiny.
This has led to bans in Hong Kong and the Maldives, product recalls in Singapore, and stricter checks on India’s spices in Australia and the US.
Despite the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) emphasising its stringent regulations, overseas bans and domestic concerns raised questions about the effectiveness of these measures.
Following the Hong Kong ban on 5 April, FSSAI issued a statement on 8 April that raised the maximum residue limits (MRL) of pesticides by 10 times from 0.01mg/kg to 0.1mg/kg.
Although FSSAI clarified that these only applies to pesticides not registered with the Indian authorities, and that the international Codex standards were adhered to, it sparked criticism and confusion.
“It does seem counterintuitive for the FSSAI to increase the MRL for pesticides not registered with authorities, especially considering the potential health implications,” Equinox Labs CEO Ashwin Bhadri said.
“The implications of such a decision could be significant, as it may lead to increased pesticide residues in food products, potentially impacting consumer health in the long term.
“It may also raise doubts about the effectiveness of regulatory measures in ensuring food safety and quality.”
Chemical concerns: Indonesia revising food packaging regulations in response to public apprehension
The Indonesian government has revised food packaging regulations in response to consumer and academic concerns over the presence of dangerous chemicals entering the food supply chain.
As of 2023, Indonesia had no specific regulations in place regarding certain harmful chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), more commonly known as the ‘Forever Chemicals’ due to their slow degradation rate.
A great deal of scientific evidence already linked PFAS exposure to an array of health issues from cancer, cardiovascular disease, infertility, elevated blood pressure and more.
“Indonesia currently has no regulations on PFAS in food packaging [but] the troubling findings from our study indicate that we need stronger regulations to protect our children and families from exposures to toxic PFAS chemicals especially in daily products,” Nexus3 Senior Advisor Yuyun Ismawati said whilst announcing the study findings.
“PFAS can also be released when people wear clothing, during washing, and when used synthetic textile wastes are disposed – [this] can contaminate waterways, leading to PFAS exposures from contaminated drinking water or food.”
Change drivers 2024: Five top trends set to shape the APAC food industry this year
FoodNavigator-Asia took a closer look at five of the top trends affecting the Asia Pacific food and beverage industry in 2024.
These included the ‘premium affordability’ trend surfaced by many food firms, as well as the evolution of plant-based protein to moving away from mimicry in innovation.
Other significant trends included the rise of ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages driven by convenience and relatability, the continuous rise of low-to-no alcohol, and major factors behind the growth of the snacking industry.
Deforestation unrest: EU policy implementation hangs in the balance after industry pushback
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has faced major pushback from ministers and trade organisations within Europe, as well as alongside continued pressure from palm oil producer nations in Asia this year.
On March 28 2024, an industry-wide cross-commodity letter was addressed to EC President of the Council for Environment and Minister for the Climate, the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Green Deal of Belgium Zakia Khattabi, calling for ‘urgent clarifications and workable solutions’ on EUDR implementation.
This was signed by a coalition of more than 20 European industry organisations spanning many areas of trade, including representatives on food trade in cereals, oils, rice, livestock, meat and more – all highlighting concerns over the supposed enforcement in December 2024.
“Considering the significant adjustments that are needed from suppliers, operators and traders, we would like to express serious concerns regarding the pace of preparation of EUDR-related legislative acts, the mandatory systems and the guidance and clarifications required for implementation,” the coalition said in the letter, which FoodNavigator-Asia has viewed.
“Operators and traders are working hard to prepare their supply chains and adapt their systems and due diligence processes for compliance with the EUDR [and] try to develop workable solutions compatible with the EUDR provisions.
“However, these efforts are impeded by large gaps in information, lack of appropriate technical solutions and by misconceptions as to the functioning of our complex chains.”
No label, no problem: South Korea looks to mandate label-free packaging for drinking water over next two years
The South Korean government has planned to mandate label-free packaging for drinking water bottles, replacing this with a digital QR code system over the next two years.
South Korea committed to a range of sustainability goals, including the slashing of plastic waste production by 50% and the doubling of recycling rates in the country from 34% to 70%, both by 2030.
This year’s developments saw the ministry calling for public comment on an initiative to mandate the use of label-free packaging for drinking water bottles, to be implemented after a two-year transition period.
“In order to reduce the amount of label waste in the country from drinking water bottles and improve the efficiency of recycling systems locally, we will introduce a new label-free QR code system for all such bottles,” MoE said via a formal statement.
“From January 1 2026, all individual types of drinking water bottles such as mineral waters that are manufactured in Korea will be subject to this change.
“As the label-free QR code display method is mandated for target audiences, we aim to start with a smooth trial operation and early conversion [in order to] reflect any industry difficulties regarding displaying any necessary sales information via the QR code, as well as to determine the scope for product promotion and advertising.”
Turning threat into opportunity: How Cargill is navigating the global cocoa crisis
Global food corporation Cargill has leveraged its cocoa-sourcing networks in Asia and other business units to support customers in overcoming the cocoa supply shortage, and ensure consumers continue to have access to chocolate products.
According to the International Cocoa Organization, global cocoa supply is projected to decline by nearly 11% to 4.449m tonnes in the 2023-2024 season, compared with 2022-23.
This is primarily caused by “catastrophic harvests” in Ghana and Ivory Coast, which are responsible for over 60% of the world’s cocoa supply.
In the face of this crisis, Cargill has drawn on its extensive cocoa sourcing networks and innovation expertise to help customers address current challenges, and ensure consumers still get to enjoy chocolate products.
“Cocoa supply is indeed a pressing issue for the industry. Cargill is a bean-to-bar solutions provider, which means that we have the capabilities to innovate along every step of the value chain, from sourcing of raw materials to product customisation and solutions provision. For example, we are able to provide Asian-sourced cocoa products as we source globally.
“Right now, we are actively reaching out to our customers to see if they need support in managing this situation, such as sourcing, alternative recipes and product trials. We are able to tailor-make cocoa powder for a certain flavour and colour, and combine different ingredients to create new solutions or replacements,” Xiaoling Liu, Indulgence Leader, Food Solutions Asia Pacific at Cargill, told FoodNavigator-Asia.
Bureaucratic bungle: EU deforestation regs face postponement pressures amid ‘urgent’ commodity trade concerns
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has faced pressure from within its own Parliament to postpone implementation as an ‘urgent’ matter this year, with concerns over key trade commodities such as palm oil and cocoa.
The EUDR received much criticism particularly from palm oil industry experts and countries producing key commodities likely to be affected such as palm oil, cocoa and coffee, and came under fire from within the EU parliament as well.
This dissent was led by European Peoples’ Party (EPP) environmental spokesperson Peter Liese, who pushed for an ‘urgent’ postponement and ‘far less bureaucratic’ implementation of the EUDR.
“The goal of the EUDR is correct, but its implementation is far too bureaucratic [and] the European Commission absolutely must postpone the entry into force of the deforestation regulation, then use the transitional period to reduce bureaucracy in the text,” he said via a formal statement.
“We must do something about deforestation worldwide and take our responsibility seriously, [however] the regulation has been turned into a bureaucratic monster - Many small farmers around the world and even small forest owners in the European Union cannot work with the text.
“The preparatory work that the Commission should have carried out has not been done [and many] countries are complaining massively about the legislation, including countries that are pursuing the same goal as we are, namely to stop deforestation.
As of time of writing, the EUDR implementation has been postponed to the end of 2025.
Antibiotic misuse in Asian food animal production poses grave public health threat: Indian study
Researchers in India have highlighted that the misuse of antibiotics in food animal production in Asia could pose a serious danger to public health in the region.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a significant global threat, causing substantial economic losses and an estimated annual loss of 700,000 lives.
Researchers at the Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Punjab noted the alarming rise of antibiotic resistance and its potential transmission to humans through the food chain.
They also shed light on the pervasive use of critically important antibiotics in food animal production across Asia as well as how limited surveillance and regulatory controls had amplified concerns over antibiotic resistance.
The study encompassed 11 WHO member countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
Results from the review of 108 selected publications revealed a staggering 1,126 scientific publications on antibiotic use in food animals, wherein the study identified a concerning trend of antibiotic misuse in livestock, poultry and aquaculture.
Dairy dash: China’s final tariff removals open new opportunities for New Zealand brands
China’s removal of tariffs on all dairy products from New Zealand has been posited to spell huge potential for brands with a strong focus on quality and sustainability.
China and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in 2008, but with regard to dairy it took 16 years to finally see all tariffs removed.
According to New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade data, New Zealand was the first developed country in the world to enter into an FTA with China.
Various New Zealand dairy products have seen export tariff decreases over the years, but although many of these hit zero in 2019, duties were still in place for liquid milk, butter and cheese until 2021; and for milk powder until Dec 31 2023.
As of Jan 1 this year, all tariffs were officially declared to have been removed by the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand via a formal statement, which was warmly welcomed by New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay.
“All safeguard duties on milk powder [entering China] have been removed as of January 1 2024, which marks the final liberalisation of dairy access under the [China-New Zealand] FTA,” McClay announced via a separate statement.
