All Asia-Pacific

'Coconut oil has a bit of a history in [knowledge gaps]...' ©iStock

Fads in focus: Coconut oil – panacea or artery clogger?

By Simone Baroke

There is barely a food or beverage category that has not been invaded by coconut in some shape or form, says Euromonitor International contributing analyst, Simone Baroke. But is the world justified in going loco for coco?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 60 million people with diabetes in the European Region. ©iStock/

Personalised nutrition: Listening to the gut microbiome

By Will Chu from Amsterdam

Personalised diets may provide diabetics with a more natural way of controlling the post-meal spikes in blood sugar glucose that are linked to obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, a study suggests. 

Industry responds: 'The belief they can obtain all the nutrients necessary from the average UK diet poses a very real risk to the health of both mothers and their unborn children.' ©iStock/Antonio Gravante

Pregnancy multivitamins: A waste of expectant mothers’ money?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

So-called multivitamin and mineral pregnancy supplements are “an unnecessary expense” for most expectant mothers, according to a review of current UK guidance for pregnancy supplementation. Yet industry has called the statements dangerously misleading. 

'The kernels look like rice, cook like rice and taste like rice. They can be added at about 1% to conventional rice...' ©iStock

Feature: The fight against global malnutrition

Can rice become a large-scale micronutrient fortification staple?

By Lynda Searby

For many years, countries across the developing world have fortified staples such as maize flour, wheat flour and oil with micronutrients that are deficient in the diet. In Nigeria, for example, flour, maize, oil and sugar have been fortified with vitamin...

Joint health rich field for innovation, panelists agree

Joint health rich field for innovation, panelists agree

By Hank Schultz

Joint health is seen as an innovative category, whereas bone health is a more stable, mature market, said participants in yesterday’s Brand Panel in William Reed’s online Bone & Joint Health.  Experts from Jarrow Formulas, NBTY and NOW Foods participated...

Insects on the world’s menus: Why not?

Insects on the world’s menus: Why not?

By Massimo Reverberi, founder of Bugsolutely

As most residents of Bangkok, where I live, will confirm, food is a matter of national pride. And most of the eating happens outside the home. 

Nestlé has decided to appoint Ulf Mark Schneider as its new CEO, starting on 1 January 2017

Nestlé appoints new CEO

By Will Chu

Food giant Nestlé has appointed Ulf Mark Schneider as its new CEO, effective from the start of next year.

Here's what Brexit could mean for food and drink manufacturers

Brexit Exclusive

Brexit: what it means for food and drink manufacturers

By Michael Stones

As food and drink manufacturers study the impact of British voters’ historic decision to quit the EU, we explore how the vote may impact on the sector’s prosperity, based on the predictions of two leading campaigners – on either side of the argument –...

Orange juice is 100% juice from oranges. Or is it? The answer, it seems, depends on where in the world you are. The US, for example, has 12 subcategories of orange juice. Photo: iStock.

Guest Article

Navigating complex global rules for soft drinks

By Oliver Leedam, principal regulatory analyst, Leatherhead Food Research

For soft drink and fruit juice manufacturers looking to expand into new geographies, understanding global regulations is vital. However, this is no mean feat.

 Supplement start-up looks to offer a 'modern yet natural solution for a world in which healthy fasting has become more difficult'. © iStock.com / alexkich

Not so fast: First fasting supplement takes cautious approach to claims

By Lynda Searby

Start-up Nowrish has launched the first fasting supplement - a mix of vitamins, minerals and herbs formulated to support the body’s cleansing, immune, digestive and energy production systems during periods of fasting like Ramadan, but without making any...

The global energy drink sector is set for robust growth but could regulations and health concerns chill expansion? ©iStock

Sector to grow 40% by 2020

The world’s unquenchable thirst for energy drinks

By Shane STARLING

Global sales of energy drinks hit €38.2 billion last year and will be worth €53.4bn in 2020 according to Euromonitor International, even as regulatory winds blow ill beneath the sector's wings. 

Reforms to Pakistan's import duty could triple halal meat production in the future

Pakistan cuts duty for meat industry equipment

By Kaswar Klasra, in Islamabad

The Pakistan government has reduced custom duty on machinery imports used in the livestock and meat industry from 5% to 2% to encourage investment in the meat industry.

Edible insects: Let’s look at what’s on the menu

Soapbox

Edible insects: Let’s look at what’s on the menu

By Massimo Reverberi, founder of Bugsolutely

In these early days of edible insects going global, it is still unclear which products will stand out and make their way to the mainstream. The ideas popping out of the minds of new entopreneurs are interesting, but it’s hard to say which will still stand...

The zebu cow is the breed that will supply the majority of Fauji Group's beef

Pakistan launches its biggest halal plant

By Shahid Husain, in Karachi

Pakistan’s largest conglomerate, the Fauji Group, has launched the country’s biggest halal abattoir, meat processing and exporting unit near Port Qasim, Karachi.

Common Sense?

Sensible? First supplement for smokers hits UK market

By Lynda Searby

As the first supplement targeting smokers goes on sale in the UK, its maker is confident that sound scientific formulation will ensure the potentially controversial multivitamin complex stands up to scrutiny.

'Many Europeans still don’t know that they eat on average 61 kilos of soy per year, mostly embedded in their meat and dairy products,' said WWF senior advisor Sandra Mulder. © iStock

Call for EU action plan as firms shirk responsibility on soy

By David Burrows

The EU needs a deforestation action plan after a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) analysis of the bloc’s largest food companies showed many are using consumer ignorance to dodge their “massive responsibility” when sourcing soy.

The B vitamin family consists of thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin B6, biotin (B7), folate (B9) and vitamin B12).(© iStock.com)

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2016

Review: B vitamins, the brain (& deficiencies)

By Will Chu

B vitamins play a significant role in cognitive performance and neurological functioning but deficiencies are common in too many populations, a Vitafoods Europe congress has been told.

Review supports safety of green tea extracts

Review supports safety of green tea extracts

By Hank Schultz

A recent systematic review of clinical trials using green tea extract underscores the ingredient’s overall safety, despite some recent associations with liver damage.

'High sensation seekers may be more likely to actually enjoy the pungency of spicy foods more than low sensation seekers,' write the researchers. © iStock

The thrill of the taste: Why do we like spicy food?

By Niamh Michail

Humans are the only species that likes and actively seeks out spicy chili flavours. What explains our love for what is, in reality, a sensation that signals burning pain and, possibly, danger?

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