Israeli cultured meat firm Future Meat Technologies has its eye on Asia as a major market for its products with China and India as key targets, after notching-up two successes in significantly lowering production costs this year.
Fortification programmes in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have ample supply of fortified foods and a steady distribution network to reach its target populations amid the COVID-19 crisis, but the lack of quality assurance and control is concerning.
Pork DNA has been found in two confectionery products in Bangladesh, according to a study analysing 42 imported confectionery samples purchased from the Dhaka region.
Oat milk start-up Bevry has sets its sights on becoming the ‘Oatly of India’ with a new product development pipeline that includes a soon-to-be-launched cold brew coffee series.
China’s demand for palm oil has seen a rise which is expected to continue for some time after major competitor soybean took a hit to supply, demand and prices over the triple threats of COVID-19, the US-China trade war, and African Swine Fever (ASF).
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast we speak to Nalin Sood, CEO of Indian tea specialist firm Teamonk about defying traditional procurement norms and his experience moving from beverage MNC PepsiCo to a start-up.
India energy bar brand Happy Bars will soon be launching a protein bar, followed by a vegan bar later down the road, as it seeks to cater to the rising demand for active nutrition and vegan products in the country.
India-based Habbit Health and Nutrition has launched a range of what it claims to be ‘the healthiest ice creams on the planet’ dubbed Wise Creams, containing zero sugar, low fat content and no more than 50 calories per serving.
The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has launched a Sugar and Health campaign and corresponding website as it seeks to stop ‘blind attacks’ on the commodity and encourage localised research – sparking widespread public criticism.
India-based Rage Coffee, maker of vitamin-infused instant coffee, is targeting a tripling of revenue from US$2m to US$5.5m/6m by the end of 2021 – just three years after launching.
Upcoming hemp regulations set by the Food Safety and Security Authority of India (FSSAI) will be a crucial turning point for the local hemp and cannabis sector, unlocking its potential for use in the ‘next wave’ food and beverage products.
Malaysian palm oil is expected to see a rise in demand from India and China this year as economies gradually open up and local stocks diminish, but the industry must improve logistics and digital reach to effectively capitalise, according to industry...
Bakery products, cereals and fruit juices will remain the only processed food products to have fortification standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in the near future, after the regulator confirmed it is not considering...
India’s Ayurveda nutraceuticals and medicines industry players have welcomed efforts by ministers and the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote the safe and effective use of traditional medicines, but has also urged for clearer regulatory guidelines.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has launched a nationwide investigation into a widespread local honey adulteration scandal and is mulling ‘better’ test methods – but researchers are calling for the agency to take more ‘stronger,...
India’s nutraceutical industry’s hopes of a reduced GST rate on supplements was squashed again when there was no mentioned of special grant for the sector during the recent budget announcement.
Indian zero-alcohol beer pioneer Coolberg has highlighted culture and price challenges as the sector’s toughest hurdles to cross in the country, whilst also laying out plans to create a new category of fizzy drinks in hopes of drawing in the mass market.
Indian baby food and toddler snacks firm Timios has rolled out a unique manufacturing model where it processes and ships its ready-to-cook baby porridge on the day when an order is received.
Indian tea specialist Teamonk’s unusual decision to pivot completely to e-commerce sales and focus its product strategy on herb-infused green teas has boosted its growth and expansion throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with no plans to revert to physical...
Almond milk is rapidly gaining in demand in India’s plant-based sector, according to local traditional and plant-based dairy firm Epigamia, which says its research showed this topped the list among consumer demands for product innovation.
Multinational beer brewer AB InBev says the launch of a new super-mild beer in India will have dual positive impacts for the company: To both boost its low-and-no alcohol portfolio, while simultaneously adapting to local regulations.
Indian biotechnology firm Myoworks is working on developing a scaffolding that cell-based meat producers will be able to directly buy ‘off the shelf’ in order to speed up the product development process to achieve marketability and commercialisation.
A new study has pushed for rice fortified with zinc to be made a priority in South Asian countries such as India, but the Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has classified this as a ‘curative’ measure that is being addressed by other national...
Indian cell-based food technology firm Clear Meat has focused its efforts on developing cell-based chicken mince due to the ‘multi-acceptability’ of the meat and claims to have already hit price parity with the intention of driving price even lower.
Calls to revise the recommended daily allowance of vitamins, minerals, and proteins in India are growing after the country’s regulator asked for suggestions from the industry stakeholders.
Opinions are divided in India over the use of GMO foods to augment the local food system, with some experts renewing calls to approve its usage to help reduce food costs and environmental pollution, but others urging caution as the ‘scientific concerns’...
The Indian food industry is requesting the government to reduce Goods and Service Tax (GST) rates for commonly consumed local food items to reduce costs and cut food wastage – but branded food products are not part of this request, it has clarified.
The Indian government’s approval of 27 new projects to improve local cold chain infrastructure has met with fervent approval from the local food and retail industry, which believes this will help to both boost the export potential of the local agri-food...
Indian premium soft oils firm Freedom Healthy Cooking Oils believes that consumer demand for healthier food options as well as the current COVID-19 lockdowns are responsible for the growing demand for soft cooking oils such as sunflower and soybean in...
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved a list of nutrient function claims for edible vegetable oils – a move which a leading expert believes will create more growth opportunities for the nutra industry.
India has been keen to position itself as a champion for global food supply and security ever since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out – but new data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) may indicate it needs to save the poor...
The plant-based industry in India is calling on the Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) to reconsider its recent announcement proposing to ban the use of dairy terms such as ‘milk’ and ‘cheese’ for plant-based products, based on data from...
Experts in plant-based food and beverages have pointed out the importance of taste, localisation, and NPD as key components for success in the India market, in an exclusive webinar that you can access for free.
Food and beverage firms in India are being encouraged to look to Canada as a potential new major export destination given its Indian population as well as advanced bilateral trade partnership discussions.
India has introduced a ban on the sales, advertisement and promotion of all foods high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium (HFSS) in school grounds as well as within 50 metres from the premises.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has revealed plans to make fortification mandatory for edible oil and milk over the next few months, in addition to intensifying its focus on local staples such as rice, wheat and salt.
Pakistani scientists have reiterated calls for better regulatory measures to control trans fatty acid (TFA) levels in local food and beverage products following findings that TFA was found to be very prevalent in the food supply, but rarely labelled correctly.
A new study on antibiotic misuse in the Indian dairy sector has cast new doubt on the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) continued assertions that the country’s dairy is ‘safe for consumption’.
Regulatory inefficiencies in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have again entered the spotlight after recent government correspondence revealed ‘rampant’ occurrences of margarine masquerading as butter within the F&B industry.
Indian trade association Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal (FAIVM) has called upon the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to completely waive license renewals for food businesses due to COVID-19, instead of just extending the renewal...
US-based Frontier Nutrition, a company manufacturing and marketing fortified snacks in Bangladesh, has secured a US$900,000 bridge financing led by DSM Venturing to expand its product line and distribution footprint in Bangladesh.
India’s food counterfeit incidents have risen at an ‘alarming rate’ between 2018 and 2019, numbers which will have significantly negative impacts on the country’s ‘Make in India’ campaign if more stringent measures are not taken to control these.
Palm oil trade between Malaysia and India has moved back on track with the latter running low on local stock and the former relaxing export tariffs as both countries move to repair a trade relationship wrecked by previous political clashing.
India has emerged as the top supporter of stronger alcohol policy implementation in a new study, where researchers also criticised labelling changes in Australia and New Zealand and called for stronger, more effective measures to be put in place.
Alternative protein firm TerViva is establishing the world’s first organic and Fair for Life pongamia bean supply chain in India as it strives to tap into consumer demands for plant-based and sustainable products.
Dark chocolate has emerged as a rising favourite for Indian consumers and one of the key drivers for new product development, along with other rising local trends such as sugar reduction, smaller packaging sizes and unique flavours.