Nestle has highlighted the tropical climate in many Asian countries as a major challenge in developing sustainable food packaging options for the region at the same pace as in other countries worldwide.
The Philippines durian industry believes that its local variety shows strong potential for export as a food ingredient in addition to the more common frozen format due to its sweetness and colour, an important step forward in the quest to durians into...
Thailand has emerged at the top scorer amongst all developing countries worldwide in terms of adolescent fast food consumption in a new dietary study, with the researchers attributing this to television and food industry influence in popularising ‘Western-style’...
Chicken, pork and salmon samples contaminated with COVID-19 showed no decline in the virus level after 21 days in both refrigerated and frozen storage conditions.
Thai plant-based meat firm Let’s Plant Meat jumped from conceptualisation to commercialisation in just 12 months for its plant-based burger patty – and is now determined to make the product 'affordable for the masses' in Asia.
Experts at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have continued to vouch for the merits of Golden Rice despite a recent weeklong-protest held against the genetically-modified crop across Asia.
Indonesia has called on the United Kingdom to implement equivalent regulations for rapeseed oil as stipulated in the the Due Diligence policy it is looking to apply to palm oil, in order to achieve proper ‘mutual recognition’ of each other’s regulatory...
The outbreak of COVID-19 has led a number of ASEAN countries in “fully recognising the importance of health supplements” in optimising or maintaining the public health, according to a regional trade association.
Malaysian insect-protein firm Ento has opted to shift its food production focus from whole-insect snacks to a ‘proteinisation’ focus in the hope of increasing consumer acceptability and encouraging mass consumption.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was China’s biggest export destination for dietary supplement ingredients and products in the first half of this year, while the Middle East is likely to offer further growth potential, says a report...
Chinese e-commerce firm Pinduoduo (PDD) and Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) are developing a cost-effective way of testing for contaminants such as pesticides in fresh produce – in an effort to boost consumer, retailer...
Carlsberg is striving to debunk the myth that booze- free beer is a poor alternative to regular brews with the launch of its alcohol-free pilsner and wheat beer in Singapore – and is letting consumers buy a sample can for as little as 10 cents.
Singapore healthier sugar firm Nutrition Innovation is riding on consumer demand for healthier, less-refined products, especially post-COVID-19, to launch in several new markets as well as push a new commercial sugar variety.
The prices of fresh produce in Vietnam is being driven up by poor logistical coordination and high transport costs being transferred down the food supply chain to food firms, retailers and eventually consumers.
F&B conglomerate Kraft-Heinz believes that its sauces are in a key growth position in Malaysia post-COVID-19 due to a rise in the home cooking trend and has streamlined its local distribution operations in an effort to accelerate this trend.
The Indonesian government is urging its local food and beverage industry to embrace digital advancement and shift towards the use of local raw ingredients for manufacturing as part of the national Making Industry 4.0 industrial strategy.
Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Berhad (Carlsberg Malaysia) is pinning its hopes on digital marketing and e-commerce to recover from huge revenue and profit drops suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group’s substantial investment in technological innovations and upgrades to its food production facilities under food arm CP Foods were what ensured its continued smooth operations through the COVID-19 pandemic, CP Group’s US Business...
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.
CP Foods, the food arm of Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, believes that its major acquisitions over the past two years has put it in a good position to conquer major pork markets in both North America and Asia, CP Group’s US Business Chairman...
Researchers in Thailand have called for the government to pursue more aggressive public health policies in addition to imposing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes in the country after an advanced simulation model revealed that this would have little...
The government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) has built of a new food safety and quality control centre with a Chinese partner, in the hope of providing a boost for the country’s economy and potentially graduating from its current ‘Less-Developed...
The European Union’s (EU) new Farm-to-Fork (F2F) Strategy may have been coined in the name of sustainability for its local food chain, but if implemented could have massive cost implications for palm oil exports and major export countries such as Malaysia.
General Mills is collaborating with Musim Mas Group to launch a programme designed to integrate independent smallholders from villages neighbouring the Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh Singkil into the sustainable palm oil supply chain to reduce deforestation...
China has emerged as a saviour for the durian industries in Thailand and Malaysia throughout the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, with solid demand and import growth continuing even throughout lockdowns despite earlier pessimistic predictions.
The Philippines’ banana industry is lobbying for the government to take action to protect its global export markets against competition from ‘pirated’ bananas and tariff disadvantages before more ground is lost.
Global beer giant AB InBev is rebranding flagship pink beer Hoegaarden rosée in Thailand for the first time on August 1, with the aim of accentuating its key ingredient, raspberry, and enhancing appeal with its main target female demographic.
India has moved to implement strict 0% ABV regulations for alcohol-free beer in the country as part of the country’s alcoholic beverages revision, while Thailand is mulling tax raises for the category - spelling tough times ahead for zero-alcohol beers...
The Singapore firm behind a brand of low fat and low sugar ice cream is now turning its attention to reducing sugar levels in Asian condiment and sauces.
The Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association (SFMA) has launched a new Sugar Smart Challenge 2020, a year-long project which aims to develop and commercialised reduced sugar or sugar substitute ingredients as well as finished products.
New Zealand nut butter specialist firm Fix & Fogg has opted to establish a local production facility in the United States so as to overcome quota challenges and facilitate further expansion in the country.
Health foods brand Sanitarium is looking to South East Asia as a key target market for its new range of So Good Barista plant-based milks, designed to meet consumers’ home-based beverage needs amidst the uncertainty of COVID-19.
The Philippines’ controversial new tax reform bill aims to help smaller local food and beverage pay lower taxes and stop larger firms from exploring existing system loopholes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak…but experts are warning implementation...
Vietnam and India are competing for ASEAN rice trade post-COVID-19, with the former having gained advantage due to support from traditional partner Philippines, and the latter having come out ahead with Malaysia in terms of price.
Singapore-based personalised nutrition firm Imagene Labs has forayed into the immune health space with a number of new launches, including a ginseng vitamin blend plus a DNA test which looks at one's genetic tendencies for nutritional deficiencies....
The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved the establishment of a food processing facility which will convert excess fruits and vegetables into high-value products and reduce food waste in the country.
France’s first cultured meat firm Gourmey is looking to bring the country’s traditional duck liver delicacy foie gras to Asia, believing that its animal cruelty-free production technology and competitive prices compared to traditional foie gras will enable...
Singapore harbours major ambitions in becoming more food self-sufficient with novel food technology as one of its key strategies, but a recent study has found that public attitudes towards such tech could seriously hinder the government’s plans.
WhatIF Foods, the consumer brand of Singapore-based food science company NamZ, has opened its e-commerce store to consumers in Malaysia and Singapore, as the company seeks to provide convenience foods that are healthier, sustainable and supportive of...
Singapore-based TurtleTree Labs is in talks with leading dairy and infant formula brands to license its technology for the production of cell-cultured human breastmilk, and has articulated a longer-term mission to produce cow's milk as well.
A new light technology touted as a chemical-free ‘disruptor’ to the food preservation and disinfection has been created by a spin-off from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Tate & Lyle has completed its first clinical study on the consumption of its soluble corn fibre (SCF) on the glucose response in an Asian population, with the research suggesting it can offer significant benefits.
The recently-ratified EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has seen major gains in food trade for both sides, particularly in rice and seafood for Vietnam as well as alcohol and meat for the EU.
Researchers have revealed that the timing of carbohydrate-rich meals can significantly worsen glucose homeostasis – on top of the independent glycaemic index of the food – potentially revealing ways to minimise the risk of type-2 diabetes.
Many big food and beverage companies in Malaysia have made commitments to improve product and population nutrition, but researchers have found these to be ‘weak’, ‘non-specific’ and lacking in comprehensiveness.
Food and agriculture products are expected to help Thailand maintain its export trade worldwide post-COVID-19, despite the significant logistical challenges seen in all major export modes of transportation so far.
New Zealand kiwifruit firm Zespri has its eye on new markets and consumers with its Zespri Red Kiwifruit variety as well as a range of sustainable innovations.
A lack of harmonised regulations continues to pose challenges for businesses looking to market their nutraceutical products across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, as well as consumers access to such products, according to...