Vietnam-based craft beverage company Winking Seal Beer Co is planning a regional launch for its more ‘environmentally-friendly’ canned water product, beWater.
Singapore’s national regulator for health products, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), has removed a significant number of product listings claiming to prevent or treat COVID-19 from local e-commerce platforms.
Singaporean agri-food firm Life3 Biotech is setting up the country’s first local plant-based protein production facility backed by the Singaporean Food Agency (SFA), with plans to scale up production later this year.
Milk companies in Vietnam are increasingly turning to functional milk product development as the market competition intensifies, with vitamin k2 fortification becoming more common than before, data from Mintel has shown.
Singapore headquartered Aice Group Holdings has opened its second ice cream production facility in Indonesia - the largest such factory in South East Asia, according to the company.
Malaysia’s announcement that borders of the entire country will be closed for two weeks in an attempt to control the local spread of COVID-19 has led to renewed panic in neighbouring Singapore, which imports large amounts of fresh produce from the country,...
A Bali-based coffee company has replaced its traditional foil-lined coffee bags with reusable tins in an effort to make its wholesale business more sustainable.
Thailand’s position as the largest exporter of rice from the South East Asian region is at risk as the country struggles to handle weather, economical and quality changes, whereas Vietnam looks to be going from strength to strength.
Japan’s Ise Foods, known for being the first firm to retail eggs with a food with function claim (FFC) has announced intentions to expand its business in Asia.
Indonesia has relaxed the quality requirements for sugar entering the country to allow Indian supply in, as part of a barter exchange to secure palm oil export access to the latter and to deal with dwindling local supply.
The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2019 listing crowned Singapore as the country with the highest food security score worldwide, but closer examination of the index data reveals several pressing concerns, not only for Singapore, but for other ASEAN...
The Philippines is looking to study virgin coconut oil (VCO) as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which has since infected more than 80,000 people and killed more than 2,800 worldwide.
The Thai Intellectual Property (IP) Department aims to help the country generate some US$1bn in revenue yearly from indigenous products protected by Geographical Indication (GI) certification – most of them foods.
Singapore has joined Philippines, Brunei and New Zealand in officially lifting bans on all food items from Japan, but some strict restrictions remain in place from China, Taiwan, and South Korea due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.
Singapore has announced a colour-coded labelling scheme for pre-packaged sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) based on sugar content by volume – a move that has already drawn dissent from the local food and beverage industry.
Scientists in Singapore have uncovered a new method and medium for protein production from microalgae, which not only gives higher yield but could also cut costs by some 90%.
The food and beverage industry in Indonesia has voiced disapproval over the government’s suggestion to tax sugar-sweetened beverages in the country, citing a lack of efficacy data and evidence.
The Philippines is developing local reference standards to raise the quality control and monitoring of exported food products, and as such reduce the probability of these being rejected overseas and resulting in forced recalls.
Germany’s SENS Foods and it’s Thailand-based farm business, The Cricket Lab, have raised €1.9 million (US$2.1 million) in funding to help further automate and launch new products in the market.
The coronavirus Covid-19 has sparked a sudden spike in demand for vitamin C and multivitamins in Singapore, according to a major retailer in the city state.
Coca-Cola Amatil will renew its focus in the areas of healthier product reformulation and sustainability in its key markets of Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand.
Food and beverage companies in Indonesia have cited government regulations as the major factor for reformulation, in a country where 28% of the adult population is overweight, 22% is obese, and 35% of deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease.
There is currently a “mismatch” between the amount of halal food imported into Malaysia and the quantity it exports that needs to be addressed, according to Jamil Bidin, the recently retired chief executive of the agency charged with promoting the country’s...
China’s appetite for durians has been on the rise over the past few years, and its status as the top export destination for major durian-producing countries worldwide such as Malaysia and Thailand does not look likely to significantly waiver any time...
Asmara, a Singapore brand owned by F&B consultancy company NU3x, will be launching six functional powders in the first quarter of 2020, following success from its range of health beverages.
Researchers in Singapore have found five healthy dietary patterns consumed in midlife are associated to a lower risk of cognitive impairment in late life in Chinese adults.
Malaysian cocoa firm Vive Snack is banking on a strong local focus to further expand its reach in the domestic market, with an emphasis on its use of local ingredients and new product innovations.
Malaysia is the second-largest palm oil producer in the world and the commodity is also the country’s second-largest export in terms of value - but the local palm oil industry as a whole faces an uncertain future due to volatile prices and continuing...
The Philippines has become the latest country worldwide, and the 12th in the Asia Pacific region, to fully lift all import bans and measures on Japanese foods previously restricted due to nuclear radiation concerns.
Many APAC governments have explored sugar taxes to some extent over the past few years, but experts now say that although on the surface these appear to have been effective in driving reformulation, consumer behaviour and not taxation is likely to be...
Singapore is looking into developing a comprehensive regulatory framework to govern novel food production for human consumption in the country, which would cover new items such as cell-based meat and alternative proteins.
DuPont’s food and beverage arm has just launched a snacking campaign focused on research into ASEAN consumer trends and has identified seven food and beverage concepts to zoom into within this.
Three years after Singapore officially launched its War on Diabetes campaign, with the aim of ‘mobilising the whole nation’ to tackle the condition, we assess how the food and beverage industry has been a key ally in the battle.
Japanese flavours and fragrances giant Takasago International has revealed a completely halal production focus for its latest factory established in Indonesia, in a bid to strengthen its presence in the South East Asian market.
Distilled coconut liquor spiked with methanol in the Philippines was responsible for 11 deaths and caused illness in 300 more, reported national newspaper Phil Star.
Vietnam’s dairy industry has set a target of producing one billion litres of fresh milk this year, which will meet 38% of the domestic demand, while local firms are increasingly tapping into regional export opportunities.
Singapore start-up TurtleTree Labs is producing milk in the laboratory using stem cells, and is now beginning discussions with major brands to gauge their interest in collaboration.
Meat substitute product OmniMeat has been launched on the retail market in Singapore after notching-up success in the foodservice sector, with Japan and the UK next on the brand’s hitlist.
Malaysia’s initial plans to implement stricter regulations for all plant commodity export permit applications to Singapore have been put on hold after vehement protests from local fruit and vegetable firms.
Australia’s largest organic children’s snacks brand Whole Kids sees convenience for both mothers and kids as well as delivering delicious tasting products as its major priorities whilst planning for its upcoming expansion into the Asia Pacific region.
The bioactives from honey could help tackle obesity by curbing appetite and Malaysian researchers are now making a weight controlling dietary supplement on the back of their studies.
Malaysian ready-to-eat manufacturer BioHaruan hopes its recent visit to the SIAL trade show in Jakarta will open the doors to the Indonesian market for its brands, including its innovative Rezza Hot 2 Go snack kits.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) has insisted it will work with social media sites to block all food advertisements that make unvalidated nutritional or health claims, which are in direct violation of the country’s food act.
New research from Singapore has revealed significant rates of pork or lower-quality fish DNA in local seafood products, leading researchers to urge clearer food labelling guidelines and more stringent testing with better technology in the F&B industry.
F&N’s new Singapore-based facility will house both its ‘future-ready’ factory and its product innovation centre, with a focus on expanding its range of health and wellness-focused products in a sustainable manner.