The flour industry in Pakistan has requested the government to exempt or at least subsidise all flour mills from taxes that would normally have to be paid in light of the sector’s significant contributions to food stability throughout the COVID-19 pandemic...
Lockdowns and trade barriers across Asia due to the COVID-19 pandemic have thrust rice - one of the region’s largest agricultural commodities – firmly into the spotlight potential volatility in both supply and cost.
Many countries have experienced mass panic buying of food and beverages amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but the UAE seems to have been spared the worse of irrational consumer behaviour.
UAE vertical farming pioneers Madar Farms is selling its ‘microgreens’ direct to consumers for the first time, after enjoying initial success with the food service and hotel industries (HORECA).
The 2020 NutraIngredients-Asia Awards are back with four new categories, but the same commitment to honour the best and brightest in ingredients, finished products, companies, people, and initiatives in the dietary supplements and functional foods industries.
Chinese’s premium baijiu brand Rong Tai He Moutai (RTH) Maotaijiu is planning to expand into Japan, South Korea, ASEAN and the US with its high-end spirit this year.
Researchers from Asia, the Middle East, and the West are now trialling omega-3, honey, and even potato resistant starch, on top of vitamins and zinc, as they race to find products that could contribute to the fight against COVID-19 and its symptoms.
Researchers at universities across the world have not found any link between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and dementia based on results from the world’s first ethnic-Chinese specific study.
Foshan Haitian, China’s largest seasoning and soy sauce manufacturer, recorded profits of RMB5.3 billion (US$750 million) in FY19, up 22.64% from the year before, and insists it is on target to top that by RMB1 billion (US$140mn) this year despite the...
Japanese F&B firms in Japan such as Nissin, Ajinomoto, Sapporo, Asahi, Kirin, Kewpie, Hotei Foods, and Megmilk Snow Brand say they are battling to provide 'business as usual', despite the state of emergency in the country due to the COVID-19...
An analysis of the diets of nearly 3500 Australian women found high consumption of carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, cabbage, green beans and potatoes before conception helped women reach full term pregnancy.
New Zealand researchers have called for a complete overhaul of the country’s current national agricultural strategy, which is heavily skewed towards dairy and meat, to accommodate a more plant-focused approach.
Australia-based The Lupin Co has seen a five to six times increase in demand for products such as its prebiotic-rich lupin flakes, flours, protein bars and cereals over the past 12 weeks.
The meal kit market has traditionally been dominated by specialised meal kit delivery services such as Blue Apron, but rises in demands for both freshness and convenience have piqued food and retail firms’ interest in this rapidly growing sector.
Sales of alcohol and fresh foods on e-commerce in China have surged during the COVID-19 epidemic, with market analysts predicting that the changes in consumer buying habits are here to stay.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has reported a 50% rise of food contamination cases in Australia by microbes leading to product recalls in 2019, despite a lower overall food recall rate.
Nestle Australia has launched the world’s first version of a plant-based Milo, which boasts lower sugar content in addition to its vegan consumable status.
The COVID-19 pandemic risks causing widespread disruption to Asia’s commodities production, with wheat and rice set to be especially hard hit, according to a regional agricultural expert.
India’s Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) is aiming to put a stop to false claims for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19 by setting up a task force to evaluate products and practices.
New Zealand’s first homegrown oat milk firm Otis Oat M!lk wants to reduce the country’s heavy dependence on the dairy market, citing a grand vision to establish a contract manufacturing production facility to accommodate a broad range of plant-based start-ups.
Malaysia-based biotech firm Holista CollTech has developed a new sugar formulation which is more intense, low-calorie and low-GI in hope of helping F&B companies reformulate products more effectively, especially in Singapore and Malaysia where government...
Several countries in the South East Asian region have moved to impose extended lockdowns, export bans and other heightened trade barriers in response to continued widespread COVID-19 infection rates within the region, posing a very real risk for food...
Today we can reveal the updated agenda for the 2020 Healthy Ageing APAC Summit, which takes place in Singapore in July, and features a raft of big-name brands and international academic experts.
Brazil has reported a strong March in export terms, increasing presence in eight countries during the month, driven by falling trade barriers due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The third annual NutraIngredients-Asia Awards returns this September, and entries are currently open for our coveted Ingredient of the Year categories.
Cadbury has changed its Freddo chocolate mascot, the well-known Freddo Frog, to pictures of real-life endangered frog species on its packaging for a limited time to raise awareness and support conservation efforts.
Food safety and export continuity have emerged as the biggest concerns for the food industries in Australia and New Zealand as lockdowns in the region continue, with the various food sectors attempting to allay public concerns.
Experts claim to have successfully deployed artificial intelligence (AI) technology to predict consumer purchasing trends in Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, and found them to skew heavily towards foods and beverages that are related to immunity...
The use of insects as an alternative protein and food source has been consistently in the limelight in recent years with advocates citing sustainability and health benefits, leading to a plethora of start-ups focusing on the sector, but just how viable...
The Ministry of Economy in UAE has stated that it has enough food to meet the needs of its citizens for at least six months, amidst concerns of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak which is showing no signs of slowing in the region.
The annual Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2019 published by The Economist Intelligence Unit, has revealed Qatar to be the number one nation for food security among 15 Middle Eastern and North African countries.
Pakistan has enforced an import tax on sugar entering the country, adding another layer of complexity to the country’s ongoing war between sugar cane farmers and sugar mills.
Nestle Australia has announced plans to develop a sorting and recycling system focusing solely on soft plastics, which have hitherto received far less attention in recycling schemes than rigid plastics.
The Chinese government has been pushing for a ‘return to normalcy’ for what it deems ‘low-risk’ COVID-19-affected areas within the country, but faces multiple challenges in the form of public anxiety over food security and relaxed control measures.
The huge demand for vitamin C has sent stocks running low for retailers and the situation is further complicated by longer delivery times and more expensive freight costs.
Japanese snack firm Calbee is intensifying its sustainability activities by working on the sustainable procurement of palm oil and attempting to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30%.
Japan’s Kirin Brewery will launch its latest no-alcohol beer, Kirin Greens Free, nationwide this month, the latest in a long line of booze-free innovations in the country.
Mission Foods is launching Corn Strips in South East Asia and China, with the firm claiming traditional triangular corn chips can be ‘frustrating’ for consumers.
India recently announced import tariff increases for many food and agricultural products in hopes of encouraging local trade, but the same move is likely to push it even further away from the possibility of entering free trade agreements within the APAC...
Single-use, disposable food packaging appears to have made a comeback rising on the coattails of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many consumers believe this to be safer and/or more hygienic – but are these beliefs truly warranted?
The FSSAI has allowed children’s complementary foods companies holding the proprietary license to renew their licenses for a further 12 months, in order to provide more time to meet new standards.
