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FoodNavigator-Asia's snapshot of 2011

FoodNavigator-Asia takes a look back at some of the biggest topics throughout Asia Pacific over 2011.

Case to ban junk foods near schools receives boost

In a move that could make the going tougher for food processors in their fight against a possible ban on the sale of junk foods in and near schools, a prominent Indian school has asked to be made party to a legal case on the issue.

Gluten-free fibre ingredient approved in Taiwan

The Taiwanese Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Artinia, a gluten-free fibre ingredient, for use as a food ingredient.

News in brief

Fonterra working hard over the Christmas period

Fonterra will have 13,350 people working hard to keep the 24-hour, seven day a week business going to ensure New Zealand has fresh supplies of milk over the Christmas holiday period.

News in brief

Australia tries to save food bowl

A new AU$10bn draft plan to save and replenish the Murray-Darling food basin of Australia which has been wracked with drought has been released.

India ponders sugar deregulation in 2012

The Indian Ministry of Food is in discussions with state governments and associated ministries to remove controls over the country’s sugar industry in the new year.

NBTY nutraceutical brands target India’s young and rich

Rising incomes among an increasingly aware ‘youth’ segment in India is what My Nutrition Supplements (MNS) is banking on for sales of its newly launched bars and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages.

News in brief

India goes on with food security bill

The Indian government has introduced a landmark bill that would ensure cheap food for more than half the country's population.

New Zealand must reduce salt intake, finds survey

Nearly 65% of adult New Zealanders are consuming more sodium than current nutrition guidelines in the country recommend, a survey has concluded.

Chinese consumers concerned about protein intake, says Fonterra

Chinese consumers are aware of the need to increase protein intake to reduce the risk of developing conditions like sarcopenia, according to Fonterra Dairy Company.

Coke sees fizz in Indian non-fizzy drinks market

Coca-Cola India has set up a division to innovate, sell and distribute juices, energy and powder drinks in order to garner a higher share of the growing non-fizzy drinks market in India.

Moutai to invest US$70m in Chinese rice wine

Kweichou Moutai, the leader in rice wine in China has disclosed plans to invest 437 million yuan ($US69m) in 2012, to produce an additional 2800 tonnes of wine.

Australia issues new draft of dietary guidelines for “healthy eating”

Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council announced last week new draft guidelines that it hopes will encourage better nutrition for Australians.

Taiwanese Sea Party invests in breeding halal seafood

Taiwanese marine specialist, Sea Party Technology, is adding to a MYR2bn investment ($600m), in Malaysia to breed fish and prawns for the halal community – with government backing.

Chinese food group invests in non-fried noodle production

Sichuan-based Hao Ji Group is investing 60bn Chinese yuan (US$9.45m) to boost noodle production at two main sites to a capacity of more than 700,000 tonnes of noodles with up to 12 varieties of Chinese grains.

Hostility towards FDI will not put off internationals

India’s foreign direct investment (FDI) law for its retail sector was put on hold earlier this month following political opposition, but this will not impede internationals entering, according to an analyst.

News in brief

Obesity to cost Korea $3bn, report

A new report compiled by a research team at Korea’s Inje University found that the cost of obesity-related illnesses, such as diabetes and strokes may cost the country up to $3bn in social costs.

Indian state brings the ‘death penalty’ hammer down on illicit liquor

The western state of Gujarat has passed one of the most stringent laws in India against illicit liquor, as the death toll from consumption of the toxic ‘hooch’ in the eastern state of West Bengal reaches 170.

Danisco invests in China’s dairy and supplements sector

Danisco will expand production of its Live Culture Inoculant (LCI) cultures in China to meet the growing demand for fresh dairy products and dietary supplements in the country.

Good news for Oz food makers, Woolies private label plan may be unsustainable

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths’s plan to increase reliance on private label products is over-ambitious, according to a new report.

Stevia: Economically viable in Vietnam

US farm management company, Stevia Corp, has signed an agreement with a Vietnamese research institute to strengthen knowledge of stevia cultivation and crop management to drive production in the country.

News in brief

Omega-sterol ingredient for diabetics received Australian patent

Israeli ingredients company, Enzymotec, has been granted a patent in Australia for its omega-3 sterol formulation, intended for use in functional foods for diabetics.

Exclusive

Japan baby formula radiation fears raised as early as mid-November

Following the discovery of radioactive substances in its baby milk formula, it has now emerged that Meiji Holdings Co. was contacted about possible contamination three weeks before it decided to recall the products.

Australian soup makers ‘prepared’ for salt cuts, meats next in line

Australian soup manufacturers will easily be able to mitigate the costs associated with the recently announced cuts in sodium levels in the country, says a food industry expert.

Growth opportunity in Japan’s alcohol-free beverage sector

Japan’s alcoholic beverage market is shrinking and sluggish according to a Datamonitor report, but analysts have noted opportunity in the growing alcohol-free sector due to consumer focus on drink driving laws.

Government aid said to help Thai food companies deal with floods

Thai food companies report government aid helped them to cope with the recent flood crisis and that they are now in a better position to deal with similar incidents in the future.

ADF to expand due to Indian demand for RTE foods

India-based ADF Foods is investing heavily in extending production capacity as it looks to expand aggressively in the domestic as well as international markets on the back of growing demand for ready-to-eat foods.

Kiwi algae firm closer to omega-3 production

New Zealand-based Photonz Corp is nearer production on its omega-3 fatty acid product after successfully transferring its fermentation process to a Canadian facility.

News in brief

Fosters has new CEO after SABMiller takeover

SABMiller has replaced the CEO of Fosters, the first big change since the takeover last month.

The new Chinese economy: Emerging, emerged, disruptive...

China is not an emerging market; it is well and truly emerged and continues to change at a rapid pace that will go on disturbing the global food and beverage market for years to come, according to expert.

Amul slams Nestlé over trademark infringement

Nestlé India has been threatened of court action by Amul, India's largest dairy cooperative, over the Swiss food major infringing on the latter's trademarks in the country.

News in brief

Vietnam’s fishing companies look to Indonesia

An undeveloped marine fishing industry and abundant fish stocks make Indonesia’s waters attractive for Vietnamese companies, but fishing is steeped in regulations.

Emulsifier approved for Indonesian flavour applications

Singapore-based ingredients technology company, Compass Foods, has announced the legal approval of its emulsifier for use in flavour applications in the Indonesian market.

Front-of-the-pack labelling is the way to go, say Australian ministers

Australia will have front-of-the-pack labelling with easy to understand nutritional information on its food products within the next year, but it may not be the controversial traffic lights system.

News in brief

Asia Pacific Forum on sustainable food security

A two-day forum organised by the Asia Pacific office of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) on mainstreaming food security and nutrition concerns finished today.

Coca Cola drinks deemed safe after fatal poisoning

Coca Cola China has declared its products safe following one death and three other serious incidences of poisoning connected to the consumption of its strawberry flavoured Minute Maid milk drink.

Australian consumer groups attack dairy colours use

A leading consumer advocate in Australia says milk product manufacturers in the region are using harmful colouring additives, despite knowing about their effects on children.

Thailand to help farmers ramp up rice production

The recent deluge of rain in Thailand will not hamper overall rice production in 2011 as farmers will be aided by the National Science and Technlology Development Agency (NSTDA) to increase rice production with better quality seeds.

FSANZ backs hemp as a “useful alternative dietary source”

Australia and New Zealand stand on the verge of legalising hemp as a food source after the head of the countries’ bilateral food agency backed its entry into the food chain.

Stalled Indian rice exports to US now being cleared

Indian consignments of basmati rice held up at US ports because of the presence of a banned pesticide are now being cleared, according to ministerial sources.

Thai food giant in deal with Sri Lankan food major

Thailand food company S. Khonkaen Foods Plc has signed a deal with Sri Lanka-based Keells Food Products Plc to distribute food products on the island, with further expansion plans mooted.

India to push production of milk, eggs, meat and fish

The Indian government is considering boosting production of protein-rich food such as meat, fish, eggs and milk in a bid to curb inflation – with the prime minister involved in discussions.

China’s Bright Food makes biggest acquisition with Australian food player

Bright Food Group has finalised its A$530m acquisition of a 75% equity stake in Australia’s Manassen Foods and opened an office in Sydney, marking the biggest overseas procurement for the Chinese food giant since its establishment in 2006.

News in brief

Fenchem Malaysian business booming

Chinese ingredients company Fenchem Biotek Ltd’s Malaysian operations now account for 10% of its entire business.

Global sustainable rice scheme launched

An international system has been launched that will establish environmental standards for sustainable rice production in a bid to increase rice yields.

Purac opens new India office

Food preservation supplier Purac has announced the opening of a new Liaison Office in Mumbai.

Majority of Kiwis support labelling of GM Foods, says survey

A new survey in New Zealand has revealed that over 80% of consumers believe the current requirement to label genetically modified (GM) foods should be retained.

India postpones landmark FDI retail investment decision

Under pressure from coalition allies as well as the opposition parties, India's government has put on hold its landmark decision to open up the country’s retail sector to multinationals.

News in brief

Philippine government driving growth of small businesses

The Philippine’s Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has taken on 10 food manufacturing companies to its export promotion program in a bid to drive growth in the country’s small businesses.

Australia rejects traffic light labelling as health claim scrutiny rises

After an intense two weeks of lobbying, Australia’s federal government has ruled out traffic light labelling for food products in the country.

Indian dairy sector reviews microbiological standards

India is looking to revise microbiological standards for milk and milk products in an attempt to better ensure food safety across the supply chain in the country’s growing dairy sector.

FSANZ body calls for submission on GM corn line application

The trans-Tasman food standards watchdog has called for submissions on an application to change the Food Standards Code to allow food derived from a genetically modified (GM) corn line to be sold in the region.

PepsiCo targets doubling Quaker business every two years in India

After banking on the cola as the main driver of its growth in India for two decades, PepsiCo is changing focus to push more healthy foods in the market, chief amongst which is Quaker oats, its breakfast cereal product.

News in brief

Scotland launches food and drink strategy for Asia

As part of Scotland’s economic recovery plan it is looking to strengthen export ties with Asia, particularly China.

Asian deforestation negative side-effect of globalisation, study finds

Deforestation will be the largest environmental concern for the Asia Pacific over the next few decades and this should be addressed alongside trade liberalisation, says research.

Training scheme to boost Shanxi vinegar industry

The vinegar processing industry in Shanxi province has implemented a new training scheme to nurture more qualified vinegar practitioners in a bid to improve the industry.

Chinese functional beverage market growing by 29%

Impressive growth in the Chinese functional beverage market looks set to continue as some national experts predict China to become the largest functional beverage market in 2012.