Malaysia is looking to China’s national cage-free eggs strategy as a model for its own egg supply chain following new data revealing a rapid rise in consumer demand.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is seeking public comment on draft regulations for the newly-coined ‘defined foods’ category, which will cover novel foods, genetically modified foods and insect-related foods.
Singapore food businesses looking to expand reach to the Middle East must be prepared with next-level persistence and a longer-than-average financial plan to succeed - but the returns can be tenfold, according to industry experts.
New evidence suggests that brands and government need to scrap altruistic messaging about climate change and focus on health and culture to promote sustainable eating in Asia.
Singapore-based Gryphon Tea Company views its sustainability initiatives as a long-term investment to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, and to give the firm a competitive edge.
Vietnam has completed and recently launched its new digital food safety management system which was developed in partnership with South Korea, with a particular focus on food poisoning outbreak monitoring across the country.
Elivity, a new longevity supplement brand, has made its debut in Singapore and it aims to move Asia’s understanding of the category beyond the use of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN).
Singapore-based Lion Brewery has launched its pioneering nitrogen-infused stout in a canned format to cater to easier at-home consumption, as it looks to give market leader Guinness a run for its money.
Educating consumers and healthcare professionals that being lactase non-persistent is not the same as lactose intolerance could play in key role in tackling two of Asia’s biggest public health challenges – namely diabetes and the wellbeing of an ageing...
The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will establish a new electronic recall system for pre-packaged processed food products found to be in violation of domestic food safety regulations.
Vietnam is hopeful of seeing long-term improvement in its position within the global rice supply chain with the support of a new government digital project.
Members of the Philippines government are calling for regulations that would officially ban manufacturers from using added sugar as an ingredient in foods for young children aged three and below.
Carlsberg Malaysia is optimistic about its chances to conquer the country’s premium Japanese beer market this year with new partner brand Sapporo, with the latter formally replacing Asahi as the firm’s major premium Japanese offering since January 2024.
The testing of 18 commercially available NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) supplements sold in Singapore found that most products did not meet label claims, and researchers have called for industry-wide effort in resolving the issue.
Bayer’s nutritional business declined for the past year due to a weaker market environment in China and South East Asia, the company said in its FY23 financial results.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) believes that a recent Philippines acquisition and portfolio realignment in Indonesia stand it in good stead to capitalise on future growth in Asia Pacific.
Singaporean surimi brand Dodo is looking to expand and diversify beyond its successful frozen foods business with the launch of its first surimi snacks range, which it believes has long-term mainstream potential.
Singapore-based beverage heavyweight Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) has predicted a challenging year ahead after reporting a near doubling in profits but a significant overall drop in revenue, citing ongoing inflation and soft consumer spending as key factors.
Nestle Malaysia believes that the strength of its core brands such as KitKat and Maggi, as well as the advantages of its large local production operations, will serve it well in overcoming current ‘subdued’ consumer sentiment in the country.
Dietary supplements sales on the re-opened TikTok shop in Indonesia are struggling to get back to previous heights, despite other categories such as FMCG and beauty products soaring.
Thai beverage firm Dutch Mill is renewing its focus on its Arabus coffee range, having launched a wide variety of ready-to-drink products aimed to provide convenient yet affordable coffee options for consumers in the region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised five countries for their efforts in eliminating industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA), marking the first time it has done so since launching an initiative in 2018 to encourage food manufacturers...
Japanese beer giant Asahi believes that beverage packaging needs to move beyond being eye-catching and incorporate elements of ‘relatability’ and digitalisation truly make a mark with Asian consumers.
Food and beverage major Nestlé Professional claims there is a need to move away from marketing keywords such as “plant-based” and focus on elevating the taste of alternative protein products to boost “natural” uptake and sector growth.
The government of Vietnam has its eye on increasing food trade across various product categories with China, citing huge population demand for meat as well as ongoing successful fruit and vegetable trade relationships as notable drivers.
Singapore start-up Craft Truffles is aiming to branch out beyond its domestic market by expanding its product portfolio and participating in trade shows to connect with overseas distributors.
Industry experts from the United States say Singapore is the top market for premium cheese in South East Asia, bucking the regional trend for processed products.
Beer giant Carlsberg Malaysia has renewed its commitment to investing into both its premium products strategy as well as e-commerce presence, despite seeing poorer year-on-year performances on both fronts in the last year.
Japanese beverage major Kirin has started exporting its craft gin Yatsushiro Distillery YATSU BOSHI to Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea in a bid to gain a bigger share of the spirits market in Asia.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has highlighted that cultivated meat still needs to meet a ‘more rigorous’ set of requirements to be halal-certified, even though it has been deemed potentially permissible for halal consumption.
Thailand’s Tawandang Distillery believes that the use of scorched jasmine rice in its liquor products, and what it claims to be the ‘most-advanced’ distillery in the region will give it a competitive edge.
Food industry experts in Thailand remain optimistic over the potential of plant-based meat in the country despite slower-than-expected uptake, citing hybrid innovation as one of the growth opportunities.
Malaysian palm oil is likely to gain an edge in terms of exports to the United Kingdom thanks to the latter obtaining membership into the CPTPP and new acknowledgement of the South East Asian nation’s sustainability standards.
Ingredients firm Kalsec Inc. shortens its supply chain and diversifies raw materials sourcing via its new Finishing and Distribution Centre in Singapore.
Thailand is the latest market in South East Asia to implement new nutritional labelling policies for the food industry, with the authorities also issuing more stringent ‘science-based’ guidelines for on-pack health claims.
Thailand’s JD Food believes that coconut clusters are the snacking industry’s answer to demands for a perfect combination of healthy and affordability, having launched a dedicated brand to cater to consumer demand.
The Indonesian government is revising food packaging regulations in response to consumer and academic concerns over the presence of dangerous chemicals entering the food supply chain.
The ingredients division of the Dutch dairy co-op said its 2’-fucosyllactose ingredient has been approved for use in both infant formulas as well as young children products.
Vietnam has started to enforce its new nutrition labelling regulations, which will see some 40% of domestic manufacturers making on-pack changes over the next two years.
Philippines is set to replace a 33-year-old vitamins and minerals regulation which essentially reclassifies the category as food or dietary supplement, instead of the existing arrangement where it is categorised as either food or drug.
Finnish food company Fazer has launched the world’s first chocolate made using ‘protein out of thin air’ in Singapore, citing its high iron and fibre content as attractive for vegan and health-conscious consumers.
Insect foods start-up Plento is set to launch its range of baked crisps containing pea protein and cricket flour, which the firm claims counteract nutrient limitations of snacks made solely from plant-based protein, in South Korea this February.
Students who consume beverages with over 25 grams of added sugar daily face a 1.8 times higher risk of exhibiting attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms compared to those with lower consumption, according to a new study from Chiang Mai...
The absence of a set of unified guidelines to provide nutrient composition and labelling requirements for all categories of commercially produced complementary foods (CPCF) in Southeast Asia risks confusing consumers, say researchers.
Plant-based beverages may be considered suitable alternatives to their dairy counterparts but must overcome challenges related to flavour, consumer health, stability and nutrient dissolution, say researchers in Singapore, the UK and China.
Nestle Vietnam is banking on the rising demand for convenient beverage options in the country to drive the growth of its newest Nescafe format innovation, a ready-to-serve liquid concentrate.
Thai natural fruit juice specialist Manee Manao is banking on the ongoing watermelon smoothie craze dubbed ‘tangmo-pun’ in South Korea to boost the success of its new frozen watermelon puree export business.
The general public and experts in Singapore have raised several concerns over the consumption of cultivated meat, while also acknowledging it can play a crucial role in the City State’s food security efforts.
