Bakery

Making history? UAE and Israel set to explore food tech and trade advances after historic agreement

09-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Food businesses in Israel and UAE will be able to formally operate in both countries after the historic announcement made on 13 August to normalise relationships between the two states.

Double trouble: Saudi Arabians consuming 100% more than the recommended salt intake

09-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Adults in Saudi Arabia were consuming almost 11g of salt daily, more than double the recommended salt intake of 5g/day by WHO, according to a recent study.

Insect-based burgers: Malaysian firm switches to ‘proteinisation’ strategy to emulate Impossible Foods’ success

07-Sep-2020 By Pearly Neo

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.

AI power: Bega to focus on ‘high-risk’ areas to maintain Australia’s Varroa-free status

02-Sep-2020 By Pearly Neo

Bega Cheese’s honey arm B honey will be focusing its Purple Hive AI-powered bee-protection technology on ‘high-risk’ entry areas in Australia - the last-known country to not have its bee populations ravaged by the deadly Varroa Destructor mite.

APAC ‘junk food’ ad bans: Health experts encouraged by ‘feasible and politically acceptable’ UK move

02-Sep-2020 By Pearly Neo

APAC public health experts say they are optimistic that the UK’s recent moves to ban TV ‘junk food’ ads before 9pm will encourage governments in the region to adopt similar measures – but also want more comprehensive restrictions that cover digital media.

Slippery situation: Indian regulator failing to curb spread of margarine-butter fraud

01-Sep-2020 By Pearly Neo

Regulatory inefficiencies in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have again entered the spotlight after recent government correspondence revealed ‘rampant’ occurrences of margarine masquerading as butter within the F&B industry.

Going low: Low-GI sugar firm rides high with launch in new markets on back of Malaysian success

31-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

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.

Policy Picks: FSSAI food business licensing, UK's wish to join CPTPP, Japan food labelling and more feature in our round-up

28-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

FSSAI food business licensing, UK's wish to join CPTPP, Japan food labelling and more feature in this edition of Policy Picks.

Online delivery is ‘new normal’ in Middle East says ride-hailing firm behind grocery platform

26-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

UAE-based ride-hailing and food delivery company Careem, which recently launched its grocery delivery service (Careem Shops) has revealed about 40% of its 33 million users are now on the new service.

Deadline extension is not enough: Indian trade body calls on FSSAI to completely waive food licensing for the year

26-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

Indian trade association Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal (FAIVM) has called upon the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to completely waive license renewals for food businesses due to COVID-19, instead of just extending the renewal...

‘Not a single cent more’: F&B firms will not need to pay more to join Australia’s national food traceability project

25-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

Food and beverage firms will not need to fork out any extra cash to integrate into Australia’s new National Food Traceability Programme, whether they currently use GS1 standards within their supply chains – which covers many major MNCs – or not.

Making Indonesia 4.0: Digital drive and ramping up self-reliance key for food industry - Minister

25-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

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.

India food fraud alarm: Much more needs to be done if ‘Make in India’ campaign is to succeed

24-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

India’s food counterfeit incidents have risen at an ‘alarming rate’ between 2018 and 2019, numbers which will have significantly negative impacts on the country’s ‘Make in India’ campaign if more stringent measures are not taken to control these.

UK CPTPP accession: Big boon for APAC meat and fresh products if successful, but hurdles ahead – expert analysis

24-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

The United Kingdom’s intention to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would greatly benefit food trade for APAC countries – but many hurdles lie ahead, according to expert analysis.

Expediate exports to China with blockchain? Australian outfit seeks to speed-up ‘COVID-19-free’ shipments

20-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

Australian blockchain firm Two Hands has developed a platform removing all middle men along the supply chain between food producers and end-users, which it believes can also be applied to smoothen meat and seafood exports to China by ‘pre-authenticating’...

Grain of truth: Higher whole grain intake lowers risk of digestive tract cancers - meta-analysis

18-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

A meta-analysis involving more than 2 million people has reported that a higher whole grain intake is associated with a reduced risk of digestive tract cancer.

China Focus: Plant-based innovation, Red Bull expansion, dairy growth and more feature in our round-up

14-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

Plant-based innovation, Red Bull expansion, dairy growth and more feature in this edition of China Focus.

Fortification, plant-based and healthier packaged foods to boom in APAC post-COVID-19 – expert panel

13-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Fortified, plant-based, and better-for-you packaged foods will continue to soar in APAC post-pandemic, with preventive health, wellness and nutrition now firmly ingrained in the conscience of consumers, an expert panel claims.

Supermarket sweep: UAE start-up upcycles food retailer waste into value-added products

12-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Circa Biotech, a start-up from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has developed a sustainable method of upcycling food waste using black soldier flies (BSF), into animal feed and fertilizer – and is now working with a supermarket retailer.

Sustainability from heritage: UAE start-up turns unwanted palm fibres into compostable food packaging material

12-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

UAE-based start-up Palm Co has developed a method of turning fibre derived from palm trees into a sustainable and alternative food packaging material for farmers and retailers.

Blueberry boom: On-trend flavour finding favour in Asia from BBQ sauce to pizza and moon cake

12-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Blueberry appears to be booming as an on-trend ingredient across Asia, with the number of new product launches soaring in everything from sauces to pizza.

Japan food labelling revision: ‘Artificial’ and ‘synthetic’ terms banned for food additives

12-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

Japan has banned the use of the terms ‘artificial’ and ‘synthetic’ to describe food additives on all food and beverage labels after consumer research found they were causing consumers to shun such products.

New in brief

Humanitarian aid scrambles to circumvent Lebanon’s bread crisis

11-Aug-2020 By Gill Hyslop

The head of the United Nations’ food agency said the beleaguered country – which is battling economic and political woes, the COVID-19 pandemic and a major blast that tore through its capital city – could run out of bread in about 2½ weeks.

From farm to brand: Why digital food supply chain transformation in APAC crucial post-COVID-19

10-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

Digital supply chain transformation is crucial for food firms in the Asia Pacific region to ensure resiliency, sustainability and continued consumer demand for their products post-COVID-19.

Bright impressions: Health and wellness trend to drive momentum of natural and clean colours in APAC

06-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The health and wellness trend sweeping Asia-Pacific looks set to offer a boost to the natural and clean colours sector – which still lags behind Europe and North America.

GALLERY: The top 10 most read APAC food and beverage industry stories in July 2020

05-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

Here's a recap of our 10 most-read F&B stories in July 2020, including clear Sprite bottles, COVID-19 snacking, the China Food Tech Hub and more.

‘Graduating’ as a country: Laos hopes to boost economy and upgrade status with help of new food safety and quality centre

05-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

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...

‘Costly and time-consuming’: Malaysian palm oil boss hits out at EU’s Farm-to-Fork Strategy – exclusive interview

05-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

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.

Going carbon-negative: TerViva establishes world-first organic pongamia bean supply chain in India

04-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

Alternative protein firm TerViva is establishing the world’s first organic and Fair for Life pongamia bean supply chain in India as it strives to tap into consumer demands for plant-based and sustainable products.

Mandatory salt reformulation: Australia’s new voluntary programme leaves sour taste with health experts

04-Aug-2020 By Pearly Neo

The Australian government has released a range of sodium reformulation targets to be implemented on a voluntary basis by the local F&B industry over the next four years, but public health researchers believe that this should be made mandatory.

China Focus: Plant-based innovation, Red Bull, dairy growth and more feature in our round-up

31-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

Plant-based innovation, Red Bull, dairy growth and more feature in this edition of China Focus.

From Covid-19 to Ramadan: How Saudi consumer trends shifted from March to May

29-Jul-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The Covid-19 pandemic in March and Ramadan in April and May led to distinct shifts in the food and beverage consumption patterns in Saudi Arabia, new data reveals.

‘How to win in a recession’: Four top tips for Australian F&B firms to spur growth post-COVID-19

28-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

Food and beverage firms in Australia would do well to maintain product pricing, focus on advertising and research, as well as wisely streamline their product ranges in order to come out on top post-COVID-19, according to recommendations from an industry...

Food tax frenzy: Sugar taxation still ranked as most effective for public health compared to salt, fat and junk food

28-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

Sugar taxation has remained the most effective for of food taxation when it comes to reducing diet-related diseases as compared to taxes on salt, saturated fat and junk food, according to a recent New Zealand study.

Sizzling sensation: Alibaba, Beyond Meat and Danone rooting for plant-based innovation in China

27-Jul-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

China’s alternative meat market has grown from its traditional imitation products to a more modern, realistic and meat-tasting profile powered by innovation – and now some of the industry’s biggest names are ploughing in resources to fuel the next wave...

Go fast or go home: Why food and beverage firms need to innovate quickly to meet consumer needs amid COVID-19

27-Jul-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Brands and suppliers need to innovate with speed and agility to meet the meet changing demands from APAC’s consumers amid the Covid-19 pandemic, an expert panel featuring a raft of top firms has concluded.

Slashing sugar in Singapore: Local firms PS Food & Beverage and Momolato sign-up for reformulation drive

23-Jul-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

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.

Smooth expansion: New Zealand nut butter firm takes local production route for US expansion to bypass quota challenges

22-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

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.

Allergen alert: Lack of warning labels on processed foods ‘bigger issue’ than cross-contamination in Australia

22-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

Researchers in Australia have called for more stringent food allergen labelling regulations after recent data revealed that the lack of warning labels poses a bigger risk for consumers than cross-contamination during food processing.

Philippines COVID-19 recovery: New tax reform bill looks to help smaller F&B firms pay lower rates

21-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

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...

Cultivating future stars: No funding shortages for food tech and alternative protein start-ups despite COVID-19

21-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

Start-ups with a focus on technology related to F&B supply chains and alternative protein product development are in the strongest positions to attract investments in the post-COVID-19 era all across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

Hoarding won’t help: Food export restrictions will backfire on Asian countries - UN FAO expert

21-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

Asian countries that have implemented food export restrictions to protect local supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic will harm their commodity prices and damage their trade reputations, according to an expert from the Food and Agricultural Organisation...

‘Big brands still winning in Asia’: Major food and beverage firms strengthen sales and standing amid COVID-19

20-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

Asia’s biggest food and beverage brands have successfully retained their top FMCG rankings and outpaced overall category growth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with major players topping new lists from China to South East Asia.

Trend Tracker: COVID-19 changes, dairy and health trends feature in our round-up

17-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

COVID-19 changes, dairy and health trends feature in this edition of Trend Tracker.

COVID-19 and social media: Why Australian F&B firms need to up their game to stand out in key export markets

16-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

Australian food and beverage firms need to improve their social media engagement to maximise reach to consumers in all of the country’s key export markets, especially given the rise of e-commerce post-COVID-19.

Flatbread furore: India’s latest food tax saga puts country’s flaw-ridden GST system in the spotlight

15-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

India’s newest food tax saga stemming from Southern flatbreads being taxed higher than Northern ones has placed renewed focus on the country’s controversial GST system, provoking claims of ‘cultural racism’ from campaigners.

Healthy opportunity: Turkey seeks to eliminate trans-fats in line with WHO goals

15-Jul-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Turkey is seeking to eliminate trans-fat in its food supply with a new regulation stipulating that it can account for no more than 2g per 100g of fat.

No idling through COVID-19: Australia’s Health Star Ratings revision on track with salt and sugar reduction key

14-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

Australia’s implementation of the revised Health Star Ratings (HSR) system is on track with a focus on sugar and sodium reduction via a new nutrient calculator, as well as plans for 70% of industry uptake, the Australian Department of Health has confirmed.

Public paradox: Singapore’s food self-sufficiency hopes threatened by attitudes towards GM and novel tech

08-Jul-2020 By Pearly Neo

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.

China Food Tech Hub adds Nestle, Ajinomoto and Barilla’s Blu1877 to 15-member food innovation consortium

06-Jul-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The China Food Tech Hub, which aims to forge close ties between MNCs and start-ups, is adding three new members to its consortium this year, including big names such as Nestle, Ajinomoto and Barilla’s Blu1877.