Dairy

India

India leapfrogs EU as world's dominant milk producer

14-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

India is now the world’s biggest milk producer, having overtaken the European Union over the last 12 months, according to the latest edition of the government’s annual economic survey.

New Zealand

Consultation opens on infant formula proposals

10-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Food safety minister Nikki Kaye has announced the opening of consultation on measures that aim to ensure the robustness of New Zealand’s assurance system for infant formula exports.

India

Thawing market prompts demand for ice cream to soar

09-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

New data indicates that India’s ice cream market is the fastest growing in the world, as the product quickly becomes part of the country’s modern culture. 

Australia

Yoghurt lovers: frequently fruity but getting back to nature

08-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

From bush honey to vanilla bean, Australian dairy sections boast a wide range of yoghurt flavours. But over the last five years, the country’s yoghurt-eating habits have shown a gradual but undeniable shift away from flavoured or fruity yoghurts, and...

Asian investors plough $106m into ambitious Chinese dairy Huaxia

03-Jul-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

A coalition of Asian investors is ploughing US$106m (€77.7m) in to Huaxia Dairy Farm to fund an expansion of the Chinese company's farming and processing operations.

Fonterra and Dairy Crest enter infant formula ingredients partnership

03-Jul-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Dairy Crest and Fonterra have entered into a strategic partnership to produce and market infant formula ingredients, demineralized whey powder and galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS).

Fonterra, Dairy Crest quiet on demineralized whey partnership reports

02-Jul-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

British firm Dairy Crest has confirmed it will be “partnering with someone” to supply demineralized whey powder for infant formula, but declined to confirm reports it is close to sealing a deal with Fonterra.

Chinese organic dairy Shengmu launches expansion-driven IPO

01-Jul-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Shengmu Organic, China's largest organic dairy player, is seeking to raise up to HK$1.3bn (US$169m, €124m) through an initial public offering (IPO) of shares in Hong Kong.

2014 SPECIAL EDITION: DAIRY PRODUCT QUALITY TESTING

Fonterra never checked Sanlu's dairy products prior to deadly China melamine crisis, study warns

20-Jun-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Decentralized milk supply chains were largely to blame for the melamine scandal that bankrupted China’s Sanlu in 2008, but its partner Fonterra's experience ‘did not appear helpful’ in stopping deadly safety problems, a study claims.

US university creates curriculum for Nestlé training center in China

16-Jun-2014 By Rachel Arthur

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, US, will develop the curriculum for a $400m Nestlé dairy training center in China. 

WPC recall-impacted Nutricia NZ reports 97% profits drop

12-Jun-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Nutricia Limited, the Danone-owned New Zealand infant formula business hit by last year's Fonterra whey protein concentrate (WPC) botulism scare, reported a 97% drop in profits in 2013.

China lifts temporary ban on British cheese exports

09-Jun-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has welcomed China's decision to lift the temporary ban applied to British cheese exports.

Fonterra names new global operations head

09-Jun-2014 By Richard Whitehead

The world’s biggest dairy exporter has appointed a new head of global operations, with Robert Spurway taking on the newly-created position on Fonterra’s management team.

China cuts number of permitted imported infant formula brands to less than 100

03-Jun-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Just 94 foreign infant formula brands have so far been given approval for sale in China under new regulations - down from reportedly more than 800.

One-third of Chinese infant formula production permits not renewed: SFDA

02-Jun-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Production permits held by more than one third of China's infant formula manufacturers have not been renewed, following a six-month campaign to boost the standard of domestically-made products.

Inside... the Vietnam Milk Factory

What does 'mega' look like: Vietnam Milk Factory

30-May-2014 By Rachel Arthur

Reading statistics about processing equipment at a milk ‘mega factory’ is one thing: to see it in action from the factory floor is quite another. 

Nestlé, Fonterra divide up Latam JV Dairy Partners Americas

28-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Fonterra and Nestlé have "realigned" their decade-old Latin American joint venture, Dairy Partners Americas, to "better reflect" the strategic focus of each company.

Bright Food to acquire controlling stake in Israeli dairy Tnuva

26-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Chinese dairy giant Bright Food looks set continue its international expansion after agreeing to acquire a controlling stake in Israel’s largest dairy, Tnuva Foods.

Chinese UK cheese export ban will be 'lifted soon': Defra

21-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Two weeks into a Chinese suspension of British cheese exports, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has little to say on the issue but believes the ban will be "lifted soon."

Analysis

Regulation out of step with innovation as Asean awaits harmonisation

21-May-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Southeast Asia’s regulatory system is out of sync with industry practices, with some regulators sometimes uncertain of what constitutes a natural ingredient. 

Australian dairy farmers issued with El Niño warning

21-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Australia dairy farmers are being urged to prepare for a long dry period in the coming months, as weather experts in the country reiterate their prediction of an El Niño.

UHT 'preferred format' to meet Vietnam rural distribution challenges: Tetra Pak

20-May-2014 By Rachel Arthur

UHT will continue to be the "preferred format" for liquid dairy in Vietnam because it guarantees the safety of products distributed to the country's high rural population, according to Tetra Pak.

US ice cream firm voices 'disappointment' in China dairy export support

14-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Ice cream manufacturer High Road has expressed its "utter disappointment" in a US system designed to help dairies in the country meet new Chinese export rules.

FrieslandCampina quiet on Indian Parag Milk Foods takeover 'rumors'

12-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Dutch dairy giant FrieslandCampina has declined to comment on reports it is in talks to acquire a majority stake in Indian dairy Parag Milk Foods.

Detecting Listeria with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

12-May-2014 By Joseph James Whitworth

Listeria monocytogenes can be detected from selective enrichment broths using MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry, according to a study.

Who rules the world? Indian women, says Danone

07-May-2014 By Andrew Schreiber

French food major Groupe Danone is now turning to Indian women, rather than relying on its tested global strategies, to crack the competitive Indian market.

China slaps temporary ban on British cheese imports

05-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

China has slapped a temporary ban on the import of British cheese after health officials from the country identified several hygiene issues at a single UK dairy.

Devondale Murray Goulburn to invest AU$127m in 'dairy future'

05-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Australian cooperative Devondale Murray Goulburn plans to plough an additional AU$127m (US$118m, €85m) into its "dairy future" with investments in cheese, infant formula and dairy beverages.

Danone Nutricia set to acquire NZ infant formula operations

02-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Danone subsidiary Nutricia looks set to add additional infant formula manufacturing and packing capacity to its existing operations in New Zealand through the acquisition of two firms.

Special infant formula ‘sometimes the only option’ for ill babies: Meiji

30-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Infant formula products developed specifically for babies with certain disorders are “often the best, and sometimes the only option,” Japanese dairy giant Meiji has claimed.

Norco secures fast-track fresh milk export pipeline to China

30-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Australian dairy Norco Cooperative has secured a deal with Chinese authorities that allows it to fast-track quarantine clearance for its fresh milk exports - slashing the time it takes to reach consumers in China to just seven days.

Danone Group 'trying to whitewash' Nutricia India marketing practices: BMA

29-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Breastfeeding advocate Baby Milk Action (BMA) has accused the Danone Group of attempting to “whitewash” the activities of its Nutricia India business, which is facing allegations it approved illegal payments to doctors.

Vietnam height initiatives drive drinking milk sales growth: Euromonitor

25-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Vietnamese government initiatives designed to boost the average height of citizens by encouraging milk consumption have contributed significantly to the growth of the country's drinking milk products category in recent years, according to Euromonitor.

NZ infant formula exporters have 'actions...to undertake' to meet Chinese standards

24-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Some New Zealand infant formula manufacturers and brand-owners could be temporarily blocked from exporting to China if they are unable to meet the requirements of a new register by May 1.

Australia experiencing Danone Nutricia infant formula shortage

24-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Karicare and Aptamil brand infant formula products are in short supply in Australia for the second time in just over a year, as manufacturer Nutricia Australia New Zealand (Nutricia ANZ) struggles to keep up with increasing demand.

Indian government urged to probe Nutricia India doctor bribery allegations

23-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

The Indian government has been urged to investigate claims that infant formula manufacturer Nutricia India, a subsidiary of the Danone Group, approved illegal payments by its employees to doctors.

Infrastructure needs to keep up with India’s dairy production gains

23-Apr-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Milk production in the world’s biggest dairy producing country continues to grow quickly, with India seeing an increase of around 19% in the five years from 2006 to 2010.

North Korean Emmental production training reports 'not true': French college

22-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

French training institute the National Dairy Industry College (ENIL) has rubbished reports it has agreed to school a North Korean delegation on the art of cheese making.

Gravity-free probiotics

Space…The final frontier for Yakult probiotics? 6-year study confirmed

22-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

Probiotic pioneer Yakult’s little bottles are to feature in a 6-year, gravity-free study at the International Space Station (ISS).

Japan to get vegetable-flavoured ice cream tubs from Häagen-Dazs

22-Apr-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Häagen-Dazs is calling on Japanese consumers to eat their vegetables after announcing the launch in May of two new, veggie-influenced ice cream flavours.

Chobani generates explosive growth in Australia, unveils aggressive expansion plans in Asia, Latin America

16-Apr-2014 By Elaine WATSON

Chobani has increased its Australian production from 25,000 cases a week to 25,000 cases a day in the past year, becoming the second best-selling yogurt brand in the nation’s top supermarket chain Woolworths, and announced ambitious expansion plans in...

Viagra ice cream, flavoured with Champagne

15-Apr-2014 By Rachel Arthur

An ice cream which contains Viagra has been developed by a UK company. 

DAIRYREPORTER.COM INVESTIGATION

Nutricia India at ‘risk of non-compliance’ with IMS Act: Danone

10-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

The Danone Group has acknowledged that its Nutricia India business is still at “risk of non-compliance” with the Infant Milk Substitutes Act (IMS Act), DairyReporter.com can exclusively reveal.

Japanese beer giant Asahi set to acquire Malaysian dairy

10-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Asahi Group Holdings, the firm behind the Asahi Japanese beer brand, is preparing for its first foray into fresh dairy after agreeing a deal to acquire Malaysian firm Etika Dairies.

“Which way up was the umbrella? Did this review collect knowledge or shield us from it?”

BMJ vitamin D research attacked: 'un-nuanced', 'flawed', 'irresponsible'

07-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

The ‘umbrella’ review of vitamin D studies that found a myriad of health links for the sunshine vitamin were unconfirmed in the scientific literature, has been criticised for containing too many flawed studies that warped the overall findings.

Coles admits to misleading campaign during AU$1 milk wars

07-Apr-2014 By Ankush Chibber

Supermarket giant Coles painted a misleading picture of the dairy industry via a social media campaign at the height of the A$1 milk wars last year, Australia’s top consumer watchdog has found.

Fonterra fined NZ$300k for WPC food safety failings

04-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Fonterra has been fined NZ$300,000 (US$256k, €187k) by a New Zealand court after admitting four food safety violations relating to last year's whey protein concentrate (WPC) recall.

Woolworths private label milk contract losses will 'impact volumes': Lion

03-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Australian processor Lion Dairy has admitted that being dropped as Woolworths’ private label milk supplier in Victoria and Western Australia “will impact volumes” at two plants.

Heinz updates barcode readers to prevent infant formula export errors

02-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Heinz has installed “advanced” barcode readers at a British infant formula plant to ensure the premium products it manufactures for Chinese consumers aren’t confused with the standard powder destined for the Czech Republic.

Parmalat 'strengthens its position' in Australia with Harvey Fresh buy

01-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Italian dairy giant Parmalat has moved to strengthen its market position Down Under through the acquisition of Australian dairy and juice product manufacturer Harvey Fresh.