Meat

From sea to land: Ukrainian seafood jerky firm Warm Seas turns focus to meat for Middle East expansion

21-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

Ukrainian dried jerky snacks firm Warm Seas has transferred its focus from its traditional seafood jerky products to various meat products for its Middle East expansion strategy.

Shining amid adversity: CP Foods to tread carefully in 2023 but pledges food safety and sustainability progress

21-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

Thailand-based food giant CP Foods has committed to further improve its food safety and sustainability initiatives in 2023 on the back of a successful 2022 financial year, but also plans to proceed with more caution due to ongoing challenges spanning...

‘Collective effort needed’: Cultural and behavioural challenges major hurdles for UAE national project

15-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

The National Food Loss and Waste Initiative (Ne’ma) backed by the United Arab Emirates government still faces immense challenges in the form of cultural practices and consumer behaviour as it seeks to halve food loss and waste.

‘The race is on’: Is Japan’s commitment to cultivated meat another sign Europe is lagging?

14-Mar-2023 By Flora Southey

As another country, Japan, announces plans to develop a market for cellular foods, we ask stakeholders how Europe can remain competitive in the global race to develop cultivated meat.

High-tech inspections: South Korea deploys AI in national food imports plan to boost safety

14-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government has announced a new food imports plan to be enforced in 2023 which will involve the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve its monitoring and inspections processes.

‘Always a place for animal protein’: Conversion and demand for alternative sources unlikely to be the same in every region – expert panel

13-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

Consumer demand for alternate proteins is unlikely to end up growing at a uniform rate due to local dietary differences, much of which will still prioritise animal protein in the long run, according to an expert panel.

Post-pandemic bounceback: Protein and snacks lead robust business growth for Agthia despite economic challenges

07-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

Middle Eastern food and beverage giant Agthia has recovered strongly from the impacts of COVID-19 on the region, with its protein and snacking businesses both seeing over 70% growth in the past year despite ongoing economic challenges.

FNA FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EPISODE 39

Tradition with a twist: How Philippines’ plant-based pioneers are infusing health and localisation to stand out

22-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

Plant-based brands in South East Asia need to step up their game by integrating unique health and localisation features to stand out in the increasingly crowded market, according to a Philippines brand blazing a trail in the sector.

Beyond the ‘obsession’: Are alternative proteins truly the best path to a sustainable food supply?

20-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

Creating a sustainable food supply to meet population demands will require more than just a focus on growing the alternative proteins sector despite its current hype, according to industry experts.

Thai Union Exclusive Part II: ‘No one will pay huge premiums for plant-based protein…yet’

14-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

The plant-based space is nowhere near hitting the premium space yet, with affordability fundamental in driving demand amid deepening consumer economic concerns, says Thai Union.

‘No place in food’: Egypt food safety authority vows to hit WHO trans fats guidelines within 12 months

14-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

The Egyptian food safety authority has committed that the local food supply will hit World Health Organisation (WHO) trans fats guidelines within 12 months, claiming its recent policy changes will finally take it off the global high-consumption list.

Safe for second use: South Korea approves recycled PET as material for new food and beverage containers

08-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

South Korea has given the nod for recycled PET plastic to be used as a material to make new food and beverage containers as part of its national sustainability strategy, citing work by international brands such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo as an inspiration.

Food in the Metaverse: Why APAC F&B brands need to keep up with Web 3.0 to accelerate growth

07-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

Food and beverage brands in the Asia Pacific region would do well to stay up-to-date with worldwide Web 3.0 transformations to accelerate business growth, especially when it comes to capturing younger consumers in the Metaverse.

Behind the 'world’s first 100% cultivated pork steak'

03-Feb-2023 By Oliver Morrison

UK scientists have made headlines after claiming to make the world’s first 100% cultivated pork steak.

Keep it simple: Why minimal processing is key to winning over Asian plant-based consumers

31-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Minimal processing and healthier formulation is key to achieving plant-based success in Asia, where health drivers trump sustainability concerns, according to a Thai brand that is blazing a trail in the category.

Down in the dumplings: Korean diets dominated by flour-based and red meat products linked to greater risk of NAFLD

31-Jan-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Koreans who consume diets dominated by noodles, dumplings and red meat have a significantly higher risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) compared to those who eat more vegetables, fish and soy products, new data from almost 45,000 people aged...

Economic enormity: Format innovation key to getting APAC plant-based product costs down

30-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Brands manufacturing plant-based products in the APAC region have highlighted format innovation as a crucial factor in bringing down costs to a level that can satisfy local consumer demands in the short-to-mid term.

Nutritional navigation: UAE eyes ‘virtual elimination’ of trans fats and sets ambitious salt reduction targets

26-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has announced implementation guidelines for its National Nutrition Strategy 2022 – 2030, eyeing the ‘virtual elimination’ of trans fats in the local food supply as well as a 30% reduction in consumers’ average...

Fit for purpose? Australia launches grocery code review amid effectiveness concerns

24-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Australia recently launched a public consultation as a first step towards reviewing its Food and Grocery Code of Conduct following increasing concerns over its effectiveness and ability to resolve disputes between suppliers and retailers.

Traceability priority: CP Foods targets blockchain integration for all products after pork and chicken success

23-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Thailand-based protein multinational CP Foods is targeting the full integration of blockchain technology for all products, after a successful introduction for pork and chicken.

Peanut plant-based innovation: China’s Haofood says versatility, affordability and clean label are major draws

17-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

China plant-based meat brand Haofood believes that the versatility and affordability of its peanut-based products, as well as its clean labels, are key to attracting domestic consumers to the category.

Food development focus: UAE government highlights strengthening of local food security as key 2023 goal

11-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has highlighted efforts to boost local food security as a key goal for the country to transform its food supply system in 2023, alongside the introduction of new taxation strategies to fund further innovation...

ASEAN food sector outlook 2023: Post-COVID-19 growth in Indonesia, Vietnam dampened by food security and inflation woes

11-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Many South East Asian countries remain cautious and concerned over food insecurity and rising inflationary costs despite having seen stellar post-COVID-19 growth in multiple food categories.

‘Build an ecosystem’: Collaboration key to taking cultivated meat sector to next level – GOOD Meat

10-Jan-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Cultivated meat pioneers GOOD Meat believes a stronger ecosystem and more collaboration is needed to convince the wider industry and consumers of its transformative potential.

Returning to normality? China ramps up relaxation of COVID-19 food testing and tariffs

10-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

China is ramping up its efforts to move past the immense impacts COVID-19 has had on the country over the past three years, including removing all requirements for nucleic acid testing on frozen food imports and reducing tariffs.

Offering options: NZ’s Opo Bio looks to help cultivated meat firms outsource cell line stresses

09-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

New Zealand’s Opo Bio is seeking to help cultivated meat firms cut out a large portion of the initial legwork needed to procure and develop suitable cell lines, believing that this will take help encourage commercialisation and target the mainstream market.

Thailand’s Halal 4.0 journey: Tech and blockchain to play crucial role in ensuring product integrity

20-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

The halal food and beverage sector in Thailand is ramping up its use of technology as a crucial tool to achieve ‘Halal Integrity’, and hopes to establish a halal blockchain platform within the next few years.

Cultivated beef entry: Mosa Meat still pushing for Singapore regulatory approval despite manufacturing deal

19-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

Cultivated meat pioneer Mosa Meat says it is still working to get full regulatory approvals to retail its cultivated meat in Singapore, despite the signing of a manufacturing agreement with Esco Aster for production in the Asian trade hub.

Natural meat preservative: More research needed for wider application of lactic acid bacteria - Review

15-Dec-2022 By Gary Scattergood

More studies are required before lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bacteriocins can be commercialised as a natural alternative to antibiotics and chemical preservatives in meat, say researchers in India and Spain.

‘No more wasteful gimmicks’: China issues strict constraints for fruit, meat, egg and seafood packaging

14-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Chinese government has launched strict draft standards to govern excessive food packaging in the country covering fruit, meat, egg and seafood products, allowing public comments on these until January 2023.

Retort regulations: Australia tightens rules for imports containing meat, dairy and eggs

12-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

Australia has implemented more stringent regulations to govern imported retorted foods and beverages that contain meat, dairy or egg content, requiring an additional manufacturer’s declaration to be displayed prior to entry.

Beneficial ‘side effect’: Long regulatory road for cultivated products will boost consumer confidence – Upside Foods

07-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

The cultivated products sector still has a long road ahead in many markets in terms of regulatory processes, but this thorough vetting will lay a strong foundation of food safety and quality that will eventually yield benefits in terms of consumer trust...

‘Making it happen’: NZ industry says new grocery competition bill is ‘concrete step’ towards fairness

01-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

The New Zealand food and grocery sector has voiced wholehearted support for the government’s announcement of a new legislative bill addressing unfair competition in the local grocery sector, which was previously dominated by a duopoly of major retailers.

FNA InnovATE VIDEO SERIES

‘Reduce and replace’: Plant-based brands can slash salt by following beverage sector’s sugar strategy - leading academic

29-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Plant-based brands need to slash salt levels by adopting a similar ‘reduce and replace’ strategy used by the sugar-sweetened beverage sector in order to ensure that consumers can reap health benefits of the trend, according to a nutrition expert.

Inflationary victors: Frozen, canned and bakery products biggest APAC winners amidst economic uncertainty

28-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Frozen foods, canned foods and bakery products have emerged as the most popular food categories amongst APAC consumers amidst rising inflation and food cost increases, driven by common themes of affordability, shelf-life and convenience.

Growth Asia Summit 2022

Rising affluence driving more meat consumption, product premiumisation and innovation

24-Nov-2022 By Tingmin Koe

Rising affluence is driving premiumisation and innovation in the meat sector in South East Asia (SEA), but there is still ample space for NPD, not least in the snacking category.

Shelf-life and salt: Taste remains greatest barrier for sodium-reduced food products to move out of premium category

21-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Getting the taste right in sodium-reduced food products remains the biggest barrier to overcome in reformulation efforts, according to industry experts.

Vow founder: First wave of cultivated meat should delight and intrigue consumers, so why launch with chicken nuggets?

18-Nov-2022 By Elaine Watson

If you’re making cultivated meat in a bioreactor instead of a living, breathing animal, and you want to introduce it to consumers for the first time, what’s the best launch vehicle? A chicken nugget or fillet, a thin beef steak, a high-value item such...

Safety over shelf-life: Thai consumer concerns over long expiry dates driving demand for clean label ingredients

16-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Rising awareness amongst Thai consumers regarding the potential unhealthy connotations associated with long expiry dates is a key factor driving up the demand for clean label food ingredients in the country, according to leading industry experts.

Cultivated meat in the Middle East: Low consumer awareness, but huge interest once informed – GOOD Meat

16-Nov-2022 By Hui Ling Dang

Cultivated meat pioneers GOOD Meat says that consumer awareness of such products is still relatively low in the Middle East, but that there is significant interest to purchase once they have been exposed to the concept.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 37

Cleaning up snack foods: Big brand interest in cleaner and healthier options paving path for leaf protein sector

16-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The interest in cleaner and better-for-you snacks shown by big food and beverage brands, including Mondelez, Nestle and Vitasoy, is paving the way for a new specialised area of plant-based proteins to enter the market, namely the RuBisCo leaf protein.

Nuggets of truth: Increasingly demanding consumer tastes accelerating RTC and flavour innovations - Tyson

15-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Increasingly challenging consumer demands for products that can satisfy both taste and convenience needs are accelerating format and flavour innovation within the ready-to-cook (RTC) foods sector, according to Tyson’s APAC VP.

Organic observance: Japan tightens regulations for food imports and certification label sizing

15-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Japanese government has implemented tighter regulations for organic food imports, with firms required to appoint specific personnel and use standard organic certification labels to avoid being rejected.

Converting consumer demands into technical concepts key challenge for APAC’s plant-based sector

09-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The ability to accurately convert consumer demands and preferences into real, technical product concepts remains a key challenge for the plant-based sector in the APAC region, according to industry experts at Roquette.

FNA DEEP DIVE: CULTIVATED MEAT & FERMENTATION TECH

Novel protein production: APAC consumer acceptance soars but scalability still hinders affordability

09-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Novel protein production technologies such as cultivated meat and precision fermentation are seeing consumer acceptance soar in APAC, but are still some way off achieving price parity for the everyday consumer due to challenges with regulations and scale.

Animal-free dairy: New Culture attracts new funding; Change Foods eyes up Abu Dhabi for new plant: 'There is a massive commercial manufacturing capacity bottleneck in the industry'

04-Nov-2022 By Elaine Watson

Two US-based precision fermentation startups making real dairy ingredients using microbes instead of cows have announced significant developments as they gear up to launch next year in the emerging ‘animal-free dairy’ category.

Paradoxical pressures: APAC consumers demanding both food indulgence and cost-savings

03-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Both indulgence and affordability are emerging as major APAC consumer demands for food and beverages today, leaving a manufacturers with a paradoxical challenge that can only be solved using innovation.

Limited access: Indonesia drafts new risk-based rules for imported processed foods

02-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

Indonesia has decided to push ahead with plans to tighten regulations governing imported processed foods by introducing a risk-based assessment system.

Growth Asia Summit 2022

Proof and pride: Science-backed ingredients and sensitive marketing key for healthy ageing success in Asia

02-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

The scientific validation of ingredients and sensitive marketing strategies are key for brands to drive repeat purchases in Asia’s thriving healthy ageing category, according to an expert panel at our Growth Asia Summit 2022.

Sodium overload: One-third of Australian toddlers consuming too much salt – national study

01-Nov-2022 By Pearly Neo

One-third of toddlers in Australia are consuming excess sodium in their daily diets, with experts stating the situation is so bad that simply reducing snack or discretionary foods intakes is insufficient.