The Chinese government has issued a series of warnings and directives on the consumption of fermented foods, counterfeit foods and beverages on the back of a deadly mass food poisoning event and the rapid rise of food fraud cases in the past year.
Asian seafood giant Thai Union has revealed plans to launch a range of plant-based products comprising both seafood and non-seafood items this year in response to high consumer demand - and believes its longstanding seafood expertise will give it an edge...
A study by researchers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and China has found that the levels of iron, chromium, cadmium and nickel in fish caught from the Red Sea exceeded the levels recommended by various authorities such as the EU, FAO, and WHO.
Nestle Malaysia CEO Juan Aranols has outlined the production and marketing strategies for the firm’s venture into the plant-based arena, although he believes it ‘will take time’ for the sector to reach its full potential in Asia.
South Korea-based food technology firm Phyto Corporation (PhytoCo) has doubled the sodium reduction rate of its world-first plant-based salt PhytoSalt - making it the only salt worldwide capable of reducing sodium intake by 40%.
Indonesia and China have been highlighted by experts as major opportunity markets for halal F&B brands looking to internationalise their products post-COVID-19, banking on rising purchasing power and government support in both countries – though some...
Halal food and beverage brands looking to penetrate the Japanese market have been urged to look beyond just ‘halal’ as a unique selling point, in addition to paying closer attention to translational branding and prices.
Singapore halal authority MUIS has highlighted several guidelines for food firms to heed in order to smoothen their product export process - including prioritising consistency and labelling - as it encourages the local industry to tap into the trillion-dollar...
E-commerce giant JD has seen a boom in organic product sales in China after working with brand partners to establish the country’s first-ever organic alliance, with the firm saying demand has been boosted by consumers seeking 'safer and healthier'...
The Singapore-based research team which discovered that plastic has a potentially lower environmental footprint than cotton and paper bags has confirmed that this discovery can also be applied to the plastic food packaging used by the majority of food...
Experts predict that the incoming United States administration of President-elect Joe Biden will mean positive news for the food and beverage industry in the Asia Pacific region, especially when it comes to food-related investments and repairing trade...
We reveal the top 10 most viewed brands stories from the APAC food and beverage industry in 2020, featuring big brand names like Mondelez, Nestle and Heineken as well as up-and-coming brands like cell-based milk firm Turtletree Labs.
New research has criticised the rapid rise in ultra-processed food consumption in Asia over public health concerns, urging total avoidance of these foods, but others are urging further research into the area in the name of food security before such an...
More studies are emerging of food products as a potential carrier for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus causing COVID-19, according to new review of the research, but there is no evidence of it leading to transmissions.
F&B firms and governments in Asia will need to step up and provide more reassurance regarding food product safety and supply chain transparency to local consumers, as recent studies have revealed a vast lack of confidence in several parts of the region.
Commercialisation of smart and active packaging is failing to fulfil its potential in the food and beverage sector, largely limited by regulations, cost, safety and accuracy issues.
Australian packaging experts say the food industry needs to tread a fine line between meeting recyclable packaging goals while at the same time preventing a spike in food waste.
A new report commissioned by the United Nations (UN) has urged the Indonesian government to increase its focus on food diversity and nutrient fortification within the local food supply to combat rising nutrition-related issues such as obesity and anaemia.
New US-Singapore tech that utilises silk proteins to preserve food and extend shelf-life is moving into the commercialization space with high-value products including fresh fruit and meat.
The New Zealand government’s announcement of a market study into the supermarkets industry to review areas such as competition, product pricing and procurement has been warmly welcomed by the local food industry.
Only 220 foreign brands have been certified as organic in China, versus almost 14,000 local products, with traceability concerns and consumer scepticism over certification systems seemingly blighting what should be a booming category.
Thai seafood giant Thai Union has opened a South East Asian operation in Singapore dedicated to food tech ventures, citing the excellent opportunities to make good regional collaborations as a major deciding factor for choosing the city-state to set up...
Around half of all supermarkets in Japan have plans to increase their range of processed and prepared food products, followed by fresh fruits and vegetables and meat, according to recent reports.
China has highlighted local meat and poultry industry self-sufficiency goals for the country, emphasising the need for green technology to overcome challenges such as crisis response and slow industrialisation.
China is looking to virtual ‘spot checks’ on incoming food imports and tightened cold chain management guidelines in an attempt to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 in the country as winter arrives and increasing cases of virus have been found on frozen...
The New Zealand food and grocery industry is calling for the creation of a Grocery Code of Conduct to ensure that a balance is maintained between retailers and suppliers, especially after an ‘aggressive’ buying model change by major retailer Foodstuffs.
Nation’s need to better secure local and regional food production, especially in light of the Covid-19-related supply chain disruptions, if they are going to tap into the booming halal opportunities in the Middle East and Asia.
Japan will end the flexible enforcement of food labelling regulations that were implemented after the country was hit by torrential storms leading to a series of floods and landslides back in July.
Indonesia’s highly controversial omnibus law will impact the local food and beverage industry in a raft of ways, including potentially creating better access to food ingredient imports and streamlining business licensing requirements.
South Korea has established CBD content limits for hemp foods in the country, as well as established meal kits as an individual new food category under regulatory governance after consumer demand for these soared during COVID-19.
Cell-based meat firms looking to enter China would do well to differentiate themselves from plant-based meat and refocus primary messaging away from ethics and sustainability if they aim to gain widespread appeal, according to a local expert.
The Indian government’s approval of 27 new projects to improve local cold chain infrastructure has met with fervent approval from the local food and retail industry, which believes this will help to both boost the export potential of the local agri-food...
In this episode of our Food and Beverage Trailblazers podcast, we speak to the CEO and Co-Founder of Singapore-based microalgae food firm Sophie’s BioNutrients Eugene Wang about his aspirations to create food for space travel, and why he believes ‘hybrid’...
A new World Economic Forum (WEF) report commissioned for the Chinese government’s research and policy arm has urged the country to employ green technologies to tackle its local food safety, food waste and environmental challenges – but also warned that...
Australia’s food industry has cautioned regulators not to impose new rules for Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) for food products, with the nation’s trade body citing cost and compliance concerns from its members.
China is planning to revise safety standards governing multiple processed foods and nutritional ingredients in its latest initiative to battle food contamination and adulteration in the country.
Alibaba’s new purchase of a US$3.6bn controlling stake in China hypermarket major Sun Art Retail Group is likely to create a large shift in supplier-distributor dynamics locally – with one analyst predicting it will be brands which may lose out.
China alternative protein specialist investment firm Dao Foods believes that cell-based meat is ‘the future’ of protein for the country, but is concentrating on plant-based firms for its first investment fund for now as local consumers are still unable...
India has been keen to position itself as a champion for global food supply and security ever since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out – but new data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) may indicate it needs to save the poor...
New Zealand’s High-Value Nutrition (HVN) National Science Challenge is continuing its partnership with manufacturer Sanford to fund a third research project into the benefits of Greenshell mussels (GSM).
Sydney-based start-up Seeweedery is transforming processing waste such as prawn shells into prawn oil for cooking, rescuing some of the flavours and nutrients lost, wasted or underutilised in Australia’s seafood supply chain.
Australian researchers have called out the local food system for being uncoordinated and overly complex in its governance, urging the government to work out a coherent and strategic approach for food-related policy-making.
Canada’s Parkland County is looking to attract major food and beverage companies from Asia to set up local processing facilities, banking on its location, investor assistance and the many trade agreements that Canada has in place with nearby countries...
The Australian food and beverage industry says a new government manufacturing strategy will propel exports, boost jobs and revitalise its stagnant capital investment environment.
Experts have weighed in on the importance of educating consumers on the concept of healthy ageing, and upcoming innovations in ingredients and delivery formats to drive the concept in the rapidly ageing Asia-Pacific region.
Consumers in the plant-based space space are still being driven by ethical and sustainable motivations when making purchases – while criticism is beginning to mount about their possible nutritional benefits.