The scale of Singapore’s challenge to achieve 30% food self-sufficiency by 2030 has been underlined by new data released by the city state’s national food agency.
The Australian beverage sector has hit out at veiled warnings of price increases and tax hikes for soft drinks detailed in the country’s latest obesity strategy, claiming that such policy measures are ineffective.
While consumers are clamouring for healthier beverages across APAC, spanning sugar reduction and the added functionality, the regulatory landscape still poses a significant challenge for brands.
The recently adopted CODEX framework for stevia looks set to propel the sweetener into new APAC markets, with industry insiders hailing the prospect of more standardised regulations.
South Korea has expanded its food safety and monitoring guidelines to tighten control over food and beverage products that are directly purchased by consumers from foreign countries, with implications for items bought via e-commerce.
From new hemp regulations in India, to Singapore’s sugary beverage control policy, and plant-based labelling in multiple countries, we bring you five must-know policies and regulations that look set to have a significant impact on the Asia Pacific food...
A study in Japan has shown how alkaline ionised water can increase the pH level of enamel surface after consumption of acidic beverages, suggesting its practical use in preventing dental erosion.
Food and beverage brands are increasingly turning to Chinese video platform Bilibili to develop videos better catered to the country’s Gen Z audience, with many securing millions of views.
Fruit product heavyweight Dole has revealed that it is focusing heavily on the use of new technologies and collaborations to overcome sugar reduction challenges for its packaged products portfolio, in hopes of reaching its 2025 zero processed sugar sustainability...
Hygiene standards, at-home experiences and the vegan and healthy trend are expected to form the post-pandemic future of the food and beverage industry in two of the world’s largest economies, China and India.
A Malaysian firm that built a niche for itself within the country’s billion-dollar sweetened condensed milk market as the first product of its kind to use stevia instead of sugar has now set its sights on a major expansion drive.
Australia’s Famous Soda Co is embarking on plans to expand its better-for-you product portfolio beyond beverages to confectionery, as well as setting its sights on expansion into the ASEAN market.
A Singapore agri-food marketplace harbours ambitions of being the halal-tech world’s first unicorn, even though it started off modestly and remains largely bootstrapped.
Kerry is preparing to ramp-up promotion of its plant-based innovation service to brands in APAC and the Middle East, while also doubling down on emerging taste trends and better-for-you product innovation.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has launched a nationwide investigation into a widespread local honey adulteration scandal and is mulling ‘better’ test methods – but researchers are calling for the agency to take more ‘stronger,...
Singapore-based ice cream firm Kelato Dolce plans to first build up its market with health-conscious dessert lovers, before expanding to cater to more niche areas with products offering more functional benefits.
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.
Food product reformulation and fortification efforts still need to maintain good taste in order to ensure consumer acceptance so that these efforts don’t go to waste - even with the health and wellness trend growing in APAC, according to a panel of industry...
Local governments in Australia need to play a bigger role in developing areas such as boosting food product reformulation and limiting the marketing of unhealthy food products if the country is to create a truly comprehensive healthy food environment...
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.
Cross-country food innovation team Swiftlet has developed what it believes to be the world’s first sugar replacement blend with a combination of multiple benefits ranging from zero-GI and zero calories to gut health value owing to added prebiotics.
The man behind Australian sugar-free candies firm Sugarless Confectionery Jacques Aubry has detailed how he plans to expand in Singapore, and launch in new markets including Canada and Zambia.
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.
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...
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.
Public health researchers have pushed for governments to develop policies and guidelines targeting ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as a whole, instead of focusing on individual nutrients such as salt and sugar, based on the findings of a new study report.
Australian Aboriginal group Noongar Land Enterprise Group (NLE) is targeting a premium market for its Ngooka honey based on its anti-microbial and health-promoting properties, which the group’s CEO says is likely comparable with that of manuka honey.
Stevia firm SweeGen is eyeing China as a major new market due to the local government’s Healthy China 2030 public health goal, which looks to significantly reduce sugar consumption in the country.
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.
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...
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.
Researchers in New Zealand have revealed that a mint product can control sugar cravings by suppressing the sweet taste receptors on the tongue, leading to an overall decrease in desire to consume sweet foods.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Snacking has evolved from being a convenient and comforting experience before Covid-19 to a more food conscious and healthy activity during the pandemic, two market experts claim.
Tate & Lyle has completed its first clinical study on the consumption of its soluble corn fibre (SCF) on the glucose response in an Asian population, with the research suggesting it can offer significant benefits.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) has announced that it will be retaining just one of three major quality parameters used to test honey pureness authenticity that were previously removed, whilst also putting the onus on syrup importers...
Both the APAC soft drinks and energy drinks markets are amongst the largest worldwide, but rising health and sugar reduction trends within the industry have dealt mighty blows to both beverage categories. In this edition of the FNA Deep Dive, we take...
AI solutions to track and trace raw materials and ingredients will likely gather pace in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, where supply chains were disrupted and many firms had to source supplies from alternative providers.
Volume sales of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have declined over the past 22 years in Australia by almost one-third despite the country's ongoing obesity problem, with industry leaders claiming this calls into question repeated calls for a sugar...
Consumers in Saudi Arabia have drastically ramped-up their online purchases of food products in the the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, new data reveals.
The COVID-19 epidemic has led to a rebound in demand for plant extracts with immune-boosting effects, but a China industry expert has warned there are difficulties in exporting the goods due to logistic supply chain problems.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Economy has revealed a new initiative to reduce the prices of 5,000 food and supermarket goods with discounts ranging between 25% to 60% as the Ramadan month draws near.
We take a look at the five top trends that look set to shape the Asia Pacific food and beverage industry in 2020, from fortification to cell-based development to sustainability and more.
