Traditional and staple foods

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...

Making the most of it: How Ukrainian firm VTC has enjoyed Middle East success amid ongoing war

20-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

Placing focus on staple food trade with regions such as the Middle East and Africa, as well as diversifying its ingredient supply, have been crucial steps for Ukrainian firm Vtc Trade to enjoy business success since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out.

Sustainability amid volatility: Nestle Malaysia pushes energy, packaging and plant-based progress despite economic uncertainty

20-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

Nestle Malaysia has vowed to continue its progress in environmental and business sustainability areas such as renewable energy, recyclable packaging and plant-based product innovation even amidst current global economic instability.

Whole egg consumption promotes growth and gut microbiota in young children - Thailand RCT

20-Mar-2023 By Si Ying Thian

Prolonged whole egg supplementation has been found to positively impact adolescent growth by promoting HDL-cholesterol and health-promoting bacteria growth, according to a study on Thai rural children.

‘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.

FNA InnovATE: Rice noodle innovation

Enhancing tradition: How SEA noodle brands can tap flavour and health to succeed in saturated market

15-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

Rice noodle brands in South East Asia need to gear up product innovation efforts to create new and unusual varieties and pique consumer imagination in order to achieve further industry growth in one of the region’s most traditional markets.

Hot fuss: China kiwifruit sector faces uncertain 2023 after heatwave wreaks havoc on production

14-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

The kiwifruit sector in China is facing an uncertain 2023 after one of the most severe heatwaves ever recorded wreaked havoc on production, with even large firms having to rely on government aid to maintain resilience.

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.

What is palm oil sustainability? Forget premiumisation and complex certifications say experts

06-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

The age-old ideas that palm oil sustainability must involve complex certification processes and premium price points needs to be scrapped in order to truly achieve sustainable goals throughout the entire value chain, according to industry experts

Staple stipulations: How rice, oil and salt sectors are shaking-up innovation for APAC market growth

01-Mar-2023 By Pearly Neo

The rapid rise of health and sustainability trends in the Asia Pacific region has made its way into staple foods such as rice, edible oils and salts, with extensive new product innovation helping to propel growth, our exclusive in-depth report reveals.

‘Almost like the real deal’: Singapore’s Ha Li Fa accelerates plant-based seafood expansion

28-Feb-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore and Malaysia manufacturer Ha Li Fa’s says the success of its plant-based seafood range has accelerated its expansion into Cambodia, Brunei and Saudi Arabia.

A region infuriated: Confidence in EU trade plummets in ASEAN as palm oil sector formally unites

27-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

ASEAN consumer confidence in regional trade relations with the European Union have plummeted on the back of the latter’s recently-passed deforestation law and its impacts on various food commodities, as major palm oil producing countries in the region...

Standing strong: Nestle’s affordable products strategy boosts emerging market growth

21-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

Nestle’s strategy to focus on product affordability and accessibility appears to have paid off in 2022, with the firm seeing more significant growth from its business in emerging markets even amid inflationary and economic turbulence.

Natural powerhouse: Australia’s Northern Rivers region to become country’s Natural Products Hub

21-Feb-2023 By Tingmin Koe

The Northern Rivers region is set to become Australia’s Natural Products Hub, following an AUD$1.072 million (US$740k) investment by the government.

Sustainable strawberries: Singrow debuts commercial application of climate-resilient variety via precision ag-tech

15-Feb-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore-based agritech firm Singrow has launched what it claims is the world’s first climate-resilient strawberry variety developed by genomics technology, with wider applications in other crops and functional foods underway.

Taiwan limits use of Eucalyptus globulus leaf and extract to food flavourings from Jan 2024

14-Feb-2023 By Tingmin Koe

From January next year, the Eucalyptus globulus leaf and extract can no longer be used as a food raw material, except as a food flavouring, Taiwan authorities said.

‘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.

‘Gateway to Asia’: Future Food Asia 2023 seeks to attract international food firms to accelerate regional innovation

13-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

Organisers of the Future Food Asia (FFA) Awards 2023 have revealed a whole new awards track targeting start-ups based outside APAC, hoping that this will bring more expertise and technologies into the region.

Fortified future? China set for mass fortification of staple foods to combat deficiencies – consultation open

13-Feb-2023 By Pearly Neo

China is considering mandating mass nutritional fortification for various staple foods in order to boost public health and combat nutrient deficiencies.

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.

Salty stakes: Philippines eyes revamp of salt industry regulations to boost productivity and self-sufficiency

31-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

The Philippines is looking to revamp the regulations governing salt production and processing in the country, in a bid to boost local productivity and reduce reliance on salt imports.

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...

Ayurvedic approach: Indian firm seeks to popularise cordyceps nutraceuticals with practitioners

30-Jan-2023 By Tingmin Koe

A Bangalore-based company specialising in the cultivation and development of nutraceuticals made of cordyceps is hoping to popularise the use of the medicinal mushrooms within India’s Ayurveda practitioners.

Riding the Fourth Wave: NO HARM DONE’s eco-friendly coffee capsules blending tradition with innovation

30-Jan-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore eco-friendly coffee capsule brand NO HARM DONE says its newly introduced local-inspired coffee capsules, including Gula Melaka Kopi and Choco Kopi flavours, have been a hit with the domestic market, as it now seeks regional expansion.

Palm oil trade war? South East Asia gears up to fight back against EU deforestation regulation

30-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

Major South East Asian palm oil producer countries are gearing up to retaliate against the European Union’s controversial deforestation regulation, with the situation rapidly devolving to the point that a trade war could be on the horizon.

‘Sold deceptively’: Indian regulator warns against plant-based ghee, butter products carrying 'dairy terms'

26-Jan-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has told food bosses to check if they sell ‘vegan ghee’ or ‘vegan butter’ products, calling branding that contains dairy terminology ‘misleading’.

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...

Advancing agritech: Sustenir makes foray into precision agriculture with GABA gains

25-Jan-2023 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore indoor vertical farming firm Sustenir has taken its first steps into precision agriculture by increasing levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in its kale.

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.

Boiled peanuts could help overcome child peanut allergy, clinical trial shows

13-Jan-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Boiling peanuts for up to 12 hours could help overcome children’s allergic reactions, according to the results of a clinical trial at Flinders University and SAHMRI in Australia which found up to 80% of children with peanut allergy became desensitised...

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.

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.

Anti-colorectal cancer effects of spice compounds warrant further human study: Review

10-Jan-2023 By Gary Scattergood

Bioactive spice-derived compounds require studies using dietary doses to properly determine their preventive effects against colorectal cancer (CRC in humans), according to a review by Asian, European and South American researchers.

Expiration experimentation: South Korea embarks on nationwide project to set ‘use-by’ dates for food and beverage products

03-Jan-2023 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean government is implementing a nationwide project to set ‘use-by’ dates for some 2,000 food and beverage items, in its latest move in an attempt to cut national food waste.

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.

Subsidy success: Multi-billion cash handout to farmers helps China achieve bumper soy and grain outputs

20-Dec-2022 By Hui Ling Dang

China’s decision to provide additional subsidies to soybean and grain producers appears to have reaped rewards, with the state officials claiming the former increased by 27% and the latter hitting record levels.

GM food in India: Debate reignited after food security and trade concerns drive government to assess rules

14-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

The Indian government appears to be softening its stance as ‘no-GMO’ country in light of ongoing food security and trade disputes – sparking fresh debate in the country.

RSPO RT2022

‘Ownership still lacking’: FMCG brands need to step up public support of sustainable palm oil – RSPO leadership

12-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

FMCG food and beverage brands making popular consumer products need to step up and publicly support sustainable palm oil in order to make a real impact in the sector, according to leaders of the RSPO.

Poppy seed panic: Australian food firms stress poisoning cases ‘outside of brands’ control’ amid nationwide recalls

05-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

Food firms in Australia affected by recent poppy seed recalls after an outbreak of severe food poisonings say the situation was beyond their control, amid government warnings that non-food grade poppy seeds ‘incorrectly’ entered the supply chain.

Pride and palm oil: PepsiCo calls for big brand sustainability involvement to attract smallholder producers

05-Dec-2022 By Pearly Neo

Food giant PepsiCo believes that the involvement of major food and beverage brands in palm oil sustainability initiatives is crucial to attract smallholder producers and make a bigger impact.

‘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.

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