Industry Trends
June 2024
See what has been happening in Asia’s food and beverage industries over the last weeks. What are experts and industry magazines talking about?
What has been happening?
Beer drinkers concerned about sustainable purchasing choices, Cocoa gel optimizes texture of whole-fruit chocolate, Hero ingredients drive health and well-being claims, and more. Find out what journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.
Latest Industry Articles
Beer drinkers are concerned about sustainable purchasing choices, survey reveals
An international survey by Pall Corporation, a company that provides technology to reduce waste and slash the amount of water used in beer production, has revealed that beer drinkers are willing to pay more for their favorite alcoholic beverages if it helps ease the planet’s ongoing global warming crisis.
Cocoa gel optimizes texture of whole-fruit chocolate, reveals Swiss study
Swiss researchers at ETH Zurich and industry stakeholders have developed a sweetening gel from cacaofruit that can help replace the need for conventional refined sugar in chocolate. The result is a healthier product with a lower environmental impact than traditional chocolate, the researchers state.
Hero ingredients drive health and well-being claims while attracting consumer attention
In the realm of health food ingredients, there is a notable and growing emphasis on natural, plant-based and functional ingredients. Consumers are increasingly seeking out products that offer nutritional benefits but also contribute to their overall well-being. Slated as “hero” ingredients, yeast and collagen offer enhanced attributes in food and product formulation.
Howtian’s new stevia ingredient slated to improve taste, cost and beverage performance
Sugar reduction in beverages is a common threefold challenge — taste, cost and performance — of achieving reductions in sugar content while maintaining clean and natural product labels.
Gelita launches Optibar for soft and sugar-free protein bars
Gelita has launched its new Optibar collagen blend to allow manufacturers to create “future-proof, next-generation” protein bars that are both soft and low sugar.
If you struggle with insomnia, maybe it’s time to ditch ultra-processed foods
MalayMail
From cancer to diabetes to depression, scientists have sounded the alarm about the consequences of eating ultra-processed foods (UPFs). In fact, the harmful effects could be even more far-reaching, to the point of impacting sleep.
Sweegen Introduces New Sweetener Flavors
Sweetensify will “change how product developers think about reducing or eliminating sugar.
Sweetener in corn: Ginkgo partners with GreenLab to scale natural sugar substitute production
Ginkgo Bioworks has joined forces with US-based plant biotech company GreenLab to scale the production of brazzein — a sweet-tasting protein found in the fruit of the native West African Oubli plant. The novel sweetener has a sweetness factor up to 2,000 times greater than sucrose and finds widespread applications across F&B products.
Consumers are ‘overwhelmed’ by ‘confusing’ gut health marketing, Danone finds
The maker of Activia tells us what matters most when it comes to effectively communicating information about gut well-being to consumers.
Prolific Machines propels alt-protein production with light and AI
FoodIngredients First
US-based innovator Prolific Machines is “ushering in a new era of biomanufacturing” by harnessing light and AI to grow and control cells through a photomolecular biomanufacturing platform that can optimize cultivated meat, nutritional protein production and other food tech innovations.
3 types of ultra-processed foods that may be healthier than homemade
Business Insider
Roughly 60% of the American diet is ultra-processed. It is near impossible to avoid ultra-processed foods. But some processed foods may be more dangerous than others. Scientists suggest picking out whole grains like oats, vegetables, and beans, while limiting sugar.
AB Food & Beverages Thailand and Jebsen & Jessen expand malt distribution in Southeast Asia
Food Ingredients First
Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients (JJING) and AB Food & Beverages Thailand (ABFT), a subsidiary of Associated British Foods, have forged a new partnership to expand malt distribution across Southeast Asia.
Arla Foods pairs with Mondelēz in first confectionery brand partnership
Dairy Reporter
The collaboration with the confectionery giant will create ‘a unique and enticing proposition for consumers’, says the dairy co-operative as it hints: this is just the beginning.
Evonik receives platinum rating for sustainability from EcoVadis
Evonik
Rating agency EcoVadis has awarded Evonik a platinum rating for its achievements in sustainability . The specialty chemicals company thus ranks among the top one percent of companies rated by EcoVadis in the past 12 months.
One in every ten Thai children suffers from malnutrition due to poverty
KhaoSod English
A new report from UNICEF reveals that over 1 in 10 children under 5 in Thailand are not getting enough food. These children eat only two types of food daily, which can harm their health and development… UNICEF is urging the government, organizations, donors, civil society, and the food industry to take action, including Making healthy and varied foods more available and affordable for families.
‘Clear direction’ needed: Thailand drafts new alt-protein policies that ban certain animal-related terms for plant-based products
FoodNavigator Asia
The Thai government has published draft regulations on governance over the alternative proteins industry starting with the plant-based sector, and has suggested banning certain animal-related terms but allowing others.
Asian expansion ambitions: Vector Consumer enhances collagen portfolio with Dose & Co acquisition
UK’s Vector Consumer has enhanced its collagen supplement portfolio with the acquisition of New Zealand-origin Dose & Co, and hopes to tap on its experience in Asia to grow the brand’s presence in the region.
China’s new food security law poised to crack down on food waste and boost grain processing
China recently passed a new food security law, the first of its kind, to achieve “absolute self-sufficiency” in the supply of grain and related products. The law provides a legal framework for strengthening the country’s food security and covers the grain supply process, from production to processing. Under the regulation, grain processors must comply with relevant industry standards relating to the quality and security of the produce.
Final order: Philippines formalises new regulations requiring food firms to declare ‘sample’ foods entering the market
The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has formalised new regulations requiring food firms to obtain a new specific ‘Samples Only’ import permit for all products meant for research use after a year of deliberations.
Hard cell? Expert opinions clash over GOOD Meat’s 3% cultivated chicken launch in Singapore
Cultivated meat brand GOOD Meat’s recent retail launch of a new chicken product in Singapore has divided experts across the food industry as to whether this is a step forward for the sector or simply a means to cut costs amidst the firm’s financial struggles.
China approves safety of gene-edited wheat
The Chinese government has granted approval for the production of the country’s inaugural gene-edited wheat variety, a significant step towards the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) food crops.
DPM Zahid: Uruguay eager to deepen collaboration with Malaysia in halal meat, dairy market
The Uruguayan government, represented by The Institute of National Meat of Uruguay (INAC), has expressed a keen interest in furthering its collaboration with Malaysia in the halal meat and dairy market. The focus will be on expanding efforts to export beef to other nations, particularly aiming to penetrate the South-east Asian market, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
Miguelitos eyes overseas franchise for ice cream, sees strong demand
Filipino ice cream maker Miguelitos International Corp. is set to launch franchises in New Zealand and Dubai as it expects strong international demand, according to its top official. The company will open outlets in Auckland and Dubai, Miguelito’s President Michelle A. Aman told BusinessWorld in a video interview. “We got a master franchise in Dubai because we put an exhibit there for export and they saw that our business model is good.
Is Singapore’s 30 by 30 food security goal still achievable? Only if we have a model that works
The local farming sector – in particular, vegetable farms – has been facing many difficulties.
FDA Myanmar warns against unregistered drugs, including Coralan-5
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Myanmar has issued a notification advising against the use of unregistered drugs, including […].
Potential for increase in Malaysian food exports to Japan
There is potential for further increase in Malaysian food exports to Japan including halal food products from Malaysia, said Japanese Parliamentary vice-minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mitsuo Takahashi.
DTI asks manufacturers, retailers to accept ‘voluntary’ prize freeze
Leading manufacturers and retailers have been pitched on adopting a “voluntary” price freeze, with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) calling on them to do their part in curbing rising prices of essential goods. In a statement on Thursday, the DTI expressed gratitude for industry’s willingness to look to the greater good. “We are profoundly grateful for the industry’s partnership in protecting the welfare of our community,” Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said.
Indonesian government to restrict use of trans fats following WHO, IPB study
The study found that many food products in Indonesia contain high levels of harmful trans fats.
‘Very different markets’: China’s immense protein needs continue to propel plant-based dairy demand – experts
China’s large population and enormous protein requirements has given the local plant-based dairy sector room to continue to grow in a ‘very different’ way from plant-based meat, according to local industry leader Yeyo.
Soy connection: Singapore start-up Jiro-Meat looks to commercialise okara-based meat alternative by this year
Singapore start-up Jiro-Meat is scaling up production of its plant-based meat made from upcycled soy pulp, with the aim of commercialisation within the next six months.
‘Shortcutting the process’: Thailand’s Buono credits plant-based success to portfolio variety and move away from meat replacements
FoodNavigator-Asia
Thailand-based plant-based specialist firm Buono believes that the success of its business can be credited to its portfolio variety which focuses on more unique products as opposed to meat replacements.
Related Articles & Trends
Food Trends – December 2024
Dec 11, 2024
Plant-based alternatives found to match or surpass animal products nutritionally worldwide, Is maple the smarter sweetener, and more. Find out what journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.
Food Trends – November 2024
Nov 11, 2024
Visual appeal crucial to deliver healthier beverages to children, Microbial yeast protein must expand product formats in order to reach larger audience, A growing trend in functional wellness, and more. Find out what journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.
Food Trends – October 2024
Oct 10, 2024
Plant-based trends thrive, Tapping rosemary for enhanced meat and bakery shelf life, Animal-free precision fermentation-based casein, and more. Find out what journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.
