February 2022

The adoption of four production technologies for steviol glycosides by the international food standards authority Codex Alimentarius earlier this month opens doors for industry to produce and source at scale and more sustainably less-common versions of the sweetener to meet growing consumer demand for reduced-sugar products across categories.

Gone are the days when vegan and plant-based food options are nowhere to be found. As going green ethical eating continues to be among the top trends in the local dining scene, restaurants and other food spots are putting onto the plate their best take on this food movement. The latest to showcase this are local branches of international coffee brands Tim Hortons and Starbucks.

PepsiCo’s Rockstar Energy have released a new line of hemp-infused beverages.The drinks come in 3 flavours and contain less caffeine than other Rockstar products.The company wants to attract more women to the drink, per CNBC. PepsiCo is taking energy drinks in a different direction: less energy hit, more relaxation. The company is rolling out a new line of hemp-infused drinks from its Rockstar Energy Drink brand.

China-based yeast biotech company Angel Yeast is strengthening its position for clean label yeast products in North America. The company’s subsidiary Angel Yeast Egypt has received Non-GMO Project verification for 22 yeast extract and inactive dried yeast products, addressing flavor and savory qualities of food.

To meet growing customer demand for specialty fats, Cargill has started construction on a $35 million expansion of its production facility in Port Klang, Malaysia. This is the first step in a multi-year, global investment expected to exceed $100 million aimed to significantly expand the company’s global portfolio in specialty fats.

Major brands such as Nestle, Coca-Cola, Mondelez, F&N and Unilever are joining forces to drive the sustainability agenda in Malaysia, via a new alliance that will tackle plastic food and beverage packaging concerns.

Malaysia Mail

KFC Malaysia has confirmed that some of its “main menu items” are currently out of stock, just days after McDonald’s here restricted sales of its French fries due to a shortage.

Manila Bulletin

Jollibee Foods Corporation has officially opened its first Jollibee restaurant in West Malaysia at Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya. “As a major consumer market in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is an important part of Jollibee’s growth and our vision of becoming one of the top five restaurant companies in the world,” said Jollibee Group Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Tanmantiong.

Daily Tribune

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar has instructed the National Dairy Authority (NDA) and Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to ramp up milk production to match the increasing demand for the commodity.
“There is a huge potential in the sector but the challenge continues at all levels. But just because the challenge is there, we cannot be complacent and fail to persevere,” Dar said in a recent press conference.

FoodNavigator-Asia

Policy chiefs in the Philippines have circulated guidelines for food firms to eliminate the use of Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA) in pre-packaged processed foods by next year, including prohibiting the use of on-pack claims such as ‘TFA-free’.

The Edge Market

The Malaysian cocoa industry has good potential to penetrate the international market due to its high quality, said Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Zuraida Kamarudin.

The Jakarta Post

The fast-food giant’s fries shortage had previously hit branches in Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan.

The Jakarta Post

Grab accounts for a large chunk of gross merchandize value (GMV) in the biggest food delivery market in Southeast Asia.

The Jakarta Post

Indonesia is a leader in safety net design, including shock responsive safety nets, and now is the time to show the rest of the world how safety nets can also be catalysts for food system transformation and resilience.