Monday

Methyl Yellow -- how do you know it is present?

Did you know that Methyl Yellow is used as an indicator in chemical reactions?
There are currently no easy way to test for the presence of this colourant in food.

If your company tests for the presence of Methyl Yellow, please let us know which assay method is used.

It is important to quantitatively determine the presence of such substances as quickly as possible

Methyl Yellow

Did you know that Methyl Yellow is used as an indicator in chemical reactions?

What mothers want for their children

In a survey reported on http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com, it seems that mothers seek simple nutrition over trendy ingredients, according to a staff reporter (24 March 2009) who wrote:

"Mothers looking to purchase healthy foods for their children are less attracted by “trendy” ingredients like omega-3s than they are by the simple benefits delivered in nutritious food, according to a nationwide survey.

Conducted by Just Kid Inc (JKI), a researcher focused on the market for children’s products, the study found that health and nutrition was a priority for 86 percent of mothers when purchasing foods for their children.

Simple nutrition

However, when it came to specific ingredients thought to contribute to health and nutrition, mothers were “not as interested in sophisticated ingredients as they were some basic, simple benefits like ‘fresh’ and ‘balanced nutrition’,” said the group.

“They give mid-level ratings to some traditionally-important nutrients, like calcium, protein, etc., while they rate more trendy nutrients like omega-3s and choline at the bottom of their priority list. At the end of the day, moms are seeking a more authentic form of health, linked very closely to the food,” said managing director of JKI Research & Strategy Amy Henry.

The 30-minute online survey canvassed views of 3,600 mothers of kids aged 2-14. The nationally representative sample included over 700 African American mothers and over 700 Hispanic mothers.

The findings, released publically early this year, indicated that although mothers remain focused on nutrition, 96 percent of respondents said they are also influenced by their children’s preferences."

To read the rest of this paper, go to:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Consumer-Trends/Mothers-seek-simple-nutrition-over-trendy-ingredients-survey

Illegal yellow prompts spate of spice recalls

This article by Jess Halliday, dated 10-Apr-2009 was published on Food Navigator.com and should be noted after the Sudan Red recall in 2005. She writes:


"The presence of banned colouring methyl yellow in food spices in Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Germany has led to a slate of recalls; although not affecting finished foods for now, the issue is reminiscent of the Sudan Red recalls of 2005.

On April 1 the Belgian food safety authority AFSCA/FAVV said it had been notified that the banned colour had been detected in routine checks made by companies on curry powder imported by a Belgian company from India.

Consequently, the authority decided to recall all contaminated curry, curry pastes, and curry-based spice mixes from the importer. All batches of curry in which the colour has been detected are to be destroyed, and all spice mixes in which curry from the contaminated batches has been used unless they test negative to methyl yellow (below 15 ppb).

Although the methyl yellow issue appears relatively contained and, so far, no finished products have been recalled from shelves, the issue is reminiscent of the Sudan Red recall of 2005, when the carcinogenic dye was detected in a Worcester sauce product produced by UK company Premier Foods."

To read the rest of the paper, go to:
http://www.foodnavigator.com/Product-Categories/Food-safety-and-labelling/Illegal-yellow-prompts-spate-of-spice-recalls


cmbblignaut@ewklibrary.com

Wednesday

More ....or less Action

Creativity and Innovation in an economic downturn?

So much were written about innovation -- about turning creativity into action.

And then everything changed.
The world changed.

Job security is no more.
Consumers are tightening their belts.
What about 'innovation'?
What about 'new products'?

Is there currently a place for innovation?
Surely their is no money to gamble away on creative 'things'?

Perhaps it is time to make sure that your creative ideas are not percieved by consumers or clients as 'crazy' ideas. It is easy to talk about innovation -- everybody does it. It is such a great buzz word. Unfortunately, only a few professionals actually succeed in turning words into profit. Only a few companies succeed where others have failed.

Why do they succeed?

They understand that 'innovation' is not just 'talk' -- it is hard, disciplined work. It is a process and procedures, despite the free thinking creativitity that is such an important part of innovation. They make the consumer part of the development process. They invest in innovative activities and actions. They teach their employees to be creative -- no matter what the economic situation. They make it a way of life in their companies. They know that economic woes are part of the ebb and flow in business -- and they plan for it, work with it and turn it to their advantage.

In FMCG, understanding consumer wants and -desires are extremely important -- especially now in an economic downturn. It is discouraging to read that many companies are cutting back on innovation -- or is it? The companies of tomorrow will analyze the new playing field created by the economic downturn and find new, profitable avenues for new products. Companies that look to the future cannot afford to slow down innovation in such conditions -- at least not if they want to be first in the market with the products consumers can afford in this economic climate. Perhaps that will differentiate today's companies from tommorrow's success stories?
Who knows......

CMB
 
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