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Last Updated: Sep 25th, 2009 - 18:15:38 |
* A new invention: [a] "dairy by-product offers natural preserving alternative to chlorine"… "'whey permeate', which is a by-product of cheese production, could be a food preserver…" ; there is talk that it "could be a promising alternative to chlorine for sanitising fresh-cut vegetables". Consumers could end up with "sliced carrots and fresh-cut lettuce" being dipped into a dairy product. Be aware of lactic yeast extracts. Completely natural, but a dairy product where you least expect. It is not here yet, but will it be noted on the label?
* Casein has been suggested for "natural nano-encapsulation potential". "Milk protein nanotubes offer encapsulation potential"—how will we know when dairy has been used?
* "…DSM research … revealed cost reduction and creating innovative, added value products were the two main concerns facing its dairy customers". Fabuless, a weight management ingredient, and Lafti probiotics are in the development stage.
"Added value has become somewhat of a buzzword in the dairy industry in recent years, as firms look to increase returns and tap into growing consumer trends for health and wellness foods". "…keen to increase its share in the probiotics sector, which has shown promising potential in yogurt, dairy drinks and cheese. The group is also keen to expand its increasing Fabuless range into new markets."
* Now for something different: "nutricosmetics"-- in an society that refuses to age, an instant fix sounds just wonderful. Or does it? "Danone is planning to introduce a new line of cosmetic yogurts next year…as it seeks the next level of differentiation in the …functional dairy market…." Its "next move into beauty foods propels it into another hot new area—beauty foods purported to improve appearance by working from the inside-out." The yogurt will be "named Essensis, will have detoxifiying properties that will reflect on skin health"… "the area of overlap between dietary supplement and cosmetics companies has been growing…worth around US$1bn on a global basis…"nutricosmetics".
Leatherhead Food International will call these "skingestibles". They have been looking for "opportunities eyeing this market, such as catering to consumers' self-esteem issues". "While there is not yet enough information on the product design or the supporting science to judge the real value of Danone's new offering to consumers, already there are some signs that the cosmetics foods market could be marred by gimmicky products containing ingredients that sound good, but do not deliver on that promise". "For instance, collagen-containing marshmallows…marketed to plump out the lips and cheeks [in Japan], have attracted criticism from nutrition experts who say that the ingested collagen is used for many functions within the body and would not be routed directly to the lips" [Ahh, but maybe the hips???]
* Modified whey protein is to be added to processed meats.
* EU considers cloned milk "…could offer protection during processing and storage, as well as extending the food applications of the bacteria to biscuits, vegetables and frozen cranberry juice…" Care will be needed for vegans and non-dairy people—as these are very unexpected places to look for dairy.
Improving dairy's image
*The dairy industry is taking note of critics, including Jane. One major supermarket in the U.K. and many of the major dairy firms around the world will be working together in order "…to promote the health qualities of milk as concerns rise over a growing anti-dairy league" according to Dairy Reporter.com. The aim is to "improve dairy products" [sic] image". "the UK has become a central battle ground in the dairy dispute…"
The largest supermarket in the UK has "agreed to throw its weight behind the Milk Development Council to 'educate' British consumers about the health benefits of milk." This chain will be aiming this campaign at women "by placing signs and adverts throughout stores, as well as publishing recipe cards and mailing its many… clubcard holders". Part of this has been fuelled by "concerns in the UK that young women in particular are not getting enough calcium in their diets. A survey last year found that between 70 and 80% of British children aged 11-18 years were consuming less than the recommended daily intake of calcium". [Please remember that calcium is available in many more foodstuffs than just dairy]
Would this be deficiency be due to the fact that they are 'junking' out' –i.e. not eating 'proper' food, but processed food which can be devoid of nutrition?
* "Tea, but no milk, please: How to beat heart disease" a report from The Independent newspaper. The BBC also made mention of this interesting tidbit. It appears that if tea is good for you, having it with dairy "counteracts any beneficial effects". This report was published in the European Heart Journal. "The study said: "black tea significantly improved FMD [flow-mediated dilation] in humans compared with water, whereas addition of milk completely blunted the effects of tea." The researchers believe that proteins in milk, called caseins, could be to blame for the negative effect".
Cheese is junk food—official!
*The National Farmers' Union is up in arms. Why? Well, it appears that cheese has been labelled 'junk food' and will not be allowed advertising time when children are watching telly. Words such as 'unfair' have been cited. The fact that it is high in fat and salt does not seem to make an impact on the producers. "There is no such thing as a bad food. It is just how much you eat, in what balance…" Advertising works, otherwise, no one would pay for adverts on TV, in newspapers, magazines or movie theatres.
*"DSM Dairy Ingredients is committed to delivering increased yields and cost saving solutions as well as facilitating the development of new products that have high consumer appeal". Each "Dairy Improver" helps manufacturers gain processing benefits…ease of use, shortened production time, enhanced stability and quality, reduced costs and improved profitability'.
* "Cows can make skimmed milk" in addition—"New Zealand researchers said they plan to breed cows capable of producing milk that is ideal for spreadable butter". And, "Benefits of omega-3 fed cows passed onto consumers---the meat could increase the omega-3 content. A human would need to eat two 85g/.3 oz portions of beef daily to receive 140g of omega-3—[there are much healthier sources].
* Lastly, I tell you of exciting news!
Now that anything and everything is now blogged or put on webcam, one cheese manufacturer has announced that people will now be able to watch a cheddar cheese mature. Oooh! Right up there with watching paint dry. Actually, the press release did use the word "bizarre" and "boring" in almost the same breath. How could I not mention this story?
[unless otherwise stated, all quotes in my articles are from FOOD NAVIGATOR
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