Top NPD Trends: Products containing protein

Fry’s plant-based mince sees Tesco launch​

UK plant-based brand Fry’s Family Food has launched its plant-based mince in supermarket retailer Tesco. Its Shape & Sizzle Mince, according to the brand, is high in fibre, low in saturated fat and a good source of protein.

The mince is made from non-GM soya and is, according to the brand, ‘shapeable’, which means that it has a lot of versatility.

“We believe our Shape & Sizzle Mince is the first ever shapeable plant-based mince in UK supermarkets, which means consumers will now have a lot more versatility when it comes to making their favourite family meals. The mince works well for meatballs, burgers and koftas as well as other classics such as Bolognese, shepherd’s pie and lasagna”, says Emma Herring, head of marketing at Fry’s.

The mince is available in Tesco at an RRP of £2.50 for 300g.

Müller ​teams up with Myprotein for protein-filled yoghurts ​

Sports nutrition brand Myprotein is collaborating with dessert company Müller to create protein-filled yoghurts, aiming to tap into surging demand for protein-rich products.

The range, according to the brands, is HFSS-compliant. Each 500g yoghurt pot contains 49g of protein in natural flavours and 45g in vanilla. The range also includes 200g low-fat puddings and low-fat mouse, both containing 20g protein. The mouse comes in chocolate and salted caramel flavours, while the puddings come in chocolate and vanilla.

“The question we’ve been asking ourselves is how do we continue to optimise our health and nutrition range, while bringing something to the dairy aisle that is unique, appeals to expanding shopper needs, and drives further protein category growth,” said Richard Williams, CEO of Müller Yogurt & Desserts.

“What we found is that existing and new protein yogurt shoppers have some concerns around taste, credibility in terms of sports nutrition, and many can be intimidated by brand positioning which focuses on elite sports. 

Image Source: Myprotein

“So, by expanding our range and bringing together Myprotein, who are the experts in sports nutrition with Müller’s reputation for outstanding taste, we are confident that we have found the perfect pairing for shoppers.”

The range will be available from 11 September. The yoghurt pots will be sold at an RRP of £3, the puddings at £1.95, and the mouse at £2.50.

Birds Eye expands chicken shop range​

International food brand Birds Eye has announced the release of seven new products in its Chicken Shop range. The range, which aims to take advantage of the ‘fakeaway’ trend, provides consumers with classic chicken shop dishes at a retail level.

The range includes Loaded Burgers, which are available in Tennessee Style BBQ and American Style Gravy; Hickory BBQ Chicken Wings; Buttermilk Chicken Tenders; Hot & Fiery Chicken Chunks and Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings. Alongside the chicken products, the range also includes Crispy Potato Ridges.

The new items in the range are accompanied by a packaging redesign, which aims to appeal to younger consumers.

Image Source: Birds Eye

“Our Chicken Shop brand is worth over £20m RSV and having grown +30% in the past two years there is a huge opportunity beyond this for retailers. With Birds Eye’s Chicken Shop range driving incremental sales to the total frozen chicken category by bringing in younger shoppers, and with a focus on taste and inspiration from the Quick Service Restaurant sector, we’re sure that the new products in the range will help shoppers indulge in that Friday night feeling any night of the week,” said Charlotte Vause-Cross, brand manager for Chicken Shop and Birds Eye.

The range will be available in supermarket retailers from 9 September.

Subway launches new menu ​

Sandwich chain Subway is launching a new menu. The Wild & Mild menu will include spicy items, including the Furious Chicken Sub and the returning Jalapeno Cheese Bread, and milder items, such as the Steak Texicana sub. Subway’s saver menu will also see the addition of the fiery X-Spicy Nacho Chicken Sub, and, on the mild side, Subway’s first Ham and Cheese Toastie.

Subway is also releasing a new Wild & Mild sauce, which will be available as an option for those creating their own subs.  

“We’ve added a number of new Subs to both our Signature Series range and our great-value Saver Subs menu that highlight our signature sauces – plus after a five-year hiatus, we’ve finally brought back our much-loved Jalapeno Cheese Bread!” said Deniz Safa, director of regional culinary and innovation, EMEA at Subway.

Image Source: Subway

“From our latest Wild & Mild Subs to our signature sauces, we’ve really dialled up the spice levels, so whether you want fiery hot with our x-spicy chipotle Southwest sauce, or tingly mild with our mango habanero, we’ve got something to ignite your taste buds.”

All these new items are available now.

 

S’mores flavour muscle milk ​

Sports brand Muscle Milk is releasing s’mores flavoured shakes. Available for a limited time, the shakes will include notes of chocolate, marshmallow and graham crackers.

Each container, according to the brand, has only 170 calories, and includes 25 grams of protein, is a good source of vitamin A and fibre, and has no sugar.

Image Source: Muscle Milk

“With active adults seeking more protein, the limited-batch Muscle Milk S’mores Protein Shakes deliver a delicious s’mores taste with 25 grams of protein, all in a convenient grab-and-go package,” said Marissa Pines, senior marketing director at Gatorade, parent line of CytoSport, which owns Muscle Milk.

It is available to buy from Amazon as of today.



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Packaging updates anticipated in Biden administration’s waning months

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In the waning months of President Joe Biden’s administration, there are still several pending regulatory, policy and strategy actions with potential implications for packaging on the docket. Some of these updates have been a long time coming, including next steps for the Green Guides and the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, both of which had public comment periods that closed more than a year ago.

The spring 2024 unified agenda is the federal road map for upcoming agency rulemaking and guidance development. The fall 2024 unified agenda has not yet been published.

These are some of the updates that industry is still waiting for clarity on in 2024:

EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to release the finalized National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution “later this year,” an agency spokesperson recently told Packaging Dive.

The draft was released in April 2023 and called for reducing pollution in the plastic production process and at the end of life for products like packaging. At the time, EPA expected to finalize the document by year’s end. The agency said it is still revising the strategy based on nearly 92,000 comments received during last year’s public comment period, including from packaging groups and brands.

Also related to packaging, EPA is expected to take steps to revise the existing Organic Chemicals, Plastics, and Synthetic Fibers Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards, according to the unified agenda. Specifically, EPA will address PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, discharged from facilities manufacturing these “forever chemicals.” This is in the proposed rulemaking stage.

EPA is also developing “significant new use” rules related to phthalates, a class of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible. The agency is focusing on “conditions of use identified as not currently ongoing in the final scope documents for the High Priority Substances undergoing [the Toxic Substances Control Act] section 6 risk evaluations.”

USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to issue updates soon related to its BioPreferred Program, which aims to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. It includes mandatory federal purchasing requirements as well as a voluntary labeling initiative for biobased products.

The program was created by the 2002 farm bill and reauthorized and expanded in the 2018 farm bill. With the rule, USDA intends to add provisions for the Biobased Markets Program, codifying program guidance into the regulations. A public comment period was open from January to March of this year. The update also addresses how the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label may be used on packaging.

According to a USDA spokesperson, the agency has completed the updated regulation, which will be published as part of its fall 2024 regulatory agenda and take effect 30 days later.

Separately, the definition of “compost” is still under consideration following a petition last year from the Biodegradable Products Institute. BPI wanted to modernize the definition so that it accounts for composting not just as a primarily on-farm activity, but also as a commercial-scale activity that brings in food scraps and food-soiled packaging.

USDA said it referred the petition on Oct. 11, 2023, to the National Organic Standards Board for consultation. The NOSB Crops Subcommittee published a discussion document, which included requests for information, as part of its spring 2024 meeting agenda. It then gathered public comments, USDA noted. NOSB’s spring meeting featured technical presentations and discussions on compost regulations. The issue will again be discussed at NOSB’s fall meeting in Portland, Oregon, from Oct. 22-24, USDA said.

FDA, FTC and State Department

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pursuing front-of-package nutrition labeling, according to the unified agenda, which could mean design changes for packaged foods. Regulators say that the reason for this would be “to help consumers, including those who are busy and those with lower nutrition knowledge, make more informed dietary choices.” Additionally, the proposed rule “is being developed as part of a broader, whole-of-government approach to help reduce the burden of chronic disease and advance health equity by helping to improve dietary patterns in the United States.” FDA launched research to inform effective design in 2023.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has offered no public updates on its review of the Green Guides, which are guidelines for environmental marketing intended to guide companies’ acceptable use of labels like “recyclable” or “compostable” on product packaging.

Clarity on the FTC’s position could be especially important as companies seek to comply with different states’ labeling laws and emerging state extended producer responsibility laws create more rules. The FTC was considering updating the guides for the first time since 2012. An agency spokesperson told Packaging Dive this summer that the agency was still working to develop the draft updated Green Guides, analyzing numerous comments and public hearing feedback from over a year ago.

In addition to developing plastic pollution strategy domestically, the U.S. is engaged in plastic pollution policy abroad. A fifth meeting scheduled to negotiate an international agreement to limit plastic pollution by the end of 2024 is slated for Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 in Busan, Korea.

The Biden administration previously faced criticism from environmental groups for focusing on strategies around end-of-life management like recycling versus capping plastic production. But it recently evolved its position to support targets for decreasing overall plastic production and potentially negotiating a list of chemicals and problematic or avoidable plastics to phase out, a U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed.

Congress

Aside from federal regulation, two notable bipartisan bills in Congress with implications for how packaging is handled at end of life remain stalled in the House.

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act and the Recycling and Composting Accountability Act were passed by the Senate in March; they were previously introduced in 2022 and passed the Senate but not the House. They would establish a recycling infrastructure pilot to increase access and collect more data on recycling and composting, respectively. The bills have been supported this year by packaging trade groups including Ameripen, the American Forest & Paper Association, the Plastics Industry Association and the Can Manufacturers Institute.



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HMM unveils its new investment strategy

HMM maps out a mid-to-long-term strategy to expand its business portfolio for future growth and proceed with global green initiatives.

Under the sustainable growth plan, the South Korean ocean carrier will invest a total of US$170 million by 2030, with US$93 million focussing on the container business, US$40 million on the bulk business, US$30 million on the integrated logistics business and US$7 million on the competitiveness enhancement.

HMM said it will enhance its capacity to deal with global environmental regulations, while it aims to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by the target year 2045. HMM announced it will allocate US$110 million over 60% of the total investment to sustainable management initiatives, including low-carbon ships and green facilities.

Container transportation business

HMM plans to secure an operational fleet of 1.55 million TEUs (130 vessels) to prepare for the reorganization of global shipping alliances and strengthen its competitiveness. Considering the increasing fleet size, HMM will also invest US$13 million in container boxes to enhance operational efficiency.

To meet the market’s demand for eco-friendly transportation, HMM aims to acquire around 70 green vessels by 2030 and establish a carbon-neutral ecosystem across all transportation segments by 2045.

Bulk transportation business

HMM plans to extend its bulk carrier fleet to 110 vessels (12.56 million DWT) from the current 36 ships. The company also intends to diversify its business by establishing a presence in the eco-friendly energy transportation sector and gaining a significant market share at an early stage.

Integrated logistics business

HMM plans to enhance its shipping and logistics infrastructure. To improve customer service, the South Korean firm will extend terminals and acquire additional port terminals for important bases to accommodate the growing capacity. Furthermore, the company aims to expand its Off Dock Container Yard (ODCY) business and integrated logistics business to provide end-to-end services.

Competitiveness enhancement

HMM is actively moving toward Net Zero 2045 to strengthen its response to environmental regulations and achieve carbon neutrality. To reach this goal, HMM will make investments on retrofitting ship engines, securing a supply chain for green fuels, and improving operational stability and efficiency through digitalization.

Moreover, the carrier plans to develop new sustainable businesses and strengthen the organization and human resources that will execute the 2030 mid-to-long-term strategy.

Kim Kyung Bae, HMM President and CEO, commented, “By strengthening partnerships founded on trust, we are enhancing the quality of service we deliver to our customers. We remain committed to developing a resilient business portfolio and positioning ourselves as a global leader in eco-friendly shipping for the future.”




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Episode 177: Dr. David Buckley discusses strategies to minimize avian influenza threat

THE NATIONAL PROVISIONER PODCAST

Strategies to minimize avian influenza

Dr. David Buckley is a principal scientist with Diversey’s Global Research and Development Innovation Team. In this interview, he details the threat avian influenza poses to processors and shares steps they can incorporate to minimize their risk and exposure to the disease.

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Posted on Author Categories Meat

Daily recap: Russian H&G pollock ‘shortage’ raises prices; Shrimp greenhouses outperform RAS in China

Here’s a recap of the top daily seafood stories from Monday, Sept. 9: […]

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Posted on Author Categories Seafood

Brazil chicken prices rise in August – Cepea

Price rises were linked to the demand


10 September 2024


1 minute read

After moving down in July, average prices of chicken meat in Brazil in the wholesale market increased in August, reported Reuters. 

Price rises were linked to the demand, which was firm especially in the first fortnight of the month, and to the restricted supply in the domestic market.





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Posted on Author Categories Poultry

Turning tissue transparent is a medical breakthrough

In their editorial, biophotonics researcher Dr Christopher Rowlands and optical physicist Jon Gorecki from Imperial College London (neither of whom participated in the study) commented that while life does often mirror fiction, it rarely does so with such precision and at such a delayed pace. They were discussing a recent discovery by Stanford University researchers, who found that a yellow food dye commonly found in products like chips, cornflakes and sweets could make mice’s skin temporarily transparent.​​

“It’s one of those ideas that’s obvious in hindsight,” Dr Rowlands shared in an interview.

“Once I read the study, I couldn’t believe no one had thought of it sooner. I fully expect to see several follow-up studies over the next year applying the same principle to achieve deeper tissue penetration.”

What’s the big deal?

This groundbreaking study marks the first time scientists have managed to make skin temporarily transparent by adjusting the refractive index – the measure of how light bends as it passes through different materials. The goal is to shed more light on the inner workings of the brain and other organs, potentially leading to better insights into complex biological processes and more effective treatments for diseases.

Traditional imaging techniques like ultrasound and MRI have limitations in terms of resolution and depth, but this new approach – published in the journal Science – promises to revolutionize how we visualize living tissues.

According to lead researcher Dr Zihao Ou, who conducted the study during his postdoctoral work at Stanford, it could fundamentally change the landscape of optical research in biology.

“For those familiar with the physics, it all makes sense. But for others, it seems like magic,” said Dr Ou, who now serves as an assistant professor of physics at the University of Texas, Dallas.

It has “blown the record out of the water by a factor of five,” conceded Dr Rowland.

Scientists safely made the skin of live mice transparent by applying a mixture of water and a common yellow food coloring called tartrazine. Illustration courtesy of Dr Zihao Ou.

A closer look at the study

The key to this breakthrough is tartrazine, also known as FD&C Yellow #5. It’s a certified food dye deemed safe for consumption by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), though it has been linked to hyperactivity in some children. While current imaging techniques can only penetrate about 2mm into the skin, the tartrazine-based solution allows scientists to see up to five times deeper.

When applied to the skin of live mice, the mixture of water and tartrazine rendered the skin transparent, revealing blood vessels and organs just beneath the surface. And unlike the fate of Wells’ fictional invisible man, this effect is reversible – washing off the dye restores the skin’s opacity, while any dye that diffuses into the skin is naturally excreted through urine.

“The fact that the dye is biocompatible is crucial,” Dr Ou noted.

“It’s safe, affordable and effective. We only need a small amount to achieve the desired effect.”

The transparency effect occurs because tartrazine absorbs blue light. When combined with water and the naturally occurring liquid layers within the skin (known as the extracellular matrix), it alters the refractive index to closely match that of skin cells. This adjustment minimizes the scattering of light, allowing it to pass through the skin more directly – like clearing a fog.

“We combined the yellow dye, which is a molecule that absorbs most light, especially blue and ultraviolet light, with skin, which is a scattering medium,” said Dr Ou.

Want to try this tartrazine effect at home?

The National Science Foundation has developed a fun experiment for adults​​ interested in testing the effects of Yellow #5 at home using raw chicken.

“Individually, these two things block most light from getting through them. But when we put them together, we were able to achieve transparency of the mouse skin. It takes a few minutes for the transparency to appear. It’s similar to the way a facial cream or mask works: The time needed depends on how fast the molecules diffuse into the skin.”

Through this method, researchers were able to observe detailed internal structures in mice, including blood vessels on the brain’s surface and muscle movements in the digestive tract.

Applications and future directions

Dr Zihao Ou

Dr Ou and his team envision numerous applications for this technology, particularly in medical diagnostics. The ability to make tissues temporarily transparent could allow doctors to view tumors, blood vessels and other structures without the need for invasive procedures. This could lead to more accurate diagnoses and better monitoring of diseases.

However, don’t expect this discovery to lead to human invisibility anytime soon. Human skin is 10 times thicker than that of a mouse and researchers are still working to determine the best way to apply this technology to human tissues. Dr Ou’s team at his new Dynamic Bio-imaging Lab at UTD is also exploring other molecules that might be even more effective than tartrazine for this purpose.

Study:​

Achieving Optical Transparency in Live Animals with Absorbing Molecules​​

Authors: Zihao Ou, Yi-Shiou Duh, Nicholas J. Rommelfanger, et al.

Science, 6 Sep 2024, Vol 385, Issue 6713

doi: 10.1126/science.adm6869​​



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Ventilation, Temperature, and Relative Humidity

Source: National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals – Dairy Cattle, Section 2.4

Ventilation

Good ventilation, whether natural or mechanical, brings in fresh air and effectively removes dust, airborne pathogens, gases, and excess heat and humidity (6). Dust and ammonia irritate animals’ eyes and respiratory tracts and can make cattle more susceptible to respiratory infections. However, definitive thresholds for cattle have not been established, including for ammonia (6).

The risk of pneumonia and other calf diseases can be dramatically reduced through good ventilation (without drafts) and the provision of adequate air space (i.e., at least 6 m3 [212 ft3] per calf up to 6 weeks of age and 10 m3 [353 ft3] per calf up to 12 weeks of age) (22). One of the biggest pneumonia risks for young calves is sharing airspace with older cattle (23).

Temperature and Relative Humidity

Mature dairy cattle are generally able to tolerate low temperatures better than high temperatures (6). When the ambient temperature is above the thermoneutral zone, heat stress occurs because heat load (accumulated both metabolically and from the environment) is higher than the animal’s ability to dissipate heat (6). The specific ambient conditions (temperature, humidity) that lead to heat stress vary based on the cow’s previous temperature acclimation as well as level of milk production, breed, and other factors (6). High-producing cows are most susceptible to heat stress due to the increased energy demands of milk production (6).

The thermoneutral zone for young calves (up to 3 weeks of age) is 15–25°C (6). Particular attention should be paid to temperatures inside calf hutches, which can far exceed ambient temperatures on hot days (6).

REQUIREMENTS

Facilities, including hutches, must provide cattle with fresh air; prevent the build-up of harmful gases, dust, and moisture; and minimize the risk of heat and cold stress.

RECOMMENDED PRACTICES

  1. consider how many days above or below ideal temperatures for cattle are experienced in a typical year when choosing an appropriate cooling system
  2. monitor cattle routinely for behavioural responses to heat stress, which occur prior to dips in productivity (e.g., increased standing time with shorter lying bouts, panting or increased respiration rate, competition for cooling resources, increased drinking bouts) (6)
  3. ensure good ventilation in milking parlour holding pens
  4. limit reliance on misters and sprayers in high humidity regions (6)
  5. always evaluate air quality, temperature, and speed at cattle level (resting and standing)
  6. if ammonia is ever readily detected by smell, test actual concentrations and take remedial action to ensure it stays below 5–10 ppm
  7. remove manure and soiled bedding from facilities frequently
  8. avoid housing calves in the same air space as older cattle to minimize the occurrence of pneumonia (22)
  9. house calves in well ventilated (but draft free) buildings or in hutches that provide ample fresh air through doors, windows, and top vents
  10. avoid situating calf pens in areas of the barn that tend to be cooler (these conditions are associated with higher disease risk for calves) (24)
  11. avoid exposing cattle to sudden extremes of temperature
  12. design and locate enclosures to take advantage of prevailing summer winds and reduce the amount of solar radiation that enters the barn (barns with an east-west orientation allow less heat from the sun to enter) (6)
  13. ensure appropriate seasonal orientation of hutches (i.e., winter: with the opening facing south to maximize sun exposure; summer: in shaded areas or with the opening facing north to maximize shade)

When facing cold stress:

  1. gradually increase energy intake of calves and heifers in anticipation of cold weather to ensure that growth and weight gain are maintained during periods of cold temperatures
  2. protect cattle from wind and moisture
  3. protect cattle, and especially young calves, from drafts (e.g., build temporary walls/shelters in open-sided barns in the winter)
  4. ensure that the relative humidity inside a housing facility does not exceed 75%
  5. provide calves with clean and dry calf coats in addition to deep bedding (6)

When facing heat stress:

  1. avoid unnecessary procedures or other stressors during the hottest times of the day
  2. provide cattle with access to shaded areas (6)
  3. increase air flow by opening barn doors and vents fully and adding more fans, especially in areas where cattle are misted/sprinkled (e.g., holding areas) (6)
  4. open all vents in hutches or elevate the back of the hutch (by 20 cm [8 in], as a guide) (6)
  5. sprinkle or mist the backs of cattle when they are feeding or otherwise away from resting areas (wetting cattle in resting areas may increase mastitis risk) (6)
  6. modify hutches to have a reflective covering in the summer (6)
  7. choose sidewall heights and overhangs of the roof to reduce sun exposure to stalls, walkways, and bedded packs
  8. use shade cloth when and where needed to minimize the effects of sunlight that enters the barn.



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Posted on Author Categories Dairy

Australia’s July canola exports drop 13pc over month

A crop of canola growing in the Gippsland region of south-east Victoria. Photo: Pioneer Seeds

AUSTRALIA exported 386,653 tonnes of canola in July, down 13 percent from the 444,733t shipped in June, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The United Arab Emirates on 152,384t followed closely by Japan on 151,871t and France on 59,075t were the three biggest markets for Australian canola exported in July.

ABS data shows China has bought Australian canola in consecutive months for the first time in what trade sources say has been years.

While only 500t in both June and July, the exports may indicate China is prepared to reconsider Australia as an origin after imposing a zero blackleg tolerance.

The July 2024 total for Australian canola exports is 9pc below the 424,153t shipped in July last year, when Japan followed by Pakistan and Belgium were the three major destinations.

According to Lachstock Consulting’s latest analysis of vessel line-ups, Australia is expected to ship 352,000t of bulk canola this month, in line with the usual season rundown seen ahead of new crop.

CANOLA May Jun Jly Tonnes
Argentina 0 0 13 13
Bangladesh 3544 53621 4446 61612
Belgium 122478 0 0 122478
Canada 6 0 0 6
Chile 128 0 0 128
China 0 500 500 1000
France 55000 0 59075 114075
Germany 131602 61861 0 193463
Japan 132795 129443 151871 414109
Malaysia 5479 2839 3309 11627
Mexico 0 87950 0 87950
Nepal 16807 13963 15054 45824
Pakistan 181293 36023 0 217316
South Africa 80 0 0 80
UAE 92945 58533 152384 303862
TOTAL 742156 444733 386653 1573542

 



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Posted on Author Categories Crops
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