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Nestlé goes flying with the Solar Impulse 2

Beverage Bites: news up to March 12, 2015

Nestlé goes flying, Tesco vs Coca-Cola, and other Beverage Bites

By Rachel Arthur

Heineken invests in a new Mexican brewery; Tetley USA donates 10 million cups of tea; and Ardagh’s birthday present for Coca-Cola: some of the nuggets of news in this week’s Beverage Bites feature. 

EFSA caffeine opinion could see firms increasing the size of sports products in order to legally target sportspeople like rugby players who may weigh more than 70 kg, according to Legal Foods

What will EFSA’s caffeine opinion mean for product formulation?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) safe upper limit for caffeine could mean a de facto ban for 80% of UK males, whose average weight would take them over the body weight referenced in the opinion, according to a food law expert.

Tropical sports and energy drinks are 'another case of category blurring,' says Mintel analyst. Photo credit: Rebecca Siegel.

Tropical energy. A new kind of category blurring?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Both Red Bull and Lucozade Sport have launched tropical flavours of their sport and energy drinks – something Mintel says is another example of these sectors trying to slurp soft drink market share.

European Coffee Federation (ECF) says EFSA caffeine opinion contains contradictions

EFSA: "How can it have both an adverse and beneficial effect? It can."

Alert vs insomniac: EFSA says caffeine effect can be both good and bad

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

EFSA's draft opinion on caffeine does not contain contradictions since the health effects of caffeine can be both negative and positive depending on the context, the authority has said at a stakeholder meeting.

Erythritol is already approved for use in foods and drinks in more than 60 countries - but approval for beverages has taken some time in Europe because of concerns of a laxative effect

EFSA backs erythritol for use in soft drinks

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said erythritol is safe for use in soft drinks at a maximum level of 1.6%, bringing the zero-calorie sweetener a step closer to EU approval for beverages.

Men from Mars, women from Venus in liquor store tastes

Australia

Men from Mars, women from Venus in liquor store tastes

By RJ Whitehead

As Australia’s alcohol market shrinks, researchers have told retailers they should understand better that men and women don’t always look for the same qualities in a liquor store, with different demographics being swayed by different things.  

Olive oil prices paid to producers more than doubled during 2014 after a perfect storm of factors devastated European and North African olive crops

Dutch supermarkets delist major brands after pricing row

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Dutch supermarkets Jumbo and C1000 have boycotted Bertolli olive oil and products from Ferrero and Douwe Egberts following a pricing row – although Douwe Egberts products returned to shelves last week after it reached an agreement with the retailers.

New study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting coffee consumption may reduce cardiovascular disease risk, say its authors

3-5 cups of coffee a day may help keep artery blockages away

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

People who consume between three to five cups of coffee a day may have a lower risk of coronary artery calcium build-up, which can lead to artery blockages, according to research published in the British Medical Journal’s publication Heart.

The study found a minority of children ate the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables, and fibre, vitamin D and iron levels were lower than recommended, while saturated fat, sugar and salt intakes were generally higher

Poor dietary habits could raise disease risk from childhood

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Children aged 6 to 8 may already be at increased risk of cardiometabolic disease if they eat a lot of low-fat margarine, red meat and sugary drinks and little vegetable oil, according to Finnish research.

DTU researchers say the TDI should be 0.7 micrograms per kilogram body weight per day or lower

DVFA: No basis for BPA legal action

By Joseph James Whitworth

There is no basis for individual legal action on BPA according to The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) after researchers in the country said the safe level recommended by EFSA does not adequately protect consumers against endocrine disrupting...

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