Meat, Fish & Eggs

Starch-based, edible film for seafood could kill pathogens on food surfaces

18 Dec 2018 --- A biodegradable, edible film made with plant starch and antimicrobial compounds may control the growth of foodborne pathogens on seafood, according to a group of international researchers. The innovative finding could help prevent food poisoning, as well as support the seafood industry’s transition away from its reliance on plastic packaging.

McDonald’s to curb use of antibiotics in beef supply chain

12 Dec 2018 --- McDonald’s is to set limits for antibiotic use in its beef supply chain by the end of 2020. The fast food giant has announced a new policy to reduce the overall use of antibiotics important to human health, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), which applies across 85 percent of its global beef supply chain. As one of the largest food chains, the company could be setting the standard for other industry players in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

The evolution of lab-grown meat: Aleph Farms creates “first” cell-grown steak

12 Dec 2018 --- Israeli firm Aleph Farms has created what it says is the first cell-grown minute steak, using its capabilities for growing different types of natural beef cells into a fully 3D structure similar to conventional meat. The cell-cultured meat space has been heating up recently, marked by a number of innovators launching cell-culture patties and meatballs. However, with its distinctive texture and complex shape, the steak remained an elusive target for innovation. According to the food-tech start-up, this breakthrough not only obtains the true texture and structure of beef muscle tissue steak, but also the flavor and shape, establishing a new benchmark in cell-cultured meat technology.

“Craft beef revolution”: Ethical Butcher plans UK meat delivery service that fights climate change

22 Nov 2018 --- Start-up The Ethical Butcher is launching a new meat box delivery service with a difference – it aims to deliver “carbon negative meat” to households across the UK. The London-based company is raising funds to create what it describes as a “craft beef revolution” through a crowdfunding campaign which taps into the growing demand for ethically-produced, sustainably-sourced and environmentally conscious meat products. 

Plant-based innovator to go public: Beyond Meat files for US$100 million IPO

19 Nov 2018 --- Beyond Meat, Inc., the Californian innovator behind the plant-based Beyond Burger has filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined, but the initial filing was for an offering size of US$100 million. Beyond Meat intends to list its stock on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol “BYND.”

Making a splash: Australian seafood company kick starts Asian growth strategy with Kingfish deal

15 Nov 2018 --- A key player in full cycle breeding, production and the sale of Yellowtail Kingfish, Australian-based Clean Seas Seafood has signed an agreement with a distributor in China as part of its Asian growth strategy. The non-exclusive agreement with Hunchun Haiyun Trading Co. (HH), is the first of several similar agreements planned by the seafood company over the next year. 

UK and Ireland supermarkets to stock Vivera and Beyond Meat alternatives

14 Nov 2018 --- Meat alternatives are becoming more widely available, with Tesco branches in both the UK and Ireland soon to be stocking new plant-based products from Netherlands-based Vivera and the US-based Beyond Meat. Innova Market Insights has hotly tipped “The Plant Kingdom” as its number two top trend for 2019, reflecting how vegan inspired eating continues to go mainstream. 

Combating food fraud: Thermo Fisher Scientific’s next-generation sequencing promises speedy food authenticity

13 Nov 2018 --- US biotechnology product development giant Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced a next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflow for multi-species screening and identification which aims to improve food authenticity and tackle food fraud. This closely follows Oxoid Ltd., which is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, and SGS Molecular S.A. signing a global co-marketing and distribution agreement.

Cutting sodium in processed meat: US start-up cuts salt by 95 percent

08 Nov 2018 --- Keeping pace with demand for healthier, lower salt recipes for processed meat, one US start-up has developed a vegetable-based ingredient that can be used to create processed meat and proteins with a reduction in sodium of up to 95 percent. Botaniline’s one-ingredient substitution allows manufacturers to improve their existing recipes and eliminate all fillers, binders, allergens, and chemical additives, for cleaner label, healthier processed meat products.

Ingredion launches potato fiber line as Lyckeby partnership bears fruit

08 Nov 2018 --- Ingredion has introduced a new clean label potato fiber to its portfolio in order to bring increased functionality, quality and potential cost savings to manufacturers of bakery, savory and meat products. Potex and Potex Crown potato fibers are designed to deliver appealing textures in processed meats and savory applications and to boost the freshness of bakery items for optimal consumer appeal. The insoluble potato fibers can absorb and retain up to 12 times their own weight, enabling them to increase the juiciness of fresh and processed meats or add moisture to baked goods.

Beyond Meat eyes European expansion as IPO rumors intensify

23 Oct 2018 --- Beyond Meat, the highly innovative Californian innovator behind the plant-based alternative burger, Beyond Burger is eyeing a major roll-out in Europe as rumors intensify around an initial public offering (IPO). At SIAL 2018, which is currently taking place in Paris, the company highlighted its partnership with Dutch meat importer Zandbergen. The meat hall at this year’s event is noteworthy for the sheer number of innovative meat alternatives on display to cater to both vegetarian consumers, but also meat reducers or flexitarians. 

Export breakthrough: First Dutch veal en route to China after 17-year negotiations

17 Oct 2018 --- After more than 17 years of negotiation, the Chinese market is finally open to Dutch veal. Ekro, the subsidiary of the VanDrie Group, has become the first European veal slaughterhouse to receive approval to export veal products to China.

Flexitarian snacking: Mora enters NPD partnership with The Vegetarian Butcher

26 Sep 2018 --- Major Dutch snack manufacturer brand Mora is joining forces with De Vegetarische Slager (The Vegetarian Butcher). The first products, including a vegetarian croquette, will be available early next year in supermarkets, company canteens, cafeterias & hospitality establishments. The distinctive feature of the vegetarian version of this iconic snack is that it’s “so close to the original, you can barely tell the difference.” 

Protein potential: Stryve Biltong secures US$10m investment to accelerate brand growth

20 Sep 2018 --- Protein snack brand, Stryve Biltong has received a total investment of US$10 million from Meaningful Partners, an investment firm focused on purposeful and mission-oriented consumer-facing challenger brands, and Murano group, a privately-owned holding company, among others.

Kerry opens first plant in Moscow, focusing on meat processing and snacks

20 Sep 2018 --- Taste & Nutrition company, Kerry, has opened its first plant in Russia, in the Istra district of Moscow. Production will begin immediately with ingredients for the meat processing and snacks market.

GRAS status: FDA and USDA approve PhageGuard-E as processing aid against E. Coli

19 Sep 2018 --- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have approved Phageguard-E as a “GRAS” (Generally Recognized as Safe) food processing aid against E.coli O157. The new product consists of natural phages against E.coli and is produced by Netherlands-based phage technology development company Micreos, who have confirmed that industrial-scale projects with US meat processing companies are set to start shortly.

Vaessen-Schoemaker completes majority stake acquisition of Polish alginate-gel business Agersol

18 Sep 2018 --- Vaessen-Schoemaker has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Agersol Sp. z o.o. (Agersol). Katowice area-based, Agersol is a Polish producer of innovative, functional ingredients for meat applications and predominantly focuses on the production of alginate-gel based casings. Vaessen-Schoemaker has established itself in ingredient functionality. The business is continuously looking to bring innovations to the food processing industry, adding new and optimizing existing features for protein (red meat, poultry, vegetarian and seafood), bakery and convenience applications.

Metarom reveals Asian subsidiary plans as active flavor for fat reduction debuts

13 Sep 2018 --- Metarom is targeting strong medium-term growth in South East Asian markets, which will be through the creation of a new entity based in Malaysia: Metarom ASEAN. In a separate, but an equally significant move for the French-headquartered flavor firm, it debuted a flavor modification blend that can be used to lower the fat content of baked goods. When applied in synergy with a sweetness solution, the “active” flavors can effectively reduce the fat content of a pound cake by 50 percent and the sugar content by 30 percent, while maintaining the organoleptic properties and sweetness of the reference product.

Tyson Foods snaps up McDonald’s chicken nugget maker Keystone in US$2.16bn deal

21 Aug 2018 --- Maker of McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets and major meat supplier to US fast-food chain restaurants, Keystone Foods, is being sold to Tyson Foods Inc. by Brazil's Marfrig Global Foods. The US$2.16 billion deal expands Tyson Foods’ value-added protein capabilities by serving major foodservice customers while strengthening its presence around the world and expanding its international reach.

Chef Specials: Bell launches natural chicken flavor range

20 Aug 2018 --- Bell Flavors & Fragrances EMEA, one of the leading suppliers of flavors, botanical extracts and ingredient specialties, has introduced its new range of natural chicken flavor profiles. The key taste profiles have been developed for answering today’s consumer needs for clean label products and can be applied to a variety of savory applications.