Bel Group has begun rolling out Bovaer – a feed additive that reduces livestock methane emissions – across the majority of its dairy producers in Slovakia. The dairy producers in Slovakia supply around 70 million litres of milk annually to make Bel’s Babybel cheese distributed in Central Europe and the UK. The feed additive was created by DSM-Firmenich and Bel says it has the potential to cut methane emissions for each farm by around 25%, representing an overall 400-ton methane reduction annually. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has a much greater warming effect than CO2. Cows naturally emit the gas during digestion, making them the second largest source of methane from human activities, after fossil fuels. A quarter of a teaspoon of Bovaer added to a dairy cow’s diet daily can suppress some of the chemical reactions that produce the gas in the cows’ stomach, making them emit 25% less methane on average. With the support of its partner farmers, Bel aims to utilise the solution on all 10,000 cows supplying its milk in Slovakia. The company says the methane reduction is the equivalent of taking more than 3,300 family-sized cars off the road. Simon Bonnet, Bel Group’s milk purchasing director, said: “At Bel, we are incredibly proud to be able, together with our partner farmers, to bring innovative solutions and transform the agricultural model to make it more sustainable and responsible. After deploying in Central Europe, we aim to make low-methane milk a reality in other markets as well.” He continued: “We’ve carried out 900 carbon diagnostics at our partner farms, showing that methane emissions represent about half of the greenhouse gas emissions of a dairy farm – the potential for change is enormous”. Mark van Nieuwland, VP Bovaer at DSM-Firmenich, added: “At DSM-Firmenich, our purpose is to bring progress to life, committed to pushing the boundaries of science and technology to make the world we live in more sustainable. Bringing new innovations to market is only possible with the support of pioneering players such as Bel Group. This large-scale deployment of our promising Bovaer solution shows that the future of low-methane milk is here.” After acting to suppress methane production in the cow’s stomach, Bovaer is naturally broken down into elements already present and processed by the cows’ metabolism, without affecting production volumes or milk quality. Once the roll-out in Slovakia is complete, consumers will be able to choose low-methane Babybel products made in Bel’s Slovakian plant with 100% Slovakian milk. These will be sold in Central Europe (Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia) and the UK.

The National Health Commission (NHC) of the People’s Republic of China has permitted the use of vitamins B1 and B2 in beverages and has also increased the maximum authorised dosage of taurine. The NHC Food Safety Standards and Monitoring and Evaluation department announced that the Chinese authorities are expanding the use of vitamin B1 and B2 into beverages for special purposes, such as sports and nutrition drinks. Approved dosage of these vitamins is set at 2mg/kg to 5mg/kg. Prior to this announcement, vitamins B1 and B2 were only allowed to be incorporated as food additives into dairy powder for children and pregnant women, as well as certain other food items. Meanwhile, the NHC is increasing the maximum permitted dosage of taurine from 0.5g/kg to 0.6g/kg. In China, taurine is currently approved for use in beverages for special purposes such as sports and nutritional drinks. Taurine is a type of amino acid found in meat and seafood, among others and is a popular ingredient around the world for many energy drinks. In 2020, Red Bull – known for its taurine beverages – was named the best selling energy drink brand in stores in China, according to Statista, accounting for around 52% of all energy drinks sales. The news follows a review released in April by Chinese researchers that suggested supplementation with appropriate doses of taurine may help to reduce visual fatigue. The review said that taurine, as a natural amino acid, has a high safety profile and is allowed to be added to functional drinks and other food products in many countries. It added that its application in the development of functional foods for the relief of visual fatigue is very promising.

Fox’s Burton’s Companies (FBC) is launching a new range, Fox’s Indulgent Centre Cookies, which will include two flavour variants. The new Fox’s Indulgent Centre Cookies Triple Chocolate flavour offers a crumbly chocolate cookie, with white and milk chocolate chips and a smooth, velvety chocolate centre. Meanwhile, the Chocolate Orange flavour combines milk chocolate chips with a citrusy orange flavour and features a silky chocolate centre. Colin Taylor, trade marketing director at FBC UK, said: “Fox’s Fabulous Cookies has seen significant value growth at +57% over the past year and is now worth £26.2m in retail sales. We’re confident that the new Indulgent Centre Cookies will be a fantastic and complimentary extension to the Fox’s Fabulous Cookies range and will give shoppers something new and special to enjoy.” Fox’s Indulgent Centre Cookies will carry an MRSP of £2.00 for a pack of six cookies and will be available in Tesco stores in the UK with a wider distribution to follow.

Zenith Global's 16th annual Global Dairy Congress will be hosted in London from 21-22 June, with the theme of ‘Reimagining Dairy’. The programme will feature many of the world’s leading dairy companies, such as Danone, Lactalis, Meiji, Nestlé, Valio, Vinamilk and Yili. There will also be a strong representation of pioneers in animal-free, cell-based and precision fermentation, such as Better Dairy, Change Dairy, Daisy Labs, Helaina, Imagindairy, Standing Ovation and Turtle Tree. Market and policy developments will be covered by Circana, Dairy UK, Kantar Worldpanel, Rabobank and US Dairy Export Council. In addition, the FoodBev World Dairy Innovation Awards will be presented at a gala industry dinner, as well as a contribution from Piercristiano Brazzale, president of the International Dairy Federation. The congress is supported by Platinum sponsor Yili brands, Satine and Ambpomial, Silver sponsor Vinamilk and Bronze sponsor ColloidTek. It is held in association with FoodBev Media. “Dairy innovation is now more dynamic than ever before,” commented Richard Hall, chairman of specialist consultancy and event organiser at Zenith Global. “After all the attention given to plant-based products, this year, our focus will be on real dairy from cows and dairy equivalent products without cows. We believe we have the strongest programme of the year, aimed at any manufacturer, supplier, customer or adviser seeking a shortcut to knowing about all the latest developments and their prospects.” For full programme and booking details, visit www.zenithglobal.com/events or contact fhall@zenithglobal.com.

Ireland is set to become the first country in the world to introduce health labelling on alcoholic drinks. The legislation, signed by health minister Stephen Donnelly earlier this week, will alert consumers to the calorie content, grams of alcohol in the product, the risks of cancer and liver disease and the dangers of drinking while pregnant. There is a three-year lead-in time built into the law to give businesses time to prepare for the change. Donnelly said that the law is designed to give consumers a better understanding of the alcohol content and health risks associated with consuming alcohol, enabling consumers to make informed decisions about alcohol consumption. He added: “Packaging of other food and drink products already contains health information and, where appropriate, health warnings. This law is bringing alcohol products into line with that.” Hildegarde Naughton, the minister for public health, wellbeing and the national drugs strategy, said that medical evidence has shown that a “cancer risk applies even at lower levels of alcohol consumption”. Alcoholic drink providers will have to display the information and warnings on product packaging with a label that will direct the consumer to Ireland’s 'Health Service Executive' website. The Irish Cancer Society also issued a statement that it welcomed the news. Rachel Morrogh, director of advocacy at the Irish Cancer Society, said that health labelling will empower people to “make informed decisions about alcohol by raising awareness of the risk it poses to health”. Eurocare, an association of non-governmental and public health organisations across Europe that advocates for the prevention and reduction of alcohol-related harm, also showed its support for the new law. However, the legislation has not been welcomed by all. SpiritsEurope submitted a formal complaint to the European Commission asking for the opening of an infringement procedure against Ireland for “breaching EU law with its planned new regulation on labelling rules for alcoholic beverages”. The representative for spirits drinks producers in the EU believes that the law would mean a disproportionate trade barrier, which could hamper the free movement of goods. The statement said: “In practice, the new rules would prevent economic operators from selling alcoholic beverages legally sold in all other EU Member States in Ireland unless the products were re-labelled with additional information on the grams of alcohol and on the number of calories in the container, as well as health warnings text and pictograms”. The law is expected to be applicable from 22 May 2026.

Patriot Pickle, a Swander Pace Capital portfolio company that manufactures and distributes pickles across the US, has announced the acquisition of First Place Foods. Located in Garland, Texas, First Place Foods is a producer of fresh and fermented pickles, relish and other pickled vegetables for the foodservice and institutional channels. Based in Wayne, New Jersey, pickle manufacturer Patriot Pickle offers a variety of refrigerated pickles, sauerkraut and pickled vegetables to restaurants, delis, supermarkets and distributors. Patriot Pickle CEO Bill McEntee said that the acquisition is a "transformative opportunity" that will enable Patriot Pickle to expand its footprint, as well as capitalise on national sales and provide its customers with "dual source manufacturing". First Place Foods president, Pat Hunn, commented: “For more than 15 years, First Place Foods has been a high-quality manufacturer and supplier of pickles and other pickled vegetables to our valued customers across the country. We are excited to partner with Patriot Pickle and Swander Pace for this next phase of growth.” Swander Pace Capital's managing directors, Corby Reese and Tyler Matlock, added: "The broader pickled and fermented foods category has enjoyed strong topline growth as consumers continue to gravitate towards healthier snacks, and Patriot Pickle is well positioned to take advantage of this consumer tailwind. First Place Foods is the second acquisition for Patriot Pickle, and we believe there are additional opportunities to continue building out this exciting growth platform.” Last year, Patriot Pickle acquired the pickle assets of distributor Farm Ridge Foods. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Starco Brands and Cardi B’s vodka-infused whipped cream brand, Whipshots, has launched a new lime flavour variety in time for summer. Lime Whipshots joins the brand’s existing line of alcoholic whipped cream, including vanilla, mocha and caramel, as the brand’s signature summer flavour. The Whipshots can be used in cocktails and treats, “from margaritas and frosé to key lime pie and sorbet”. Ross Sklar, CEO of Starco Brands, said: “We are thrilled to dive headfirst into the ‘Summer of Whipshots’ with Lime as the latest flavour in our Whipshots family. Having recently surpassed two million cans sold, Whipshots continues to offer consumers a fun and innovative way to celebrate all year.” The Lime Whipshots are 10% ABV and do not require refrigeration. The vodka-infused whipped cream shots will be available in select US retailers and on the brand's website, from 14 June.

Ardagh Glass Packaging (AGP) has begun construction on a hybrid furnace to enable a switch to renewable electricity at its glass production facility in Obernkirchen, Germany. The company says that the hybrid technology in the ‘NextGen’ furnace will lead to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, “by as much as 60%”. The pioneering, large-scale hybrid electric furnace is said to be the first of its kind that can run predominantly on renewable electricity, with a small amount of gas. It uses high levels of recycled glass cullet to produce up to 350 tonnes of glass bottles per day, in various colours. Container glass production currently uses around 90% gas and 10% electricity – Ardagh can invert this energy mix in favour of 80% renewable electricity and 20% gas – which it says will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of glass packaging. Martin Petersson, CEO of AGP – Europe, said: “Decarbonisation is a key priority for our business and our customers. The NextGen Furnace represents a significant investment in creating a sustainable future for glass packaging, and we intend to roll out this and other low-carbon solutions across other AGP facilities in the coming years.” Annelene Ikemann, sustainability director at AGP – Europe, added: “Our NextGen Furnace, in combination with our target to supply 100% renewable electricity to our facilities by 2030, is a positive step forward along our ‘Sustainability Roadmap’.” She continued: “In future phases of this project, AGP aims to replace the remaining gas with green hydrogen, which will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In subsequent steps on our sustainability journey, we will look at a wider range of alternative melting technologies as we decarbonise our other facilities.” The furnace is expected to become operational and start to produce commercial glass containers later this year.

Casa Azul has added a grapefruit flavour to its Tequila Soda portfolio. Casa Azul Tequila Soda's new variant is said to offer a "refreshing sensation" of freshly cut grapefruit and tangy citrus flavours. The grapefruit flavour joins the brand's existing line-up, which includes: lime margarita, strawberry margarita, peach mango and watermelon. According to the company, the brand differentiates itself from traditional canned drinks "by utilising real spirits, not malt liquor, and features a simple ingredient list that includes sparkling water, tequila, natural fruit flavours, and agave nectar". The 5% ABV drink has 100 calories per can. "Grapefruit is the most popular pairing with tequila in Mexico, and we're excited to add this iconic flavour to our lineup, inspired by modern Mexico," said Bryan Crowley, CEO of Casa Azul Spirits. "The new flavour perfectly encapsulates everything needed in a delicious summer beverage. The light and refreshing Tequila Soda offers just the right amount of sweetness for a drink that can be enjoyed for any occasion — from sipping poolside, at a festival, or backyard barbecue." Casa Azul Tequila Soda is available at retailers across the US, including Total Wine, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Spec's, Binny's, Ralphs.

PIM Brands has announced the launch of a new zero-sugar version of its Welch’s fruit snacks brand. Welch’s Zero Sugar Fruity Bites has 25% fewer calories than the brand's original fruit snacks. The 100% sugar-free, chewy snack is also free from fat, gluten, aspartame and preservatives. “We’re excited to expand our product offerings with Welch’s Zero Sugar Fruity Bites,” said Nicole Luisi, senior brand manager for Welch’s Fruit Snacks. “With this new innovation, fans of our iconic fruit snacks with specific dietary preferences or restrictions can again enjoy that same delicious taste and texture they have grown to love, giving them a deliciously fruity snack without any compromise.” Welch’s Zero Sugar will be available on Amazon and at US retailers in Mixed Fruit, Berries ‘n Cherries and Island Fruits varieties, for approximately $3.99 per 3oz peg bag, with further packaging formats to roll out later in the year into early 2024.

Lallemand has unveiled a new bioprotective solution – Lalcult Protect MC1 – to help extend shelf life by preventing mould and yeast. Lalcult Protect MC1 can be applied in a wide range of applications, such as yogurt-type dairy specialities, sour cream, fresh cheeses, ripened cheeses, sliced and grated cheeses, as well as plant‐based analogues. According to Lallemand, its Lalcult Protect MC1 solution helps ensure the safety and quality of dairy products while maintaining consumer trust and brand reputation. The company noted that fungal contamination by mould and yeast is "a common and frequent concern to all food producers, especially in dairy products," leading to colour and taste defects. Additionally, certain moulds can produce mycotoxins, which can “cause severe illness or even death in humans and animals”. Lallemand said: "Among the mould contaminations, Penicillium is the dominant genus (91%) on spoiled hard, semi-hard and soft cheeses from different countries". "Consumers ingesting contaminated products may experience a variety of symptoms ranging from digestive disorders to allergic reactions. In addition, mould contamination can result in significant financial losses and losses of credibility for producers."

Scottish coffee roaster Matthew Algie has unveiled a multi-million-pound investment at its Glasgow production headquarters. The investment – which is being supported by Scotland's national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise – will allow the business to roast more than 2,500 tonnes of coffee each year for its customers, creating 38 new jobs. As part of the investment project, the coffee roaster will introduce a new green bean handling and blending system, upgraded automation, new conveying systems and state-of-the-art packaging lines. In addition to the operational investments, Matthew Algie said that the funds will also be used to support its new sustainability strategy, which "will see the entire business become net zero by 2035 with its entire business operations, including supply chain, hitting the target by 2040”. According to the company, "a new green storage area will enable hessian sacks to be replaced with larger one-tonne transportation bags that will deliver a 90% manual-handling reduction, as well as increased coffee container capacity". Matthew Algie added that shipping coffee in bulk containers from coffee-producing countries to UK ports "will increase capacity by 11%, and onward delivery to the Glasgow site will see a 25% capacity increase," reducing costs and carbon emissions. Paul Chadderton, MD of Matthew Algie, said: “This recent round of investment builds additional capacity and will future-proof the business to offer even more products to its customers...These improvements will help supercharge our efforts to reach net zero, as, by 2035, our operations in the UK and Ireland will be carbon neutral or better, with our entire value supply chain net zero by 2040. He continued: "This is a hugely exciting time for our business and particularly our Glasgow roastery as we look to continue on our growth trajectory whilst being the leading supplier of sustainable, high-quality beverages in the UK and Ireland.” Rhona Allison, MD of business growth at Scottish Enterprise, added: “This innovative project will enhance the company’s productivity and manufacturing capability whilst also reducing its carbon emissions, delivering 38 new jobs and safeguarding many existing roles in the process”. The project is expected to be completed this autumn.