The world is "off-track" to achieve its global target of reducing sodium intake by 30% by 2025, a World Health Organization (WHO) report has found. The report stated that an estimated 7 million lives could be saved by 2030 through the implementation of cost-effective sodium reduction policies. The 30% global target aims to support the United Nations' 'Sustainable Development Goal' of reducing deaths from noncommunicable diseases. However, WHO says that only nine countries – Brazil, Chile, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uruguay – currently have a comprehensive package of recommended policies to reduce sodium intake in place. “Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of death and disease globally, and excessive sodium intake is one of the main culprits,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. He continued: “This report shows that most countries are yet to adopt any mandatory sodium reduction policies, leaving their people at risk of heart attack, stroke and other health problems”. In order to reduce sodium intake, WHO recommends adopting mandatory policies and interventions, including: reformulating foods to contain less salt and setting targets for the amount of sodium in products and meals; limiting sodium-rich foods in public institutions; and establishing clearer packaging to help consumers to select products containing less sodium. As part of the report, WHO developed a country scorecard for member states based on the type and number of sodium reduction policies they have in place. Tom Frieden, president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, commented: “This important report demonstrates that countries must work urgently to implement ambitious, mandatory, government-led sodium reduction policies to meet the global target of reducing salt consumption by 2025”. He added: “There are proven measures that governments can implement and important innovations, such as low-sodium salts. The world needs action, and now, or many more people will experience disabling or deadly – but preventable – heart attacks and strokes.”

Second Nature Brands has debuted its Gluten Free Brownie Brittle Reese's Pieces. Gluten Free Brownie Brittle Reese's Pieces offers the thin and crunchy taste of Sheila G's Brownie Brittle topped with Reese's Pieces peanut butter candy. The gluten-free snackable brownie and candy collaboration is 130 calories per 1 oz serving. "Our new gluten-free version of Brownie Brittle Reese's Pieces is giving consumers what they want – a new Brownie Brittle option that meets dietary needs, plus a rich peanut butter and chocolate brownie taste," said Ashley Dawkins, VP of marketing at Sheila G's Brownie Brittle. "This new gluten-free option of our Reese's Pieces line allows our gluten-avoiding consumers to enjoy and celebrate the magic that is Brownie Brittle featuring a favourite candy." Gluten Free Brownie Brittle Reese's Pieces is available at retailers and online for an SRP of $3.99-$4.49 per 4oz bag.

Vital Pharmaceuticals, the parent company of Bang Energy, has announced that John (‘Jack’) Owoc will no longer serve as CEO, chief science officer and chairman of the board. Bang Energy – led by its controversial founder Owoc – has become one of the best-selling energy drinks in the US since its launch in 2012. However, recent years have seen the brand become embroiled in multiple lawsuits, including with PepsiCo, after a mega-distribution deal turned sour, and Monster Energy Co, which alleged that Bang falsely advertised the ingredients and health benefits of its drinks. Last September, Monster was awarded $293 million in damages from Vital Pharmaceuticals, which filed for bankruptcy protection less than two weeks later – owing hundreds of millions of dollars to unsecured creditors. Owoc, whose outspoken personality helped to define Bang’s identity over the past ten years, will no longer lead the company nor serve as a member of the board, Vital announced on Thursday. The company's chief transformation officer John DiDonato has been named as interim CEO and CTO, while EVP of sales Eugene Bukovi has been promoted to the position of chief operating officer. “On behalf of the board of directors, we acknowledge Jack’s vision in founding this leading brand and creating a world-class product in the energy drink category,” said Steve Panagos, chairman of the board. “As the company continues to pursue value maximisation, we are grateful to Mr. DiDonato and the executive leadership team for their stewardship and to the talented and hard-working members of the Bang Energy team for their unyielding commitment to the brand.” According to Vital, DiDonato is the national practice leader and managing director at Huron Consulting Company and brings “more than 35 years of experience leading companies through complex financial and operational transformations”.

American juice brand SunnyD has launched a new Vodka Seltzer, available in a four-pack of cans with a suggested retail price of $9.99. Each can is 4.5% ABV, contains 95 calories and is made with real fruit juice. "SunnyD is a powerful brand, the most boldly unique orange drink on the planet," said Ilene Bergenfeld, chief marketing officer, Harvest Hill Beverage Company. "Consumers are passionate about this iconic brand, rooted in nostalgia but with a taste that resonates today. Many have told us that they enjoy SunnyD as a mixer and asked for this product. So, we looked at the hard seltzer category, and thought, good, but we can do better. And SunnyD Vodka Seltzer was born." SunnyD Vodka Seltzer features the iconic orange taste and is said to be “very refreshing” and “easy to drink”. Single 12oz cans are also available to purchase from selected US retailers.

US-based organic dairy firm Straus Family Creamery has expanded its ice cream lineup with the launch of two new organic flavours. The new flavours, Lemon Cookie and Caramel Swirl, join the company’s assortment of 12 ‘super premium’ ice creams made with Straus organic milk and cream from family dairy farms in Northern California. The new Lemon Cookie flavour strikes a balance between sweet and tart with a creamy lemon ice cream base mixed with gluten-free shortbread pieces. Caramel Swirl comprises a base of sweet ice cream mixed with a ‘luxurious’ caramel that is made with the company’s organic European-style unsalted butter and organic cream. Albert Straus, founder and CEO of Straus Family Creamery, said: “It all starts with the milk from our community of organic dairy farms. Our new ice creams reflect the high quality and flavour of our milk from the cows grazing on organic pastures in West Marin and Sonoma County.” Both new flavours are inspired by customer feedback and the company’s desire to innovate and bring another fruit and swirl flavour to the product line. Straus organic ice creams are free from gluten, preservatives, artificial ingredients and colouring agents. ‘Super premium’ refers to less air in the churning process and a higher concentration of butterfat, resulting in a smoother, creamier and richer ice cream. The ice creams are currently being rolled out into major retailers across the US.

Typhoo Tea has announced that it will shutter its tea blending and packing site in Moreton, UK, as it looks to restructure the business. The maker of tea brands such as Glengettie, Ridgeways, Heath & Heather, London Fruit & Herb, Lift, Melroses, Freshbrew and Red Mountain says the closure – which will take place in June this year – could result in up to 90 job losses. Typhoo is "actively exploring" different options for the site and the re-employment of its staff; however, the company notes that it will be "at least one year" before an appropriate location is operational. Typhoo's executive chairman, Mike Brehme, said: “Unfortunately the spiralling cost of energy and materials, alongside low levels of productivity achievable at Moreton, make it necessary to close the loss-making site. We are actively exploring options for a new site, but it will be some time before a suitable location is identified, fitted out and ready." "Sadly, we anticipate this resulting in approximately 90 job losses at Moreton. I would like to thank all colleagues who have contributed so much in recent, challenging times and we will do all that we can to assist everyone affected by this announcement." He continued: “With the support of third-party packers, we have a robust plan in place to meet the demand for Typhoo products, ensuring supplies to customers continue uninterrupted". "The regrettable but necessary changes allow Typhoo to realign its ambitions and refocus on the customer whilst ensuring the same high level of service and great quality tea you expect from one of the UK’s oldest and most recognised brands. 2023 marks the milestone of 120 years of Typhoo Tea. These changes allow us to set the business up for the next generation of discerning tea drinkers.” Typhoo was taken over by Zetland Capital Partners in July 2021. Employees who wish to remain in the company will relocate to a hub to oversee the daily management of the restructured business.

Typhoo Tea has announced that it will shutter its tea blending and packing site in Moreton, UK, as it looks to restructure the business. The maker of tea brands such as Glengettie, Ridgeways, Heath & Heather, London Fruit & Herb, Lift, Melroses, Freshbrew and Red Mountain says the closure – which will take place in June this year – could result in up to 90 job losses. Typhoo is "actively exploring" different options for the site and the re-employment of its staff; however, the company notes that it will be "at least one year" before an appropriate location is operational. Typhoo's executive chairman, Mike Brehme, said: “Unfortunately the spiralling cost of energy and materials, alongside low levels of productivity achievable at Moreton, make it necessary to close the loss-making site. We are actively exploring options for a new site, but it will be some time before a suitable location is identified, fitted out and ready." "Sadly, we anticipate this resulting in approximately 90 job losses at Moreton. I would like to thank all colleagues who have contributed so much in recent, challenging times and we will do all that we can to assist everyone affected by this announcement." He continued: “With the support of third-party packers, we have a robust plan in place to meet the demand for Typhoo products, ensuring supplies to customers continue uninterrupted". "The regrettable but necessary changes allow Typhoo to realign its ambitions and refocus on the customer whilst ensuring the same high level of service and great quality tea you expect from one of the UK’s oldest and most recognised brands. 2023 marks the milestone of 120 years of Typhoo Tea. These changes allow us to set the business up for the next generation of discerning tea drinkers.” Typhoo was taken over by Zetland Capital Partners in July 2021. Employees who wish to remain in the company will relocate to a hub to oversee the daily management of the restructured business.

Food producers are looking for better technologies for cleaning tanks, which must be thoroughly rinsed after each batch to prevent contamination.

Sparkalis, the corporate venture arm of Puratos, has acquired a minority stake in the Netherlands’ Fooditive Group. Based in Rotterdam, Fooditive is focused on creating vegan-friendly ingredients that are “healthier for consumers, better for the planet and kinder to animals”. The company’s innovations include precision fermentation-produced honey and casein, as well as an upcycled calorie-free sweetener derived from apple and pear side streams. “Our partnership with Sparkalis will give Fooditive access to many countries worldwide where we do not already have a market presence,” said Fooditive's CEO and founder, Moayad Abushokhedim. “This will enable us to take our innovations to a wider audience and in doing so bring about the changes that are needed to ensure the food supply chains of the future are truly sustainable.” Following the investment, Sparkalis managing director Filip Arnaut has joined Fooditive’s advisory board, which now numbers 11 food tech experts. Arnaut commented that Sparkalis and Fooditive “share the same vision” for the future of the food industry. “We are both committed to facilitating innovative solutions that will change the way we think about food production and create a more sustainable footprint for the industry,” he added.

Israel-based food company specialising in kosher food products, G Willi-Food, has announced the receipt of a building permit for a refrigerated and frozen distribution centre. The new automated and computerised logistics centre will ‘substantially’ increase the company’s storage space and is designed to effectively and efficiently support G Willi-Food’s expansion and growth plans for the coming years. The centre will be located in Yavne, in the central district of Israel, and the company expects to invest approximately NIS 90 million (approx. $24.6 million) into its construction. Joseph Williger, co-chairman of G Willi-Food, said: "Receipt of the building permit for the new logistics centre is a significant milestone for the company that will enable its continued growth in the Israeli food market. The new logistics centre that will be established is intended to be a state-of-the-art and technologically advanced structure that will significantly increase the company's logistics capabilities in the field of storage, collection and distribution.” He continued: “We believe that through the new logistics centre, the company can grow significantly and strengthen its activities and enter into new categories of refrigerated and frozen products. The new centre will also enable the provision of logistic services to a variety of other business entities seeking to benefit from an advanced logistics centre that is centrally located.” G Willi-Food is one of Israel’s leading food importers and markets and sells its food products to over 3,000 selling points in Israel and around the world. The company's operating divisions include G Willi-Food in Israel and Euro European Dairies, a wholly owned subsidiary that designs, develops and distributes branded kosher, dairy-food products.

Source Global, the developer of a “disruptive” technology that generates drinking water from the atmosphere, has announced its acquisition of spring water brand Proud Source Water. A certified B Corp, Proud Source offers naturally alkaline water in recyclable aluminium bottles, which can be found at retailers and foodservice locations across the US. The companies are combining to provide “the first completely renewable, sustainable bottled water,” according to Source Global. Its technology, the Source Hydropanel, produces drinking water using sunlight and air as the only inputs. CEO and founder, Cody Friesen, elaborated: “Our Hydropanels allow us to establish a source of clean, sustainable water almost anywhere on the planet, without the need to extract from existing freshwater resources”. “The technology is powered entirely by the sun, and the water is produced from vapour in the air, making it a truly renewable approach.” Proud Source – which currently sources from sustainably managed springs in the Rocky Mountains and Florida’s Apalachicola National Forest – will expand its product portfolio to include water produced via Source Global’s tech. Arrays of Hydropanels are to be installed at Proud Source’s bottling facilities, enabling the brand to offer “renewable water sourced from the air and delivered in infinitely recyclable packaging”. This is expected to be available nationally in early 2024. “Proud Source Water was launched with the commitment to deliver the cleanest and most sustainable water on the planet,” said president CJ Pennington. “Now, with the renewable water technology Source brings to the process, we are able to take that pledge to an unprecedented level.” The deal will see Proud Source become the bottled water division of Source Global. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Drinks giant Beam Suntory has launched a new ready-to-drink (RTD) range under its Jim Beam bourbon whiskey brand. Created in partnership with The Boston Beer Company, Jim Beam Kentucky Coolers are available across the US as single cans and in a variety of multipack options. The 5% ABV bourbon coolers contain 120 calories per can and come in four flavours: Strawberry Punch, Black Cherry Lemonade, Sweet Tea Lemonade and Citrus Punch. “Jim Beam has always aimed to offer consumers the perfect occasion to bring people together,” said Heather Boyd, Beam Suntory managing director of RTDs, North America. “We recognise that in these moments of connection with family and friends, consumers are more frequently reaching for the convenience of canned cocktails and RTDs, but know there are gaps in the current flavour profile offerings in the category. “We are proud to have created a product that directly addresses what consumers are looking for in the RTD market – a full-flavoured beverage at 120 calories.” The suggested retail price is $16.99 for a 12-can variety pack, $9.99 for a single-flavour six-pack and $3.49 for an individual 24oz can.