Experts in nutrition gathered at the recent International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in Mexico to discuss the Nutrient Rich Foods system, a useful tool now in development and testing that will make it easier for consumers to select nutrient-rich foods. The tool will be able to score the nutrient richness of an individual food, beverage or meal, or meals from a whole day, and ultimately improve healthy eating habits. Internationally, food rating systems that attempt to measure the nutritional quality and healthfulness of foods are exploding in retail and regulating environments. Nutrition labels and nutrition profiling systems are an opportunity to demonstrate dairy’s health benefits to consumers, if the science behind them is sound. “Some nutrient profiling systems currently available may change food choices in the short-term, but in the long-term, focusing on choosing nutrient rich foods rather than focusing on avoiding certain nutrients is the smarter choice to get more nutrition from calories and build a healthier diet,” said Gregory D Miller, Executive Vice President, Research, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at Dairy Management Inc and the National Dairy Council in the US. Since 2004, the Nutrient Rich Foods (NRF) Coalition has been educating health professionals and targeted consumers about the Nutrient Rich Food approach, which emphasises choosing nutrient-rich foods first from the five basic food groups. Nutrient-rich foods, also known as nutrient-dense foods, provide a significant amount of beneficial nutrients per calorie. This means that when choosing a food or beverage, or judging how healthy a day’s diet is, it's important to consider how many beneficial nutrients it contains, such as vitamins, protein and fibre, as well as the amount of fat, sugar and sodium. The next step for the NRF Coalition is an educational tool that utilises the algorithm to help people identify and enjoy nutrient-rich foods within and among the basic food groups. The tool is expected to be complete in 2009. Also as part of its work, the NRF Coalition is conducting consumer research to develop messages on the health benefits of nutrient-rich foods that resonate best with consumers, so it can share these with health professionals as well as the food industry. “Reducing consumption of nutrients to limit such things as fat and sodium may have unintended consequences for many nutrient rich foods, including some dairy foods,” said IDF Director General, Christian Robert. “Consequently, nutrition labels and nutrient profiling systems need to fairly characterise the role of nutrient-rich foods in a well-rounded, healthy diet. “The dairy sector can help convey this message to those who give dietary guidance as well as to consumers,” he added. “Dairy can improve the quality of life for people, and we should make sure everyone is aware of it.”

The research, conducted by independent research company TNS for the British Soft Drinks Association, shows that squash has retained popularity as a low-cost, enjoyable beverage choice for children of all ages. Children’s drink choices have also become more varied, and fruit juice, juice drinks, bottled water and milk are now chosen twice as often as in 1993. Key findings from the research show that: 55% of soft drinks consumed by children now contain no added sugar compared with 46% in 2004. Children are now 20% more likely to consume a drink with no added sugar than they were in 2004. Squash is the most popular soft drink in children’s school lunchboxes. Bottled water has also become increasingly popular. 97% of drinks consumed in school hours are obtained at school or brought in the lunchbox from home, and only 3% are obtained elsewhere. >More than 86% of soft drinks (and 93% of fruit juices) are consumed with food. These findings highlight that children now have a wide range of soft drinks to choose from, with new choices gaining in popularity alongside old favourites. The research found that parents want to play an active role in ensuring their children have a balanced diet, and want to set a good example so their children understand the need to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. In the upper age group (11-16s), there is an increased proportion of children opting for more adult-oriented drinks such as carbonates, 21% of 11-16-year-olds opting for carbonates in comparison to 13% of 6-10s. Squash still remains the most popular soft drink type and is chosen 22% of the time. When consuming soft drinks with their parents, the research showed that children drink a similar range of drinks. The most noticeable difference when children are with adults is that for children between the ages of 6-16 years old, tea is three or four times more likely to be consumed. Commenting on the findings of this research, Jill Ardagh, BSDA director general, said: “This research provides a fascinating insight into what children are drinking and how their habits have changed. Children and their parents now have a wide range of soft drinks to choose from, helping them keep refreshed and hydrated throughout the day and maintain a balanced diet and active lifestyle."

Dr Pepper has fallen foul of rock star Axl Rose, frontman of rock group Guns N' Roses, as a result of the company's difficulties with keeping its promise of a free can of its carbonated beverage to every American if the band released its album within the year. The group's sixth album, Chinese Democracy, has reportedly cost the record label Universal $13m and has been 14 years in the making. The offer from the Dr Pepper Snapple Group-owned company was originally introduced in March, and according to the Guns N' Roses website, Axl Rose initially stated he was happy to have Dr Pepper's support. However, on the day of the release of the album, the 24-hour website was unable to cope with the amount of visitors who tried to download coupons to be exchanged for cans of Dr Pepper. As a result of the many complaints, the company offered a toll-free phone number to register for coupons and extended the offer for an additional 18 hours. Nevertheless, members of the rock group don't feel that these actions have been sufficient and have threatened legal action if the beverage maker fails to take out full-page newspaper ads to apologise, expand its redemption offer and reimburse the band for unauthorised use of their publicity. "Our clients are outraged at your treatment of their fans and the American public in general," Guns N' Roses lawyer Alan Gutman wrote in a letter to Dr Pepper Snapple Group CEO Larry Young. "This offer was an unmitigated disaster which defrauded consumers and, in the eyes of vocal fans, 'ruined' the day of Chinese Democracy's release." In response, Dr Pepper spokesperson Greg Artkop said the company is "disappointed that GNR's lawyers are turning a fun giveaway into a legal dispute."

*This year’s International Milk Promotions (IMP) trophy has been won by Norway. The winning campaign Melk.TV was developed by Ida Berg Hauge from the Norwegian Dairy Council and features new, innovative ways to communicate healthy and natural dairy foods to consumers. * The Yves Boutonnat IMP trophy was presented at the closing banquet of the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in Mexico City. Seven entries from seven countries competed for the trophy this year. The finalists were: France with its Nos Amis Pour La Vie campaign, the UK with its Milk Cup (football) Sponsorship, and Norway’s Melk.TV campaign. The winning campaign focuses on taking advantage of the internet to provide dairy info through recipes, shows and training. The IDF said all entries demonstrated the good work going on around the world to promote the interests of dairy. The campaigns covered a diverse range of topics from promoting the health and nutrition benefits of dairy products, how dairy foods contribute to enjoyment and contemporary lifestyles, to projecting a positive image of the dairy industry in a modern and progressive society. The campaigns have an effect on attitudes and behaviour of consumers to favour and stimulate the growth and consumption of dairy products.

In the 90th year since the end of the First World War, The UK Dairy Council has once again hosted the Ceremony of Christmas Cheeses at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London. Dairy Council Chairman Barry Nicholls said: “The Cheese Ceremony is a fantastic opportunity for the dairy industry to pay tribute to the bravery and heroism of our war veterans. It's a wonderful and festive event, heaped in tradition and pageantry, which The Dairy Council has been organising for nearly 50 years.” Every year, British cheesemakers from across the country kindly donate their cheese and present it to the pensioners. The tradition began in 1692 when the hospital asked a local cheesemonger to provide the pensioners with cheese as a Christmas treat. At the Ceremony, 95-year-old Bob Costley, who served in the Royal Artillery, cut the ceremonial cheese with a sword. “This is a very special Cheese Ceremony, as this year marks 90 years since the end of the First World War,” he said. “I'm thankful that The Dairy Council recognises our efforts with this annual ceremony and am honoured to cut the ceremonial cheese on behalf of my fellow veterans.” Dairy Council Director Dr Judith Bryans added: “The cheesemakers are always generous, and each year we receive a wonderful selection of British cheeses for the veterans. This year, they've outdone themselves by donating more than 250kg of cheese, which I am certain that the veterans will enjoy feasting on throughout the Christmas season and into the New Year."

The International Dairy Federation announced the winners of the 2008 IDF Marketing Awards at a Gala Dinner during the IDF World Dairy Summit in Mexico. The awards cover four categories: Nutri-Marketing, Innovation, Communication and Environment. And the winners were … India’s Mother Dairy won the Nutri-marketing category with its Nutri-fit campaign, while Dairy Farmers of Australia took the Innovation category with its Thick and Creamy Yogurt campaign. Arla Foods’ Lactofree campaign in the UK won the Marketing Communication section. “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate innovative work and talented people from within the dairy industry,” said IDF Director General, Christian Robert. “Everyone involved in these awards has been most pleased with the level of the entries, making the judging very difficult. We're looking forward to seeing this high standard continue next year with the same enthusiasm towards innovation and creative performance in dairying.”

**Plans are progressing well for the 2009 International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit, being held in Berlin, Germany in September 2009. **The new Summit website has gone online and the German National Committee of the IDF has announced a series of stimulating conferences covering a wide range of interests. World markets for agricultural commodities and market globalisation changes rapidly, with dramatic repercussions on supply and demand in the dairy industry. Focus of the Summit will therefore be placed on the presentation and development of forward-looking solutions related to nutrition, sustainability and environment, animal health/welfare and food safety, as well as to technological innovation in milk supply and dairy processing, taking the whole of the dairy food chain into account. A panel discussion between the world’s top dairy leaders will outline a vision and path for dairying in the 21st century. The Summit offers the perfect setting for networking. Professionals and experts in their respective fields will come together to explore new ways of collaboration with the objective of increasing the value of milk and milk products and dairy ingredients, and to advance knowledge in order to meet today’s and tomorrow’s consumer needs. The IDF World Dairy Summit 2009 will comprise a large exhibition for presenting and promoting dairy products, ingredients, equipment and latest technological solutions contributing to the sector’s development. IDF Director General Christian Robert invites everyone with an interest in dairying to attend the Summit and be part of the debate about promising challenges and opportunities that this dynamic sector is facing. “The annual World Dairy Summit is the optimal platform of the international dairy community for the presentation of the latest knowledge and insights, for exchanging experiences and decision making. It's unique in terms of boosting the development of scientific technical cooperation worldwide, as well as in linking academic research with industrial developments and applications.” IDF World Dairy Summit is being held in Berlin, Germany, 20-24 September 2009. For more information visit: www.wds2009.com.

Golden Circle Ltd shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the food and beverage company's AUS$288m acquisition by US giant HJ Heinz Company. At a shareholder meeting in Brisbane on Monday, 97.05% of shareholders voted in favour of the Heinz proposal, where the US company would offer AUS$1.65 cash for each Golden Circle share. The Golden Circle board, along with the company's largest shareholder Anchorage Capital Partners, which holds 35% of the group, had backed the Heinz offer. "The support for the Heinz proposal by our shareholders is an important step in this process, which will help to secure Golden Circles' future and provide benefits for shareholders, growers and our employees," said Golden Circle Chairman Phillip Cave. In a statement, Heinz MD Peter Widdows said the company looked forward to growing the business and making the Golden Circle name stronger. The takeover is subject to approval by the Supreme Court of Queensland, and will be implemented by 30 December 2008. * *

In 2006, Unilever Foods and Home & Personal Care President Vindi Banga led a review of the company's science and technology capabilities as part of the 'One Unilever' programme. The review showed that reorganisation of research and development sectors was necessary in order to improve market competitiveness. A further review of the business this year resulted in the appointment of Geneviève Berger as Unilever's Chief R&D Officer and the decision to create a single category function by combining the three global R&D operations. Now Unilever has announced six strategic research sites Vlaardingen (NL), Port Sunlight and Colworth (UK), Trumbull (USA), Bangalore (India) and Shanghai (China). For product design and deployment, which is part of the category organisation led by Vindi, Unilever has decided to consolidate Food activities in the Americas to Englewood Cliffs (USA), Valinhos (Brasil) and Mexico City (Mexico). Global Laundry R&D is consolidated in Vlaardingen (NL), Port Sunlight (UK) and Mumbai (India). Geneviève Berger explained: "The steps we've announced today will enable us to go further in focusing our resources on creating fewer, bigger innovations, and deploying them at scale in areas where we want to win. These changes to our organisational structure, together with an increased focus on our open innovation collaborations, will enable us to more efficiently deliver improved product performance to our consumers." As a result of the intended changes, Unilever expects that approximately 390 full-time positions will be impacted resulting in a net reduction of 250 full-time positions.

Decline in demand for Gatorade and Propel fitness water means that the city of Albany, Oregon, will no longer be the site of the long-planned PepsiCo factory. The construction of the plant was put on hold early in 2007 due to a comprehensive analysis of capacity needs, the results of which have led to PepsiCo's recent change of heart. SVC Manufacturing, a PepsiCo subsidiary, had a contract with Albany, Linn County and the state of Oregon to build the $165m factory on 244 acres. City officials said earlier that if the company backed out, it would owe the city tens of millions of dollars because the benefits of the project, including more than 200 jobs, would be lost. Reportedly, SVC would reimburse the city at least $2m for "out of pocket" costs related to water and sewer lines to the plant site. By giving the notice, the company avoided having to pay the city $700,000 in 2009 and again in 2010, which would have been due had the construction merely been postponed. City officials are in talks with PepsiCo to try to come to a financial agreement that takes into account the damages to the community because of the decision not to proceed with the plant construction.

Vital Fontaines, the leading water cooler distributor in Mauritius, has begun supplying customers with drinking water in 10-litre bottles from Capsnap Europe. The bottles are specially designed to serve private households with their low weight and easy handling. The bottle handle is mounted in the shoulder area of the bottle for the first time. There's no longer a need to tip over the bottle to carry it, thus making the product convenient to handle. The product was jointly developed by SipWell Belgium and Capsnap Europe as a convenient alternative for private households and small offices. The water cooler industry had long demanded smaller bottle volumes than the typical 18.9-litre offering. Capsnap and SipWell met this demand by introducing their 10-litre bottle to the market in 2007. Vital Fontaines, which currently supplies over 5,000 water coolers on the Island of Mauritius, is looking to heavily target private households in its plan for achieving further growth.

A new, sustainable glass carafe for tap water, to be used by London’s bars, hotels and restaurants, has been unveiled by the Mayor of London and Thames Water at a busy press launch at London’s City Hall on 1 December. The carafe, called ‘Tap Top’, from industrial designer Neil Barron, is the winning design in the London On Tap campaign competition, which challenged London-based designers to create an iconic and sustainable carafe to serve tap water across the capital. Mayor Johnson, who presented Neil with his £5,000 prize from Thames Water, said: "I've been hugely impressed by the magnitude of London-based design talent that this fantastic carafe competition has revealed." He told the assembled crowd that there was no water more sweet and delicious than London tap water and urged businesses across London to place orders and make tap water an easier choice. For more on this story, please see the Dec/Jan 09 issue of cooler innovation magazine.