Adult soft drink Shloer is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and will introduce Shloer Apple to the UK to mark the occasion. Shloer Apple, a sparkling blend of crisp apple and white grape juice, was previously only available in Northern Ireland. "Shloer Apple is our third most popular variant in Northern Ireland after White and Red Grape," said Amanda Grabham, Shloer communications controller. "Now, in our 70th year, we felt it would be fitting to introduce the variant to rest of the UK. "As Shloer is currently the second best-selling adult soft drink in the take-home market and number one table-top drink by SKU, the new flavour represents a great sales opportunity for retailers looking to capitalise on the growth of at-home entertaining, particularly if positioned on aisle-end displays and in chiller cabinets." Shloer Apple is available in an elegant 75cl glass bottle.

Tana Water (UK) has commented on a recent water quality problem reported by the <1>. According to the newspaper, elderly residents of Langlands Court, sheltered accommodation in Hawick in the Scottish borders, are suffering due to heavily chlorinated tap water. Many of the residents in their 70s to 90s have resorted to buying bottled drinking water from their local supermarket. Those who are too frail to carry the water home rely on their relatives to bring drinking water with them when they visit. In spite of the water being described as "undrinkable", Scottish Water’s tests have shown that the tap water meets the legal criteria for safe drinking water. Residents have been advised by Scottish Water to run the water for 15 minutes before drinking it. Commenting on the case, Nick Heane, MD of Tana Water (UK), said: “This is clearly a case where installing a mains-fed water filter would be highly beneficial and cost-effective to the residents of Langlands Court and the housing association responsible for its day to day running. "Plumbing a mains-fed water machine into each apartment, or at the very least plumbing in a machine within a communal area such as a lounge or dining room, would allow residents to filter out chlorine, limescale and other unpalatable organic compounds to provide water that tastes excellent. This can be achieved immediately without Scottish Water making any changes to its treatment processes. "I’m surprised that Scottish Water is advising residents to run off water for 15 minutes when The Environment Agency aims to reduce our daily water use by 30 litres per person by 2030.” <1>: http://www.hawick-news.co.uk/news/Complaints-pour-in-over-OAPs39.4624673.jp

In a recent statement, the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) AFC Panel concluded that a recent study on the effects of bisphenoal A in the <1>** did not necessitate establishing new safety levels of the chemical. The Authority stated the following: **European Food Safety Authority’s AFC Panel has issued a further scientific opinion on a specific aspect of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), concerning its elimination from the body and how that relates to the risk assessment of BPA for humans. The aim was to take into account recent data and consider any implications for the existing EFSA advice on BPA set out in its 2006 opinion, which concluded that exposure to BPA is well below the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI). People are exposed to BPA which may be present in food through its use in certain food contact materials such as baby bottles and cans. The conclusions of the panel are that after exposure to BPA, the human body rapidly metabolises and eliminates the substance. This represents an important metabolic difference compared with rats. EFSA will continue to closely monitor scientific findings regarding BPA and any related health effects. The AFC Panel, in its final session, took into account the previous and the most recent information and data available on the way that BPA and related substances are handled in the human body. The panel concluded that the exposure of the human foetus to BPA would be negligible because the mother rapidly metabolises and eliminates BPA from her body. The scientists also concluded that newborns are similarly able to metabolise and eliminate BPA at doses below one milligram per kilogram of bodyweight per day. This implies that newborns could effectively clear BPA at levels far in excess of the TDI of 0.05 mg/kg bw set by the panel, and therefore its 2006 risk assessment remains valid. The panel considered the significant differences between humans and rodents, such as the fact that people metabolise and excrete BPA far more quickly than rodents. This body of evidence further limits the relevance of low-dose effects of BPA reported in some rodent studies used for human risk assessment. In its previous risk assessment, the panel derived a TDI of 0.05 mg/kg bodyweight based on the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of five milligram/kg bodyweight/day for effects in rats and included an uncertainty factor of 100. In this latest assessment, the panel concluded that this TDI provides a sufficient margin of safety for the protection of the consumer, including foetuses and newborns. EFSA took note of the US National Toxicology Program’s draft brief on BPA and of the Canadian government’s recent Draft Screening Assessment on BPA, which took into account findings from the low-dose studies, notably with respect to neurodevelopmental toxicity, though both pointed out that these studies were limited in rigour, consistency and biological plausibility. EFSA also took into account the recent report published by one of the institutes of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (EC, 2008), which concluded that due to the low confidence in the reliability of the developmental neurotoxicity studies and the lack of consistency in the results of behavioural testing, no conclusions can be drawn from these studies. This opinion is similar to that of EFSA in 2006. EFSA is equally aware of the report of the <2>, (VKM, 2008), which concluded that the findings did not provide sufficient evidence for setting a robust lower NOAEL than the current NOAEL set by EFSA at 5 mg/kg body weight/day. <1>: http://http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/300/11/1303 <2>: http://www.vkm.no/eway/default.aspx?pid=266&trg=MainLeft_5419&4698=5420:2&MainLeft_5419=5468:17924::0:5420:4:::0:0

The drink went on sale in Japan this week, and was distributed by Suntory. The label design, which adorns a transparent bottle, is predominantly white and looks fit for the festive market. The Japan Marketing News article suggests that "a deeper, more memorable flavour" would have been more appropriate taking into consideration the time of year and the traditional spike in the consumption of sweet products.

European scientists have published a new study in <1> on the benefits genetically engineered purple tomatoes can provide in the fight against cancer and heart disease. In the study, researchers fed cancer-prone mice with purple tomato concentrate and concluded that the tomatoes increased the lifespan of the mice by almost 22%. Chemical tests revealed the engineered tomatoes to contain high levels of antioxidant activity, almost triple in comparison to non-modified tomatoes. The same phytochemical is also found in blueberries, which is one the most powerful antioxidant-rich fruits. The preliminary research was conducted at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK, in collaboration with other European centres participating to the Flora project. <1>: http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nbt.1506.html

Australia’s Good Vibes for You is due to launch before the end of 2008 and is currently looking for distributors and retailers across the US. Available in 35cl, 60cl and 1.5-litre bottles, Good Vibes for You is a still, unflavoured natural spring water which originates from 100% certified organic springs in Kulnura, New South Wales – a remote area of Australia which has been protected from modern pollutants for over a century. The water has been naturally filtered through Kulnura's famous sandstone, is bottled at source to maintain freshness and shipped less than 48 hours after extraction. The company’s bottling facility recycles all materials used in production and has reduced energy consumption by 50% using equipment driven by air. The spring and bottling facility are approved by Australian Certified Organic. According to the company: “Good Vibes for You is dedicated to awareness and change on the planet. As we evolve in global markets, we're combining efforts with different organisations to offset our carbon footprint, protect natural habitats and assist developing countries in supplying wells and clean water. “A percentage of sales go to organisations and charities who love the planet, too. We are actively pursuing the development of a biodegradable bottle and other sustainable technologies. We have an extensive campaign for generating consciousness around the world, including youth programmes and children's education."

* FoodBev recently published an article called 'Arniston Bay wine launched in 1 litre Tetra Pak', which outlined the South African wine producer's launch of the Arniston Bay Tetra Pak range. Mr David Workman of British Glass responded to the article (British Glass on packaging ‘green wash'), pointing out what he referred to as "inaccuracies". The article on this page is a response to Mr Workman's comments from The Company of Wine People.* In the absence of a suitable 'comments' system for each article, which we intend to address in the new year, and for your convenience, we have published both of the above articles here, as well as Mr Barney Davis' response. If any further correspondence is forthcoming regarding this debate, we will add it to this page, so please do bookmark it if you'd like to keep up to date. Shaun Weston, Editor. ORIGINAL ARTICLE, 17 Oct 2008 South African wine producer, Arniston Bay, is launching a one-litre fully recyclable Tetra Pak, which will further extend its range of environmentally friendly wine packaging. The company has already launched a 1.5-litre pouch with 80% less of a carbon footprint than a glass bottle equivalent. It also plans to launch a 25cl version of the pouch. Available in Chenin Blanc Chardonnay, Pinotage Rose and Cabernet Merlot varieties, the Arniston Bay Tetra Pak will be available for UK retailers from October with an RRP of £6.49 for one litre. A lightweight alternative to glass bottles, the Arniston Bay Tetra Pak has a lower carbon footprint than wine in glass bottles, with a higher number of cartons transported in one shipping. In addition, the pack is 100% recyclable, making this an ideal choice for the environmentally conscious consumer. Brand and Business Development Manager for 'the company of wine people', Barney Davis, said: “The Tetra Pak is an important addition to the Arniston Bay portfolio. A year on from the launch of our carbon-friendly pouch, we're aware that the wine consumer is on the look-out for more innovative forms of packaging that tick all the boxes in terms of convenience, ease of use and environmental benefits. "Our Tetra Pak is not only a convenient addition to our wine range, it's also recyclable and is lighter to transport around the globe, helping us, as an international wine company, to lower our overall carbon footprint.” Arniston Bay is one of the best international selling brands in the UK. Sales of the Arniston Bay range – available in a wide variety of packaging formats – are currently up by 21.9% year on year. DAVID WORKMAN, British Glass – 22 Oct 2008 The news article announcing the launch of a range of Arniston Bay wines packed into Tetra Pak contains so much “green wash” that it's almost laughable. No sensible consumer is going to be taken in. What, for instance, does the term “recyclable” actually mean? Almost anything is potentially recyclable. Glass is actually recycled – up to 90% recycled content in most green wine bottles, and can be recycled over and over again. What evidence exists to verify the claim that the carton is 80% more environmentally friendly than glass? As there has yet to be a full cradle-to-cradle life-cycle assessment undertaken for glass, the figure quoted can only be regarded as wishful thinking. Is it also right that brand owners and retailers should introduce a packaging format associated with the juvenile market at a time when underage consumption of alcohol is such a social issue? The closest that Arniston Bay gets to matching the quality, feel and inertness of glass is the use of glass bottles in the graphics on the carton. It will never be able to replicate the real deal for wine packs – glass bottles themselves. David Workman has a history in the glass industry spanning more than 30 years. He has worked in a variety of senior sales and marketing roles within the UK’s leading glass container manufacturers. He was appointed as Director General of British Glass in 2001. BARNEY DAVIS, The Company of Wine People – 23 Oct 2008 Thanks to David for taking an interest in the environmental issues behind wine packaging, though accusations of "green wash" are a rather obvious and basic swipe at those who are working to create accountable, measurable improvements. It is indeed a complicated area, so he can be forgiven for citing the literal tip of the iceberg as the entire issue. The real issue is about supply chain – how the glass gets here. He is also correct in saying glass can be recycled, but anything can be recycled. It's down to the policy and economics as to the ease and efficiency of collection services. So what happens to the glass after it is recycled? To quote Fred Pearce in The Guardian (23 October) to simplify: “As we post them in the recycling bin, we presume they go to make new bottles and cut out the energy cost of making new glass from sand. Well, it would if they turned the glass back into new bottles. But it turns out that often they don't. Much of London's recycled glass is actually crushed and sold to construction firms as a substitute for sand, or an ingredient in a substitute for asphalt such as Glasphalt – 'specially treated so it won't puncture tyres', as one recycling website puts it. That's a relief, but how many assiduous recyclers trying to do their bit for the environment realise they are actually helping build new roads?" Additionally, David confuses the Tetra Pak with the pouch, which is completely different. And it is in fact the pouch, not the Tetra Pack, that has an 80% lower carbon footprint. The real issue that you can’t get away from is that glass is heavy and takes more energy and production to get here. Arniston Bay also continues to produce in glass and is committed to promoting responsible alcohol use. We are simply trying to move debate and research along by testing and measuring a variety of packaging alternatives. * Barney Davis was Assistant Wine Buyer at Somerfield in 1999 and worked up to Product Group Manager. He left Somerfield to join the Co-op in 2003 as Category Wine Buyer. Barney is now Brand and Business Development Manager at The Company of Wine People, looking after brands such as Arniston Bay, Thandi Fairtrade, Kumkani, Welmoed and Versus.* *The Guardian quote used by kind permission. *

Kuwait-based Teshkeel Media Group (TMG), creators of the world acclaimed comic series THE 99, has signed an agreement with Nestlé Waters allowing the use of THE 99 characters for co-branding. THE 99 features culturally relevant superhero characters from around the world in its comics, theme parks and upcoming animated television series, and will be used with key brands for Nestlé Waters. Nestlé Waters CEO Maurizio Patarnello said: "We think these wholesome superhero characters will provide a relevant and exciting brand activation platform." Dr Naif Al-Mutawa, founder and CEO of Teshkeel Media Group, said: "We're delighted to be working with Nestlé Waters to further open the world of THE 99 to millions of consumers already enjoying Nestlé products. Tying THE 99 to Nestlé Waters is the definition of synergy when two of the world's most respected brands join forces to add value for their consumers." Mohammed Chishty, Marketing Director of Nestlé Waters Zone AOA, added: "We're thrilled by Naif's vision for THE 99. The variety and diversity of characters that he and his team are creating make them an ideal partner for a global company like Nestlé Waters and a global brand like Nestlé Pure Life. The geographical diversity of THE 99 characters will be valuably reflected on the packaging of each country's locally bottled waters as we roll out the programme throughout the region and beyond." Al-Mutawa concluded: "The themed Nestlé Waters are the latest important step in spreading the message of THE 99 to the widest possible audience. With millions of bottles slated to be produced in 2009, our message of tolerance, teamwork and respect will be expanded exponentially. We are proud to be working with a global company like Nestlé Waters whose ethics so closely mirror those of THE 99."

*US-based manufacturer and food distribution specialist, Admiration Foods, has established a new line of mayonnaise and salad dressings called Garden Fresh made with multifunctional fibre blends. * The fibre blends have been produced by Z Trim Holdings, a food industry partner in the deployment of solutions and technologies built around dietary fibres, blends and custom emulsions. Full capacity production of the line is now under way, consisting of mayonnaise, honey mustard, ranch and creamy Italian dressings. "We've limited our offerings of low-fat products thus far due to taste and texture issues, but with Z Trim, there are no such issues," said Michael Leffler, President and CEO of Englewood, New Jersey-based Supreme Oil, parent company of Admiration Foods. "We're not even labelling the Garden Fresh products as low-fat," he added. "It's just a great tasting line that happens to be low in fat." While Admiration intends to eventually make the Garden Fresh products available to consumers via retail, the mayonnaise and dressing line will find ready acceptance among school foodservice operations in many parts of the country. "Z Trim has done a great job of marketing to the schools, and we have some orders ready to fill now," said Leffler. "We look forward to distributing to foodservice and retail markets via our many distributors all over the country. The dressings and mayo will be offered in cases of four gallons each with a minimum batch size of 60 cases, or in tubs. "We're very pleased to have this association with Admiration Foods and Supreme Oil, given their reputation as the largest independent packager of soybean oil and related products on the east coast," said Z Trim CEO Steve Cohen. "We believe their commitment to quality and value makes them a good associate for us."

The Vitop Compact can be used by Bib 900 as AFW860 filling machines and offers several advances in bag-in-box filling technology. This very short tap brings together all the qualities of the existing Vitop tap, yet also offers an improvement in the quality of filling by reducing residual air in the bag by 50% when filling is complete. The Vitop Compact also improves bag into box insertion and the positioning of the tap inside the box. Finally, by contributing to a reduction in the weight of material used (by approximately 25%), Vitop also offers environmental benefits.

**Coffee marketers have a new weapon to call on in their push to stay on top of the fiercely competitive coffee market: 'Coffeenies'. **Coffeenies are plush coffee bean characters shaped in the likeness of coffee beans with flexible arms and legs, scented with coffee fragrance and sit in packaging designed like a coffee cup. In addition to the current range, nearly two dozen coffee bean characters are in the pipeline. Furthermore, customised characters are available and company logos can be added. The seven characters include: Espresso with a saucy mustache and red beret, Cappuccino has a frothy white cap and tutu, Cafe Latte is dressed in a cowhide vest, Hula Bean wears a flower lei on her head and ankle, Biker Bean sports a do-rag and black vest, Coffee Lover has red lips and a heart, Heavenly Brew has gold angel wings and a halo. The eight-inch plush toy characters retail for $7.95 in coffee shops and are also available online. "With the coffee industry exploding in growth and competition, Coffeenies are ideal for a major coffee brand or retailer to use for a marketing promotion to bring their brand to life," said Jill Duggan, creator of Coffeenies. Beyond plush caricatures, Coffeenies can be licensed for animation to be used in internet banner ads supported by character merchandise to drive retail foot traffic.

*China Water and Drinks Inc and Heckmann Corporation of Palm Desert, California have announced that China Water has completed the acquisition of two bottled water manufacturers in China for $11.7m. * Beijing Changsheng Taoda Co Ltd has been acquired for $6m. Beijing Changsheng Taoda currently operates one newly built facility outside Beijing, with an annual capacity of approximately 247.1 million small bottles. The company plans to add a new water cooler bottled water production line with an annual capacity of 8.2 million 18.9-litre bottles to complement its small bottle water production. Changsha Rongtai Co Ltd has been acquired for $5.7m. Changsha Rongtai currently operates one facility in Changsha, Hunan province, which has an annual small bottle capacity of approximately 178.5 million bottles. Together, these acquisitions add two small bottled water production lines with an annual capacity of approximately 426 million bottles, and are China Water's first expansion into the Beijing area. "These acquisitions demonstrate our continuing ability to execute our growth strategy of consolidating the highly fragmented bottled water market in China," said Hong Bin Xu, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of China Water. "The demand for bottled water in China remains strong, fueled by the country's continued economic growth, favourable demographic characteristics, and the need for clean, safe drinking water." "We're very pleased to have completed these acquisitions early in the fourth quarter and are now even more confident in China Water's ability to continue to build its business and secure its place as a leading producer of bottled water in China," said Richard J Heckmann, Chairman and CEO of Heckmann Corporation. "We look forward to consummating our transaction at the end of this month and teaming with Mr Xu to capitalise on our considerable financial flexibility in order to build this business into a worldwide water enterprise." In May, China Water entered into a definitive merger agreement with Heckmann Corporation. The merger has been approved by a majority of China Water shareholders and Heckmann shareholders are scheduled to vote on the transaction on 30 October, with the closing of the merger expected to occur on 31 October. About China Water and Drinks China Water and Drinks Inc is a leading producer and distributor of bottled water in China. Through its production facilities in Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, Feixian, Changchun, Nanning and Shenyang, the Company produces and distributes bottled water to 14 provinces and regions in China. The Company markets its own product primarily under the brands 'Darcunk' and 'Grand Canyon', supplies purified water to both local and international beverage brands such as Coca-Cola and Uni-President and provides private label bottled water for companies such as Sands Casino, Macau.