Scientists at Europe’s food safety watchdog have updated their advice on the risks of listeria in foods; the bacteria is the cause of food related disease currently on the increase. According to the EFSA-ECDC annual report on animal infections transmissible to humans, the number of human listeriosis cases was up by 8.6 % in the EU from 1,427 cases in 2005 to 1,583 in 2006. Nonetheless, the number of large listeriosis outbreaks (i.e. more than 50 cases) have declined since the late 1990s and now the large majority of cases are sporadic. The Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends that efforts to reduce risks to human health should focus on risk reduction practices both during the production process of ready to eat foods (RTE) and at home by consumers. The Panel also advised that in order to improve risk assesments listeriosis cases should be monitored and investigated more thoroughly. It was also suggested that data on the consumption of RTE foods should be generated and analysed. The report concluded, that the European Union’s maximum safety tolerance levels for Listeria have lead to very low numbers of listeriosis cases in humans. This is due to most listeriosis cases being caused by the consumption of RTE foods which support growth of Listeria. In its advice to industry, the Panel identified the following as key areas for attention: food packaging and preparation practices in the food chain (such as the slicing of RTE meat products), storage temperatures, general industrial good hygiene practices and the education as well as training of food handlers. Listeriosis is a rare but potentially lethal food related infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes which has a high mortality rate. Elderly people and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to listeriosis as are people suffering from immuno-compromising diseases such as cancer or HIV. An increase in the number of listeriosis cases in humans has been observed in several EU countries since 2000, notably in persons over 60 years old. The work by the BIOHAZ panel follows a request by the European Commission to EFSA to update the scientific review of literature on listeriosis related to RTE foods and provide scientific advice on different levels of Listeria in RTE foods and the related risk to human health.

Leading nutritionists say that people who consume too few dairy products are at greater risk of being overweight, and research in the United States has shown that pre-school children who didn't have enough milk and milk products in their diet gained more body fat over time compared with children consuming the recommended amount. Global Dairy Platform Technical Director Dr Cindy Schweitzer said: “According to over 30 studies, milk products could play a role in losing and maintaining weight. In fact, these studies reveal that milk products may help you lose weight as part of a low calorie diet, or help prevent weight gain.” Dr Schweitzer was speaking at Dairy UK’s conference on obesity and the dairy industry. She said: “One of the first things many people do when trying to lose weight is to get rid of dairy foods from their diet. Many diet experts suggest this approach could be counterproductive. “Obesity is a multifactorial problem. Although milk products are not a magic solution, it would seem that consuming adequate quantities could provide an added benefit in weight management. Scientific evidence shows that consuming three daily servings of dairy foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese as part of a reduced calorie diet actually increases weight loss. This is because calcium-rich dairy foods are thought to help certain tissues store, mobilise and oxidise fat to regulate our body weight.” Nutritionist Dr Theo Ockhuizen, who chairs several international committees on nutrition, told the conference that the introduction of nutrient profiles internationally was a political decision. He said: “It is an emotional decision provoked by pressure from consumer organisations. The emphasis on nutrients rather than on healthy dietary patterns could lead to unbalanced dietary patterns.” Dairy UK Chairman David Curry MP, told the conference: “Our industry believes very firmly that as far as food is concerned, Government activity and education should be dedicated to the adoption of a balanced diet. Only then can you communicate true nutritional advice, so we struggle with strategies which seek only to reduce targeted single components in food.”

Brazil’s Trip Publishing has joined forces with domestic water company Acqua Incorp to introduce Trip Liquid, a miniature version of Trip magazine used as a label on a bottled water. The water in the PET bottle is sourced from Serra do Japi mountain range. The first edition of the magazine had a 10,000 product run and will be available for sale in select surfing shops in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The project was developed in partnership with Sangar, a company which has reportedly engineered label technology that allows the bottle to be placed in the refrigerator or a bucket of ice without the magazine being damaged. The 16 page mini-magazine brings stories about Trip Girl Adriana Telg, a feature on surfing giant waves in Chile with Luiz Robert Ant, a profile of Guy Marcovaldi, founder of the Tamar Project, and a column with tips on leisure and surfing gear. For Trip Publishing founder Pablo Rasp, the objective of the Trip Liquid is to move beyond the hydration benefits of water and offer packaging as a channel for information and entertainment.

Product of the Year, the UK’s leading survey into consumer product innovation, has revealed the nation's latest must-have products at the UK’s 4th annual award ceremony. The 35 best innovations in Drinks, Snacks, Household Cleaning, Men’s Grooming, Make-Up and the newly introduced Alcohol category, have all been rewarded with the title of Product of the Year. One of the winners was Arla Foods, which should be congratulated for its clear on-pack graphics that indicate the low percentage of fat, even in standard milk. With just 4% in whole milk, 2% in semi-skimmed milk, and just 0.5% in skimmed milk, consumers will no longer be unclear about its fat content. Nestle Aero Bubbles was also awarded a team-building weekend from Blue Marlin for Best Single Execution. Attendees on the night agreed that the rise in recognition of the Product of the Year logo is not only beneficial to the winning products and manufacturers but also to consumers. Tom Moody of Procter and Gamble said: “Increased recognition of the Product of the Year logo shows that consumers genuinely see this as a guide on what to buy.” The Product of the Year Awards sponsored by Blue Marlin are designed to reward innovation and were judged by 12,000 consumers through TNS research. Entries for the 2009 awards open in March 2008. Brands can pre-register, download entry forms and gain a reminder when registration opens, by visiting the link below this article.

Los Angeles-based Y Water, a $1 million start-up company, is set to introduce an eponymous low sugar vitamin infused flavoured water in early 2008. The quirky product, aimed at children, comes in remarkable packaging created by Yves Béhar of San Francisco design agency Fuseproject. The Y-shaped 9oz bottle can also be used as a toy and is intended to make drinking water more fun for kids. The certified organic drink will be available in four varieties, each with a flavour mix composed of ingredients that target different parts of the body: bones, muscles, the brain, and the immune system. For example, Y Bone water has a shot of calcium and vitamins mixed with organic black carrot juice, banana, strawberry and a touch of spearmint oil. Y Brain water contains zinc, rosemary, lemon and caramel. Y Water founder Thomas Arndt explained that once a child finishes the bottle, special connectors on the pack allow Y Water bottles to stick together in Lego-like constructions. “It's exotic and it's unique," he said. "It enriches the fantasy life of kids. They start guessing what’s in it.” Clearly, targeting kids is part of a broader strategy by the beverage industry to tailor drinks to niche consumer segments. “What we are seeing are finely targeted products for a particular need or demographic, and that includes kids, which is an underserved category,” noted one analyst. Arndt, who has previously worked for Red Bull and Carpe Diem, said he started thinking about a children’s beverage two years ago when he couldn’t find anything in Los Angeles supermarkets that he wanted his own kids to drink. His idea was to create a low calorie, organic beverage that would be a thirst quencher, yet also have health benefits or functionality all in a kid-friendly package. “When it comes to drinks, kids aren’t taken seriously,” he concluded. Béhar, who is also an investor in the project, explains that the design is about the process of turning drink into a game, and a disposable product into a reusable one. His team devised Y Water’s intertwined name and bottle based on the concept of a stable, symmetrical bottle that incorporates a sense of play and learning. Bottle labels, designed by ad agency Kastner & Partner in Los Angeles, include whimsical, childlike drawings and irreverent tag lines. For Y Bone water, there's a skeleton and the line, “because you don’t want your skeleton walking out on you". Y Muscle water has an octopus in high boots and encourages kids to drink it, “because you never know who’s going to challenge you to a wrestling match". However, Y Water also contains sugar cane juice, and some food industry nutritionists are sceptical about its overall health benefits. Other critics have pointed out that throwing in a little zinc won’t make a difference unless a child is zinc deficient, in which case dedicated pharmaceutical supplements would be preferred. Arndt argues that Y Water is meant to be a part of healthy, balanced daily nutrition, not a replacement. He believes the benefits of the added vitamins and minerals in drinks are well documented. As for sugar, Arndt is adamant: “I’d rather give kids a tolerable level of sweetness as an incentive to substitute soft drinks with water, rather than offer them only plain water that they don’t like.” Drinks industry analysts believe Y Water has potential because it addresses issues such as health and the environment. Ecologically conscious parents may be more comfortable with buying a product packaged in a plastic bottle that's intended to be reused within the home, but questions are unanswered as to whether the product is fully recyclable if thrown away. Y Water has already found a listing for the children’s functional water range at Whole Food Markets, but each 9oz bottle will cost a hefty $1.69 when it goes on sale, a price that observers suggest will simply scare customers away from such an innovative concept.

Romanian producer Biborteni, which holds around 5% of the national mineral water market, expects to increase sales by 2% in the wake of product portfolio diversification. However, the company forecasts that 2007 turnover will have advanced by 22% from a year earlier, and the company’s diversification into juice production and sodas are likely to benefit from the 30% overall growth of the soft drinks market. “I believe a possible hot summer in 2008 isn't going to take producers by surprise again, because they will build larger stocks than this year,” said Madalin Simion, a brand manager at Biborteni. In 2007, the company relaunched Biborteni mineral water in three formulae with various degrees of carbonation, having added a second water brand, Valea Brazilor, to its portfolio at the end of 2006. Biborteni’s main rivals are Romanian mineral water producers Romaqua, Apemin Tusnad, Perla Harghitei, Bucovina, as well as Coca-Cola Hellenic, owning Dorna Apemin bottler.

Icelandic Water Holdings is currently rolling out its premium bottled water brand Icelandic Glacial across the US in strategic phases with Anheuser-Busch, and aims to complete nationwide distribution of the product by the third quarter of 2008. Currently, the European bottled water company has established distribution with Anheuser-Busch in the north-east and south-west of the country, with key state rollouts completed in California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii. “The plan is to move across the country," said a company spokesperson. "New York, New Jersey and Florida have also featured in the early part of the distribution campaign. With many more states coming on stream in the early part of 2008 through both on- and off-trade accounts, Icelandic Glacial has enjoyed a very positive reception to its distribution strategy.” Among those retailers now stocking the product are: Target, Safeway, Vons, Dominicks, Whole Foods Market, Wildoats, Pavillions, 7-11, Duane Reade, AMPM, British Petroleum, Albertsons, and airports in Los Angeles and New York.

Californian company Global Beverage Innovations has announced a $7.5 million order for its Anti-Ageing Water from Kunimitsu Kido Company, a highly respected distributor and manufacturer of cosmeceuticals in Japan. The US company claims Anti-Ageing Water is made with the highest quality nutraceutical ingredients, which have been clinically proven to increase DNA repair by up to 30% in 33 days. Stuart Garret of Global Beverage Innovations told water innovation: “The active ingredient in Anti-Ageing Water is the maximised formulation of an effective natural product called quinic acid, which is an extract of the active ingredient from the plant Uncaria Tomentosa. It has been scientifically proven to protect and repair DNA, promote longevity and preserve youthfulness. This is due to its unique anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-mutagenic and antioxidant activities.”

Private label bottler Advanced H2O in Seattle has been purchased by Dallas-based private equity firm HM Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum. The move comes amid several food and beverage company acquisitions by HM Capital, which currently owns Sturm Foods, a maker of nutritional drink mixes. Advanced H2O was founded in 1998 and provides low-cost private label bottled water to supermarket chains and regional retailers on the West Coast. The company will be familiar to water innovation readers for teaming up with children’s stationery brand Crayola in August 2006 to launch Crayola Color Coolerz!, a vitamin enhanced water aimed at kids. HM Capital is currently investing and managing more than $3.7 billion in equity capital. The company has previously invested in food companies including Swift & Co, Morningstar Group, G Heilman Brewing, Ghiradelli Chocolate and G.H. Mumm/Perrier Jouët. It was originally founded by Tom Hicks and John Muse. Hicks is no longer involved in the firm.

UK-based Minton Spring Water believes the strategy of reserving its premium bottled water brand is paying dividends. Minton is best known for its eponymous water packaged in glass bottles and served at fine hotels, restaurants and brasseries. The company also produces PET formats for outdoor catering activities. A 33cl PET pack for the brand’s flavoured water range is distributed through sandwich bars, cafes and clubs. But company officials have ruled out any strategy to widen distribution to larger outlets. A spokesperson told water innovation: “The reason that we have been focusing on non-retail is to keep the brand exclusive. We always felt that, if a restaurant charges customers £3.50 for a bottle of water and they see it in a supermarket priced four or five times less, customers might feel that they were ripped off by the restaurant.” Launched in 1991, the company sources its water deep in the protected moorlands of Dartmoor. The brand reflects a sophisticated product using a simple, clean label depicting the Minton Crest, with the name Minton alluding to the English heritage. The approximate throughput of the bottling plant was 2.5 million litres in 2007. The company has achieved a 7% rise in volumes sold and expects to achieve 8% growth in 2008.

Juice drink manufacturer Sunny Delight Beverages has signed a deal to purchase the Fruit2O water and Veryfine juice brands from Kraft Foods as it moves towards a more nutritious beverage portfolio. The companies did not disclose the purchase price, but the two brands were reported to have a combined 2006 turnover of about $135 million. Along with the brands, Sunny Delight will also take control of the Veryfine plant located in Littleton and Kraft’s packing facility in Fresno, California. About 200 workers employed at the sites will also be transferred to Sunny Delight under the terms of the sale. Sunny Delight Chief Executive Officer Billy Cyr said that the deal was an important step in targeting the growing number of health-conscious consumers in the soft drinks market. He said: “This acquisition will further accelerate our growth and continue our commitment to bring more wholesome beverage choices to consumers. Fruit2O is the leading zero calorie fruit-flavoured water, and Veryfine has been providing high quality beverages since 1865.” Kraft said the brands no longer suit its long-term growth strategies: “As we restore Kraft to reliable growth, we’re focusing our investments on the brands that best fit,” said Rick Searer, Kraft Executive Vice President and President of Kraft North America. “Fruit2O and Veryfine are great brands. However, for Kraft, we believe we will create greater long-term shareholder value by selling, rather than investing in, these brands.” Fruit2O consists of two lines of waters: Fruit2O water is a leading full-fruit flavoured water beverage. It's made with natural fruit essence and is available in eight flavours: raspberry, strawberry, lemon, grape, orange, peach, cherry and lime. The second line, introduced in early 2007, is Fruit2O vitamin enhanced water and is sold in four varieties: Immunity, Energy, Hydration and Relaxation. Meanwhile, Veryfine offers three lines of beverages: juices and juice drinks, nectars and chillers. Sunny Delight is a privately held juice company, based in Ohio and created in 2004 with the acquisition of the Sunny Delight brands from Procter & Gamble Co. Today, the company’s flagship brand remains its SunnyD juice drink.

According to reports in the Indian media, bottled water producer Bisleri International is planning to launch an enhanced water product within one year. Bisleri International Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Chauhan said: “We are certainly working on enhanced water. We want to give something more than just flavoured water, which will offer health benefits to customers.” The exact details of the product are yet to be finalised. However, it is clear that Bisleri, which claims around 30% share in the Indian bottled water market, will be looking at developing a product that gives it an edge over competitors. It’s apparently working closely with people from the flavours segment, ayurvedic extract manufacturers, vitamins and minerals experts. The exact formulation may not yet have been finalised, but the “King of Bottled Water” Chauhan is clear that he wants to enter this category and so his company has almost completed working on the packaging for the enhanced water. In 2007, Bisleri International launched Bisleri Natural Mountain water, changing its familiar corporate colours from blue to aqua green, and will invest a large amount of money in marketing and advertising. Its mountain water is bottled at plants in Himachal and Uttaranchal, and the company is apparently looking to set up at least four more plants during the next year.