Palm oil trade shift: Malaysia likely to emerge as big winner with UK’s CPTPP membership approval

Malaysian palm oil is likely to gain an edge in terms of exports to the United Kingdom thanks to the latter obtaining membership into the CPTPP and new acknowledgement of the South East Asian nation’s sustainability standards.

Labelling transformations: Thailand stresses science and safety for new nutritional labels and health claims rules

Thailand is the latest market in South East Asia to implement new nutritional labelling policies for the food industry, with the authorities also issuing more stringent ‘science-based’ guidelines for on-pack health claims.

‘No clarity’: India plant-based milk brands veer away from conventional dairy terms

Plant-based dairy brands in India are continuing to steer away from using conventional dairy terms on their product labels until regulators issue greater clarity on what is permitted.

No label, no problem: South Korea looks to mandate label-free packaging for drinking water over next two years

The South Korean government is looking to mandate label-free packaging for drinking water bottles, replacing this with a digital QR code system over the next two years.

Premium push: Unilever India believes food sector growth lies in higher-priced value-added products

Hindustan Unilever India (HUL) has highlighted a continued focus on its premium strategy in order to sustain continued growth in the country, citing products such as Horlicks Plus as a major example.

Not halal just yet: Singapore Islamic Council says ‘more rigorous’ parameters must be fulfilled for cultivated meat to be halal-certified

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has highlighted that cultivated meat still needs to meet a ‘more rigorous’ set of requirements to be halal-certified, even though it has been deemed potentially permissible for halal consumption.

‘Best year ever’: Mondelez sees cocoa inflation, political tensions as ongoing major challenges despite record profits

Confectionary giant Mondelez believes that inflation affecting cocoa and sugar, as well as ongoing political tensions in the Middle East are major challenges that it will need to overcome this year, despite having announced ‘record’ profits for 2023.

3D food printing vital for creating plant-based alternatives, with buckwheat being ‘most promising’ ingredient – review

Emerging technologies such as 3D food printing (3DFP) are unlocking opportunities to develop nutrient-rich and personalised plant-based substitutes for traditional meat, say researchers.

‘Maximising corporate value’: Asahi hopes massive group restructure will enhance advantages across four key markets

Japanese beer giant Asahi is hopeful that its recently-completed large-scale group restructuring strategy to establish individual regional headquarters will maximise its competitive advantages across its four major markets.

‘Potential still there’: Thai food industry experts still confident in plant-based meat appeal despite slow uptake

Food industry experts in Thailand remain optimistic over the potential of plant-based meat in the country despite slower-than-expected uptake, citing hybrid innovation as one of the growth opportunities.