In this week's news, fertiliser profits, glycerol in slush-ice drinks and food inflation.
High fertiliser profits “likely fuelling food price inflation”, finds ECIU
According to a recent study by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), high food price inflation has “likely” been fuelled by a?500 percent?increase in fertiliser company profits.
The?research?analysed fertiliser prices in 2022 (relative to 2020), with the ECIU also highlighting that there were food price hikes of?18.9 percent?in the year leading up to May 2023.
With fertilisers commonly being made from natural gas, the ECIU observed that “record gas prices in 2022 helped push fertiliser prices to an all-time high”. In fact, it cited ammonium nitrate as the most commonly used fertiliser and found it to cost ￡719 per tonne in 2022, a ￡502 increase from ￡217 per tonne in 2020.?Read more.
FSA warns glycerol in slush-ice drinks “not suitable for under-fours”
Advising the industry, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has released voluntary industry guidance on glycerol in slush-ice drinks, and has stated that they should not be sold to children four years of age and under.
In addition the Agency has?advised?manufacturers to tell retailers that they should “not offer free refill promotions to under-10s”, as a way to prevent young children being exposed to excessive amounts of glycerol.?Read more.
Arla to reward farmers €2.2 billion for sustainability efforts
Arla has committed to paying its farmers a combined total of €2.2 billion as a way to reward and motivate climate initiatives.
The dairy cooperative has said that, for the first time, it has paid out a monthly incentive to its farmer owners’ milk price rewarding climate activities and other sustainability efforts being made on their farms. It has said that the?money?will be allocated using a data-driven and science-based points system.?Read more.
Is food inflation really coming to an end?
We are marking the second anniversary of when the rampant food inflation in the UK really kicked off. The soaring cost of food over this period has caused huge amounts of hardship, with many people struggling to pay their bills and keep food on the table for the family.
领英推荐
The reasons for the large increases in food prices have been well documented, debated and even argued about. However, what cannot be denied is that the UK has suffered more when it comes to price rises?just about any country.' Read more.
Episode 43: Living with food allergies – Part One
In part one of?New Food’s?allergen podcast special, Josh and Grace discuss key takeaways from the “Catering for Allergens” event and talk to Iain Ferris, Liljia Polo-Richards and Lisa Winnall about removing the “fear factor” from the hospitality sector when it comes to allergen safety. Listen here.
New Food?Issue 2 2023
Welcome to Issue 2 2023 of?New Food,?in which we ask whether the food and beverage industry is starting to show the strain of the constant pressure it has endured over the past couple of years.
Professor Chris Elliott?discusses the multiple crises that the food and beverage industry has had to weather,?Brian Ronholm?asks serious questions about the reforms happening at the FDA, and Feeding America highlights how the industry can help solve food insecurity in the US.?
We are also honoured to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius, with?Steve Wearne, Tom Heilandt,?and?Sarah Cahill?telling the story of one of the food and beverage industry’s most important bodies.??
LinkedIn poll results
Have your say with?New Food's?LinkedIn polls. In this week's poll, Would you give a slush-ice to a child under four? We share a new poll on Mondays and the results are published here first.