For five days in October, food and beverages will be the focus of attention at Germany’s Cologne exhibition center.  More than 6,000 suppliers from around 100 countries will be presenting their products to trade visitors from all over the world.

Freshness, “healthy” added value and convenience are the main selling points in the food industry this year.  Nine product areas in the health sector have achieved doubledigit growth rates worldwide.  Six of these categories posted turnover of more than one billion US dollars. According to a recent Nielsen study, the fastest growing internationally product is liquid yoghurt, which recorded an increase of 18 per cent.  Click here for the full story.

A recent recall of canned chili found that a single supplier was responsible for the problems at over 90 different brands.  Similar problems occured in the spinach, pet food, and frozen meat recalls issued in the past few months.  Todays food products are often outsourced to different suppliers, and then sold under multiple brand names.  Trying to find the ultimate manufacturer can be a problem, and it has some concerned.  Click here for the full story.

Others disagree, and some industry regulators say the recent recalls could show better practices at food producers and manufacturers.  “One reason we are seeing this is because it’s becoming a common industry practice,” said Dr. David Acheson, of the FDA.

Biotech firms may continue to benefit from genetically modified crops despite the continuing controversy on the subject.  Click here for full story.

Currently, only 2% of crop areas include genetically modified crop plantings but the total crop area planted has doubled since the year 2000.  Clearly both governments and the consumer has mixed emotions on the subject, but the agribiotech sector continues to profit by the continuing trend towards genetically modified crops and food products. 

From Germany to the Phillipines, organic farming is seeing a clear and present impact on CO2 emission reductions.  Recent research confirms that the switch to organic farming can have broad, measurable impacts on improving the environment - see Full Article here.

 This research from Rodale demonstrates there is much upside and very little downside to the movement towards organic.  You can but hope this could contribute significantly to the evidence spurring further conversions.

There has been an effort launched to change the composition of dairy products and other foods by replacing the milk used with starch technology. Supposedly, you still get the sensory and functional characteristics associated with milk. You can read the entire article by clicking here. A few of the products this would impact include ice cream, yogurt and sour cream.

This is all of the result of escalating milk prices which are being caused by increased usage in Asia, drought in New Zealand and Australia as well as the higher cost to feed cows. On top of this, the rise in shipping and fuel costs have also been blamed for the rise.

Milk has always been a staple item in many grocery stores. It was a product that the grocery store had to carry in the United States to get you into the store to buy the more profitable products. It will be interesting to see if usage goes down as prices rise or if most people cannot even consider going without milk.

Much momentum continues in the trend against bottled water.  Research is difficult to come by as the movement seems just beginning.  But this is a very big business - some estimates may be as high as $100 billion worldwide.  Click here for the full article.

This may not simply be just the tempest-in-a-teapot movement though.  Some movements quickly gather pace.  Add the evolving public mood on global warming and other eco-movements and it may be a bumpy ride this year for some big producers.  It’s not the product.  It’s the package.  Reusable cups, anyone?  

Country that ships the most wine to the U.S?  Italy.  Research from 2006 shows U.S. wine sales continue to grow - at a not very remarkable 3.4% year over year.  Italy came in with almost 30% of the total but imports from France had the greatest percentage increase - Click here for full article.

Domestic sales grew by less than 3%, but Champagne sales popped up again.  Looks like the high-end consumer continues to do the heavy lifting in wine consumption.    

Research coming out of the UK suggests that mothers-to-be that are high consumers of junk food may in fact be programming their babies for the same cravings.  This study on laboratory animals indicates that chemicals in the brain may have an effect on the developing brain of offspring - Click here for full article.

The study emphasizes the need for a balanced diet during - and after - pregnancy.  With another recent study indicating obesity may be heavily influenced by the people around you, it may be getting easier to conclude that it may not be your fault.  This time, you might be able to blame your mother.