In China over 90,000 detained over illegal food production

The Chinese government has launched a major offensive on illegal food producers. The high profile campaign was launched on August 22 and aims to eliminate illegal food producers, vendors, factories producing counterfeit products. A statement issued by the ministry particularly noted the results of operations against manufacturing and sale of clenbuterol, an illegal fat-burning drug that is sometimes illegally used as an additive in pig feed, and "gutter oil," or reprocessed cooking oil that is illegally produced using waste oil from restaurants. More than 132,000 cases have been investigated with more than 90,000 suspects being detained since November. Read more ...

Another global threat as Food crisis looms

With the recent catastrophic floods in Thailand, the worlds leading rice exporter, are raising concerns that another food crisis could be around the corner. Another worry is that we could be in a new era where low food prices no longer exist. The Asian Development bank estimates that a ten percent increase in food prices could force another 64 million people into poverty. Read more ...

The hidden companies with global appeal

Cargill Inc set up about 150 years ago by William W Cargill, who brought a grain store in Iowa, 150 years on the company has global sales of US120 billion (€86.846 billion). Cargill Inc is still predominately owned by the Cargill family and employs 130,000 people globally. The company has expanded to include a wide range of food enterprises including meat processing, commodity trading and fertiliser production. Cargill is a big company with a low profile but its also a company at the center of of the looming food crisis. Read more ...

Facts about Indian crops in 2011/12

India a top producer and consumer of wheat, rice, sugar and lentils, will harvest record food grain in 2011/12 in the wake of the normal monsoon rains. India exports small amounts of grain and sugar as they keep most supplies to fight off near double digit food inflation. Rice is the main food grain in India. The world's second biggest producer is aiming a record 102 million tonnes output against a local demand of about 90 million tonnes. Read more ...

Rice market sees mixed trend

The rice market showed a mixed trend on Monday, well prices of PR and pure basmati declined all other non basmati and aromatic varieties managed to remain at their previous levels. Mr Tara Chand Sharma, a rice trader said that "Slack buying pulled pure basmati and PR prices down" he added "Prices of non basmati varieties may decrease further in the coming days while aromatic varieties may maintain their current levels till the end of October". Read more ...

Honeywell looks to increase its market shares in flour milling industry

Flour milling in Nigeria is characterised by intense competition, especially among the six major companies, who controls 80 percent of the market. Honeywell's Flour Mills plc is looking to increase production from the 1000 metric tons to 2600 metric tons a day. The Chairman of Honeywell's confirmed that “the expansionist program embarked upon by the company will soon be completed, as the company has set May next year as the deadline for the initial commencement of the production, at the NGN10 billion (€47203.28) twin mill facility”. Read more ...