News on Food Trends

New research has been funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, to help the potato industry reduce issues caused by an insect intruder – the tomato-potato psyllid.

In the United Kingdom, Members of Parliament (MPs) were treated to a day of potatoes, as Potato Council was sponsored to attend Parliament during Potato Week (7-13 October).

A delayed Red River Valley red potato crop was very late in revealing itself. But by Oct. 3, about 50 percent of the shipping district’s crop had been harvested, according to Ted Kreis, marketing director of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association.

The potato harvest is nearing completion on Prince Edward Island, as growers have been blessed with favourable weather to harvest their valuable crop.

The finalists have been announced for the 26th edition of the Food ingredients Europe Excellence Awards Programme.

Burger King’s latest efforts to improve its perception among health-focused consumers has been successful so far and could have more staying power than similar efforts from McDonald’s, according to industry watchers.

Food industry buyers and professionals in Burma received their first taste of U.S. frozen and dehydrated potato products with the United States Potato Board’s (USPB) participation in the U.S. Food &Beverage Agent Show.

The Potato Marketing Corporation of Western Australia has started a campaign to increase the consumption of fresh potatoes.

In the United Kingdom, a high profile advertising campaign has been launched to drive awareness and sales of named potato varieties.

Food &beverages giant PepsiCo India is believed to have backed out of the race to buy a stake in Rajkot-based Balaji Wafers.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Kellogg Canada Inc. are warning people with allergies to milk not to consume certain Pringles* brand Salt &Vinegar Potato Chips. The affected product contains milk which is not declared on the label.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 199.1 points in September 2013, 2.3 points (1 percent) below its August value and down 11 points (or 5.4 percent) since the beginning of the year.

McCain Foods USA announced the launch of WISE FRIES™ with the new proprietary WISE FRIES™ batter recipe that keeps just enough oil on the outside for great taste and crispness while maintaining the great potato flavor inside.

It’s potato harvest time in northern Maine and thanks to one of the longest stretches of nice weather since midsummer, farmers from one end of Aroostook County to the other are looking to get as much of their crop in as they can while the the sun shines.

After all the attention that has been paid to cars' cupholders over the years, finally a fast-food chain has figured out that it can hold food, not just beverages.

Biotech company Monsanto has bought Climate Corporation for approximately $1.1 billion.

Potato in Kenya is an important food crop, second to maize. In 2011 the Dutch and Kenyan government agreed to support an initiative to support seed potato development in Kenya in order to increase yields and enhance food security.

Under pressure to provide healthier meals, McDonald’s announced on Thursday that it would no longer market some of its less nutritional options to children.