News on Food Trends from Africa

October 20, 2009

South African Government rejects genetically modified potato

The South African government has rejected the Agriculture Research Council’s (ARC’s) application to provide genetically modified potatoes to local farmers, saying it was concerned about its safety and economic effect. “This is probably the mo...

October 15, 2009

South Africa planning to ban trans fats in foods

In South Africa, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has told Parliament that his department intends to introduce rules banning industrially produced trans fats in all processed and prepared foods.Giving a written reply on Thursday to a question from the...

potato trader in Kenya (source: Daily Nation)

August 03, 2009

New Plan to revive potato farming in Kenya

The Ministry of Agriculture has embarked on the revival of potato growing to boost the country’s food security. Among the key priorities are the rehabilitation of cold stores, construction and equipping tissue culture laboratories and green houses. ...

June 13, 2008

South Africa: McDonald's plans to expand

Fast food group McDonald's, one of the largest landowners in the world, is set on expanding aggressively in SA. Executive director Greg Solomon said the local operation aimed to expand outlets by 15%-25% a year for the next few years. By the end of the...

June 03, 2008

Tainted cooking oil kills 8 in Ethiopia

Authorities closed 16 cooking oil factories in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Tuesday after eight people were killed and scores sickened by food cooked with contaminated oil. In a statement, the Health Ministry said 94 people were in hospital wit...