Over 40 firms, responsible for over 80% of plastic packaging on products sold in the United Kingdom, have joined the government and several trade organizations in establishing the UK Plastics Pact, led by sustainability group WRAP. The agreement lays out a set of pledges undertaken by firms to reduce plastic pollution over the next seven years. It promises to eliminate single-use plastic packaging, including 2025 goals to make 100% of packaging recyclable or compostable, to recycle or compost 70%, and to use 30% recycled material in plastic packaging. The pact signatories include Coca-Cola, Asda, Procter & Gamble, and Marks & Spencer. Environmental groups including Friends of the Earth and Ellen MacArthur Foundation expressed their support. [Image Credit: © The Waste and Resources Action Programme]

The Chicago Tribune editorial board is warning readers that the scary food labeling policy in Chile could happen in the U.S., thanks to possible revisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Because of a growing obesity problem, Chile requires food companies to label high-calorie or high-fat treats with black stop-sign-shaped warning labels. As part of the NAFTA negotiations, officials are discussing similar warning labels, though the Trump administration is opposed to them on American foods. The Trib editors, while acknowledging the obesity crisis, argue that food labels shouldn’t be a part of trade negotiations in the first place, and “scare tactics like warning labels are a huge Super-Nanny-State overreach.” They also argue that obesity is not caused by eating fatty or sugary foods. “It is caused by people eating too much of those foods.”

An organic and free-range egg company has petitioned the FDA to modify its regulations to allow eggs to be labeled as a healthy food. New Hampshire-based Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs is puzzled that many sugary foods, such as toaster pastries and pudding cups, are allowed to market themselves as "healthy," but foods widely known to be nutritious, such as eggs, are not. In fact, the FDA’s stance on eggs is out of step with the thinking reflected in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued by the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS). "Our goal with this petition is to encourage the FDA to bring outdated regulations in line with current nutritional science and general consumer awareness,” says CEO Jesse Laflamme.

New Zealand dairy products producer Fonterra Brands has partnered with a local start-up to build a plant in Whakatu to make fruit and dairy beverages for the N.Z. market. Apollo Foods will apply its beverage filling technology in making and filling a range of containers on one production line. The plant will be able to produce millions of liters of beverages each year. The partnership was prompted by the rising global demand for dairy and fruit beverages, according to a Fonterra spokesman. The Apollo Foods plant is currently producing Fonterra’s Mammoth brand of flavored, low-sugar milk, with a shelf life of six months.

Coca-Cola announced it is on track to meet financial targets for the year, thanks to its refranchising strategy – net revenues declined by 16 percent as a result – and growth in new and core beverage brands. The company reported first quarter profit of $0.47 a share on revenue of $.6 billion, both numbers beating analyst estimates ($0.47 a share and $7.35 billion, respectively). The healthy numbers excited investors: shares rose by 1.6 percent after the results were announced. The stock was down more than four percent this year. In addition to selling off company-owned bottlers, Coca-Cola has invested in start-up beverage companies and relaunched its Coke Zero and Diet Coke brands with new flavors and packaging. First-quarter growth of the Coke Zero Sugar brand reached double-digits, and volume growth of Diet Coke in North America returned to positive territory.

A Wells Fargo Securities poll of 15,000 U.S. convenience stores found that first quarter Coca-Cola sales rose 2.3 percent in the channel, and retailers were pleased with the company’s recent relaunch of Diet Coke. Twenty percent of respondents plan to allocate incremental shelf space to the line. Some respondents complained about the company’s decision to take Smartwater “out of a beautiful sealed box with blue clouds,” a move that hurt stores’ ability to create displays. C-stores also reported that Monster Energy sales increased 5.4 percent in the quarter, and several praised the positive impact of RTD coffee innovations, such as Espresso and Caffe. Fifty-seven percent said Monster did the best job in introducing new innovations in the quarter, and 100 percent said they expected to give Caffe Monster shelf space.

Maryland-based beverage start-up Rethink Brands says it has found a lucrative niche in the $2.5 billion bottled water market by targeting health- and eco-conscious parents with zero-calorie, sugar-free flavored water in recyclable boxes. Co-founder Matthew Swanson says parents who wanted to give their kids water had to give them plastic bottles or sippy cups, but “Rethink Kids Water solves all those problems.” The Rethink Kids Water line provides a more healthful alternative to juices that contain sweeteners and other additives. Swanson says demand for the products has been strong enough for the company to double its offerings with four new flavors. The products are available in more than 10,000 stores, including CVS, Wegmans and Target. 

Bai Brands is the latest in a string of food and beverage companies targeted by lawsuits accusing them of violating FDA ingredient labeling rules. Each of the suits, filed on behalf of four different plaintiffs by one attorney, claims that certain products should be labeled as “artificially flavored” because they contain the petrochemical-derived ingredient malic acid. There is some disagreement, however, as to whether malic acid is a flavoring itself, or merely a flavor enhancer, which would put it outside of FDA regulatory jurisdiction. There is also disagreement over whether the suits will advance in the courts. A spokesman for Dr Pepper Snapple Group, owner of Bai Brands, said the lawsuit has no merit, and the company would ”defend against it vigorously.” Other companies sued include Campbell Soup (V8 Splash drinks), Kellogg’s, and Frito-Lay.

Three-year-old premium coconut water company CoAqua doesn’t want to be seen in the low-rent district of traditional retail stores alongside lookalike coconut water brands. Company founder Grier Govorko says there’s not much difference among competitive brands, most of which claim to be a “sports replacement drink.” To differentiate itself CoAqua is sold only in luxury resorts and restaurants in Southeast Asia, and in the U.S. direct-to-consumer online channel. The target demographic is younger health-conscious consumers willing to pay $48 online for a 12-pack case. The packaging – single-serve, recyclable clear glass bottles with metallic pull-tab caps – also sets the brand apart. Govorko is not only committed to recycling, he feels his coconut water tastes naturally sweeter because it is pasteurized in glass bottles.

Processed foods – potato chips, snack cakes, frozen pizzas, etc. – may be tasty and convenient, but they are a major contributor to obesity and illness. Best-selling author Dr. Ian Smith says that transitioning away from processed foods to cleaner, more healthful edibles needn’t be difficult. In his new book, "The Clean 20: 20 Foods, 20 Days, Total Transformation," Smith lists the foods and the benefits of including them in our diets every day. They are: avocados, berries, cheese, chicken, chickpeas, eggs, kale, lemons, lentils, nuts, oatmeal, seafood, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turkey, quinoa,100 percent whole-grain or whole-wheat bread, whole-wheat pasta, and yogurt.

Coca-Cola China has unveiled limited edition Coke can designs that celebrate the diversity of 23 Chinese cities.  The “visually captivating” packaging, created by McCann Shanghai and illustrator Noma Bar, is being promoted with a film celebrating city cultures, as well as print, billboards and a partnership with Chinese technology firm Baidu. The firm developed an augmented reality (AR) experience in which consumers may interact with the 23 city cans. According to a Coca-Cola design executive, the idea behind the city can is to capture the “essence” of each metropolis through its culture, food, “idiosyncrasies,” and landmarks.

The production of palm oil has a devastating effect on the planet, according to Enjoy Life Foods, a large marketer of foods in the “free from” category that is committed to sustainability. It announced that it is the first U.S. food company to receive Palm Oil Free Certification for its newest product launches (Grain & Seed Bars and plant-based Protein Bites) from the International Palm Oil Free Certification Accreditation Program (POFCAP). The goal, according to the company, is to show that delicious foods can be created “without having to utilize an ingredient that increasingly more consumers are looking to avoid." Enjoy Life Foods’ portfolio of 70+ foods are also Non-GMO Project Verified, kosher, and free from 14 allergens. Nearly 90 percent are Certified Vegan.  

A Toronto start-up focused on oral microbiome research has added three fruit flavors to its Qii line of beverages created to reduce dental plaque. DoseBiome, a resident within Johnson & Johnson Innovation, was founded by a veteran of both PepsiCo and 3M’s Oral Care business who wants to replace the “bad habit” of drinking sugary beverages with a good habit of consuming beverages that promote a healthful oral environment. Ted Jin says research proves that Qii reduces dental plaque by 52 percent with each serving. Brewed in the U.S. using certified organic loose-leaf teas, Qii has 30 calories per serving, is non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and low-glycemic. Qii is available in 4-packs of 8-ounce cans at $9.99. The new flavors – added to lemongrass ginger and oolong tea – are white peach, pomegranate and lychee tea.

A British company has introduced a fermented soft drink that is “evolved” from a recipe dating back to ancient Greece and colonial America. Switchle from Healthy Sales Group is made with sparkling water, apple cider vinegar, honey, fruit juices, and botanical extracts. It is available in three flavors, including a blend of turmeric, ginger, and peach. The beverages are sold at the online supermarket site Ocado in the U.K. and independent health food stores at $2.50 a can.

Nestlé Waters NA has acquired the home and office delivery businesses of Meriden, Conn.-based Triple Spring Spring Water Co. The company, whose name comes from the three springs on its property, originated as a farm in 1918 and began selling bottled water locally in the 1940s. In 1974 it began selling water statewide, and later in New York and Long Island. A Nestlé Waters spokeswoman said a subsidiary, ReadyRefresh, would handle the acquired portions of Triple Spring. However, customers will still be able to purchase Triple Spring water from an onsite company vending machine at any time.