The horsemeat scandal, the fixing of infant formula prices in China, Fonterra’s botulism scare and the UK’s push towards “hybrid” nutrition labels were among the news stories that grabbed your attention in 2013.

UK: Mars, PepsiCo among signatories to hybrid nutrition labels
Chocolate giant Mars Inc and crisp manufacturer PepsiCo are among over 20 food makers and retailers to agree to adopt new “hybrid” front-of-pack nutrition labels in the UK.

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UK: Sainsbury’s slams Tesco after ASA clears Price Promise
Sainsbury’s has labelled Tesco “unfair” and “contradictory” after the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority cleared its larger rival’s Price Promise comparison scheme.

SWITZ: Nestle profits up, expects another “challenging” year
Global food group Nestle said 2013 looks every bit as “challenging” as 2012, a year when profits increased but underlying sales growth slowed.

US yoghurt producer Chobani has lost a court case in the UK over the “misleading” labelling of its Greek yoghurts.

CHINA: Mead Johnson pledges formula price cut
Mead Johnson has become the last of the infant formula companies being investigated for allegedly breaking competition rules in China to pledge to cut prices.

US: Campbell to buy US baby food group Plum Organics
Campbell Soup Co. has struck a surprise deal to buy US baby food business Plum Organics.

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US: PepsiCo, Muller open yoghurt factory
PepsiCo and Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller, the German dairy group, have formally opened their yoghurt plant in New York state.

UK/EUROPE: Police to investigate horsemeat scandal
The UK’s Food Standards Agency confirmed this morning (8 February) it is co-operating with European police authorities as it works to get to the bottom of the horse meat scandal.

CHINA: Fonterra contamination prompts Danone, Abbott recalls
Danone and Abbott Laboratories have issued infant formula recalls in China in the wake of Fonterra’s admission it supplied whey powder that contained bacteria that could cause botulism.

UK: R&R Ice Cream to buy rival Fredericks Dairies
UK ice cream group R&R Ice Cream has agreed to acquire local rival Fredericks Dairies in a deal worth GBP49m (US$75m).

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Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

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