Research sponsored by the Trilateral Research Association of Sweet Potato aims to create a sweet potato pan-genome, which will allow researchers to see unique and shared traits among all varieties and be able to breed sweet potatoes with higher nutritional values, productivity, disease resistance, etc. [ + ]

Black and red rice, both a little healthier than plain white, are now being joined by purple rice. This genetically engineered rice is claimed to be rich in antioxidants and may reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. [ + ]

Feeding the world would be vastly easier if food could be produced from air and electricity alone. In a joint project, researchers from Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland produced a batch of single-cell protein in this way. [ + ]

Does higher-fat ice-cream really taste better? [ + ]

In the US, online gourmet meal kit company Chef'd has partnered with The Coca-Cola Company to add drinks to its meal kits in an arrangement called 'Refreshing Meal Inspirations'. [ + ]

The Foodservice Packaging Institute's Resident Education Kit includes recommended language and best practices related to foodservice packaging. [ + ]

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has launched ePIF, which enables food and beverage companies to track product information across its entire value chain. [ + ]

Cooperation between Australian and Chinese dairy researchers may lead to more export prospects for the Australin dairy industry. [ + ]

Just because a substance is in a food does not automatically mean that a health risk exists, but as environmental conditions, industrial manufacturing processes and human food consumption habits constantly change, we should constantly update our understanding of the risks posed by contaminants in food. [ + ]

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McCormick has outbid the likes of Unilever and Hormel Foods to buy Reckitt Benckiser Group's North American food business for around US$4.2 billion. [ + ]

Every year, counterfeit and pirated goods globally cost nearly US$0.5 trillion in lost revenue. This isn't small bikkies — and the food and beverage industry is far from immune. [ + ]

Mushroom waste and deformed mushrooms are being converted into a highly nutritious and tasty product. [ + ]

The ACCC has found that Carlton United Breweries (CUB) and Lion were not locking craft beers out of taps in pubs and other venues. [ + ]

Here's a different way to use coffee waste — make it into coffee cups. [ + ]