There’s good and bad news on the sodium consumption front. University of Arkansas reasearchers have found that non-hypertensive consumers do not consider sodium content when selecting restaurant food, but that educational campaigns about the negative health effects of sodium are effective. [ + ]

The issue of vitamin D fortification will be debated at a symposium in Melbourne next week. Australian and international experts will meet to discuss whether more vitamin D should be allowed into the Australian food supply to combat vitamin D deficiency. [ + ]

Asian consumers have a more positive attitude about the future of bakery, patisserie and chocolate than their Western counterparts, according to recent research conducted by InSites Consulting for Puratos. [ + ]

Most Australians aren’t getting their recommended three serves of dairy a day, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) have found. Apparently, 73% of women and 58% of men fail to consume their recommended daily intake. Teenagers are worse than adults, with 62% of boys and 83% of girls not managing to consume the recommended amount. [ + ]

Eight grants from the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program and five from the Clean Technology Investment Program comprise the first 13 grants from the federal government’s $1 billion Clean Technology Investment Programs. The initial grants, worth $8.1 million, will help businesses install over $23 million of energy-efficient equipment and will support energy-saving and low-pollution projects. [ + ]

The categories for the 7th Health ingredients, Natural ingredients & NuW awards program have been announced. The awards recognise exceptional innovations and talent within the nutrition and wellness industry. [ + ]

JBT Corporation’s JBT FoodTech business has purchased HG Molenaar & Co’s rotary sterilisation technology, strengthening its in-container sterilisation portfolio for the canned food industry. [ + ]

The Codex Food Labelling Committee, a United Nations subsidiary, has proposed a global standard for mandatory nutrition labelling for adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in Rome this July. [ + ]

The Supply Chain and Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA) and the US Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) have announced a five-year exclusive agreement for the joint benefit of their respective members. The two groups said they hope the alliance will “enhance SCLAA’s global presence and outreach while contributing to the advancement of SCLAA’s mission within Australia”. [ + ]

Each year, World Accreditation Day is celebrated on 9 June. This year’s theme is Accreditation - Supporting Safe Food and Clean Drinking Water. [ + ]

Tetra Pak has teamed up with recycling advocate LoveNZ to help New Zealanders recycle coffee cups and cartons, as well as cans and plastic bottles, outside the home. [ + ]

Fonterra has signed a memorandum of understanding with Netherlands-based company A-ware Food Group to establish a cheese and dairy factory in the Netherlands. The companies plan to open two factories side by side: A-ware will operate a cheese plant and Fonterra will operate a dairy ingredients plant. [ + ]

NatureWorks’ biopolymer product Ingeo has recently received Silver Cradle to Cradle certification from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Made from plants, rather than oil, the product is reportedly the first of its kind to receive the certification. [ + ]

A group of industry and union representatives has rejected the proposed national container deposit scheme (CDS), claiming it would effectively impose a tax on beverages that would cost jobs in the manufacturing sector and increase the pressure on struggling Australian families. [ + ]

The Tasmanian dairy industry has been boosted by a partnership between Coles and Cadbury, with dairy farmers now supplying 78 million L of fresh milk yearly to the chocolate manufacturer. [ + ]