In an industry traditionally dominated by wooden crates and cardboard hat-bins, taking a chance on plastic has paid off for a cherry exporter. [ + ]

Who would’ve thought mashed potato could be complicated? Seemingly the simplest of foods, mashed potato can be a difficult customer for producers of ready meals. [ + ]

The past week has seen a slew of sensationalist headlines claiming that using non-stick fry pans can give you heart disease. Before you rush home to cleanse your kitchen of Teflon pans, read on. [ + ]

As part of Coca-Cola’s “long-term commitment to generating lasting positive impact by bringing its global brands to Myanmar, also known as Burma, as the country opens up to the world”, Coca-Cola has been delivered into Myanmar for the first time in more than 60 years. [ + ]

A study has revealed that some gut microbes increase the absorption of dietary fats, allowing the host organism to extract more calories from the same amount of food. You may think you have your food all to yourself, but you’re actually sharing it with the 100 trillion, give or take a few, microbes in your gut. [ + ]

Flavour compounds that are structurally similar to mood-stabilising drugs are broadening the known range of mood-enhancing foods, which includes chocolate, teas and berries. [ + ]

A European-backed study aims to scientifically assess claims that polysaccharide fibres can boost the immune system. [ + ]

90% of the cells in our bodies are bacteria and the species making up this microbiome can significantly influence health. It now seems that having healthy gut bacteria could have as much to do with a strategy that insurance companies use to uncover risk as with eating the right foods. [ + ]

Marrying food intake styles and consumer desires with healthy food options is not always simple. Consumers are eating more discretionary food and snacking more. According to market research company The NPD Group, more than half the US population is snacking two or three times a day. [ + ]

Bananas ripen, soften and rot into an unappetising mush, seemingly in the blink of an eye - but a solution may be at hand. Chinese scientists are developing a spray-on coating that consumers could use to delay the ripening of bananas. [ + ]

A proof-of-concept clinical trial of an ‘anti-hunger’ ingredient for yoghurt, fruit shakes, smoothies and other foods that makes people feel full longer and eases their craving to eat has had promising results. [ + ]

Over 58% of all soft drink product launches recorded by Innova in 2011-12 had some kind of health claim, with many products using passive and active health claims together. [ + ]

University of Warwick chemists have taken out much of the cocoa butter and milk fats that go into chocolate bars, substituting them with tiny droplets of juice measuring under 30 µm in diameter. [ + ]

Bosch has updated its Elematic 3000 S case packer. Designed for organic product manufacturer Rapunzel Naturkost, this version of the machine is engineered to handle glass jars. [ + ]

CoMac’s kegging, bottling and canning equipment is popular with the wine industry, and particularly with producers of wine kegs. [ + ]