Cereal

US states move to ban or restrict use of dyes used in candies, cereal

Synthetic dyes used to make brightly coloured cereals, drinks and candies are coming under scrutiny in states across the country, where lawmakers say the federal government has stalled in taking action despite evidence of harmful effects. West Virginia, which ranks at the bottom in the US for many health metrics, became the first to sign a sweeping statewide ban on seven such dyes this week. Lawmakers in more than 20 states from deep red West Virginia to heavily Democratic California are making a bipartisan push to restrict access to the dyes, which have been tied to neurobehavioral problems in some children and of which U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has been an outspoken critic. We should not be forced to police our own foods, said Republican Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, who heads the Senate's health committee and told lawmakers the vote might be the most important of their political careers. No more toxic colors, no more poisoning ourselves and our ...

Eco Survey calls for policy shift to cut cereal output, boost pulses, oils

The pre-budget document for the 2024-25 fiscal has suggested policy reforms to discourage overproduction of cereals while boosting output of pulses and edible oils, which the country currently imports to meet domestic shortages. The Economic Survey 2024-25, tabled in Parliament on Friday, stressed that India's agriculture sector has "significant untapped growth potential" despite various growth initiatives. Farmers must be allowed to receive unimpeded price signals from the market, with separate mechanisms to protect vulnerable households, it added. The document outlined three key policy shifts needed - establishing market mechanisms for price risk hedging, preventing excessive fertiliser use, and discouraging production of water and power-intensive crops that are already in surplus. "These policy shifts will help lift agricultural productivity in the economy by boosting land and labour productivity in the sector," the survey said. Agriculture sector growth averaged 5 per cent ...

US to ban cancer-linked Red Dye No 3 in cereal, candy, other foods

The move comes more than 30 years since the Food and Drug Administration prohibited the use of Red No. 3 in cosmetics after studies found tumors linked to the dye in lab rats

McDonald's India to offer burgers with bun co-created with CSIR-CFTRI

McDonald's India, which operates a QSR chain in West and South through its franchise Westlife Foodworld, would offer burgers with multi-millet bun, which has been co-created with premier food technology research institute CSIR-CFTRI. The company has partnered with CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), functioning under Ministry of Science & Technology, for this multi-millet bun and it will source millets directly from farmers. This is the first-ever collaboration in the QSR (quick service restaurant) space, which combines CSIR-CFTRI's expertise with McDonald's thrust for developing nutritious food options. "The purpose is to improve the nutritional quality of our food, so that the customer in the long run benefits from it. It will definitely put us leaps ahead because we are leading from the front in the QSR space when it comes to this," McDonald's India Executive Director Akshay Jatia told PTI. The multi-millet bun has five millets - Bajra, Ragi, Jowar, ...

MSP increase alone may not boost pulses and oilseeds output, shows data

Data reveals that between 2014-15 and 2020-21, despite a 37 percent increase in MSP for paddy, the acreage under the crop decreased only marginally, by around 2.5 percent

Per capita cereal consumption below 10 kg in rural areas in 2022-23: Survey

The consumption of cereals in rural households declined to 9.61 kg in 2022-23 from 11.23 kg in 2011-12, while in urban households, it declined to 8.05 kg from 9.32 kg over the same period

World food prices surge for third consecutive month in May, says UN

The FAO index hit a three-year low in February as food prices continued to ease off from a record peak set in March 2022, following Russia's invasion of fellow crop export major Ukraine

Sugar in cereals, pesticides in spices; why we struggle to keep food safe

Sugar in baby food is a different challenge, one that has its roots in activist shareholders' demands of a vote on the health impact of Nestle products worldwide

Added sugar in baby food? FSSAI to examine charges against Nestle

Swiss investigative group says it found packaged goods major added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey in range sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America

World food price index falls near three-year lows in January, shows data

Global coarse grain output was pegged at an all-time high of 1.523 billion tons, following a 12-million-ton upward adjustment this month

UN FAO raises its forecast for this year's global cereal production

FAO's new Cereal Supply and Demand Brief pegs global wheat output at 785 million tonnes, coarse grain production at 1511 million tonnes

India August retail inflation expected below 7%: Motilal Oswal's Gupta

Retail inflation rose as of last count as prices of vegetables and cereals skyrocketed, beating all market expectations and putting pressure on the government to bring down prices

Widespread cereal shortages may further fuel India's inflation, says HSBC

HSBC has retained its inflation forecast of 5 per cent for the year ending March 2024 but sees higher risks if cereal inflation takes off

World cereal production projected to reach record high in 2023-2024: FAO

The higher forecast almost entirely reflects better prospects for global wheat production, now pegged at 783.3 million tonnes, buoyed by improved outlooks in several countries

Area under paddy down 35% this kharif season, pulses, cereals acreage up

Area under paddy is down nearly 35 per cent to 10.77 lakh hectares so far in the ongoing kharif (summer-sown) season amid some initial delays in the progress of the southwest monsoon. The rice acreage stood at 16.46 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of last year, according to agriculture ministry data. Area under coverage for pulses is higher at 6.54 lakh hectares so far from 6.30 lakh hectares in the same period last year, the ministry said in a statement. Shri Anna-cum-Coarse Cereals acreage stood higher at 18.95 lakh hectares so far as against 13.38 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year. Area under coverage for oilseeds is down slightly at 9.21 lakh hectares from 9.52 lakh hectares. Cotton acreage is also down at 28.02 lakh hectares so far from 32.67 lakh hectares last year. Area under sugarcane remains flat at 50.76 lakh hectares so far this year as against 50.74 lakh hectares. Total acreage under all major kharif crops is 129.53 lakh hectares as on Frid

Uttar Pradesh govt aims to double maize output to 2.75 mt in 4-5 years

Globally, maize is referred to as the "queen of cereals" owing to its high genetic yield potential among the cereal crops

India limits wheat exports through the govt route as prices rise

This is starting from November last year

Amid push for millets, exports of other cereals rise 53.78% in November

While authorities are working to increase millet production and consumption, exports data shows that exports of agricultural and food items, especially other cereals, continued to grow at a brisk pace

Will India become a net importer of wheat?

Wheat stocks with the FCI stand at a six-year low now, slightly above the minimum prescribed buffer. Will India turn into a net wheat importer now, just months after promising to feed the world?

Quaker Oats enters fast-growing ready-to-eat cereals with Muesli oats

The subcategory of Muesli has emerged as one of the fastest growing segments in the market with 16-18%CAGR. Muesli constitutes around 15% of the BFC category