Food Bev Asia

In the Philippines, 2013 is the National Year of Rice. It is targeting self-sufficiency by the end of the year. Halfway through the year, the Department of Agriculture says it is 98% on track. It’s ironic that for years since the 1960s, the country enjoyed rice abundance, thanks to new developments from the International Rice Research Institute. For a while, the Philippines was the expert, training neighboring countries on rice production. Weather seemed to be better back then. Needless to say, those were also the times when pesticides were freely used. Economically, the country was also doing well. But toward the 1980s, rice production started declining. Growing awareness on the harmful effects of certain insecticides, not to mention more frequent droughts and typhoon, led to lower rice output.  It's worth noting that during the administration of Gloria Arroyo, the government was accused of mismanaging millions of tons of rice, leaving these to rot in warehouses in

Last month, McDonald’s introduced its McSpicy chicken burger in the Philippines. I knew about it on TV, and you know how it is with McDonald’s advertisements – they can make a burger look so wholesome, and a sundae look so innocent. And I say that with great admiration. TV runs many fast-food and snack food advertisements because it is the fastest way to get anyone’s attention, especially for food, which requires visuals. Needless to say, a short TV ad will get more impact over a photo in a magazine or a radio commercial. And many food ads involve children to convey family togetherness. True, ads are partly to blame for our bad choices in food. Studies have said so. A recent one from the scientific journal Obesity Reviews says that junk food advertisements haven’t gone down despite the food industry’s vow to make changes. The report analysed children’s exposure to advertisements of food and drinks with high sugar or fat content. Based on independent surveys done in Europ

Established in Penang in the 1970s, Adventist Bakery is known as the only maker of sprouted-grain bread in Malaysia . While the bread itself is not an Adventist original, it is made from sprouts that are grown, ground and processed in-house. Sprouted grain is essentially vegetable rather than flour since it has grown into tiny plants before being harvested and processed into bread, and as such is easier to digest as well. Compared to wheat bread or white bread made of flour, sprouted-grain is higher in fibre and protein. Adventist likes to be known as a provider of healthy baked goods, with sprouted-grain bread as its signature product. The company is marketing its product to Singapore this year, and hopes to meet potential partners to bring its products to other countries. For more, read our interview with manager Robin Ong Khong Theng in this month’s issue of FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal .

In 1985, three young apprentices in a foundry shop struck out on their own and started Hup Sheng Machinery in a garage in Melaka in Malaysia. They offered repair and maintenance services to begin with, and they moved to a shop once their small business started growing. Eventually they were able to set up their own factory for snack food processing and packaging machinery. From its humble beginnings, Hup Sheng Machinery has expanded to three factories and is now a major Malaysian exporter. Learn more about this company from our interview with business consultant, Mr Sim Tong Him.

I’m not a fan of apples, but if I have to eat one, I bite right into the skin for all its health benefits. Unfortunately I have family members who don’t, and so for their sake, the apples get peeled. I used to throw away peels, or boil them to scent a room. But one day I made it a rule for everyone in my home to eat apples with skin on, not just because it’s healthier, but to reduce our food waste. On occasion this rule is violated of course, but if like me you find yourself with a lot of apple peels, you can still use them to make a simple tea. I haven’t tried it myself, but just thinking about a cool apple cinnamon drink makes me thirsty. Many websites show how we can turn apple peels into good stuff, like sweet jelly, a delicious meat rub, or a heavenly room freshener.   I wish I had an original one to share with you, but I like apples fresh with skin, remember? But please share one with our readers.   I believe that food waste reduction starts in our homes, and as

The latest issue of FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal is out! One of the companies featured in the magazine is organic retailer, justlife. Based in Malaysia, justlife promotes environmental awareness and the eco-friendly lifestyle: choosing right, from the things we use to the food we eat. The company's director, Rachel Tai, says that the retail business for organic products continues to expand in Malaysia because the locals are becoming health-conscious. And surprisingly, organic food products have become very popular even with the young. To learn more, read our interview with Ms Tai.

Chewing on sticky tapioca balls right after you try to sip them with a big straw is all part of the drinking experience. So I can’t imagine bubble tea without these starchy balls.  But ever since news broke out that tapioca balls might contain maleic acid, the wholesome image of the pastel-colored drinks, faded – just a little – for me.   Again, I feel like a consumer betrayed. This month, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration confirmed that certain local products, including tapioca balls, were found to contain maleic acid. Following this confirmation, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore began its own surveillance of imported products. Out of 66 products from Taiwan, it has found 11 contaminated with maleic acid. Needless to say, the news has affected several bubble tea retailers there, and I’m assuming, elsewhere, retailers should be checking their suppliers. For those who haven’t seen or tasted bubble tea – it is a drink that originated in Taiwan i