industry NEWS


Kennedy’s Confection brings you all the latest news and developments in the confectionery industry. Got a story? Email editor@kennedys.co.uk


Report looks at lead and cadmium in cocoa and chocolate


A new report released by As You Sow and the National Confectioners Association (NCA) looks at the sources of lead and cadmium in cocoa and chocolate and how levels may be reduced. As You Sow’s mission is to promote environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies. Its health program promotes corporate accountability to ensure safe and sustainable food, agriculture, and consumer products. The investigation report concludes that cadmium


can be found in cocoa and chocolate due to its presence in soils, either through natural or man-made sources, where cocoa is cultivated and harvested in the tropics. Cocoa plants take up cadmium from soils via their roots and deposit it in the nibs of cocoa beans. Reducing cadmium levels without compromising taste characteristics will require blending low and high cadmium beans in the short-term, and changes to soil composition or cocoa genetics over time, especially in the Latin America and Caribbean regions where fi ne fl avoured cocoa is grown and cadmium levels in soils tend to be higher. In contrast, lead is not taken up through the roots


of cocoa plants. Instead, lead from many sources including soil, dust, and deposition from power plants around the world, adheres to the outer shells of cocoa beans after they are extracted from the pods. The beans are naturally coated with a sticky cacao pulp known as ‘baba’ or ‘mucilage’ which allows lead to cling to the beans while they are being fermented and dried in the open in the tropical countries where they are grown. The experts found that, where feasible, minimising soil contact and the potential for aerial deposition at these stages of the harvesting process, and optimising contaminant removal during subsequent bean cleaning, roasting, and shell removal (as many chocolate manufacturers already do), should help reduce lead levels in fi nished products.


Global expansion for ePAC Flexible Packaging


ePac Flexible Packaging, a producer of quick turn, short and medium run-length fl exible packaging, is set to accelerate its growth and transition to a global enterprise over the next 18 months. Eleven new sales and manufacturing locations will be established across Europe, Asia Pacifi c, Middle East/North Africa, and North America bringing ePac’s global footprint to 36 locations.


Established in 2016, ePac is based on a disruptive business


model that is said to include an all-digital and automated technology platform and a commitment to the communities its plants reside in.


The organisation also puts a focus on helping small and medium size brands compete and grow. As the company has expanded its network of facilities and geographic coverage, it has enabled the rapid start-up of new plants and created the ability to split long run jobs among multiple plants.


Schubert eyes expansion of North American headquarters


Schubert has announced it has successfully acquired land to expand its North American headquarters in Charlotte, NC Among other things, Schubert’s success in North America is attributed


to the outstanding local training and service program and the high level of advisory expertise at the Schubert location in Charlotte, North Carolina. The expansion of its North American headquarters prepares Schubert to meet the demand of its growing customer base in North America. The new headquarters building, which is approximately 45000 sq. ft., will include sales, engineering, service, fi nal assembly, and a customer training centre. With a total size of 7.36 acres, the entire site off ers plenty of room for future growth. “An important criterion when selecting the land, was the possibility


to add even further buildings in the future”, said Hartmut Siegel, Chief Executive Offi cer at Schubert North America. With an investment of almost tens of millions in its new North American headquarters, Schubert underlines its commitment to the region and emphasises the strategic signifi cance of the North American market over the long term.


10 Kennedy’s Confection August/September 2022


KennedysConfection.com


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