The seminar, called Cocoa: Science and Technology, included 18 reports on the health benefits of the world’s most popular comfort food.

Dr Sunil Kochhar, from Switzerland’s Nestle Research Center, an expert on the health benefits of chocolate who took part in the symposium, says, “Chocolate is one of the foods with the greatest appeal to the general population.

“The luscious aroma, taste and textures of chocolate have delighted the senses of people in many parts of the world for centuries and make it a well-known comfort food.”

One study that was published in the ACS peer-reviewed Journal of Proteome Research, investigated the biochemicals underlining chocolate’s appeal as a comfort food and the benefits of peptides and flavonoids found in cocoa powder.

Thirty adults ate 1.5ounces of plain chocolate a day and found that their stress hormones were reduced, along with other signs of anxiety. Dr Kochhar says the benefit is due to flavonoids in the cocoa.

The seminar participants also heard how chocolate might help soothe problems with the trigeminal nerve, such as migraine and issues with the temporomandibular joint.

The polyphenols in chocolate secrete helpful enzymes into the small intestine and help reduce inflammation.

It may even help combat heart problems for those with type two diabetes, as the flavonoids help build up mitochondria body cells that are weaker in those with heart disease. The flavonoids can also help reduce blood pressure.

Epicatechin, a good antioxidant most prevalent in plain chocolate, can make cell membranes more durable and protect against some forms of heart disease.

Chocolate may cut the chance of contracting colon cancer by protecting against cell changes and wiping out cells that create precancerous conditions.

For smokers, a diet rich in chocolate may be of benefit, as polyphenols in plain chocolate work on the blood platelets to help stop clots forming.

The ACS was also told how new cacao tree species that are resistant to the witches’ broom fungus that has ruined crops, can influence how chocolate tastes.

The American Chemical Society is the largest scientific society in the world. The non-profit organisation has more than 164,000 members and is a world leader in chemistry research.

SOURCE: Earth Times

The move to Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, which accounts for more than 35 per cent of global cocoa production, would represent a vote of confidence in the west African country less than a year after it emerged from a bloody civil war.

Since its inception in 1973, the ICCO has been headquartered in London, home to the benchmark NYSE Liffe cocoa futures contract. The relocation to Abidjan will be on the agenda at the organisation’s semi-annual meeting in Ecuador next week.

President Alassane Ouattara, who won the country’s elections in 2010 but only took full control of Ivory Coast last year after a power struggle with his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo, is offering to house the ICCO in Abidjan rent free for ten years during which the organisation would build its offices in the capital.

Mr Ouattara has been pressing ahead with a reform of the cocoa sector, the country’s most important industry. The government has introduced forward-selling auctions of cocoa, aimed at improving price stability and guaranteeing its farmers a greater share of revenues.

Uncertainty surrounding the auctions, which started at the end of January, had contributed to volatility in the cocoa price in the latter part of last year. However, most large buyers have started to participate in the transactions. Cocoa prices plummeted below £1,300 a tonne at the end of last year in part due to concerns about oversupply of cocoa beans from west Africa. Since the start of 2012, they have mostly fluctuated between £1,450 and £1,550 a tonne.

Negotiations about moving the ICCO headquarters out of London to Abidjan have been on the cards for about a decade due to high London rents. However, the issue has remained up in the air due to years of civil war and security issues in the Ivory Coast, while countries including Ecuador and Ghana have also expressed interest in hosting the organisation.

Until a decade ago, Abidjan was a financial hub for west Africa, home to the headquarters of the African Development Bank. But since a civil war in 2002 international organisations and companies have steadily deserted the country.

The Ivorian government is also hosting the ICCO’s inaugural World Cocoa Conference, which will bring together the public and private sector involved in cocoa production and chocolate manufacturing in Abidjan in November this year.

Also on the agenda of next week’s meeting will be the selection of a shortlist for the next executive director. The term of the current acting executive director Jean-Marc Anga, an Ivorian, is due to end this year. Mr Anga succeeded Dutchman Jan Vingerhoets in 2010.

By Emiko Terazono

SOURCE: FT.com http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/87eae5c2-7438-11e1-9951-00144feab49a.html#axzz1py5L9nLB

The weather has been in focus in Ivory Coast after a prolonged dry season from mid-November to late February cut expectations for a healthy crop and harvest.

Farmers said harvesting in most regions this season would start later than usual and the size of the crop would also be smaller than the previous season.

In the centre-western region of Daloa, which produces about a quarter of Ivory Coast’s national output, farmers said patchy rains mixed with sunny spells last week in the region did not bode well for crops.

Farmers said plantations needed at least one abundant downpour per week to help flowers develop and to improve the quality of beans.

“We are not reassured. It did not rain everywhere as it should have and added to that, the rain was not much,” said Marcel Aka who farms in the outskirts of Daloa.

“Coupled with the heatwave we had, the recent downpour is not enough to produce good quality cocoa from the end of May. We need a lot of rains in the coming weeks,” Aka said.

Similar concerns were reported in the eastern region of Abengourou where no rainfall was recorded.

“There has been no rain. The mid-crop will be late this year,” said Denis Kablan who farms near Abengourou.

However, farmers were happy in the western region of Soubre, in the heart of the cocoa belt, where analysts reported 42 millimetres of rain compared with 14 mm the week before.

Farmers said the rains had enabled flowers and small pods to proliferate in plantations.

“The soil is moist enough with the good rain. We’ll start having good quality cocoa from the end of May,” said Koffi Kouame who farms near Soubre.

Rains and good growing conditions were also reported in southern regions of Aboisso and Agboville, and in western regions of Meagui, Gagnoa and Duekoue. (Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Alison Birrane)

SINGAPORE (MarketWatch) — International cocoa prices may rise in the next six months amid fears of a global deficit of about 100,000 metric tons this year due to lower output in top producer Ivory Coast as well as a modest rise in global demand, Brandon Tay Hoe Lian, Managing Director of Malaysian cocoa processor Guan Chong Bhd. , said Thursday.

The deficit is much higher than 71,000 tons for the crop year ending Sept. 30 forecast last month by the International Cocoa Organization.

Although cocoa demand from the U.S. and Europe isn’t likely to rise this year due to a weakening economic outlook, global demand may rise 2%-3% due to robust consumption in emerging markets such as China, India, Indonesia and Brazil, he said.

May cocoa futures on New York’s InterContinental Exchange settled at $2,314/ton Wednesday, up about 9% since the beginning of this year.

A re-test of multi-year highs seen in 2011 is unlikely as any gains will be tempered by the bleak global economic outlook, Tay said. ICE cocoa breached the $3,700/ton level last year tracking civil unrest in Ivory Coast.

This year, Ivory Coast has introduced forward sales of 2012-13 cocoa beans, which may also limit gains, Tay said, adding that it may lead to a surge in short positions as exporters buying physical cocoa hedge buys in the futures market.

Guan Chong expects to increase cocoa grindings by 20% this year to about 150,000 tons, Tay said. The company aims to increase total annual grinding capacity to 200,000 tons by the second quarter of this year, from 140,000 tons now.

SOURCE: MARKETWATCH

Juan Luciano, executive vice president and chief operating officer; Matt Jansen, senior vice president and president, Global Oilseeds; Greg Morris, vice president, North American oilseeds processing; Valmor Schaffer, president, ADM South America; and Brent Fenton, managing director, European Oilseeds and president, ADM Europe; will present beginning at 8:00 a.m. Central European Time (1:00 a.m. Central U.S. Time). Following the presentation, Ray Young, senior vice president and chief financial officer; and Craig Huss, senior vice president and chief risk officer, will join for a question-and-answer session.

The presentation and Q&A session will be webcast live at www.adm.com/webcast. A replay of the webcast will be available for 10 days beginning March 29.

About ADM

For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs. Today, 30,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. With more than 265 processing plants, 400 crop procurement facilities, and the world’s premier crop transportation network, ADM helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 160 countries. For more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.

Olympic great Carl Lewis laid out his life plan as an entrepreneur well before hanging up his champion track shoes. Lewis created a life-long strategy and through entrepreneurship became involved with businesses, associations and entertainment. His branding/marketing company — Carl Lewis Entertainment Group — along with FitForever.com By Carl Lewis has helped him secure longstanding relationships with companies like Hershey.

IFV News host Marcella Palmer speaks with Lewis from the Hershey’s Track & Field Games’ 35th birthday celebration at the Hershey’s Chocolate World Times Square Store in New York City. For nearly two decades Lewis has been involved with Hershey’s Track and Field Games. IFV News also speaks with Jeff Beckman, Director of Corporate Communications at The Hershey Company, who shares how entrepreneurs are a valuable resource for the games at the community level.

Inquire before Buying or Buy your copy of the latest report on US Packaged Food Industry.

The US packaged food industry recorded faster current value growth in 2011 than in 2010 due to the rise in commodity prices. However, the current value growth rate for 2011 was slower than the review period CAGR. In retail volume terms, many categories saw slower growth rates in 2011 as Americans resumed dining out. Growth over the review period as a whole have been driven by increased cooking at home, in response to the recession, and the sharp rise in commodity prices in 2008. After declining in 2009, commodity prices increased in 2010 and 2011 putting upward pressure on unit prices. Chocolate confectionery and dairy product makers were forced to pass on some of the rise in cocoa and milk prices to consumers.

Broadly the report covers following United States (US) food market segments / categories:

• Foodservice
• Impulse & Indulgence Products
• Nutrition / Staples
• Meal Solutions
• Baby Food
• Baked Goods
• Biscuits
• Breakfast Cereals
• Canned / Preserved Food
• Cheese
• Chilled Processed Food
• Chocolate Confectionery
• Dried Processed Food
• Drinking Milk Products
• Frozen Processed Food
• Gum
• Ice Cream
• Meal Replacement
• Noodles
• Oils and Fats
• Other Dairy
• Pasta
• Ready Meals
• Sauces, Dressings and Condiments
• Snack Bars
• Soup
• Spreads
• Sugar Confectionery
• Sweet and Savoury Snacks
• Yoghurt and Sour Milk Drinks

 
Company Profiles covered in the report:

• Campbell Soup Co in Packaged Food (USA)
• Chiquita Brands Inc in Packaged Food (USA)
• ConAgra Foods Inc in Packaged Food (USA)
• Dole Food Co Inc in Packaged Food (USA)
• Frito-Lay Co in Packaged Food (USA)
• General Mills Inc in Packaged Food (USA)
• Heinz Foodservice in Packaged Food (USA)
• Hormel Foods Corp in Packaged Food (USA)
• JM Smucker Co, The in Packaged Food (USA)
• Kraft Foods Inc in Packaged Food (USA)
• Nestlé USA Inc in Packaged Food (USA)
• Sara Lee Foodservice in Packaged Food (USA)
• Schwan Food Co, The in Packaged Food (USA)
• Unilever Food Solutions in Packaged Food (USA)

The new REFUEL | “got chocolate milk?™” campaign, backed by a podium-topping team of athletes – including USABasketball Men’s National Team member Carmelo Anthony, twelve-time swimming medalist Dara Torres, five other 2012 USA Swimming Team medal hopefuls, plus 2010 Ironman® World Champion Mirinda Carfrae – shows how refueling with chocolate milk can play an important role during an athlete’s after-workout ritual. Lowfat chocolate milk is simple, effective and scientifically shown to help the body recover after a hard workout so athletes can perform at their best during the next bout of exercise. In the run up to the summer, recovering effectively between each tough workout can mean the difference between standing on the podium and going home empty-handed.

While the iconic white Milk Mustache — which has been a mainstay of the famous print campaign for 17 years — will continue, the striking new “got chocolate milk?” print, television and online advertising will be mustache-free. Instead, it highlights chocolate milk as a cornerstone of the after-workout rituals of some of the world’s best athletes, underscored with the tagline, “my After.”

“Every athlete has his or her own personal after-workout or after-competition ritual, which can make a dramatic difference in how they feel or perform during the next challenge,” said Miranda Abney, Senior Marketing Manager of the Milk Processor Education Program, the group behind the new campaign. “We want to show how everyone from swimmers, to basketball players, to Ironman triathletes are now recognizing that their After is the perfect time to refuel with lowfat chocolate milk. It has what athletes need to recover after a tough workout.”

A new web site, gotchocolatemilk.com, explains the science supporting refueling with chocolate milk; gives an inside look at the after-workout rituals of top athletes through exclusive webisodes; and invites athletes to apply to join Team REFUEL for a chance to get sponsored and win the opportunity to star in a “got chocolate milk?” ad.

Visitors to the REFUEL | “got chocolate milk?” Facebook page or Twitter channel can join the community of athletes gaining (and sharing) insights on their after-workout rituals. On Facebook, athletes will be rewarded for sharing their “Afters” with chances to win training gear or a trip to watch a USA Basketball Men’s National Team exhibition game.

A Medal-Winning Launch

Dara Torres, who is expected to compete this summer as the oldest female swimmer in the games’ history, helped unveil the new “my After” campaign at the 2012 Endurance LIVE Awards presented by REFUEL | “got chocolate milk?” at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. The star-studded awards ceremony recognized and celebrated some of the world’s best endurance athletes and their sporting successes in 2011. Joining her on-stage were other world-class athletes who will be carrying the torch for chocolate milk throughout the year, including eight-time speed skating medalist Apolo Ohno – who was named Celebrity Athlete of the Year at the gala; USA Swimming Team members Ricky Berens and Chloe Sutton; Ironman Champion Chris Lieto; former “Bachelor” and Ironman athlete Dr. Andy Baldwin; and Sarah Reinertsen, the first female leg amputee to complete the Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

“The new ‘my After’ campaign does a great job of capturing our real post-workout rituals while underscoring the importance of that moment from a recovery perspective,” said Torres, who previously starred in a Milk Mustache ad in 2009. “As a busy mom and 44 year-old athlete, I have to make my training as effective and efficient as possible to stay competitive – so that’s why chocolate milk is part of my After. It has what I need to help me recover so I can get the most out of each subsequent workout.”

The Science of Chocolate Milk

Athletes and coaches alike are recognizing the benefits of refueling with lowfat chocolate milk.  Nick Folker, USA Swimming Trainer and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of California, makes chocolate milk a staple on the training menu of his swimmers. “Lowfat chocolate milk delivers the things my athletes really need to recover so they can get the most out of their next workout,” said Folker. “It has the right carb to protein ratio scientifically shown to help the body recover, high-quality protein to help repair muscles and fluids and electrolytes to replenish what’s lost in sweat. It’s so simple, plus it tastes great!”

A growing body of research supports chocolate milk’s recovery benefits after strenuous exercise.  Most recently, a study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise suggests that recovering with chocolate milk can give runners a performance edge. Researchers from Connecticut State University, University of Connecticut and Eastern Michigan University, found that when recreational runners drank fat free chocolate milk after a strenuous run, they ran 23 percent longer during a subsequent exercise bout later that day and had a 38 percent increase in markers of muscle building compared to when they drank a carbohydrate-only sports beverage with the same amount of calories.(1)

The Official Refuel Beverage of Athletes Everywhere

Through a variety of initiatives – and with the help of elite athletes, their trainers and sports dietitians – the “my After” campaign will reach active adults who are serious about their sports to educate them about the importance of recovering effectively:

• As the Official Refuel Beverage of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, Ironman, USA Swimming, Life Time Run, and the Challenged Athletes Foundation®, the REFUEL | “got chocolate milk?” campaign will refuel athletes at endurance races, swim meets, charity races and health clubs nationwide.
• Exclusive online training videos give an inside look into the after-workout rituals of many elite athletes.
• Athletes everywhere will have a chance to join Team REFUEL and get sponsored by showcasing their Afters by creating and submitting a video to gotchocolatemilk.com or at participating Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series or Ironman and Ironman 70.3® races. Online votes will decide which five athletes each month will receive a $500 sponsorship, training gear plus the chance to star in their own “my AFTER“ ad or race at Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series in Europe. For each vote cast, $1will go to the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
• Through April 30, 2012, athletes can share their After on Facebook to become eligible for daily prizes. Ten daily winners will receive branded athletic apparel, and one grand-prize winner will jet set to a USA Basketball Men’s National Team exhibition game.
• The REFUEL | “got chocolate milk?” campaign will host recovery clinics featuring leading sports dietitians and experts to inform athletes about the importance of recovery and the role that lowfat chocolate milk can play.