The New Zealand government hopes to boosting the country's food export industry by investing $21 million (£10m) in the creation of four new food and beverage development centres.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has ruled against compulsory 'traffic light' labelling on packaging which would enable shoppers to see food ingredients at a glance.
The FDA have been advised to keep a closer eye on approved food ingredients following the widespread recall of a hydrolyzed vegetable protein due to salmonella contamination.
New York governor David Paterson has suggested that a tax on sugary soft drinks may be introduced to curb obesity and recoup healthcare costs from treating associated diseases such as diabetes.
An initiative by the American Beverage Association has helped cut shipments of full-sugar soft drinks to US schools by 95 per cent in the last six years.