We could be forgiven if often we feel like Alice after falling down the rabbit-hole. We’re surrounded by a world in which we just don’t seem to fit – too big, too small, too fat, too old. In this confusion we’re easy prey for all manner of “quickety-quacks” with their remedies and fixes and enticing labels saying “Drink me” or “Eat me”.

Woolworths has become the first South African company to become a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. It has publicly committed to using palm oil derived from sustainable sources in the production of its toiletries and foods – but only by 2015. The timeframe implies the enormity of the task.

South Africa’s genetically modified crop area rose 6% to 2.3 million hectares in the 2010/11 season from 2.16 million hectares in the season before, an industry report showed this week. South Africa, the world’s number eight producer of GM crops but Africa’s biggest, has seen a rapid increase in gene-altered crop output since it started growing GM farm produce in 1998.

Green. . .  The word itself may becoming a touch hackneyed, but interest in enviro-friendly packaging solutions is fresher than ever. Timeously coming to market in a joint venture that will open a myriad of new green packaging possibilities for local FMCG companies is Sappi Enviropack.

One of the SA food industry's doyennes, Dr Lucia Anelich, erstwhile head of the Food Safety Initiative at the Consumer Goods Council of SA, has announced her 'where to next', following her recent departure from the council. Lucia has set up her own food consultancy business, and timeously, too, with the Consumer Protection Act around the corner which means food safety has become more critical than ever.

South Africa’s largest food company, Tiger Brands, will buy local spice and beverage maker Davita Trading for R1.34-billion as part of its strategy to expand its footprint in Africa.

In a huge thumbs up for SA's food industry prospects, Nestlé this week turned the first sods of two new greenfield factories in Babalegi, near Pretoria. As the world's biggest food group sharpens its focus on emerging markets, Nestlé is spending R505-million on a three-pronged expansion of its business in South Africa.