AFRICA'S NO.1 FOOD, BEVERAGE & MILLING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Federal regulations critical in ensuring safety of CBD products – Consumer Brands

Jul 25, 2021Jul 26, 2021 Editor

USA – The Consumer Brands Association has renewed its call for urgent government action on cannabidiol (CBD) regulation, asserting that federal engagement is critical to ensuring consumer safety. The call comes after a new report from Consumer Brands showed that the lack of a clear federal law on CBD use in foods was putting the safety of consumers using the product at risk. The report noted that absent of a regulatory framework, consumers cannot have confidence their products are being manufactured in compliance with existing and applicable manufacturing, processing, distributing, and claim requirements. Additionally, the…

CBD safe for use in food as it does not cause liver damage- Validcare

Mar 28, 2021Mar 28, 2021 Editor

US – A new study conducted by Validcare at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed that Cannabidiol (CBD) products do not cause liver damage when taken orally. The seven-month analysis which evaluated the impact of CBD on liver health through clinical trials involving 839 participants comes on the heels of a summer 2019 study involving mice that suggested that there may be a link between CBD and liver damage. Its results allay a lot of fears by food industry players who may have feared…

Canada’s top-selling CBD-infused beverage to launch in the US as more users embrace Cannabidiol

Mar 9, 2021Mar 9, 2021 Editor

US – Quatreau sparkling water brand, Canada’s top-selling ready-to-drink CBD beverage, has launched in the United States and will be available in states that permit the consumption of cannabidiol (CBD). The beverage which is available in four flavors would be sold online for starters as its producer makes arrangement to have it stocked on store shelves before the end of the year. In an interview with CNBC, Canopy CEO David Klein told the business network his company would benefit from its relationship with Constellation Brands, which owns nearly 40% of…

Christina Lake Cannabis begins production of Canada’s first ultra-high potency distillates

Jan 14, 2021Jan 14, 2021 Editor

CANADA — Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. has announced that it is beginning to produce ultra-high potency cannabis distillate oils from its the sun-grown cannabis cultivated during the Company’s inaugural growing season. Christina Lake said that the production of the cannabis distillates would enable the Company to form supplier relationships with consumer-packaged goods manufacturers. Distillate oils, which typically contain tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) concentrations in excess of 90%, are generally used to add THC to consumable products as opposed to being directly consumed by a legal-aged end user. As an ingredient in a…

Canada’s Aphria to expand into US in anticipation of federal legalization of cannabis

Nov 9, 2020Nov 9, 2020 Editor

CANADA – Canadian cannabis giant Aphria is gearing up for the US cannabis market and has announced a planned acquisition of SweetWater Brewing Company for US$300 million as the first step into achieving this goal. Based on volume, SweetWater Brewing is one of the biggest independent craft brewers in the U.S. The brewing company’s signature 420 branded craft brews use terpenes and hemp flavors combined with hops to replicate the flavors and aromas of cannabis. The deal which is expected to close by the end of 2020 will give the…

Cannabis Global secures deal for major expansion in US$4bn market

May 6, 2020May 6, 2020 Editor

USA – Cannabinoid and hemp extract company, Cannabis Global has signed a definitive five-year agreement with licensed California cannabis operator, Magnolia Extracts for the production of cannabis edibles and beverages. Under the terms of the agreement, Cannabis Global will provide access to its trade secrets and patent pending technologies for chemical-free cannabis and hemp infusions in the production of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) containing edibles and beverages. The CEO of Cannabis Global, Arman Tabatabaei, said that the deal represents an enormous escalation in terms of the company’s positioning in the California cannabis…

Canadian beverage tech company Province Brands closes US$1.6m funding round

Apr 20, 2020Apr 20, 2020 Editor

CANADA – Province Brands of Canada, a beverage technology company that has developed a first-of-its kind beer fermentation process has raised CAD$2.2 million (US$1.6m) as the firm prepares to bring its revolutionary products to the market. Province Brands has pioneered a patent-pending process for brewing beverages from plant materials that the company says could never before be fermented, including the first beverages brewed from cannabis. With this technology, Province Brands says that for the first time ever, beer can be brewed from non-starch plant material – basically any kind of…

AriZona Beverages joins forces with Dixie Brands for cannabis infused line

Aug 10, 2019Aug 10, 2019 Editor

USA – Arizona Beverages, producers makes Arizona Iced Tea, has partnered with cannabis company Dixie Brands to produce marijuana-infused products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Arizona Beverages signed a three-year licensing agreement with Dixie Brands that will see Dixie manufacture and distribute the THC-infused products branded under the AriZona name. Dixie, which operates in six US states, currently produces a range of cannabis-infused chocolates, gummies and elixirs. The deal gives AriZona the right to buy a stake of up to US$10 million in Dixie. Arizona Beverages will introduce vape pens and gummies…

CBD-infused water maker Sweet Reason secures US$2.5m funding

Jul 5, 2019Jul 5, 2019 Editor

USA – Hemp CBD-infused sparkling water maker, Sweet Reason Beverage Co. has completed its seed investment round, raising US$2.5 million. The funding round was led by New York venture capital firm Lerer Hippeau with participation from RiverPark Ventures, Max Ventures, Subversive Capital, alongside a strategic group of angel investors. With the funding, the CBD beverage brand is looking to become the leading hemp and cannabis beverage business in North America. The company said the new capital infusion will support company growth efforts through building a best in class sales team,…

Canada finalizes legal framework on cannabis production and sale

Jun 21, 2019Jun 21, 2019 Editor

CANADA – The government of Canada has completed regulations for the production and sale of cannabis and related products as it anticipates a surge in sales of cannabis beverages in the near future. The new regulations set a strict legal framework on commercialization of edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals, with an aim to protect it from the youth or organised criminals. The amended regulations seek to reduce the health risks of cannabis in line with the federal government’s public health approach to the legalization and strict regulation of…