Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

News in brief

Ecological Food Manufacturers Association seeks members

15-Sep-2009 - Helping food companies meet growing demands for foods and beverages that are safe, nutritious and ecological is the aim of the new Ecological Food Manufacturers Association (EFMA).

Swiss pasteurization promises safer UK snacks

15-Sep-2009 - Higher food safety standards are claimed for Imperial Snack Foods (ISF) processed nuts, seeds, and dry fruit after it’s investment in a large pasteurization plant to equip its Wolverhampton, UK, processing site.

Smithfield overhauls processing focus to packaged meats

14-Sep-2009 - Smithfields has declared it is transforming itself into a packaged meat company in a bid to benefit from the sector’s higher profit margins and more stable nature.

Food processing software lifts through-put and cuts costs

11-Sep-2009 - Improved productivity and lower operating costs are claimed for new software for food processors from US-based packaging specialists Sealed Air.

New cash and regulations for Indian food processing sector

11-Sep-2009 - The dramatic push to develop India’s food processing sector continued this week after it was revealed the Government was in talks with banks to set up a venture capital fund for the sector.

New flow meter for high-viscosity fluids

10-Sep-2009 - Designed to measure high-viscosity fluids in food applications, the new flow meter from Flow Technology, Inc delivers a high level of batch repeatability, claims the company.

Bakery mixer upgrades boost performance and ease of use

10-Sep-2009 - Improved product quality and operational efficiency are benefits claimed by manufacturers Baker Perkins as a result of upgrades to a mixing and forming system for high output bakery plants.

Mettler-Toledo's gravity flow metal detector slashes downtime

10-Sep-2009 - Mettler-Toledo Safeline has forged a metal detector with a gravity flow function, which also reduces downtime for processors such as bakers or confectionery manufacturers handling dry materials including powders and granular products.

Smithfield slumps to Q1 loss despite record processing profits

09-Sep-2009 - Surging profits in Smithfield Foods packaged meats business were insufficient to stop the company posting a first quarter loss topping $100m.

Paul Lippke Handels launches headspace analyser

08-Sep-2009 - Paul Lippke Handels has launched a fast, versatile and easy-to-use packaging headspace analyser aimed at small firms and start-up businesses on tight budgets.

Tetra Pak beverage pasteurizer cuts costs and product losses

07-Sep-2009 - A new intelligent beverage pasteurizer will cut product losses by almost a third, slash downtime and reduce energy and water consumption significantly, said manufacturers Tetra Pak.

New freezer boosts food processing hygiene

07-Sep-2009 - Improved standards of hygiene for food processors and more reliable data on freezer operating performance are claimed for engineering company Linde’s new range of cryogenic freezers.

News in brief

Advanced packing ops squashes frog-in-can claim - Pepsi

04-Sep-2009 - Pepsi has poured cold water on claims that a dead frog was found in one of its cans – because of its super efficient packaging operations.

On-line guide to food processing regs launched

04-Sep-2009 - Small and medium-sized food processors in the United States have been given a helping hand in complying with environmental regulations thanks to a new website launched this week.

Approval likely for JBS-Pilgrim’s Pride deal, say experts

04-Sep-2009 - The acquisition of US chicken processor Pilgrim’s Pride by Brazilian meat giant JBS should get antitrust approval, according to specialist attorneys.

News in brief

Lantmannen sells processing business

03-Sep-2009 - Agricultural and food group Lantmannen has announced it has sold off its potato processing business.

New case packager claimed to boost flexibility and cut costs

03-Sep-2009 - Greater flexibility, lower costs and a smaller factory footprint are claimed for the new HVCP case packer from Schneider Packaging Equipment Company.

Loma launches X-ray, metal detection systems

02-Sep-2009 - Loma Systems has expanded its x-ray and metal detection offering for food manufacturers with the launch of the Loma X4 SideShoot, Loma X4 FinePitch x-rays and IQ3+ PipeLine metal detector.

US poultry companies face jury trial over pollution allegations

01-Sep-2009 - A host of major US poultry producers and processors will have to face a trial by jury over allegations of pollution in a civil lawsuit brought by the state of Oklahoma.

Union controversy at food processing plant sparks debate

28-Aug-2009 - Food processing plants with unionised workforces are more efficient and productive, one US union with more than 1.3 million members in the food sector has said.

Wirecut machine uses nest shape to increase cookie output

28-Aug-2009 - Baker Perkins has launched a new wirecut machine for cookie production that increases output by laying down biscuits in a nest-like pattern.

New yeast strains promise to protect wine from hydrogen sulfide

27-Aug-2009 - California-based Phyterra Yeast has launched three yeast strains to prevent sensory and spoilage problems in wine caused by the formation of hydrogen sulfide during fermentation.

Work needed for China fish processing to meet new EU rules, report

26-Aug-2009 - China’s fish processing industry has made considerable progress in boosting its traceability procedures but must improve further if it wants to meet new EU regulations due to come into force next year.

News in brief

Indian food processors to help double agri exports

24-Aug-2009 - The Indian food processing industry will play a key role in helping the nation double its agricultural exports to $18bn within five years, according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.