Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

Review of European food hygiene regs

31-Aug-2009 - Leading players in the UK food sector are being asked for their views on an overhaul of European food hygiene legislation three years after the rules came into force.

China to launch new food safety standards

31-Aug-2009 - China is drafting a detailed new system of food safety standards in a bid to bring them line with international regulations and restore the country’s battered reputation on the issue.

News in brief

DuPont Listeria tests receive AOAC certification

28-Aug-2009 - DuPont Qualicon has received AOAC Research Institute certification for two detection systems for Listeria in food and environmental samples.

Processing under spotlight as flaws revealed in shellfish toxin testing

27-Aug-2009 - Industrial processing could double the level of certain marine biotoxins in shellfish a new report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has revealed, as it called for further research on the issue.

Researchers warn of toxin increase in heated HFCS

27-Aug-2009 - The formation of a toxic substance when high fructose corn syrup is heated raises concerns for bee keepers, say researchers, and will help inform advice on safe storage of the ingredient for use in human food.

Canada adds acrylamide to list of toxic substances

27-Aug-2009 - Acrylamide, a chemical that that appears in both food packaging and processed foods, has been added to a list of toxic substances by Canadian health authorities.

Low carb diet may increase heart risk: Mouse study

26-Aug-2009 - A new study has concluded that low carb-high protein diet leads to more atherosclerosis in mice, findings that could have implications for diet strategies if they also hold true for humans.

Food label habits to improve nutrition: Survey

25-Aug-2009 - Making healthy food choices and adding specific nutrients into their diet are the two main reasons why US consumers read food labels, according to a recent survey.

SIGG removes bisphenol A on consumer anxiety

25-Aug-2009 - Aluminum bottle producer SIGG has removed bisphenol A (BPA) from its containers in the face of mounting consumer concern – despite no evidence of the substance leaching from the lining, said the company.

Maple Leaf apologises again for listeria outbreak

25-Aug-2009 - Maple Leaf Foods Inc placed full page advertisements in a number of Canadian newspapers yesterday to mark the one-year anniversary of the fatal listeriosis outbreak.

Meat in moderation is good nutrient source, says FSA

25-Aug-2009 - The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said the potential link between red meat and bowel cancer should not discourage consumption, highlighting that meat “in moderation” can also be a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Weekly comment

Folic acid: Old women and children first!

24-Aug-2009 - Look at the globe and you’d be hard pressed to find two countries further apart than Ireland and New Zealand. But they stand side-by-side on the folic acid fortification issue – it is not needed.

New study exposes high levels of mercury in freshwater fish

24-Aug-2009 - US consumers who eat average amounts of fish could be exposed to levels of mercury that exceed the EPA criterion for the protection of people, according to a new study.

Australian listeria source identified

24-Aug-2009 - The listeria outbreak that hit five Virgin Blue airline passengers in Australia has been traced to a poultry supplier in New South Wales (NSW).

US poultry processor facing heavy fine over serious safety breaches

24-Aug-2009 - A poultry processing company from the US state of Georgia is facing almost $380,000 in fines for a series of “wilful and serious” health and safety violations committed over a five-year period.

News in brief

BPA leaches into oceans as plastics decompose

21-Aug-2009 - Plastics decompose relatively quickly in oceans to release contaminants such as bisphenol A (BPA), according to research presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Washington DC.

Food safety survey finds low pesticide residues

20-Aug-2009 - New research from New Zealand has found minimal pesticide residues in the local food supply casting further doubt on the value of organic products.

China launches new food safety reporting system

20-Aug-2009 - China’s State Food and Drug Administration has launched a new food safety reporting system which it has offered for public consultation.

FDA promises BPA decision by end of November

19-Aug-2009 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has re-affirmed its pledge to review the latest studies on bisphenol A (BPA) and to issue a statement by the end of November about whether the chemical is safe for use in food and beverage containers.

EPA registration approves sanitiser for food processing plants

19-Aug-2009 - Pure Bioscience has gained US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for its new sanitiser, opening the door to use in food processing and production.

India’s food industry held back by cold storage shortfall

19-Aug-2009 - A shortfall of 10m tons of cold storage facilities for agriculture produce is holding back the nation’s food industry including its rapidly developing food processing sector, according to a new report from financial specialists KPMG and Assocham; the country’s chambers of commerce.

'Electronic tongue' could aid sweetened formulations

18-Aug-2009 - Scientists have developed an ‘electronic tongue on a chip’ to quickly and accurately identifies sweetness, giving manufacturers an inexpensive quality control tool.

Salmonella in ground beef less resistant to heat than whole cuts, says study

17-Aug-2009 - New research indicates that Salmonella in whole cuts of beef is more resistant to heat treatment than it is in ground beef.

Animal fats not linked to breast cancer risk

17-Aug-2009 - Intakes of fats from meat, eggs, and dairy products do not increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, according to findings from a big European study.