Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

Weekly comment

IFT '09: In defence of trade shows

15-Jun-2009 - As the dust settles on another IFT the absence of several big players has left some questioning the relevance of trade shows in the 21st Century.

Meet Our New Owners

03-Jun-2009 - Don’t miss this video interview with Robert Marr, chief operating officer of William Reed Business Media, which recently acquired Decision News Media, publisher of FoodProductionDaily.com.

Weekly comment

Economic depression a stimulus for fresh business

02-Jun-2009 - The economic recession is biting across the globe, and bleeding casualties litter all industries, but now is not the time to cower. Those willing to spend may provoke a stimulation of their business that could set them up for years, if not decades, to come.

Even successful businesses bitten by funding freeze

26-May-2009 - Finding investors in the current economic environment is a problem for all companies, even if they are doing well, according to Frost and Sullivan research analyst Christopher Shanahan.

Weekly comment

Cheerios: Drugs for breakfast?

25-May-2009 - When is a breakfast cereal not a breakfast cereal? Well, when it’s a drug.

News in brief

FAO launches livestock welfare web portal

22-May-2009 - A new internet portal dedicated to providing information on animal welfare legislation, research and standards, practices and policies has been launched by the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Greater traceability to boost seafood safety

19-May-2009 - Improved seafood safety through greater traceability are the benefits claimed for a new collaboration between information technology company IBM, food software company FXA Group and two Vietnamese seafood producers.

Stevia will attract CSR scrutiny, expert

18-May-2009 - Stevia leaders must show corporate social responsibility, as sales of sweeteners derived from the plant take off around the world, says conference speaker.

NGO follows nutrition lead for business focused eco-labelling

14-May-2009 - One environmental NGO says it is taking inspiration from nutrition labels as part of attempts to better inform global business and, eventually, the consumer about the environmental performance of food products.

News in brief

Swine flu could infect one third of world’s population

13-May-2009 - A third of the world's population could succumb to swine flu infection, warn researchers at Imperial College London, UK.

Weekly comment

The quiet potential of supplements and fortified foods

11-May-2009 - What do companies like Vitamin Shoppe, Johnson & Johnson, DSM, Whole Foods, NBTY and even Pfizer have in common?

Indian food processors set for growth

11-May-2009 - India’s food processing sector is poised for significant growth, according to management consultants A T Kearney.

Mild bird flu identified in US breeding hens

07-May-2009 - A Tennessee flock of 15,000 breeder hens has been culled after tests revealed a mild strain of avian influenza. The birds, which were being raised under contract for Tyson Foods, showed no signs of illness and there was no threat to human health, said the company.

Meat industry urges rethink on Chinese chicken

06-May-2009 - A group of meat industry representatives has sent a letter to President Obama urging a rethink of legislation banning imported cooked poultry from China, saying it breaches US trade obligations.

News in brief

New caution about swine flu outbreak

05-May-2009 - It would be 'premature' to assume the swine flu virus is a mild strain simply because none of the British victims has so far died, warns Sir Liam Donaldson, the UK’s chief medical officer.

Companies look to Asia as an economic buffer

05-May-2009 - Food and beverage companies should look to Asia to bolster their business in times of economic crisis, while differentiating their products closer to home, according to a Frost and Sullivan analyst.

Swine flu may have peaked but stay vigilant: WHO

04-May-2009 - The outbreak of swine flu may have peaked but countries should not lower their guard against the virus which has claimed more than 100 lives and affected nearly 1000 people in 20 countries, warns the World Health Organisation.

News in brief

“All of humanity under threat”

30-Apr-2009 - The World Health Organisation has delivered its direst warning yet about the implications of swine flu stating that “All of humanity is under threat.”

One-stop-shop for sustainable food issues launched

29-Apr-2009 - A new website has been launched that aims to become the first port of call on issues surrounding food waste and inform food processors and other interested parties about the latest sustainability initiatives.

California declares swine flu emergency

29-Apr-2009 - California became the first US state to declare emergency status as the number of its laboratory-confirmed swine flu cases reached 10 with 64 cases now identified across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Swine flu impacts global economy

28-Apr-2009 - The swine flu virus first identified in Mexico cannot be contained, warns Dr Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), as the economic impact of the outbreak continues to spread.

Sedex supplier-led database strengthens opportunities in ethical supply chain

28-Apr-2009 - The opportunity for confectioners to audit the ethical credentials of their existing, and potential, suppliers comes in the shape of Sedex, a database tool designed to serve an ethically-driven supply-chain.

Swine flu sparks global health emergency

27-Apr-2009 - The World Health Organisation has declared “a public health emergency of international concern,” following the outbreak of a new strain of swine flu which has killed at least 103 people in Mexico.

News in brief

Dole in move to further cut water footprint

24-Apr-2009 - US company, Dole Food, claims that by signing up to the Water Footprint Network, a global network that promotes the sustainable, fair and efficient use of fresh water resources, it can better measure and reduce its overall environmental footprint.