Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

Bosch utrasonic tech targets 'cold' packaging for confectionery goods

Germany's Bosch Packaging Technology targets a reduction in material costs and 'cold' packaging for delicate confectionery goods with its ultrasonic sealing technology showcased at this week's packaging and processing show IPACK-IMA 2009.

Greening facilities will lead to financial gain - IFIS

Better control of all processing plant equipment that uses energy can play a role in increasing efficiency and reducing costs for food and beverage manufacturers, claims a UK research group.

News in brief

Local MP joins Cadbury in packaging pledge

Riding the environmental ticket, UK conservative MP Tim Loughton this week joined Cadbury and the National Trust to cut down on packaging as foil-filled Easter approaches.

US-wide pistachio recall shows how FDA should work, claim officials

A Californian company is recalling over a million pounds of pistachios distributed nationwide due to possible salmonella contamination.

New training facility aims to drive food sector innovation

A recently opened UK university based food packaging and processing training factory, supported by equipment manufacturers and organisations, is aimed at food sector employees.

Focus on nanotechnology at Anuga

FoodProductionDaily.com caught up with Professor Horst-Christian Langowski, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV), at the Anuga FoodTec show in Cologne to discuss the perceived risks and ongoing research into nanotechnology.

Bottled water producers dismiss hormone mimic claim

The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) has said there is no evidence to support the claim by researchers based at the Goethe University in Frankfurt that water bottles contaminate drinking water with estrogenic chemicals.

Bakery solutions urgent as UK consumers bin 7m bread slices a day

Pressure continues on the bakery industry to design solutions to combat food waste as figures reveal that UK consumers bin seven million slices of bread every day.

Weekly comment

Obama’s veg plots point the way to healthy eating and more

“If you don’t plan to plant a garden in Lake Wobegon in the spring, it means you plan to be planted yourself.”

Smart device may enable low cost cold chain monitoring

A smart packaging device for monitoring threshold temperature throughout the cold chain is low cost to enable broad take-up by food manufacturers, claims its UK developer.

New research shows how Salmonella survive

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have demonstrated how Salmonella’s ability to survive in amoeba is a huge advantage to its continued development as it may be more resistant to disinfectants and water treatment.

HP rolls out high-volume digital press for competitive costs per label

As digital printing technology moves from niche into mainstream, HP launches the Indigo WS6000, a high-volume digital press to "unlock lean manufacturing benefits" and beat costs for packaged bakery and snack goods.

Consumers unsure of benefits of new food technologies - study

GM food and animal cloning are the emerging food technologies that give rise to most concerns due to the fact that they represent the greatest departure from what are perceived to be ‘natural’ or ‘traditional’ foods, claims a report from the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Innovation platform could optimise packaging

A call to action to the global industry to send examples of sustainable packaging technology from primary, secondary and tertiary packaging to innovative machinery, distribution and IT systems has been initiated by a UK government funded programme.

Low risk of MRSA contamination from food, says EFSA

There is no evidence that humans can become infected with meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from eating contaminated food, or that this strain has caused food poisoning, claims the European assessor.

News in brief

Flavored newspaper ads to lure advertisers back to print?

Pennsylvania-based Flavor First has collaborated with newspaper ink company US Ink to produce flavored strips for food advertising in newspapers, so customers can taste the product advertised.

News in brief

Australia food watchdog seeks views on new GM food

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is inviting individuals and organisations to comment on an application to seek approval for food derived from a genetically modified soybean, which must undergo a safety evaluation by FSANZ before it can be sold in Australia and New Zealand.

Bid to break deadlock on EU haulage tax

The Czech presidency has tabled a compromise proposal to delay the implementation of congestion charges for freight haulage companies by four years to break deadlocked talks on the revision of the Eurovignette Directive.

LCA study puts bag-in-box in good light, says Rapak

A life cycle assessment (LCA) of the bag-in-box packaging format underlines its strong environmental credentials and endorses it as an alternative to conventional packaging formats for wine and liquid foods, claims a European supplier of this type of packaging

Antibiotic bill would compromise food safety, say farmers

Legislation that aims to stop the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in animals would impair the health of livestock and poultry as well as undermining the safety of the US food supply, claims the president of the largest US farm group.

News in brief

WRAP offers free support for recycling in the supply chain

The UK's Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) announced this month that it has expanded its business development service to help small-medium (SME) recycling businesses across England to draw on local expertise through regionally placed business advisors.

Fair trade certification for mint oils

The organic oil specialist, Earthoil, has achieved fair trade status for its Indian mint growing facility under an Institute for Marketecology (IMO) scheme in order to meet growing demand for ethical products.

Alufoil tray recycling on upward trend, says EAFA

The overall recycling rate of alufoil trays and semi-rigid containers throughout Europe is 40 per cent, but there are plans afoot to increase that rate, claims the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA).

French crisp maker Sibell boosts production capacity after fire

Following a fire last year that ravaged half of its factory, French crisp maker Sibell is set to be fully operational this month, following a €15m clean-up investment that has increased production capacity by 40 per cent.

Federal inefficiency fosters seafood fraud – GAO

Fraud is on the rise in the seafood supply chain due to in part the fact that the US federal agencies that oversee seafood do not collaborate, claims a newly released report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO).

How metals in food impact children's behaviour

The contamination of food with certain metals needs to be urgently addressed in light of growing evidence linking trace elements to negative human behaviour, according to a lead researcher in the field.

DSM targets melamine contamination with antibody launch

A development in antibody-based food testing is the latest product launched specifically to trace contamination of the industrial chemical melamine in milk products, according to its manufacturer.

Scara robots bring cost savings, says TM Robotics

FoodProductionDaily.com caught up with Ryan Guthrie of TM Robotics to discuss the specific applications for the food industry of the company's next generation line of pick and place robot systems.

New robotic technology offers greater orientation and reach, claims TM Robotics

FoodProductionDaily.com caught up with Ryan Guthrie of TM Robotics to discuss the company's new six axis model and its particular applications for the food industry.

Robotics supplier now focusing on food sector

Robotic technology, which featured largely at the recent Anuga FoodTec trade show, has untapped potential to improve productivity, increase product yield and bring greater flexibility to the food manufacturing production line, claims TM Robotics.

News in brief

Allergen management focus of upcoming seminar

With food recalls due to cross contamination of allergens or incorrect allergen labelling an expensive problem for the food industry and dangerous for food-allergic consumers, two UK research bodies are holding a conference on allergen management.

Food industry 'supports sensible fees' to boost safety: GMA

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has voiced its support of President Obama’s efforts to form a food safety working group, but it inspection fees are a work in progress.

Spotlight on sustainability in packaging

Bob Hogan, director of international sales and marketing at flexible packaging suppliers, Zip-Pak, spoke to FoodProductionDaily.com about some of the misperceptions surrounding the concept of sustainability and food and beverage packaging.

APT to expand PP and multi-layer tray offering

Associated Packaging Technologies (APT) said that increased demand for both extended shelf life and microwave only packages has influenced its decision to significantly expand its existing polypropylene (PP) and multi-layer thermoforming capabilities.

EFSA slashes heavy metal limit

The European Food Safety Authority has lowered the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for cadmium after studying data, a decision that could affect sourcing.

New anti-fraud tool aims to be ‘on the dot’

A new collaboration aimed at developing quantum dots to fight counterfeiting could combat such fraud in the food and beverage market.

Green chocolate packaging takes SCA award

A project that optimises the use of a single packaging material - corrugated board - and facilitates recycling has been chosen as the winner of SCA Packaging’s ‘Design Challenge’

New findings challenge studies linking mercury to HFCS - CRA

Results from third-party testing conducted on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from all the production facilities in the US and Canada show that no quantifiable levels of mercury were detected in any of the samples analyzed, claims the CRA.

Foss outlines how to avoid fat fines

FoodProductionDaily.com caught up with Foss Product Manger Jens Borg to ask him how the company's analytical tool, MeatMaster, could optimise meat production.

Weekly comment

Omega-3: Fishing for alternatives

Short of an earth-bound deity walking amongst us and miraculously multiplying our fish stocks, industry must invest more in alternative sources of omega-3 to meet nutritional needs.

New Salmonella detection kit is highly sensitive, claim developers

A detection kit for the presence of the deadly strain Eschericia coli 0157:H7, Salmonella and Staphyloccoccus aureaus provides definitive results and does not need confirmatory tests, claim its developers.

Ball valve for mixing delivers maximum flow rates

Maximum flow rates with minimal pressure drop via a full port design are delivered through the new series 3BV2 automated ball valve by Australian firm WE Anderson, a division of control and instrumentation company Dwyer Instruments.

News in brief

Easter bunny brings less confectionery

Signs that even the Easter bunny is cutting back, with research conducted by BIGresearch for the US National Retail Federation finding Americans will spend less this year on their Easter confectionery and gifts.

Standards urged for green labelling

The UK government needs to put more resources into promoting better environmental labelling on products and push harder on setting the standards for labelling schemes, claims a all-party group of politicians.

News in brief

Canada demands South Korea accepts beef

South Korea must reopen its borders to Canadian beef or face a challenge from the WTO, says Canada Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

Firm outlines trends influencing sealing machine design

FoodProductionDaily.com travelled to Germany to discuss the constraints involved in sealing equipment manufacture with Mecaplastic.

Robotics could offer quick wins for bakery sector

Greater efficiencies for the UK bakery industry can be gained by investing in robotic systems for oven loading and unloading, packing line automation and the centralization of palletizing, claims the Centre for Food Robotics and Automation (CenFRA).

Handheld gas analyser poised for market

Witt has launched the latest generation of its cordless and handheld gas analysers, version 6.0 of its Oxybaby model, which is due to hit the market in a few weeks and could help extend a product’s shelf life.

Less energy usage is claimed for novel pasteurisation process

A new way of sterilizing packaged foods that offers rapid results and less energy consumption has been the focus of a recent project undertaken by the German research group, the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging.

Is food sector recession proof? We test opinion at Anuga

FoodProductionDaily.com walked the floor at the recent Anuga FoodTec trade show to ascertain how the current economic climate is impacting on the food and beverage processing and packaging equipment manufacture sector.

News in brief

Dairy seminar focuses on UK supply chain safety

Health and safety within dairy production from the farm right up to the customer will be the key focus of a seminar taking place in the UK next month.

Dispatches from Pro2Pac

Nestle develops Kansei design method for emotional packaging

Confectionery giant Nestle is building an in-house global design network based around a Japanese design philosophy, called Kansei, which has been successfully used in the car industry to tap into consumer emotions.

Irradiation link to trans fats formation dismissed

New research from the US has challenged recent studies that claimed irradiation treatment increased the amounts of trans fatty acids in ground beef.

Tool could enhance spray drying process

A technique to improve the drying process of dairy and other liquid products can lead to product innovation and a better bottom line for food manufacturers, claims GEA Niro.

Food sector again seeks UK exemption to EU hours curb

The UK food and drink sector has today reiterated its stance that an opt-out clause in the European Union curb on working hours is crucial for industry survival as EU economies contract.

New aseptic package aims to meet lightweighting trend

FoodProductionDaily.com caught up with Sweden-based manufacturer Ecolean as it unveiled its new lightweight aseptic packaging system for liquid food products in Cologne.

News in brief

US exports of packaging machinery boosted by demand from emerging markets

United States exports of packaging machinery increased 9.5 per cent in 2008 reaching a total value of $950m, according to PMMI.

Industry welcomes regulator’s claim that BPA is safe

The New Zealand and Australian food safety regulator’s affirmation of the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) has been welcomed by trade group, the North American Metal Packaging Alliance (NAMPA).

Short payback time with customised robotic line, claims firm

A newly developed robotic pick, process and place line, which integrates vision control for measuring product weight and dimensions, can be tailored to suit the specific requirements of food manufacturers, says the Danish developer.

News in brief

Red24 brings food crisis expert on-board

Risk management and crisis specialist red24 has teamed up with Eric Smith, food crisis and contamination expert, to provide its food clients with specialist advice.

Edible film may kill bacteria in refrigerated foods

Lactoperoxidase (LPS) incorporated edible film has good potential for bacterial inhibition use in refrigerated foods as well as meat, poultry and seafood, claims a new study in the journal, Food Microbiology and Safety.

Cinnamon oil-polypropylene combo keeps bread extra fresh

An active package based on cinnamon essential oil and micro perforated polypropylene may extend the shelf-life of bread by a week, says a new study.

Flexible case packer aimed at snack manufacturers

A case packer has been designed to pack sensitive products and can incorporate a range of case formats including hood, tray and wraparound, claims the manufacturer.

News in brief

APT fills management positions

Associated Packaging Technologies (APT) has filled several key management positions, strengthening its global marketing and equipment engineering divisions.

Researchers say plasma technology is effective sterilizer

A project is underway which aims to integrate a plasma technology-based system into existing machinery to enable fast continuous decontamination of flat packaging materials such as foils, films or lids.

Further calls for ban on packaging chemical

Democrats in the US Senate and House of Representatives have introduced legislation to ban the controversial packaging chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA) from all food and beverage containers.

Defying costs is key to filling-tech innovation, says supplier

Ensuring continued innovation in powdered beverage and food filling technology that negates the impacts of high cost remains a primary development driver to one machine supplier.

The cost and carbon savings of solar installation for food firms

Food and supplement manufacturing firms in the US are set to benefit more than ever before by installing solar panel energy systems at their facilities, as the benefits of tax cuts and grant programs start to take effect.

Online tool from Marion Mixers expedites decisions for bakery mixer buyers

US firm Marion Mixers launches an online tool that could help equipment buyers for bakers quickly identify the correct industrial mixer for their application mixing needs.

Snack makers to seize green business opportunities

Baker and snack makers should grab the opportunity to leverage their business through green credentials as demand prevails, says the UK's Carbon Trust.

Software aims to improve food sector’s OEE

New software can enhance overall equipment efficiency (OEE) in a processing plant while ensuring greater transparency in processes, claims Sartorius Mechatronics.

Eco efficiency benefits claimed for new equipment

Stephan Machinery claims that factors such as sustainable food production and energy efficiency are driving equipment development at the Germany based company.

Sustainable design at the touch of a button?

A new web-based tool can reduce the environmental impact and costs of packaging for food and beverage companies, claims Envirowise.

Obama picks Hamburg to head FDA

President Obama has named his pick for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner: Food safety and bioterrorism expert Dr Margaret Hamburg.

Weekly comment

Could sugar shake off its bad boy image?

Sugar could be shedding its bad boy image to take a surprise spot on the public’s list of trusted ingredients, as manufacturers look to appeal to more savvy consumers.

Producer restricts sale of packaging chemical

Chemical company Sunoco has started to limit sales of Bisphenol A (BPA) on the back of some studies that claim the packaging chemical can harm infants.

Judge upholds almond pasteurization law

A federal judge has rejected challenges to a law requiring mandatory pasteurization of almonds to reduce risk of salmonella contamination.

Vaccine targeted at E.coli gets first US licence

New technology aimed at reducing the risk of E. coli 0157 in ground beef has won a conditional licence from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Dispatches from Anuga FoodTec 2009

Simplicity to the power of three for Serac dairy development

Serac says that simplifying the often-costly process of aseptic production for dairy goods by providing reliability and safety along with improved cost effectiveness remains key to its product development.

Dispatches from Anuga FoodTec 2009

Feeder enables easy cleaning and dismantling, says Gericke

A new feeder can cut cleaning and inspection time, enables high accuracy of dosing of powders to ensure recipe reliability, and is applicable to food manufacturers with frequent product changes, claims the Swiss manufacturer.

News in brief

Japanese group awards Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak said its commitment to continuous improvement in terms of controlling and improving the quality, environmental impacts and costs of production has been recognised by the Japanese Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM).

Spotlight again on cloned animals

A review of cloning is underway at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following a request from the European Commission for further advice on the implications of the technology for food safety, animal health and welfare and the environment.

Low polymer demand hits Borealis’ profits

Food and beverage packaging supplier, Borealis, reported a fall in pre-tax profit to €239m for 2008, down 55 per cent from the record profit of 2007, but it maintained that its results were solid despite the deteriorating market conditions.

News in brief

IFT to discuss nano food uses in London

A seminar to be held in London on 30 April will explore the latest developments in nanotechnology, and its potential for use in the food industry.

Dispatches from Anuga FoodTec 2009

Food and drink machinery suppliers upbeat about market

Food and beverage production machinery and packaging equipment manufacturers are modestly optimistic about the outlook for 2009, despite the current econmic slump.

Blow moulder targets clear-pack efficiency

A supplier of blow moulding equipment for beverage and personal care packaging claims it has made significant advancements in cost and energy efficient production of clear bottle packaging.

UK confectionery sector cuts Easter egg packaging by as much as 90 per cent

Efforts by the confectionery industry to slash Easter egg packaging are paying off, engendering cost benefits and distribution improvements for manufacturers and retailers, says the UK's government-funded WRAP.

Data loggers enhanced for fast downloading, says US firm

Upgraded data loggers and probes can be used to monitor temperatures in wet and hot conditions, and also have USB enabled high speed data downloading, claims the US manufacturer.

Alliance aims to help food sector tighten its belt

Collaboration on belting technology development and installation can improve food safety, quality assurance and operational efficiency for food processors, claims one of the US companies involved in the new partnership.

USDA announces meetings on GE regulation revision

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invited interested parties to take part in a scoping session on the agenda for meetings discussing a proposed rule for genetically engineered (GE) organisms in April.

Dispatches from Anuga FoodTec 2009

Matching material with process is key to hygienic design, says expert

More needs to be done to fully optimise production equipment and processes to guarantee the hygienic production of food as well as greater cost efficiencies, claims a food technology expert.

Dispatches from Anuga FoodTec 2009

Germans shaking some PET pack concerns - industry

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is generally succeeding in meeting German concerns regarding sustainable consumer packaging and should continue to increase in use until 2025, claim a group supplying the material.

News in brief

Indonesian food agency confirms melamine contamination

Indonesia's Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) confirmed last week claims that certain snack products are contaminated with melamine, reports The Jakarta Post.

Metal packaging innovation confers eco-friendly opportunities for premium biscuits

A raft of new container designs from US firm Crown speciality packaging target premium biscuit makers with an eye on eco-friendly packaging materials.

Intertek claims rapid method to detect packaging chemical

A new method can detect the presence of the chemical 4-Methylbenzophenone (4-MBP) in food packaging in 24 hours, thus ensuring food manufacturers and packaging companies can avoid supply chain problems, claims Intertek.

Dispatches from Anuga FoodTec 2009

Hygienic conveyance line honoured at Anuga show

Intralox has received a 2009 European FoodTec Silver MedalAward in the category of food safety, security, and quality management.

Focus on food contact surfaces, advises Canadian listeria expert

Food contact surfaces, rather than non food contact ones, should be the focus of Canadian legislation aimed at eliminating listeria, according to a federal government advisor on food safety.

Dispatches from Anuga FoodTec 2009

Eco packaging informs grocery habits, says survey

Nearly 60 per cent of consumers pay attention to the environmental friendliness of food and drink packaging material during their grocery shopping, claims a new survey released today at Anuga FoodTec in Cologne.

Aluminium drink cans: Fifty years on and still going strong?

As the aluminium beverage can reaches its fiftieth anniversary this year, brewer Molson Coors says it expects the packaging to remain central to its global operations in the future, despite growing competition in the market.

News in brief

Tortilla manufacturer shut down by FDA injunction

A US tortilla manufacturer has been shut down over repeated violations, claims the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Grocers pledge to cut UK food waste

Grocery retailers and manufacturers have pledged to work together to cut UK household food waste by 155,000t or 2.5 per cent of total waste before the end of next year.

HACCP module eases food safety compliance

Food and beverage companies will find it easier to comply with safety standards thanks to a new Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points module launched by computer specialist EtQ for its Quality /Food Safety Management Software, claims the manufacturer.

Shrink sleeves for dairy pots cut costs and boost convenience

Recyclable shrink sleeves for dairy product pots cut transport costs, improve printing flexibility and packing convenience, claims packaging specialist Chadwicks, based near Bury, UK.

News in brief

Irish dioxin report to recommend policy U-turn

A draft report from the Irish Parliament’s joint agriculture committee on last autumn’s dioxin crisis in the pig industry recommends reversing previous plans to amalgamate the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) with two other bodies, according to a report in The Irish Times.

Branded alcohol-complaints hit decade high

The Portman Group, an industry-led responsibility body says the number of complaints made under its code of practice for alcohol packaging has reached a decade-long high amidst growing concerns over drink branding.

Weekly comment

Cargill vs Chavez: Clash of the rice titans

Clutched to the president’s chest like a medal of nationalisation, Cargill Venezuela cannot be sitting very comfortably this week as it awaits the fate of its rice plant.

New processing kit boosts formulation and cuts costs

Improved formation of meat and seafood products, greater product consistency, easier maintenance and lower costs are the benefits claimed for a new processing system from cryogenics provider Air Products and mixer and mixer-grinder specialist Weiler.

New Canadian listeria rules said to lack bite for big companies

New rules on listeria testing in ready-to-eat meats launched last week by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) don’t go far enough to guard against the risk of infection in large companies, warns one of the federal government’s expert advisors on food safety.

New food dehydration kit delivers “revolutionary” benefits

After a 10-year development programme, a Canadian company has made the first sale of what it claims to be revolutionary food dehydration equipment.

EFSA publishes final nano risk opinion

The European Food Safety Authority has concluded its assessment of the potential risks of nanotechnologies for food and feed, stating that a cautious, case-by-case approach is needed as many uncertainties remain over its safe use.

Patience urged over new FDA powers

Obtaining new powers for the FDA to recall food products and implement new preventative measures will take time, the Acting Commissioner has said, in a candid viewpoint that recognizes officials’ constraints.

Dispatches from European Sandwich and Snack show

Real crisp success underlines consumer shift to hand-cooked crisps

Spotting a market opportunity ten years ago, John Mudd set out to create an alternative to mass-produced crisps, building a business that today sees 2.5 million packs of Real hand-cooked crisps sold each week in the UK.

Commission to review packaging on EFSA advice

Restrictions on packaging may apply following a European Commission meeting tomorrow, which is in response to advice issued by EFSA on the hazards associated with the use of 4-methylbenzophenone (4MBP) in packaging ink.

Bacteria under threat with new packaging device – study

Researchers claim to have discovered a method to eliminate bacteria in packaged foods such as spinach and tomatoes, a process that could reduce the number of food-borne outbreaks linked to the produce.

News in brief

Chávez seizes Cargill rice plant

Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez has taken control of a rice plant owned by a subsidiary of Cargill, according to reports, on the grounds that it does not produce price-controlled basic rice.

New code proposed for retailer-supplier deals

The rules that govern agreements between retailers and suppliers could be strengthened under a new proposal by the UK’s Competition Commission (CC) to protect manufacturers and others from restrictive practices.

Food industry welcomes bipartisan food safety bill

Food companies have come out in support of stricter government regulation proposed by a bipartisan Senate bill intended to strengthen the FDA’s powers to ensure food safety.

Media report misleading, claims Canadian processor

Maple Leaf Foods said a media report stating it had ‘discussed food safety in relation to listeria’ with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) before last summer's outbreak and product recall is misleading and irresponsible in the context of on the record statements from both parties involved.

News in brief

Nebraska sprouts recalled for suspected salmonella

SunSprouts has issued a voluntary recall of its alfalfa, onion and gourmet sprouts because of possible salmonella contamination.

News in brief

Raisio sees sunny future for green labelling

Finnish ingredients supplier and Benecol brand owner, Raisio, has diversified its green labelling scheme to incorporate its Elovena snack drink, Sunny.

News in brief

UK snack firm recalls products on salmonella fears

A product recall from UK firm Bounce Snack Foods marks the latest in a string recalls connected to the salmonella outbreak from peanut products in the US.

Sealing components meet NSF standard, claims manufacturer

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions said its Turcon MF5 has achieved NSF International listing, which means that both it and the Turcon MF6 sealing compound, designed for demanding food and beverage applications, conform to the requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 51 - Food Equipment Materials.

US food manufacturer cautioned over processing practices

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent a warning letter to Dean Foods Company citing serious deviations from manufacturing regulations regarding low-acid canned food at one of its facilities.

Legislature may ban BPA in baby bottles

A US legislature yesterday voted unanimously to ban the packaging chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA), from polycarbonate baby bottles; the bill now has to go to the county executive for approval.

News in brief

SunOpta commissions Californian soy processing facility

SunOpta has announced that it will begin commissioning a soy processing and aseptic packaging plant in Californian this month, in order to begin commercial production by the end of 2009’s second quarter.

Packaging ink migration ruling challenged

Tetra Pak said it is appealing a ruling by an Italian judge who sentenced both the global packaging equipment supplier and food giant Nestle to pay compensation to a party based on the presence of a packaging chemical in baby milk.

PepsiCo slashes costs along with carbon

PepsiCo’s energy efficiency initiatives have resulted in a massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and slashed the firm’s costs by $90m last year alone.

Course aims to prompt nanotechnology innovation

Awareness of current and upcoming developments in the use of nanotechnical tools for foods and packaging can inspire new understanding and ideas in decision makers working in the food processing and packaging sectors, claims Lund University.

News in brief

More firms make FSA Southampton-free list

The UK’s Food Standards Agency has added to its listing of companies that do not use the Southampton-six colours, including Cool Drinks company, Lakeland, Montgomeryshire Natural Spring Water products, Plas Farm Ltd, Rubicon Drinks, and Sunny Delight Beverage Company.

Study shows plant extracts could be potent antibacterials

Roselle calyx extracts and protocatechuic acid could be potent agents in the prevention of food contamination by spoilage bacteria, claims a new study in a forthcoming issue of the journal Foodborne Pathogens and Disease.

Extending existing technologies to tackle food-borne illness

Several controversial measures are needed to “stop reliving history” and ensure the safety of the US food supply, says a leading professor of medicine.

Guest article

UK labelling proposal under the spotlight

Owen Warnock, partner and food law expert at international law firm Eversheds, checks the fine print on calls for legislation in the UK regarding country of origin meat labelling.

Weekly comment

Twitter could leave bitter taste in Pepsi’s mouth

“The new cartons stink.” Customer responses to new product developments seldom come clearer or more direct than that.

Cadbury tackles burping cows to reduce milk chocolate carbon footprint

Chocolate maker Cadbury will work closely with UK dairy farmers in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of its iconic milk chocolate bar.

Bin Master sensors target high and low level detection for food

Australian firm Pacific Sensor Technologies brings to market a range of levels sensors for solid and liquid materials from US firm Bin Master.

New bottling plant extends aseptic capabilities, claims Flavours Inc

A new aseptic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottling plant is one of the few co-packing facilities to offer three methods of aseptic processing, says a US based manufacturer.

New line guarantees high speed, secure case packing: Cermex

A new wraparound case packer provides continuous motion to ensure greater longevity of equipment in addition to quicker, more uniform and secure packaging, claims Cermex.

News in brief

Mexican move for confectionery firms saves labour and sugar costs

Confectionery firms are moving to Mexico and Canada to save on labour and sugar costs, reports US paper, York Daily Record.

News in brief

Chicken processor in bid to exit bankruptcy

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation has announced that it is to idle three of its 32 US chicken processing plants in a bid to exit bankruptcy by the end of the year.