Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

Bill bids to strengthen ‘dangerous’ US food safety regime

New legislation designed to strengthen the “dangerous” US food safety system as well as simplify its complex food supply chain has been tabled by key political figures from the House of Representatives.

Irish food safety system condemned after pork dioxin scandal

The current system for monitoring and tracing Irish pork is inadequate and should be overhauled urgently, a highly critical report from the country’s Parliament has said.

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Nestle wins packaging court case with Mars

Nestle has welcomed the decision of a Swiss court which ruled it would not have to change the packaging of one its confectionery lines following legal action from rival Mars.

Organic acids, plant extracts and irradiation to beat food-borne bugs - study

Treating chicken breast meat with a mixture of organic acids and plant extracts can greatly reduce the presence of pathogenic bacteria, according to new research from the US-based Food Safety Consortium.

New FDA bottled water rules to combat E. coli

Bottled water manufacturers, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, will face stricter standards following the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to implement new rules to prevent contamination with E. coli bacteria.

Analyst spies global food process-functionality boost

Growing interest from food processors in providing healthier convenience products is driving a surge in global demand for functional ingredients, particularly in emerging markets like India, suggests recent market analysis.

Generator targets efficiency in brewer nitrogen needs

A supplier of nitrogen generator systems claims that recent developments in its technology can help revolutionise and simplify supply and use of the gas during the brewing process.

New sealable polyester packaging

A new range of sealable, polyester food packaging products designed to replace clear, rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging has been launched by Spartech Corporation.

Organic food company wins green award for recycling

The organic food company, Hain Celestial Group has been named number one in the food and drink sector in The Sunday Times Best Green Companies Award 2009.

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Food safety group launches online resource site

An online food safety information site for consumers and those working in the area has been set up by the White House Food Safety Working Group.

Bioplastics industry not fearing downturn packaging hit

As food and drink manufacturers continue to find new uses for bioplastics in their packaging, processor attitudes to innovation remain just as important as cost efficiency in regards to challenges facing the sector, says one industry group.

FDA failed over salmonella outbreak, says new chief

The recent outbreak of salmonella in the United States caused by contaminated peanut butter represented a “failure” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency’s new commissioner said this week as she took up her post.

USP launches GRAS monograph service

Third party certifier, USP, has launched a monograph service for companies that have achieved self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status for food ingredients.

Setton Pistachio knew of salmonella, says FDA

Setton Pistachio knew that some of its products had tested positive for salmonella but kept shipping them anyway, according to an inspection report released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Lack of inspectors threatens Canadian meat safety, warns union

There are too few federal inspectors to guarantee the safety of meat in Canada, warns the agriculture union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Aseptic filling providing more stable smoothie solutions - supplier

A supplier of carton and filling technology claims recent developments it has made in aseptic carton filling are helping to negate potential sales risks of moving into the challenging, but desirable smoothie segment.

Even successful businesses bitten by funding freeze

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.

Harvard study confirms health risk from BPA leaching

Critics of the chemical bisphenol A or BPA have received powerful new ammunition in the form of a study from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) which confirmed that the substance can leach from polycarbonate drinking bottles into humans.

Carton packaging is the most eco-friendly claims study

Cartons are the most environmentally friendly form of packaging cutting carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel consumption by up to 60 per cent compared with other forms of packaging, according to a study conducted by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research.

Weekly comment

Cheerios: Drugs for breakfast?

When is a breakfast cereal not a breakfast cereal? Well, when it’s a drug.

Southeast Asia ripe for flexible pack growth despite eco-challenges

Flexible packaging suppliers could see strong growth for their products in the food markets of South East Asia, though a parallel rise in environmental concerns may require further investment and developments in biodegradable alternatives, suggests a new report.

Giving oxygen to cheaper and better beer

A sensor that quickly and accurately measures dissolved oxygen in beer products has been launched by the Process Analytics arm of Swiss firm Mettler Toledo.

Food safety threat from reusable food bags and packages

Reusable food shopping bags and packages can contain a high level of bacteria, yeast, mold and coliform counts which pose a significant food safety risk, warns a new study from Sporometrics, an environmental microbiology lab based in Toronto, Canada.

New sanitiser to boost food hygiene standards

A new water-based surface and utensil sanitiser promises to provide UK food and drink processors with a highly effective, safe, low cost and environmentally-friendly means of maintaining secure hygiene standards, claims its manufacturer Radical.

News in brief

FAO launches livestock welfare web portal

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.

Heat and energy aims drive Imtech Scandinavian expansion

Europe-based Imtech is set to boost its expertise as a technical service provider for food and beverage processors with a specific focus on the heat and energy efficiency needs of Scandinavian manufacturers.

Storck Travel Retail expects stand-up bags to be high flyers

Stand-up bags are a way to increase the expose of sugar confectionery in the impulse-driven travel retail market, according to Storck Travel Retail, which is re-launching three of its brands in new packaging this summer.

Vaccination could stop salmonella food poisoning

The world’s first vaccination against the food poisoning bug salmonella could result from new research at the Institute of Food Research (IFR), Norwich, UK.

Low-grade apples may give high-grade pectin for industry

Pectin extracted from low-grade ‘Golden Delicious’ apples may offer an interesting alternative for jams and confectionery, suggests new research from Mexico.

Honest Tea bottle reflecting wider light-weighting drives

The launch of a new bottling format by soft drink group Honest Tea is claimed to be the latest development in an ongoing focus for light weighted products by the pack’s supplier.

Reusable BPA-free water bottles launched

A new range of reusable, bisphenol A-free water bottles that is claimed to keep water clean, safe and cool, has been launched by Penguin Brands.

Enforce DSHEA, don’t scrap it, says CRN

The failure to diligently enforce the 1994 Dietary Supplements and Health Education Act (DSHEA) is the cause of most of the problems that have drawn a barrage of heavy criticism in the mainstream media, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).

Indian company launches two new inks for food packaging

Indian company Tirupati Inks has launched two new inks specially designed for food packaging applications that are said to provide the same qualities and properties as the solvent base inks.

News in brief

US food processing supplier acquires UK oven maker

US industrial food processing supplier JBT FoodTech has acquired Double D Food Engineering, one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of custom-built ovens and cookers, for an undisclosed sum.

Greater traceability to boost seafood safety

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.

Sustainability central to joint trade-show innovations

Lighter, functional and biodegradable packs were key innovations in regards to global pack solutions on display during the first combined Bta and Hispack trade event that took place in Barcelona last week, according to its organisers.

Stevia will attract CSR scrutiny, expert

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

China to keep importing UK recovered paper and plastic

China will continue to import UK recovered paper and plastic, including supplies from the food and beverage industries, despite the global recession, says a new survey conducted by Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Weekly comment

Different shades of green: Looking beyond carbon footprints

You can try your best to avoid it, but when it comes to measuring carbon footprint, almost everything we do these days, either as a business or individuals, is likely to have a negative impact on the environment.

Amcor praises resealable design in candy pack prize

Amcor has picked resealable convenience as the main draw in selecting the winner of a new award for innovative confectionery packs as part of its Flexibles Packaging Design Prize.

Bacteria eating viruses help fight food pathogens: EFSA study

“Bacteria eating” viruses, known as bacteriophages, could be an effective way of eliminating specific food pathogens, according to a recent report from the European Food Safety Authority’s BIOHAZ Panel.

US food container demand to reach $25bn by 2013

US demand for food containers is forecast to rise by 2.5 per cent a year to reach more than 300bn units valued at $25bn within four years, according to a new study from the Cleveland-based research firm The Freedonia Group.

Chemical industry defends BPA after Chicago’s ban

The US chemical industry has rallied to the defence of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) after Chicago became the first city to ban the chemical in baby bottles and sipper cups.

New culture to speed up curing meat naturally

Chr Hansen has developed a new culture for sausages and cooked, cured or fermented meats, which is said to provide improved taste and colour and to work faster.

Wine makers claim elephantine sustainability success

A haul of glass equal in weight to 36,000 African elephants has been cut across the global wine supply chain as part of a new scheme to improve the environmental impact of the sector, claims one eco-organisation.

US grocery association launches food safety plan to cut salmonella

The US Grocery Manufacturers Association has launched what it terms “wide ranging” initiatives to step up protection against food-borne illnesses including salmonella.

World's food safety labs ready to detect melamine

Most laboratories worldwide are capable of detecting melamine in food, according to a new study by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).

News in brief

China’s first food-grade recycled PET flake enterprise

China’s first food-grade recycled polyester flake enterprise, Beijing Incom Resources Recovery Co. opened in Beijing recently, said China Packaging Federation (CPF).

NGO follows nutrition lead for business focused eco-labelling

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.

New online resource guides athletes to ‘safe’ supplements

Independent certifier NSF has launched a new online resource to help athletes, coaches and consumers to select “safer”, “quality” dietary supplement products.

News in brief

Swine flu could infect one third of world’s population

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

Chicken: Biggest source of Scottish campylobacter food poisoning

Retail chicken has been identified as the as the single largest source of food poisoning in Scotland, according to a report published by Food Standards Agency Scotland.

Sweet solution to honey fraud

French researchers have developed a test to distinguish 100 per cent natural honeys from fake products adulterated with other substances, reports the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Scented pack group plays up aroma satiety findings

Scented packaging may have a role in helping consumers to ensure weight management, suggest one material supplier pointing to a recent study suggesting that aroma may be a major contributor to promoting satiety.

Developing solutions to fight food fraud

Adulteration of food proteins - as seen in the recent melamine scandal - is becoming a greater threat to industry as the food supply has become more globalized and economic crisis drives manufacturers to seek cheaper ingredients, says Jim Griffiths of US Pharmacopeia.

US state bans BPA in baby bottles

Minnesota has become the first US state to ban the use of the controversial chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby bottles. Concern focuses on the possible effects of BPA leaching into babies' feed when bottles are heated.

China opens new food test lab

The first food-testing laboratory in China recognised to reach international standards for pesticide screenings, melamine and heavy metal testing and microbiological analyses, was opened last month by Eurofins in Suzhou.

Flexibility and sustainability dictate sports cap development

Greater flexibility in the application and sustainability of sports caps for use on beverage packs remains at the heart of ongoing development in the segment, according to one product supplier.

Record FDA budget proposed as Hamburg clears Senate

Dr Margaret Hamburg, the Obama Administration’s pick to lead the FDA, easily cleared the Senate on Thursday, while the Administration proposed a record budget increase for the agency.

Indian food processors set for growth

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

New gentle packager for fruit and veg

The new Pack 201, medium-speed horizontal flow wrapper, is specially designed for the gentle handling of delicate fruit and vegetables, claims manufacturer Bosch Packaging Technology.

Weekly comment

The quiet potential of supplements and fortified foods

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

Rexam optimistic despite Euro beverage can blow

Pack supplier Rexam says that declining demand for its beverage can products across European markets and planned restructuring of its plastic operations has not dented its debt reduction ambitions.

Hydroxycut recall prompts calls for DSHEA review

The recent recall of top-selling Hydroxycut weight loss products has prompted the – not unexpected – call for a review of regulations governing dietary supplements in the United States.

Mobile hopper to reduce risk of product contamination and operator injuries

Reducing the risk of operator injuries and accidental product spillage, bulk material handling firm Fresco Systems Australasia has rolled out a mobile hopper loader to their range of conveyors.

Salmonella tops EFSA’s latest disease study

Salmonella remained the European Union’s most common cause of food-borne illness in 2007, according to the latest report from the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Mild bird flu identified in US breeding hens

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.

News in brief

Food Quality Award goes to poultry supplier

Fieldale Farms Further Processing Division in Baldwin, Georgia, US has won the prestigious Food Quality award, sponsored by DuPont Qualicon.

Delays likely in Cadbury damages case against packaging giant Amcor

A massive damages case in Australia brought by chocolate giant Cadbury against packaging giant Amcor has been delayed.

Eco-packaging boost for Fisher snack nuts

Boosting its sustainability credentials, John B Sanfilippo & Son announced the launch of 'earth-friendly' packaging for the company's Fisher brand of snacks and baking products.

Plea for independent Canadian food agency

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s dual mandate of public protection and food risk safety assessment is not working and should be replaced with an independent food safety agency, warns a leading food safety expert.

Upgrades for “the world’s most sensitive metal detector”

Improvements to the PowerPhasePRO software platform for metal detection in food applications have led to “the world’s most sensitive metal detector,” claims manufacturer Mettler-Toledo Safeline.

Mobile slaughter unit said to boost meat quality

The first fully-licensed mobile livestock slaughter unit in California will improve animal welfare by eliminating long journeys to slaughter houses and improve meat quality, claims its operator Central Coast Agricultural Cooperative.

Meat industry urges rethink on Chinese chicken

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.

Companies look to Asia as an economic buffer

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.

Polish processed food market is recession-proof, says study

Poland’s food processing industry will show little or no sign of the turmoil that impacted the global economy last year, according to a new report from international research consultants RNCOS.

Longer shelf life thanks to high pressure

High-pressure processing (HPP) technology developed by Australian researchers to extend shelf life of chilled perishable products without the use of preservatives, is the star turn of a new fruit-juice manufacturing plant hailed “the first of its kind”, which opened recently in Melbourne, Australia.

Manufacturer says refinery tech aids whey process ‘purity’

A range of whey processing technology is designed to allow dairy groups to produce value-added ingredients with long-term reductions to costs and environmental impacts, according to its manufacturer.

Recycling boost for Wales

More than 1.1m tonnes of waste will be saved from disposal in landfill sites over the next three years thanks to a new initiative from recycling specialists in Wales, Waste and Resources Action Programme, Cymru.

News in brief

New caution about swine flu outbreak

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.

Swine flu may have peaked but stay vigilant: WHO

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.

Weekly comment

Food safety reform: Not a century too soon

On a summer’s day in 1906 Theodore Roosevelt pushed through new food safety regulation. The Food and Drugs Act passed that day over 100 years ago was the last time the US food safety system was modernized.

It pays to find alternatives to bisphenol A: Study

International food and beverage brand-owners could jeopardise their share value and reputation by dragging their feet when it comes to implementing alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA), according to a recent US survey.

New meat sodium reduction technology on a plate

New sodium reduction technology allows meat processors to cut the sodium content of their products by up to 50 per cent, according to its developer Nu-Tek.