Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

Crackdown on food safety in UK reduces incidents, regulator reports

A crackdown of food safety incidents has led to a 19.2 per cent reduction in foodborne illness between 2001 and 2006, the UK regulator reported this week.

EU food safety alerts down by 5 per cent

Tougher measures against illegal dyes and a more harmonised criteria for detecting pathogens have led to a 5 per cent drop in EU food safety alerts, the European Commission said yesterday.

Food safety agencies to sign cooperation agreement

In a ground-breaking move to improve food safety, the European Food Safety Authority and the US Food and Drug Administration will team up to share scientific information.

Tracking system alternative to RFID, developers claim

The integration of a system for reading barcodes or other information labels with sales order software offers processors an accurate method of tracking products, the developers claim.

Closure targeted at convenience drink market

A new 38mm single piece closure for the beverage industry is targeted at processors aiming to meet the demands of a growing convenience drink market .

Bird flu hits Germany and Czech Republic

The deadly form of bird flu is spreading again in Europe, with Germany and the Czech Republic both reporting outbreaks of H5N1.

Stork in buyout bid

Candover, an equity buyout fund, this week put in a €1.5bn bid for food processing equipment manufacturer Stork.

Potential quality benefits for grain and flour

Foss has updated its original grain and flour analyser to improve its efficiency in quality analysis for millers.

Codex to consider international food safety standards

International food safety standards on fish, eggs and infant formulas are likely to be adopted next week at the annual meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Immigrant bill defeated in Senate vote

The bill that would have been a step towards legalizing millions of immigrant workers in the US was defeated in a Senate vote today.

Conveyer-mounted equipment improves quality and yield

Heat and Control has unveiled two new conveyer-mountable products that could help food processors improve both yield and product quality in plants.

RFID labeler handles 50 cases per minute

A new system that encodes, verifies and applies radio frequency identification (RFID) tags at speeds up to 50 cases per minutes, the manufacturer claims.

South Korean strife set to continue for Diageo

Diageo's operations within the lucrative South Korean whisky market are facing further threats from ongoing investigations into its practices within the country, the company said today.

US organic dairy standards misleading, expert claims

Some industry standards on dairy products may be misleading consumers, a US organics expert claims.

Packaging to extend shelf life of fruit and veg

Swedish company Billerud will next week open a research centre to develop packaging that can extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables during transportation.

FDA, EFSA to review new aspartame study

Regulatory bodies in the United States and Europe have said they will review a new study linking aspartame to an increased risk of cancer, but have reiterated that until an evaluation of the data is conducted they continue to support the safety of the sweetener.

Breader designed to speed up operations

A new drum breader is designed to uniform pre-dust and cover foods a up to 1,800 kilograms per hour.

Brazilian company starts production of green polyethylene

A Brazilian company has started production of what it calls the world's first internationally certified renewable polyethylene made from sugarcane ethanol.

Coca-Cola to launch lightweight bottle in UK

Coca-Cola is launching a lighter-weight bottle for its major brands in the UK, fulfilling a pledge to reduce the amount of packaging used for its products, the company said today.

New technology mixes without stirring

A new method of mixing and heat exchange for highly viscous liquids without the use of traditional stirrers, has been developed by Australian scientists.

Managers leaving food sector in record numbers

Resignation levels of managerial staff are up in the UK's food and drink sector with employers facing record recruitment and retention problems, according to an annual survey released yesterday.

Workplace injuries drop in UK food sector

Injuries in UK food and drink manufacturing plants have fallen by 22 per cent over the past three years, according to an industry association.

EU ministers approve new customs procedures

EU ministers meeting in Luxembourg this week approved a new customs agreement for the bloc, aiming to cut out the paperwork and reduce the costs of importing and exporting goods.

New wheat identification process developed

A new wheat verification process that identifies proteins is faster than other methods, its developer claims.

Robot loads PET bottles saving labor and space

A new mobile robot designed to load and unload polyethylene terephthalate (PET) blow-moulded bottles saves labor and space, its manufacturer claims.

Ardagh takes over Rexam's glass business

Rexam has completed its divestment of its European glass packaging business and is now preparing for its takeover of Owens-Illinois' plastics division.

Weekly comment

Clinical trials - gold standard or white elephant?

Randomised clinical trials are the ultimate. Forget what the observational studies tell us, if the RCT gives us an answer it must be the final word, right? Wrong.

Smoke flavouring found to be unsafe

FF-B, a smoke flavouring, can damage the genetic material in cells, the Europe's food safety agency warned on Friday.

New 'superbug' strain spreading in meat, warns study

Retail meat from pigs, chickens and other livestock could be infected with a "superbug" strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to a UK study released today.

Tariff handbook provides worldwide guide

A new World Trade Organisation (WTO) guide setting out all tariffs in 150 countries serves as handbook for supply chain managers.

Seasoning dispenser aims for correct dose

A new seasoning dispenser combines product weighing and seasoning functions to provide the correct dose while cutting down on waste, its manufacturer claims.

Vin Expo

Screw cap on top wine highlights shift to convenience

A screw cap on one of the world's top wines highlights the growing trend toward customer convenience in the beverage market.

A breath of fresh air for bakery employees

A new air conditioning system directs air to individual workers, while not cooling the rest of the factory.

New nano product protects plastic from sunlight

DuPont is about to release a product made using nanotechnology that will protect plastics from sunlight.

Engineer business reporter needed

Decision News Media is looking for a recent graduate with a background in engineering or food technology who would like to enter journalism as a full time career.

Guidance sets out processing strategy on salt

A new guidance from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) is designed to help manufacturers cut down on salt in their products without compromising quality and safety.

Spectrometer sensitive to product quality

A new mass spectrometer can help processors to control product quality on the line.

NSF expands testing capacity for Chinese exports

NSF International has added a new testing service in China for the purpose of analyzing products or ingredients for the presence of melamine following recent contamination scandals.

Study to examine energy savings techniques

A two-year project to cut down the energy used by refrigeration units in food plants could help companies save costs and meet their greenhouse gas emission limits.

UK organic sector fights GM contamination

Representatives from the UK organic sector have today urged the UK environment minister David Miliband not to allow organic food to be contaminated by genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Guidance sets out processing strategy on salt

A new guidance from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) is designed to help manufacturers cut down on salt in their products without compromising quality and safety.

Packages designed for convenience market

Two new paper-based tetrahedral packaging products for the convenience market are designed to dispense juices, or sauces and condiments.

Tyson cuts antibiotics from poultry

Poultry products from Tyson Foods from this week will no longer be sourced from birds routinely fed antibiotics.

Prevention with inspections are key to food safety

Food safety can only be fought by prevention as well as inspections, according to a report by an influential industry advisory body.

Feeder suitable for multiple ingredients

A new feeder that can be washed down in seconds has been launched for processors using multiple ingredients, its manufacturer claims.

UK regulator issues guidance on reducing mycotoxins

A new guide for cereal farmers on reducing mycotoxins aims to reduce the presence of the toxin in the food supply chain.

Stork in buyout discussions with equity group

Stork, a Netherlands-based manufacturer of food processing equipment, is in discussions about a possible sale of the company to a private equity company.

Food industry calls for more reforms to help boost returns

Investment in research and development, less red tape, access to cheaper raw materials, and export growth promotion are the issues the EU's food industry wants Portugal to address as the country takes over the reins of the bloc's presidency

Developer of aseptic bulk storage wins processing prize

The developer of aseptic bulk storage and distribution, credited with revolutionising global food trade, has been awarded the "Nobel Prize" of the industry.

Temperature recorders provide instant results

Deltatrak today announced a new line of temperature recorders that offer accurate readings throughout the supply chain, the company claims.

Cadbury Schweppes unwraps its confectionary strategies

Following talks in London today, Cadbury Schweppes has officially announced its new confectionery strategies, to be implemented following the separation of its drink division, Americas Beverages.

Food execs to examine solutions to biofuel threat

Food industry R&D executives will be meeting in Chicago next month to examine the impact of increased biofuel demand on their business, in an effort to anticipate challenges resulting from a fundamental shift in supply chain dynamics.

FSA opens consultation on wine reforms

The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) yesterday announced it had launched a 12 week public consultation over upcoming reforms to its wine enforcement policy to better determine what changes will be needed.

Process adds last-minute package information

A new labelling system that can add information to packaging at the last point in a production line can help companies quickly respond to changing display requirements, its manufacturer claims.

FDA launches program download to fight bioterrorism

A new downloadable program released yesterday by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is designed to protect food processors and packagers from terrorist and sabotage attacks.

Prevent contamination as produce grows, say scientists

The most effective method to prevent contamination in fresh fruit and vegetables is to intervene while they grow, say US scientists.

Vitamin C's antioxidant activity boosted by edible film

The nutritional and shelf life-boosting activity of vitamin C can be boosted by incorporating the ingredient in a gellan film, suggests new research.

Amcor launches monolayer plastic packaging for milk

Amcor recently announced the launch of its single layer plastic bottles, meeting demands for quality products that are also good for the environment.

Poland proposes new food funding bill

The Polish government hopes to boost the status and appeal of its food products with new legislation designed to increase funding within the industry.

New nanotechnology centre opens in UK today

A new €4.7 million nanotechnology research centre in UK officially opens today, signaling the potential being vested in the new technology.

Weekly comment

A sobering thought for the alcohol industry

Much against my own better judgement, there are some issues it seems, where corporate social responsibility must really live up to its name and truly look after its consumers.

Britvic commit to green packaging pledge

Britvic announced Friday that it will commit to a UK-based scheme designed to cut packaging waste from its products as part of an agreement with the Waste & Resource Action Programme (WRAP).

Big names commit to cutting packaging, food waste

Britvic, Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola, and Nestle are among the companies joining Unilever and others in signing a commitment to cut down on packaging and food waste under a UK programme.

Vive le fromage as French dairy groups unite

Two of France's largest dairy firms yesterday agreed to form a joint venture in a move to adapt to the effects of EU reforms on the country's cheese production.

Commission publishes traceability guide

A new guide for EU processors on the bloc's traceability requirements is designed to help industry comply with legal requirements.

Cadbury pleads guilty to salmonella charges

Cadbury pleaded guilty today in a UK court to three breaches of the country's food and hygiene regulations, admitting it was responsible for allowing salmonella-contaminated chocolate to be sold on the market last year.

Packaging association warns against environmental taxes

Moves by EU governments to impose more environmental taxes on packaging are unnecessary and penalise companies, according to a report released yesterday by an industry association.

Kiwis, dairy and alcohol top list of fakes, says OECD

Kiwis, conserved vegetables, milk powder, butter, ghee, baby food, instant coffee, alcohol, drinks, confectionery, and hi-breed corn seeds are among the most counterfeited articles in the world according to a new report.

Special Edition: Climate change

Support grows for globalising EU's carbon trading scheme

With most world leaders now in consensus that something must be done to tackle climate change, the EU's carbon trading scheme is starting to look more attractive as the prototype of a global system.

Redesigned machines raise bottle filling speed bar

A redesigned range of blowing and filling machines has raised the speed bar to 61,200 bottles per hour, according to the manufacturer.

Advocacy group raises spectre of 'blood chocolate'

A UK-based pressure group campaign against companies that buy cocoa from the Ivory Coast has accused the industry of funding conflict and civil unrest.

Special Edition: Climate change

Do food miles go the distance on emissions?

The impact of measuring the environmental cost of food by the distance it travels could have serious cost and supply chain implications for manufacturers.

Water bottle chemical risks unfounded, says association

Claims that chemicals used in plastic water bottles can cause cancer are not based in science and are unsubstiated, according to an industry association.

FDA to move towards risk-based inspections

Inspections of imported food are likely to be "risk based" as the US Food and Drug Administration changes its approach.

Del Monte immigration raid highlights problems

An immigration raid this week on a Fresh Del Monte Produce processing plant indicates that federal officials are continuing their campaign to crack down on the industry's use of illegal labour.

Veal gets a makeover in the EU

European Union agriculture ministers this week agreed to clarify and harmonise rules on what meat can be called "veal".

Testing method speeds up detection of melamine

A new food contaminant testing method for melamine and cyanuric acid decreases the time it takes to get accurate results for meats, its developer claims.

Processors nix proposal to charge fees for risk assessments

The EU's processors have called on the bloc's administrative arm to drop a proposal that would allow the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) to charge companies fees for assessments.

China blocks food for biofuel

Chinese biofuel producers should only use non-food crops, the government said yesterday, following fears of shortages and further price rises that could occur as demand for greener energy increases.

Addition of folic acid at milling stage shifts cost burden

A UK food safety panel is recommending that the mandatory addition of folic acid should be made at the milling stage rather than at the manufacturing stage, shifting the cost burden to suppliers.

Processors flock to risk management services says study

The safety of food and drinks has risen to the top of UK boardroom agendas in 2007 with more of them taking out insurance policies on recalls, according to a report released today.

Emmental plight reflects global dairy woes

Arla Foods is to cease production of emmental cheese as it begins to feel the pressure of dwindling milk supply on prices and production.

Tetra Pak sells new packaging line in Spain

Tetra Pak said yesterday it has made the first deliveries of a new aseptic carton packaging line to processors in Spain.

Film feed module speeds-up wrap systems

A new film feed module which for wrappers runs at high speeds and offers long-life reliability, its manufacturer claims.

New website urges ethanol policy review

A food industry coalition has launched a website designed to provide information on the impact of the US policy on ethanol of processors and consumers.

Oxygen treatment found to extend shelf life

A week long pre-treatment of organic produce with low levels of oxygen can extend shelf life dramatically, according to new research.

Rexam to buy Owens-Illinois plastics division

Rexam, the world's top maker of drink cans, said today it will buy the plastics plastics division of Owens-Illinois for US$1,565m (€1,170m) in cash.

PepsiCo to open second snack plant in Russia

PepsiCo will build a second snack manufacturing plant in Russia to meet the growing demand in the country.

High viscosity pump extracts residues

A new transfer pump can help speed up the pumping of high viscosity foods and drinks, according to its manufacturer.

New technology for caffeinated doughnuts

Robert Bohannon from Environostics, an R&D firm in North Carolina, has created a revolutionary technique for manufacturing caffeine-laced doughnuts.

Germany issues warning on Internet apricot kernels

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) yesterday warned consumers about buying potentially poisonous apricot kernel snacks over the internet.

Range of colours developed for biodegradable plastic

A set of colours has been developed for biodegradable plastic packaging.

Directors of Irish food company sentenced to jail

Two directors of a company involved in the Euro Freeze fraud case are going to jail for four months after being found guilty yesterday of breaching Ireland's food safety laws.

Advance Instruments reveal dairy testing innovation

Dairy is on the agenda for US group Advance Instruments as it seeks to bring greater innovation to industry testing at the 2007 annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) to be held next week.

EU to monitor acrylamide reduction in processed foods

A European Commission call for member states to check annually whether acrylamide levels are falling, serves to put additional pressure on processors to reduce the chemical in their products.

EU reports on greenhouse gas emissions

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from plants participating in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) increased by 0.3 per cent in 2006, indicating that manufacturers are working to become more environmentally-friendly.

UK launches project to lightweight glass bottles

Top brands, bottle manufacturers, retailers and technology experts have teamed up under a UK-government programme to cut 20,000 tonnes of glass from beer, cider and spirit packaging.

EU safety agency gives nod to bird flu vaccination

Vaccination programmes of poultry with approved drugs and proceedures could be used to prevent outbreaks of avian influenza, the EU's food safety assessment agency said yesterday.

Freight rates and commodity prices rising

Record-high international freight rates and increasing commodity prices are raising the costs of imports, says a new forecast report.

Cold-glue dispenser pre-warms adhesive

A new cold-glue dispenser can cut down on labelling costs by pre-warming the adhesive to its optimum processing temperature, claims its manufacturer.

Commercialization of nano assessed in new study

Future nanotechnology products and their commercialization are to be critically evaluated through a series of case studies, following an announcement made yesterday.

Bar code printer improves pack security, manufacturer claims

A new machine can print barcodes can be printed on tape which can be used to identify food products and prevent counterfeiting, its manufacturer claims.

Dispenser handles difficult-to-fill convenience foods

A new semi-automatic pocket filler can dispense difficult-to-fill products into a range of packaging, its manufacturer claims.

Scientists developing bioactive paper for food safety

New methods to mass-produce bioactive paper sensors for food are being developed in Finland.

Vitiva launches acrylamide and rancidity reducer for oils

Vitiva is introducing a new addition to its Inolens 4 line of rosemary extracts, which it says can protect against rancidity in edible and frying oils and reduce the formation of acrylamide in the production of carbohydrate-rich foods.

Organic food miles offset benefits, Canadian study

A study from the University of Alberta has concluded that the environmental impact of food miles racked up by organic produce cancels out the benefits of growing it.

RFID use in food sector forecast to rise to 4bn

The use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology along the food supply chain is set to rise dramatically to $5.8bn (€4.3bn) in 2017, according to a new report by IDTechEx.

EU calls for more prescriptive rules on quick frozen foods

Quick frozen foods should be subject to more prescriptive safety rules rather than optional ones, the EU's member states said in comments on a draft international code of practice.

Germany proposes full auction for CO2 permits

A German government proposal to auction off all greenhouse-gas permits under the EU emissions-trading scheme (ETS) could make it more costly for manufacturers to meet the regulatory requirements.

Europe remains cautious on use of irradiation

Europe continues to lag behind in the use of irradiation, with only 10 member states approving facilities to process foods, according to the latest European Commission report released yesterday.

Pack allows use of vacuum and MAP techniques

A new pack allows processors to use both vacuum and modified atmosphere techniques for extending the shelf life of their products.

Coca-Cola reforms to tap water sustainability calls

Coca-Cola today pledged to overhaul how it uses water throughout its operations and bottling franchises in a drive for greater environmental sustainability.

Bio-film uses fuel and dairy byproducts

A new method to create biodegradable protective films from dairy and biofuel byproducts has been developed, US scientists announced today.

Regulator issues juice food safety guidelines

Processors of refrigerated carrot juice and other low-acid juices should implement hazard and critical control point (HACCP) procedures to prevent pathogen contamination, according government guidelines.

Weekly comment

Could organic eat itself?

Just when organic food has begun to make a noticeable dent in the overall food market, air freighting - a measure that solves the segment's biggest current problem - is facing potential prohibition.

Food safety issues in Mediterranean under focus

A two-day conference to discuss food safety issues in the Mediterranean area begins tomorrow in Parma, Italy.

Commission adds to guidance on animal by-products

The European Commission has added more details to its guidance for industry on the EU's animal-byproducts directive.

Spherical design packs more chewing gum

A new spherical pack has been developed for chewing gum, allowing confectioners to sell more product to high-consumption consumers.

New salmonella test speeds shipping

A new high-speed samonella test has been developed that provides processors with results within 18 hours, its manufacturer claims.

Metro Group outlines RFID strategy

Suppliers to Metro Group in Germany are gearing up this year to expand the use of radio frequency identification (RFID).

Proposals to reintroduce animal remains as farm feed

The reintroduction of animal remains into feed for pigs and poultry is being tested by European scientists following proposals by an EU advisory group, according to The Times.

Innovation hampered by Euro organic dairy shortage

The shortage of organic milk in Europe is stymieing product innovation, according to Organic Monitor, while the opposite is true in the US thanks to farmers' earlier compliance with new regulations.

Transport ministers call for action on congestion crisis

Transport ministers from 53 countries yesterday called for government measures to relieve the global container ship congestion that is clogging up the delivery of goods at ports.

Food and drink counterfeit seizures fall

The amount of counterfeit food and drink products seized at the EU's borders decreased by 77 per cent in 2006, the European Commission said yesterday.