Breaking News on Food Processing & Packaging

Price stabilization of bioplastics expected in 2015

Producers and packaging associations claim improvements to cost, performance and moisture barrier properties of bioplastics as well as more investment in sorting technology to prevent contamination of recycling waste streams will enable the industry to compete more effectively with conventional plastics.

Huhtamaki shuts rigid plastics site as part of operations review

Finnish packaging supplier, Huhtamaki, is scaling back its rigid plastic operations in North America with the closure of its production unit in Phoenix, Arizona.

IPA 2010 - what does the future hold?

Taking at leap forward, FoodProductionDaily.com asesses potential trends in food processing at IPA 2010.

Food and drink packaging innovation highlighted

UK based Mintel International Group, in its pack insight for November, has selected food and drink products that have stood out recently based on their innovative packaging design.

News in brief

Packaging group upbeat about 2009 amid easing input costs

Plastic packaging supplier RPC Group announced positive results for the six months up to the end of September.

Packaging that releases aromas could alter taste

A process that integrates aroma into plastic packaging enhances taste perception and reduces the need for unhealthy ingredients in food products, claims its US developer.

Spotlight on UK food and drink firms' green initiatives

UK food and drink manufacturers have reduced their CO2 emissions by 17 per cent since 1990, which translates as an average of 58,000 tonnes less carbon dixoide (CO2) annually, claims the FDF.

Exclusive interview

More light than heat with clean decontamination technology

Pulsed light can be used to inactivate micro-organisms on food and packaging surfaces. Craig Leadley from Campden BRI outlines how the technology might also provide cost savings to manufacturers.

EFSA recommends lower pesticide residue levels

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recommended lower Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for several active substances used in pesticides that the European Commission considered could have possible safety concerns for human health.

Brewers spy cartons and taps behind convenience push

While beer makers’ use of box and draught tap packaging are hardly new innovations, some manufacturers hope new developments in these technologies may help capture consumer interest in the sector.

Campden BRI develops imaging system for detailed food analysis

Researchers at Campden BRI have developed the use of a new imaging system to better understand the distribution of particular food components, which could help manufacturers deal with problems encountered in reformulation.

Additive boosts green potential of PET, says BioSmart

A new additive renders polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles biodegradable over time, particularly if they are inadvertently disposed of or littered outdoors, claims the developer.

News in brief

New President for Reusable Packaging Association

A former senior lobbyist for the American Meat Institute has been appointed the new president of the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA).

US food companies set to get more recycled packaging

FDA validation of a waterless recycling process means that US food companies can avail of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) flake for use in a range of food product packaging types, claims a US recycling company.

Report uncovers melamine in US infant formula

Some leading brands of infant formula manufactured and sold in the US have been found to contain traces of the industrial chemical melamine, albeit it at small amounts, news reports suggest.

Fish and shellfish cause most foodborne illness outbreaks - CSPI

Fish and shellfish are more likely to cause foodborne-illness than any other category of food product, according to the US Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

Metal detection tool minimises food loss, says US developer

A new metal detector targeted at the food processing sector offers minimal loss of good material due to a fast reacting, powerful pneumatic drive for the reject gate, says the manufacturer.

Aseptic line goes global after market testing phase

The Tetra Pak A3/Flex for the Tetra Gemina Aseptic range of packaging targeted at juice and milk-based products is now available to customers worldwide, according to the company.

Tasty labour savings from new rusk processing line

Zero labour costs and improved quality are the benefits claimed for a new automated rusk feeding line installed by Italian engineering company Premec for bread product manufacturer Grissinbon in Parma.

Nano-based polymer could enhance bioplastics and adhesives

A new process involving the layering of a polymer with silica-based nanoparticles has the potential to enhance the properties of pressure sensitive adhesive labels, water-borne coatings and biodegradable materials, claims a UK research team.

Thermoformed drink can targets stability and space saving

Out of the many innovations and products vying for attention at last week’s Emballage packaging fair in Paris, one manufacturer of a new thermoform filling technology claims it can cut out the need for cutting in plastic beverage cans.

News in brief

First Milk launches resealable packaging

UK dairy farmer co-operative First Milk has developed a resealable zip packaging for two of its brands.

US army awards funding for antimicrobial agent

A new phage-based technology aimed at eliminating or reducing contamination of red meat and fresh produce by E. coli 0157:H7 has received a development grant from the US Army, according to its developer, Intralytix.

Weekly comment

Conjuring with calories: Regulation and labeling changes

There was something magical about the recent news that the caloric value of both gum arabic and erythritol have been officially lowered, but whether it turns out to be a sleight of hand or a real change remains to be seen.

'Green' shrink film showcased at Emballage

A 'green' shrink film for frozen food products, fruit and vegetables packaging can oxobiodegrade and performs equally as well as conventional films, claims Bollore.

New natural coating can control bacteria spread, claims firm

A new coating technology for food processing plant interiors utilizes titanium dioxide to inhibit odours and reduces the risk of bacterial contamination, claims the Canadian developer.

Hopes for waste reduction as oxi-biodegradation technology applied to PET

A company specialising in oxi-biodegradable products is hoping to reduce waste in countries with traditionally low levels of recycling.

Wheat yields will be slashed as phosphate runs out, warns scientist

Research for the EU’s Quality Low Input Food Programme has warned that wheat yields could be more than halved by the end of the century at the latest, as the world’s phosphate supplies run out.

Key redesigns dryer for fresh-cut processors

A dryer that removes moisture from fresh-cut produce has been redesigned to increase throughput, improve reliability and simplify operation, claims Key Technology.

Water saving efforts turn from homes to businesses

Members of the UK’s Water Saving Group have pledged on-going support to manufacturers, retailers and other businesses to help encourage efficient use of resources, despite formally ending their home water-saving activities yesterday.

News in brief

FDA sets up offices in China to ensure food safety

The FDA is to check food being exported from China to the US before it is dispatched with the opening of new offices in Beijing.

Campden BRI fosters discussion on hygiene guide

Food hygiene managers are set to gain a greater insight into good techniques for the cleaning and disinfection of factories, with a conference organised to support guidelines published by Campden BRI earlier this year.

ECJ hands anti-competition verdict to Irish beef processors

The Irish beef industry’s attempts to reform have been scuppered by an ECJ ruling, which has judged a scheme for some processors to leave the market so as to raise profits for those who remain to be anti-competition.

Antibiotic resistant E.coli could spread, warns Soil Association

A newly discovered antibiotic resistant strain of E.coli is at risk of spreading, the Soil Association has warned, as no restrictions have been made on the herd where it was identified.

Study affirms safe view of coriander oil for food

A new assessment has concluded that coriander essential oil is safe for use in foods, based on a long history of use and lack of toxicity in limited studies.

Four-step plan for spotting emerging risks proposed

A simple four-part plan may lead to better early identification of emerging food safety issues, according to researchers involved in a EU-wide project.

International Tray Pads claims environmentally-friendly meat packaging

US-based packaging firm International Tray Pads and Packaging, Inc. says using that its range of ‘S’ tray packaging pads results in a much lower carbon footprint than conventional products.

China gains access to EU rapid alert system

Consumer safety heads of the EU, US and China signed a revised memorandum of understanding on product and food safety yesterday at a high-level summit that reinforced the political importance of safety.

Irish authorities deny bottle water scare

Irish food safety experts have rubbished reports suggesting consumers in the country may be at risk from alleged contamination of some bottled water brands.

News in brief

Processors must maintain hygiene levels as new superbug found

Food processors in the UK have been urged to maintain normal hygiene practices to prevent contamination of foods with new antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Weekly comment

Tackling obesity is no fair-weather game

The long shadow cast by obesity over public health means that encouraging healthier eating should be high on the agenda of every food firm, come financial rain or shine.

Waste reduction urged as demand for recyclables drops

A push for waste minimisation and the production of high quality marketable recyclables is being promoted by stakeholders as demand and prices for recycled materials the UK drop significantly.

FSA launches food fraud hotline

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has set up a new hotline to allow individuals and businesses to report fraudulent activity in food sales and marketing in a much quicker and easier way than previously.

Confectioners on track for environmentally friendly Christmas

An industry initiative to reduce seasonal confectionery packaging waste has gathered pace with many manufacturers embracing biodegradable packaging and reducing package volume.

EU study talks up the green potential of glass

A European Commission report calls for glass to be branded an energy-friendly product and calls on the industry to educate policy makers on the benefits of the material.

New food test lab to optimise process technologies, says Coperion

A new food test centre will optimise food processing technologies, and will be officially inaugurated at the Food Forum in January 2009, claims Coperion.

News in brief

FDA steps on controls on Chinese exports

The FDA has stepped up its import controls for dairy products from China following the melamine scare and extended its investigation into non-dairy protein products.

Tagging urged to maintain consumer confidence in US food supply

In order to maintain the confidence of US consumers in the food supply when genetically engineered (GE) animals enter the marketplace, a national animal identification system would be required, claims a meat processor.

Extra insurance for ripple effect after food safety scare

Food and beverage manufacturers should consider covering the ‘cracks’ in standard food safety insurance policies to protect themselves against the knock-on effect of a contamination scare, according to an industry expert.

New hermetic packaging sealer on show at Pack Expo

A new sealed packaging mechanism ensures extended sealing times for enhanced hermetic food packaging, claims Sigpack Systems.

Studies say BPA exposure may affect fertility

Bisphenol A (BPA) could prevent successful in vitro fertilization, or the ability of embryos to attach to the uterus, according to presentations at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's (ASRM) annual meeting.

News in brief

Surge in rapid food micro testing, says SCI

The market for food microbiology testing has grown significantly and will be worth $2.4bn by 2013, according to a report from Strategic Consulting Inc (SCI).

New technology could increase juice safety

A combination of sonication and osmotic evaporation represents a promising new technology that could be designed to athermally produce safe, concentrated fruit juices, claims a new study.

Sorbent dispenser can operate at high speeds, says developer

A new high speed sorbent dispenser is capable of speeds up of to 600 packs per minute and enhances production line efficiency, says Multisorb Technologies.

FDA gears up for food safety rule revision

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will bring current federal food processing safety rules up to date in an effort to provide additional protection against foodborne illness.

Chinese consumers go premium after melamine scare - TNS

The global furore over the recent melamine contamination scandal in China appears to have driven consumers in that country increasingly towards premium and international brands, according to research group TNS Worldpanel.

News in brief

Bearing units designed with hygiene in mind, says SKF

New mounted bearing units and can resist citric acids, cooking fats, and most washdown chemicals and sanitizers used in food and beverage processing applications, says the manufacturer.

Frozen food sector in new carbon savings drive

The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) is aiming to raise the maximum frozen food storage temperature in an attempt to reduce the industry’s environmental impact.

Carton closer can minimize downtime, says Bosch

A newly developed carton closer can reduce downtime for food processors through its use of an in-line closing process, claims the manufacturer.

Online system aims at brew efficiency

Getting the most from the brewing process is the key aim of a new online-tool designed to maximize productivity by analysing the unique qualities behind individual beer brands, says its designer.

New technology could make polymers more sustainable

A novel technology expands polymers to increase their yield and results in reduced cost and weight in plastic packaging applications, claims its US developer.

News in brief

Washable keyboard and mice designed for food industry

Rugged, waterproof industrial keyboards and mice have been developed for food processing, bakery and packaging environments, claims the manufacturer.

New food packaging robots at Pack Expo

New robots, customized for the food industry, are being launched this week at leading industry packaging show, Pack Expo in Chicago.

SafePak tops pack life cycle assessment survey, says IDC

International Dispensing Corporation (IDC) said a life cycle assessment (LCA) of its large-format Multiserve SafePak showed that it expended the less energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than other packaging formats.

Weekly comment

Beijing Olympic Games clean-up a dirty business

This year’s Beijing Olympic Games may have been good for China’s public image but the smooth running of the event was built on multiple state-prompted sacrifices and the food ingredients industry was one of the lambs that copped it in the neck for ‘the greater good’.

Single households and ‘on the go’ trend driving UK packaging

Growth in the UK market for food and drink packaging is expected to be mainly attributable to new eating patterns such as ‘on the go’ as well as the rise in the amount of people dining alone driven by the increase in one person households, according to a new report.

Vacuum technology provides cost savings, says Konig

An upgraded vacuum cooling system for baked goods eliminates the need for storage freezing and refrigerated transport, claims Konig.

News in brief

Sustainability of shopping basket to be evaluated

An initiative from the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) will seek to establish the environmental footprint of a typical consumer’s average weekly grocery purchases, setting key benchmarks against which the industry can measure the progress of sustainability initiatives.

EU pesticide ban would hit supply, says food industry

UK food manufacturers claim the outcome of this week’s vote supporting tighter pesticide usage by the European Parliament’s environment committee fails to fully recognise the potential gravity of the emerging situation.

News in brief

Switch on to forklift truck safety

Extra employee safety and reduced product damage are the twin benefits claimed for a new safety switch designed for use with fork lift trucks.

Process innovation key to survival in credit crunch - KTP

Innovation is even more important for the food and drink manufacturing sector during an economic downturn, claims the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP).

Regulation overhaul urged after listeria outbreak

Extra food safety regulations could be introduced in Canada as pressure increases to tackle the problems associated with tainted food after 20 people died in a listeriosis outbreak.

Processors can avail of testing using novel drying method

European processors can now test their products on equipment that employs a novel technique using light refraction to dry foods, claims the US manufacturer.

Resin could extend shelf life and boost clarity

Longer shelf life for beverages and improved bottle clarity are the benefits claimed for PolyShield resins, launched recently on the US market.

Compostable film targeted at dried food products

A new high barrier compostable film based on renewable materials has high transparency and gloss and is suitable for dried food products, claims Innovia Films.

Views sought on UK food safety publication

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking the views of food manufacturers based in England on its updated guidance for food handlers.

Danisco rolls out plant emissions plan

Danisco is introducing measures to boost its ethical and environmental record with plans to cut CO2 emissions at five of its largest plants worldwide, starting with Denmark.

New software is performance boosting tool, says developer

New software can help food and beverage companies benchmark, measure and improve performance in five key areas: sales, finance, procurement, production and the warehouse, claims the developer.

PC designed for challenging food environments

A new portable computer designed to operate in challenging food industry conditions is to be launched by noax Technologies at the PackExpo/Process Expo event in Chicago later this month.

US packaging innovation centre set up

Sealed Air and Clemson University have teamed up to create the Cryovac Flavour Mark Retort Laboratory, a teaching, research and service facility in the South Carolina-based university’s packaging science department.

Licence deal enables global access to new E. coli tool

A tool to rapidly detect and measure E. coli 0157:H7 in meat can be distributed to processors worldwide following the signing of a new licence agreement, claims a Canadian food safety test manufacturer.

News in brief

No change to BPA opinion required, says EFSA

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said it will not be revising its position on bisphenol A (BPA), following on from the criticism of the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) draft assessment of the chemical, which is used in certain food packaging.

Nordenia expands packaging plant for Russian confectionery market

Keeping pace with the burgeoning Russian confectionery market, flexible packaging firm Nordenia has injected about €25m into its Russian plant.

Image capture system improves defect detection tool, says firm

A new digital image capture system enhances the monitoring capability of optical sorters for food products, claims Key Technology.

News in brief

Paragon aims to cut carbon footprint on packaging

UK packaging supplier, Paragon, is opening a new packaging facility in Kenya to change its current pratice of air-freighting empty packaging around the world.

Companies review secondary packaging - report

A report into packaging claims that manufacturing companies are investigating and scrutinizing their secondary packaging containers and working towards reducing the total carbon footprint.

New zero maintenance viscosity probe

Hydramotion’s new slender probe viscometer, suitable for food industry use, is more flexible to position than existing models and carries no maintenance costs, claims the company.

FDA criticised over BPA assessment

An advisory board to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that the agency ignored evidence that suggested bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and formula cans could be damaging to children.

Hobs may reduce Clostridium perfringens in chickens, claims US study

Researchers from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in collaboration with a scientist from Farleigh Dickinson University, claim that the hob plant (Humulus lupulus) contains bitters acids which are powerful antimicrobials and can be used to control pathogenic bacteria in the intestines of chickens.

Hosing developments target beverage process boost

A global supplier of hosing solutions says it hopes to extend the applications of it products to meet the wider needs of global drinks makers.

Additive extends the use of PLA, claims DuPont

A new modifier for bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) packaging can enable it to withstand elevated temperatures during transport, storage and use, claims DuPont.

New project aims to wrap up packaging innovation

Appetizing Innovation is the name of a new, three-year initiative designed to foster packaging and product innovation among food and beverage companies operating in the Yorkshire and Humber region of northern Britain.

News in brief

Paper manufacturer hit by weaker demand

Packaging company, International Paper, claims weakening demand in recent weeks impacted negatively on its third quarter earnings.