Operational efficiency month
Scientists tackle bacteria on processing surfaces
Modified surfaces on food production lines will be examined by scientists at ‘Fouling and Cleaning in Food Processing 2014: Green Cleaning' conference.
Archives for February 20, 2014
Exclusive interview with Bob Simpson, COO of Jelly Belly
Jelly Belly exec: Stand out in nontraditional retail formats
For a company the size and scope of Jelly Belly—the confectionery giant sells more than 100 flavors in 80 countries (and growing) and across multiple market segments—finding untapped channels in the domestic market has become an “out of the box”...
Goodbye GMOs (and vitamin B12, D, A, and Riboflavin): New non-GMO Grape Nuts and Original Cheerios are ‘certainly less nutritious’, claims professor
The new non-GMO formulations of Original Cheerios and Grape Nuts might be made without ingredients from genetically engineered crops, but they also come with fewer vitamins - although brand owners General Mills and Post Foods won’t say why.
Food Visions: Industry needs to confront its communications crash or lose consumers forever
Food manufacturers, retailers and other food industry players are failing to connect with consumers who are tuning out of mainstream messaging and infesting their own comms channels, says angel investor, business mentor and philanthropist, Mike Greene.
Special edition: Pre- and Probiotics
Consumers gradually coming round to probiotics’ oral health potential, and thinking beyond 'dental’ first
The gut starts at the mouth, so it should be no surprise that probiotics, those beneficial bacteria, are a growing presence in the oral health category. But which strains show the most potential, where does the science stand, and how do they work?
Industry group adds weight to NZ country of origin labelling debate
There have been fresh calls for the New Zealand government into introducing mandatory country of origin labelling with the chief executive of NZPork telling the Primary Production Select Committee that consumers want to know where their food comes from.
Denmark bans non-stun slaughter
A ban on non-stun slaughter has come into force in Denmark as the country’s government says “animal rights come before religion”.
Hostile commodity prices stunt growth for German confectioners: BDSI
Strong commodity price increases in 2013 impeded growth for the German confectionery, according to the Germany Confectionery Industry Association’s (BDSI’s) annual review.
Hand hygiene ‘essential’ to food facilities
A food science specialist says ensuring an effective safety program at any food processing environment involves one key ingredient: its people.
Organic grass fed cows may provide healthier beef, but consumers are not keen on taste: Study
Meat from grass-fed organic dairy steers may be of greater nutritional quality than conventionally raised steers, but falls below standard in overall consumer liking and flavour tests, according to research.
First donkey abattoir in Africa sparks outrage
Kenya is due to host Africa’s very first donkey slaughterhouse, as a response to an ever-growing Chinese demand for donkey meat.
Euromonitor: Grupo Bimbo could face disappointment with Canada Bread
Grupo Bimbo will have its work cut out baking up success in Canada and could be disappointed if it expects too much, says analyst.
US supplier recalls products “unfit for human food”
Giant US supplier Rancho Feeding Corporation has recalled approximately 8.7m pounds of products due to processing “diseased and unsound animals”, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
New bird flu strain poses no threat to poultry populations
Human patients infected with the A(H7N9) strain of avian influenza are not able transmit the virus to animals, including birds, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.
GLG Life Tech moves into monk fruit (luo han guo) market as more firms combine it with stevia
Vancouver-based stevia supplier GLG Life Tech is moving into the monk fruit (luo han guo) sweeteners market and expects to have commercial quantities of high-purity extracts available later this year.
Special edition: Pre and Probiotics
Probiotic call: Forget health claims (consumers have)
Probiotic players obsessed with winning health claims needn’t bother as consumers don’t value them anyway, a leading consultant says.
'Rumble in the snack soda jungle': Peltz v. PepsiCo
As crusading investor Nelson Peltz lets off another bomb in the Pepsi boardroom – this time in the form of a 37-page letter criticizing the firm’s snack/soda integration – we examine the arguments for and against any split.
Deadly Ukraine violence has not hit Carlsberg beer sales…yet
Carlsberg’s CEO says that deadly clashes between police and opposition protestors in Ukraine have not hit beer sales yet but hinted that they could do so in future.
IOI Loders Croklaan doubles sustainable palm oil supply in 2013
Palm oil supplier IOI Loders Croklaan surpassed its goal to increase volumes of certified sustainable palm oil to 30% of total European sales last year – and has certified all its plantations to Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards.
US researchers take a strip off botulism
A test strip that can detect botulism-causing toxins has been developed by US researchers.
What does the Danish halal and kosher slaughter ban mean for industry?
Denmark has banned the religious practice of slaughtering animals without stunning them first, angering religious groups but having little effect on the food industry, according to a trade group.