Vitamin D and calcium supplementation 'vital from birth': New Indian Paediatrics Academy guidelines

Children should receive vitamin D and calcium supplementation from birth, according to guidelines from the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP).

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wWkrqx

Chinese authorities to impose stricter labelling laws on health foods imported via e-commerce?

Supplements and functional food products imported into China via cross-border e-commerce could be subjected to the same labelling laws that apply to food items imported the traditional way, according to a regulations expert.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xC0LWa

Russian scientists develop new drug against anthrax

Russian scientists have developed a diagnostic drug that may prevent anthrax outbreaks in livestock by identifying which animals need to be re-vaccinated against the disease. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wWBBEp

Storm Harvey-hit Kane Beef plant reopens

Texas-based meat processor Kane Beef has reopened its plant, which was closed temporarily after sustaining “damage” caused by the catastrophic flooding from tropical storm Harvey. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xBJkEZ

Brazilian meat giant appoints finance grandee

Brazil-based BRF has appointed the experienced executive Lorival Nogueira Luz Jr as chief financial and investor relations officer. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wWEPYA

Tyson Foods opens new incubation facility

US processor Tyson Foods has officially opened its new Incubation Technology Center in Arkansas. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xBnvph

Kobe producers welcome EU recognition, but warn of limited supplies

Beef producers in the European Union (EU) could face restrictions on using famous beef names such as Kobe and Tajima to market their home-grown beef once an agreed-in-principle EU-Japan free trade agreement is implemented. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wWBwk5

Brazil slams rotten meat scandal ‘myths’

Representatives of the Brazilian pork and poultry industry have denounced as “myths” allegations that the country sold rotten meat abroad. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xBnkKD

Hannay stainless steel reels

Hannay’s largest range of custom stainless steel reels is suitable for food, beverages and pharmaceutical industries and is available from Reel Tech. The stainless steel reels come in a range of series.

The SSN700 are spring rewind, stainless steel reels that offer a narrow frame for compact mounting.

The SSN800 and SS800 are single hose, spring rewind, stainless steel reels and are available in two frame configurations. The standard N series has a narrow frame and compact mounting base. The square tubing frame for heavy-duty applications is available in the SS800 series.

The SS1500, SS1800 and SS4000 series are stainless steel, manual rewind reels. They are designed for long lengths of hose and are compact and versatile.

The SS1000 are stainless steel, manual rewind reels. They are lightweight reels that are industry designed to fit compact spaces. The stainless steel reels are suitable for mobile steam cleaning and pressure wash units as well as permanent installations.

The SS1000 are stainless steel, manual rewind reels for long lengths of hose and are suitable for washdown, marine and fire protection applications.

The reel series is also suitable for: potable water or food processing; pharmaceutical and cosmetics; and dairy operations and bottling plants.

Reel Tech has multiple bolt-on ergonomic and safety features for these reels designed to improve safety and reduce handling and operating time. Easily retrofittable to existing reels, the technology helps reduce injuries, downtime, hose wear and equipment damage.

The Ezy-Deploy auto hose declutching system has a fully automatic ‘drag-free’ payout with the lowest resistance. It offers smooth reel operation to minimise operator strain injuries and reduce excessive force that can prematurely damage equipment. Indispensable for longer hose lengths and larger 1, 1.5 and 2″ hoses.

The FlatWinder is an automatic hose layering technology which can be readily adapted to any Hannay reel for efficient easy layering of hose during storage.

Reel-In-Control is a long-range wireless remote control that can cut response times and increase safety with frequency hopping technology. This feature allows for safer single user operation and increased productivity.

The Safe-R-Reel is a brake cassette that ensures a controlled speed during rewind.

The Follow Me Hose Guide is a swivelling hose guide for FlatWinder systems. It cuts response times, increases safety with frequency hopping technology and allows safer single user operation and increased productivity.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2iNwKzo

PitBull Heavy Duty Hose reels

PitBull’s Heavy Duty Hose reels are engineered and manufactured by Reel Tech. The hose reels have a robust construction and features that make them suitable for mining, petroleum, transport and food and beverages industries.

The reels have an integrated, Australian-designed gearbox and drive mechanism, which produces a safer rewind speed. The Safer Hydraulic Rewind Drive ensures safe pull force without the need for torque controls.

Other features include: hot dip galvanised for maximum corrosion protection; quick change stainless steel fluid path for corrosive cleaning chemicals; heavy-duty modular and compact design; hose size range of 0.25 to 2″ ID; rewind options of manual, pneumatic, hydraulic or electric; and a multipositional frame mount base.

There are also customised options available by Reel Tech: the Ezy-Deploy auto hose declutching system; the FlatWinder automatic hose layering system; the Reel-In-Control long-range wireless remote control; and the Follow Me Hose Guide for FlatWinder systems.

The hose reel range suits most common hose sizes: Series 147 to handle single 0.25 to 0.5″ ID hose; Series 147.5 to handle single 0.75″ ID hose; Series 148 to handle single 0.75 to 1″ ID hose; Series 149 to handle single 1.25 to 1.5″ ID hose; and Series 150 to handle single 1.5 to 2″ ID hose.

The galvanised reels can be used for outdoor and indoor washdown applications, foam application and tanker bay washdown.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2emLfVE

‘High’ retailer margins blamed for organic prices

Retailers who make “high margins” on organic products have been accused of pushing up the price of bio produce and contributing to shortages in France by consumer association UFC Que Choisir.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2grVP1V

Danish supplier serves up a healthy dose of hemp product innovation

Bored with the usual hemp launches - granola and cereal bars - one Danish supplier is helping manufacturers think outside the box. Hemp cheese, gin, salami and marzipan are just some of its latest creations.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wMuON0

Lemon juice gel an ideal building block for 3D food printing, study finds

A new three-dimensional printing material based on lemon juice and potato starch has exhibited a consistency and flow, which could aid in creating nutritionally enhanced food material formulations.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vJBl7s

Europe ‘leading innovation’ in natural food ingredients, says Roha MD

Europe is “leading” innovation in the global trend towards natural ingredients in the food and beverage industry and Roha’s acquisition of Italian firm New Food Industry will give India’s Roha a bigger piece of the action, managing director Brijesh Tibrewala tells FoodNavigator.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wMNoVw

Novozymes gets EFSA green light for two glucose syrup enzymes

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has given the green light for two Novozymes enzymes used to make glucose syrup.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vJDAI2

Could faecal microbiota transplantation be used to tackle asthma?

Faecal microbiota transplantation is arguably more effective in managing asthma than current treatments and even probiotics, say two scientists, who call for more research into its use.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wMuMES

Avocados could be good for gut health: New Zealand research

New research shows avocados may be good for gut health — a previously unknown benefit — by increasing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vJ8r7C

Four ill and one dead from Listeria in salmon

Four people have been sickened and one has died from Listeria in salmon processed in Poland and sold in Denmark.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wqrBjW

Russian scientists develop new drug against anthrax

Russian scientists have developed a diagnostic drug that may prevent anthrax outbreaks in livestock by identifying which animals need to be re-vaccinated against the disease. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2iJsxMW

Brands must respond to consumer trends to ape Chinese e-sales success

Korea and China have set the pace for e-commerce to disrupt FMCG retail in Asia-Pacific, leaving online sales in other market lagging behind.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2glBXcX

Pokka calls for more government action to limit sugar consumption

Singapore’s biggest beverage brand has begun reformulating its drinks to reduce their sugar content, and has called on the government to take wider action against lifestyle diseases.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2x9al52

Recalls: Listeria, allergens and patulin

Food and beverage alerts were made by USA, Canada, Australia, England, Hong Kong, Singapore, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Germany, Netherlands and Denmark.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2glG4Wp

Avocados could be good for gut health: New Zealand research

New research shows avocados may be good for gut health — a previously unknown benefit — by increasing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2esoYti

Probiota Asia: World-class full agenda for inaugural Singapore summit revealed

The world-class agenda for the inaugural Probiota Asia has been confirmed, with speakers from major probiotics firms and renowned academics to present at the three-day summit, to be held at the Hilton Singapore from 11 to 13 October.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2glE68O

Mixed reaction to Chinese cooked chicken import plans

Plans to allow China to export cooked chicken from poultry slaughtered in the country to the US have prompted strong reactions from both sides of the debate.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2esoUd2

Storm Harvey-hit Kane Beef plant reopens

Texas-based meat processor Kane Beef has reopened its plant, which was closed temporarily after sustaining “damage” caused by the catastrophic flooding from tropical storm Harvey. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wVf4rt

Brazilian meat giant appoints finance grandee

Brazil-based BRF has appointed the experienced executive Lorival Nogueira Luz Jr as chief financial and investor relations officer. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2elF6cm

Tyson Foods opens new incubation facility

US processor Tyson Foods has officially opened its new Incubation Technology Center in Arkansas. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wkQTRU

Wine industry given $50m to develop exports and local wine tourism

The government will give the wine industry a A$50m (US$40m) grant to support exports and regional development.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2x7cwpQ

Details of new Woolworths concept revealed in court

Woolworths’ plans for its new foodservice concept store have been revealed during a recent legal dispute over retail tenancies.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vH0VKd

Chr Hansen CEO: Fighting food waste is part of our business plan

Chr Hansen's bioprotective cultures are so effective at extending shelf life, the firm has set itself an ambitious target: to reduce global yoghurt waste by 2% before 2020, its CEO says.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vLftYR

Hain Celestial grows natural brands in Europe

Hain Celestial, the US-based natural and organic food manufacturer, insisted that it sees “tremendous opportunities” for the natural and organic food sector as it grows its business in Europe.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2eGAI88

Evolva to axe almost half its workforce in restructuring overhaul

Evolva will cut its workforce by 43% and spin off its Indian R&D laboratory in an attempt to make cost savings and become "a product-based company".

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vLiKXN

Post-Brexit supply chain disruption will lead to ‘gaps on food shelves’, BRC warns

Flexibility and imagination may be in short supply during ongoing Brexit talks but the UK also faces the prospect of ‘gaps on food shelves’ if a deal is not agreed, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warns.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2eGD6Mb

Cheap food has expensive consequences but how can we make 'better' food?

Cheap food has expensive consequences for people and the planet's health but how can we make healthier and more sustainable food a reality for a global population? Grass-root movements will be key but industry must also be receptive, says Carolyn Steel.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vLcRdc

Bonduelle CFO: 'We are pushing our brands'

European vegetable giant Bonduelle smashed €2bn in annual sales for the first time ever this year: Finance chief Grégory Sanson speaks to FoodNavigator about how the company is using a mix of innovation and investment to drive its brands.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2eGCFl0

Trimming the fat off dietary guidelines: Study links high carb intake to mortality risk

Global dietary guidelines should be revisited, according to a Lancet study, which found reducing fat intake and replacing it with a high carbohydrate intake may be linked to worse health outcomes.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vKZbPs

Seaweed start-up dives for success as specialty ingredient

Seaweed start-up Dansk Tang, which uses divers to hand harvest its macroalgae from the North Sea, is making a splash in Denmark's specialty food retail space.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2eGA4Yv

Hain Celestial grows natural brands in Europe

Hain Celestial, the US-based natural and organic food manufacturer, insisted that it sees “tremendous opportunities” for the natural and organic food sector as it grows its business in Europe.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xNGgoP

Kobe producers welcome EU recognition, but warn of limited supplies

Beef producers in the European Union (EU) could face restrictions on using famous beef names such as Kobe and Tajima to market their home-grown beef once an agreed-in-principle EU-Japan free trade agreement is implemented. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wTxXLu

Brazil slams rotten meat scandal ‘myths’

Representatives of the Brazilian pork and poultry industry have denounced as “myths” allegations that the country sold rotten meat abroad. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xNQ1Dl

Evolva to axe almost half its workforce in restructuring overhaul

Evolva will cut its workforce by 43% and spin off its Indian R&D laboratory in an attempt to make cost savings and become "a product-based company".

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vFHFNs

Chr Hansen CEO: Fighting food waste is part of our business plan

Chr Hansen's bioprotective cultures are so effective at extending shelf life, the firm has set itself an ambitious target: to reduce global yoghurt waste by 2% before 2020, its CEO says.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2woACcX

Post-Brexit supply chain disruption will lead to ‘gaps on food shelves’, BRC warns

Flexibility and imagination may be in short supply during ongoing Brexit talks but the UK also faces the prospect of ‘gaps on food shelves’ if a deal is not agreed, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warns.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xN5cwB

Arkema plastic resin facility closed after Hurricane Harvey disaster

Arkema has closed a facility in Crosby, Texas, US, after the site was heavily flooded and left without electricity following Hurricane Harvey.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vFlVkx

Battling malnutrition in elderly care: Study sets out economic arguments for oral supplementation

Solid oral supplements given to older adults who are at risk of malnutrition helped to improve health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs, according to a new economic analysis of trial data.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xNa0lG

Clean Chemistry targets F&B with disinfectant tech

Clean Chemistry is in the evaluation stage ahead of plans to enter the food and beverage market next year.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vskQAw

Leaf Brands challenges Mondelēz and Hershey to buy Nestlé's US candy business

Nestlé is currently auctioning off its US candy business mostly to private equity firms, and major confectioners, including Hershey, Mars, Mondelēz and Tootsie Roll, a source familiar with the matter says. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vF3pc4

Whey can extend shelf-life of protein bars

The notoriously short shelf-life of protein bars may be a thing of the past thanks to a new whey protein that, according to its maker, can keep them soft for at least a year.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2x5rAUF

Mixed reaction to Chinese cooked chicken import plans

Plans to allow China to export cooked chicken from poultry slaughtered in the country to the US have prompted strong reactions from both sides of the debate.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wiEiPj

KM Packaging Services KPeel Flex Pet film

KM Packaging Services’ lidding film has been created especially for demanding applications, offering seal integrity and puncture resistance. The KPeel Flex Pet film helps drive down food waste in the manufacturing and supply chain.

The product offers high impact resistance even under frozen conditions and is suited to applications where food is pre-baked or cooked in a tray before film sealing takes place. Compatible with Cpet, Apet, PVC and coated foil trays, the film copes well with food contamination on the tray rim, as well as any tray distortion caused by the pre-bake/cook process.

Available in 42, 52 and 62 microns, it can be specified as standard or high barrier. Offering strong hot and cold peels, the film is suitable for microwave cooking and will retain robust seal integrity during cooling, storage, distribution and retail.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2x55dP6

ORing IGMC-111GP Industrial Gigabit Ethernet Converter

The industrial IGMC-111GP Gigabit Ethernet Converter by ORing is a media converter with a wide operating voltage. It supports all copper side speeds and enables user flexibility for a fibre interface via an SFP socket.

The converter addresses local and interfaced device status through user-settable DIP-switches that allow for Link Fault Pass-Through (LFP). LFP allows an interface on either side to shut down the opposing side in the event of a connected device stopping transmission. This feature enables instantaneous user alerts through link loss and/or via custom user settings with the connected equipment.

With a temperature range of -40 to 75°C, the converter is suitable for the harshest of environments. There is support for 1 by 10/100/1000Base-T(X) auto-negotiation and auto-MDI/MDI-X copper port as well as well 1 by 100/1000Base-X SFP fibre port. Jumbo Frames (up to 9 KB) LFP function are supported, including fault relay output, rigid IP30 housing design with DIN-rail or wall mounting options.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vEQjf7

Chinese firm sees first pork shipment to Tajikstan

A Chinese meat processor is celebrating the export of 22 tons of chilled pork to the central Asian state of Tajikistan. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vJmbhU

California and Arizona align with produce safety rule

The California and Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements have updated required food safety practices to align with the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vDIWnZ

FlexXray switches private equity owners

Barton Creek Equity Partners (BCEP) has sold FlexXray to Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP).

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2x3DDli

Can probiotics combat pathogens?

Probiotics could form an alternative to antimicrobials, according to researchers from Ontario Veterinary College. They have been studying the use of probiotics to combat pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium perfringens in poultry.

Dr Shayan Sharif, a professor at Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, has previously researched probiotics to combat Salmonella and is now focusing on Campylobacter jejuni.

“We’ve clearly shown by using combinations of different lactobacilli or lactic acid-producing bacteria, we can reduce colonisation or burden of Salmonella in poultry quite significantly,” explained Dr Sharif.

Campylobacter jejuni may be more complicated, however, as it is carried within a chicken’s intestine throughout their lifetime but often fails to show any symptoms. This could be detrimental to humans consuming undercooked poultry, as this type of bacteria is the main cause of human enteritis or foodborne illness.

Campylobacter has proven to be difficult to control using vaccination, biosecurity and antibiotics, and both Campylobacter jejeuni and Salmonella can harbour and transfer antimicrobial resistance genes.

Dr Sharif is examining the effect of probiotics on the overall health, welfare and production of poultry, with the aim of determining if probiotics improve the immune system of the chickens.

“We want to know if animals as a whole are healthier, if they produce more, if there is better weight gain and if their feed conversion ratio would be better compared to chickens receiving conventional diets.”

Next, Dr Sharif and his colleagues aim to study Clostridium perfringens, which can cause necrotic enteritis — an inflammation of the intestine in poultry.

Necrotic enteritis usually works with another microorganism called Eimeria, or coccidia, which often predisposes the animal to the pathogenic effects of Clostridium perfringens. Controlling coccidia is possible using antimicrobials, but without treatment there could be a surge in coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis, both of which would lead to increased mortality. There are no vaccines currently known to combat necrotic enteritis.

“At the end of the day, if you’re not able to make a probiotic formulation that is safe, that is efficacious and also able to provide equal production parameters, it is not going to be an economically sound investment for producers,” said Dr Sharif.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wn9088

Hormel moves into South American market with Ceratti acquisition

Hormel Foods Corporation has acquired Brazilian value-added meats brand Ceratti for $104 million. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vqVgfl

HKScan aspires to be Scandinavian poultry giant

Finland-based HKScan aims to be Scandinavia’s leading poultry processor, according to a company-wide strategy, crafted to revitalise the loss-making business. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vIDpf9

Cargill invests in lab-grown meat outfit

Meat giant Cargill has joined business tycoons Bill Gates and Richard Branson by investing millions of dollars in lab-grown meat start-up Memphis Meats. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vq7B3H

Russian poultry company culls one million broilers over AI fears

One of the largest poultry producers in the Far East part of Russia, Amur Broiler, has culled one million heads of broilers since mid-August, when laboratory inspection of samples taken from the corpses of dead poultry showed the possible presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI). 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vICpYl

Tyson Foods price-fixing probe ends

An investigation into allegations of chicken price fixing by meat giant Tyson Foods has been dropped by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vqREtI

Chinese firm sees first pork shipment to Tajikstan

A Chinese meat processor is celebrating the export of 22 tons of chilled pork to the central Asian state of Tajikistan. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vIhlBt

Trimming the fat off dietary guidelines: Study links high carb intake to mortality risk

Global dietary guidelines should be revisited, according to a Lancet study, which found reducing fat intake and replacing it with a high carbohydrate intake may be linked to worse health outcomes.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2iGC3jM

Bonduelle CFO: 'We are pushing our brands'

European vegetable giant Bonduelle smashed €2bn in annual sales for the first time ever this year: Finance chief Grégory Sanson speaks to FoodNavigator about how the company is using a mix of innovation and investment to drive its brands.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2gnMTuw

Cocoa prices to stay low in short term even as chocolate markets are ‘strong’

Cocoa prices are expected to remain fairly flat until Q1 2018 even as the world’s largest chocolate market, the US, is growing, according to Rabobank.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2iHLVtF

Seaweed start-up dives for success as specialty ingredient

Seaweed start-up Dansk Tang, which uses divers to hand harvest its macroalgae from the North Sea, is making a splash in Denmark's specialty food retail space.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2gp7zlW

Cheap food has expensive consequences but how can we make 'better' food?

Cheap food has expensive consequences for people and the planet's health but how can we make healthier and more sustainable food a reality for a global population? Grass-root movements will be key but industry must also be receptive, says Carolyn Steel.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2iHLTC3

EU opens comment period on draft BPA regulation

The European Commission has opened a comment period on draft regulation to crackdown on bisphenol A (BPA) limits.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2gp7v5G

Enmin demonstrates its Vibratory Spiral Elevators

Enmin’s Vibratory Spiral Elevators are suitable for conveying products and raw materials vertically to both higher levels and lower to ground level. The major benefits to food processors is the minimum footprint they require, their ease of cleaning and virtually maintenance-free operation.

Using vibratory motors combined with a spiral flight path, the elevators allow materials to easily be conveyed up an incline. The gentle, vertical transport has an open yet carefully constructed spiral design that not only ensures no spillages occur during the transportation process, but also allows easy inspection and cleaning.

For a demonstration on how the spiral elevators operate, please watch the following video:

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xL7lZH

Winson Group exceeds average in employee engagement survey

According to the 2017 national employee engagement survey, the Winson Group is exceeding the national benchmark. The most recent survey saw them achieve an overall score of 76% engagement compared to the 63% national benchmark, which beats the average by 13%.

Founded by John Winson in 1967, the Winson Group has evolved to incorporate both insignia and sister company Signet. While their heritage is important, the company uses the annual employee engagement survey to review their yearly progress and help set their future course in Helping Australia Compete.

Safety, customer, team and leadership were the highest performing categories across the Winson Group. Results show that both insignia and Signet aim to help Australian businesses compete through quality outcomes for customers, as indicated by a 93% engagement response from team members. Scoring 88% engagement, this was followed closely by ‘providing exceptional customer service’ and ‘understanding our customers’ value points.

Based on the survey results, insignia performed strongly in the areas of Leadership and Planning (82%), Customer Culture (79%) and Work Culture (77%).

“Our success rests with our commitment in providing a first-rate experience for our customers. The results reflect that this focus is key in all areas of our business,” stated insignia Executive General Manager Jeff Bint.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wmZPVs

CTI launches heat-activated ‘Tamper Alert’ for dairy

Chromatic Technologies Inc. (CTI) has developed a ‘Tamper Alert’ with irreversible, heat-activated ink technology

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wgTmgn

EU opens comment period on draft BPA regulation

The European Commission has opened a comment period on draft regulation to crackdown on bisphenol A (BPA) limits.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xw43Ku

Firm has licence cancelled as part of gov crackdown on fake sickness claims

A UK firm that encouraged people to make holiday-sickness claims has had its licence cancelled.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wgDIBC

Foodstuff most frequently intercepted counterfeit product

Foodstuff was the most frequently intercepted counterfeit product during a joint World Customs Organization (WCO) operation in Asia Pacific.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xw42pU

E-Grocery Congress

Consumer purchasing habits are changing and these changes are impacting grocery and ready meal purchasers. Purveyors are moving to combinations of customer-oriented bricks-and-mortar along with online trade and digital marketing to connect with their clients.

Recognising the changing marketplace, Anuga is hosting E-Grocery Congress @Anuga 2017 where e-commerce in the food trade will be addressed.

The congress will offer decision-makers from the trade and industry the opportunity to get to know the various forms and goals of digital strategies and check to see if they are implementable within one’s own company. Best practice examples and current trends will be graphically illustrated. At the same time, the congress offers the opportunity for strategic networking with international industry experts.

The congress is being staged on Tuesday, 10 October 2017 in the Congress Centre North at Koelnmesse.

The congress targets decision-makers from the international food trade and industry, platform providers, start-ups and interest groups from the food industry and logistics. Experts from the sectors digital strategy, e-commerce, omni-channel management, online marketing, purchasing and logistics are invited to attend.

To see the complete conference program and to register to attend, visit: http://bit.ly/2gpHWB9.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2iHeAiE

Microbes could deprive a person of nutrients

High levels of microbes that eat choline can lead to a lack of nutrients, according to a new study published in Cell Host & Microbe.

Comparing mice with high levels of microbes to those who do not have “choline-hungry bacteria”, Federico Rey, a Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin, found that those with low levels of choline had health and development issues. These included being more susceptible to metabolic diseases and giving birth to mice who appeared to be more anxious due to biochemical changes in the brain.

“Gut bacteria get to use a lot of our food before we do,” explained Rey.

Gut bacteria that consumes high levels of choline can be caused by epigenetic regulation, which is the decorating of genes with chemical groups that control how much they are expressed. With limited choline available, it hinders the ability of cells to modify and regulate genes. This was evident in choline-deficient mice, who exhibited altered epigenetic patterns in tissues such as the liver and the brain.

“Epigenetic modifications change how genes are expressed,” said Kym Romano, one of the lead authors of this research. “These modifications are also what make our liver a liver and our heart a heart.”

To test whether microbiomes could compete with their hosts for this essential nutrient, Rey’s group used germ-free mice that were colonised with defined populations of microbes. Some mice had choline eaters while others had communities where choline consumption was disrupted by mutating a single gene.

On a high-fat diet, which induces a range of metabolic diseases in mice, the animals with choline-eating microbes had increased levels of abdominal fat and fattier livers than their counterparts with microbes that couldn’t eat choline.

Pregnancy increases the demand for choline, which can be found in foods such as eggs, fish, cauliflower and milk. The nutrition is needed to support epigenetic regulation and cellular health in the developing foetus, and previous studies have suggested that choline deficiency during pregnancy is linked to children with altered behaviour.

This was reinforced in the study, which looked at the effects of choline-eating microbes across generations. Romano found that the offspring of mice with choline-eating bacteria had problems with normal development and showed more anxious behaviours, like burying marbles in their cages.

“There are already human studies that show that choline deficiency is a problem that matters to human health, and what this study really provides is one possible mechanism by which this may be exacerbated,” said Rey.

While this work suggests that the complex link between nutrition, gut microbes and host metabolism is vital for health, many questions remain about how to improve outcomes, either in mice or in humans.

A higher intake of choline in the diet might lead to more of the by-product of bacterial choline metabolism, known as TMAO. The study found that mice that hosted choline-eating bacteria had higher levels of TMAO. The toxic TMAO could work with disrupted epigenetic patterns to cause metabolic and developmental problems.

“As any good science project goes, we scratched the surface of an answer but opened up a million more doors to go through,” said Romano.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wHrZ01

How to market beverages to a ‘hipster demographic’ in China

‘"Hipsters" in Chinese has a special meaning. The closest approximation, 文艺青年, literally translates to “young people into literature and art.”

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2x2fU4Z

Hormel moves into South American market with Ceratti acquisition

Hormel Foods Corporation has acquired Brazilian value-added meats brand Ceratti for $104 million. 

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HKScan aspires to be Scandinavian poultry giant

Finland-based HKScan aims to be Scandinavia’s leading poultry processor, according to a company-wide strategy, crafted to revitalise the loss-making business. 

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Lightning fish farming growth is transforming Bangladeshi economy

An “important driver” of the Bangladeshi economy, the fish farming industry has grown 25-fold in three decades, with farmers having little cause to rely on NGO and goverment support.

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Size matters when it comes to dairy innovation

Fat globules are the secret to creating low-fat cream that’s easier to whip, cold butter that’s more spreadable and dairy cream powders that can be tailored for a range of products from milk to cheese to yoghurts.

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Foodstuff most frequently intercepted counterfeit product

Foodstuff was the most frequently intercepted counterfeit product during a joint World Customs Organization (WCO) operation in Asia Pacific.

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Nestlé Japan launches cough drop-flavored KitKat ahead of World Cup game

Nestlé has released a cough drop-flavored or Nodoame KitKat exclusively in Japan.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2x1T65E

Russian poultry company culls one million broilers over AI fears

One of the largest poultry producers in the Far East part of Russia, Amur Broiler, has culled one million heads of broilers since mid-August, when laboratory inspection of samples taken from the corpses of dead poultry showed the possible presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI). 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xuI4ne

Tyson Foods price-fixing probe ends

An investigation into allegations of chicken price fixing by meat giant Tyson Foods has been dropped by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

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Chinese firm sees first pork shipment to Tajikstan

A Chinese meat processor is celebrating the export of 22 tons of chilled pork to the central Asian state of Tajikistan. 

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Cargill invests in lab-grown meat outfit

Meat giant Cargill has joined business tycoons Bill Gates and Richard Branson by investing millions of dollars in lab-grown meat start-up Memphis Meats. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wlEpI7

UPM Raflatac Peel-Rseal PP food labels

UPM Raflatac’s food labelling product range has expanded, with two peel and reseal film label materials and a corresponding adhesive. Peel-Rseal PP White FTC 60 and Peel-Rseal PP Clear FTC 50 with RC512 adhesive are suitable for applications where the packaging will be opened and closed multiple times. Open-close labels make packaging more user friendly and high-performance reclosing is essential to ensure that food stays fresh.

Both these top-coated PP film face materials are compliant with food safety regulations. The PP White FTC 60 is a white solid film, whereas the PP Clear FTC 50 is transparent and suitable for the no-label look.

They are best paired with RC512, a UV acrylic adhesive specifically designed for open-close labels for food applications.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2iER0mp

ORing IGS-9122GPM Ethernet networking switches

ORing’s IGS-9122GPM range of Ethernet networking switches is a modular managed industrial Ethernet switch with the base unit supporting 12 x 10/100/1000Base-T(X) ports and 2 x 100/1000Base-X SFP ports. The SFP ports can meet demand for long-distance data transmission with a selection of SFP modules.

The switch comes with three additional modular slots to provide Ethernet port expansion. Each of these modules supports hot-swap installation and avoids the need to power off the switch if module replacement is required. The switch supports a variety of redundancy technologies to enable fast fault recovery including MSTP, STP and RSTP, and the company’s self-healing technology.

With an operating temperature from -40 to 75°C, the device can be managed centrally via the company’s open-vision platform as well as via a web-based interface. The switches have been designed for a wide range of applications including signal and telecommunication, along with railway environments such as platforms, trackside and control centres with compliance to EN50121-4 and EN50155.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2gmRDQY

Wine discovered in 4000 BC pottery

Researchers have discovered the oldest evidence of wine dating back to 4000 BC, according to a study.

Previously, the retrieval of seeds has led us to believe that wine production initially began in Italy in the Middle Bronze Age (1300–1100 BC). However, this research, led by Professor Davide Tanasi from the University of South Florida (USF), suggests that winemaking is a much older phenomenon belonging to the Copper Age. This provides a new perspective on ancient society.

Published in the Microchemical Journal, researchers have conduced chemical analysis on ancient pottery using a spectroscopy method that allows samples to be examined directly in their solid or liquid state, without further preparation.

Tanasi found the residue on the unglazed pottery from Monte Kronio in Agrigento, located off the south-west coast of Sicily, contained tartaric acid and its sodium salt, which occur naturally in grapes and in the winemaking process.

Determining the composition of this residue is very rare and difficult to achieve as it requires the ancient pottery to be excavated intact. Therefore, the findings on the large storage jar are significant, and researchers are now trying to determine whether the wine was red or white.

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Research round-up: NASA, active packaging and dormant pathogens

Summer is almost over and it is back to the research lab – we take a look at what research has been done in the last month.

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Golden bananas boost vitamin A levels

With approximately 650,000–750,000 children worldwide dying from vitamin A deficiency, Professor James Dale from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has been researching a way to enhance pro-vitamin A in bananas.

Over a decade-long period of laboratory tests and field trials in north Queensland, Dale found a selection of banana genes that could be genetically modified to enhance this vitamin. Their latest research findings have been published in Wiley’s Plant Biotechnology Journal.

This humanitarian project ultimately aims to improve nutritional health in Uganda, where bananas form a major part of their daily diet. In order to achieve this goal, it has received a strong injection of funding close to $10 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“The East African Highland cooking banana is an excellent source of starch. It is harvested green then chopped and steamed. But it has low levels of micronutrients, particularly pro-vitamin A and iron. The consequences of vitamin A deficiency are severe,” Dale explained.

Vitamin A is responsible for maintaining several important bodily functions such as vision, skin health and a healthy immune system. While deficiencies in vitamin A are not common in Australia, developing countries are often more effected and Dale suggested that several hundred thousand people go blind every year as a result.

“What we’ve done is take a gene from a banana that originated in Papua New Guinea and is naturally very high in pro-vitamin A but has small bunches, and inserted it into a Cavendish banana,” Professor Dale said.

After testing hundreds of different genetic variations, Dale found one that could successfully increase vitamin A levels. Test tubes containing the ‘elite genes’ were then sent to Uganda for field trials. Over time, researchers have found that the ‘biofortified’ fruit has developed a golden-orange colour.

“Over the years, we’ve been able to develop a banana that has achieved excellent pro-vitamin A levels, hence the golden-orange rather than cream-coloured flesh.”

Not only would this be a nutritional success, but Dale also suggested that a positive outcome of the trial was the fact that young Ugandan students studying at QUT had completed their PhDs and were overseeing the research and field trials in Uganda. Should the field trials prove successful, researchers hope that by 2021, Ugandan farmers will be growing their own pro-vitamin A rich bananas.

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Ready meals market will rise to US$146,247 million by 2023

With people adopting busier lifestyles they do not have the time to spend on cooking, and the demand for quick and easy meals is increasing. Ready meals are precooked dishes that require minimal preparation and cooking time, and the convenience associated with them is attractive to these time-sensitive consumers.

Allied Market Research has published a report called ‘Ready meals Market by Type, and Distribution Channel: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017–2023’, which segmented the global ready meals market based on type, distribution channel and geography. Type divided the market into categories such as chilled pizza, dried ready meals, frozen pizza and prepared salads, while the distribution channels looked at store based or online. Geographically, the report included North America, Europe, Asia–Pacific and LAMEA.

Ready meals are particularly popular among low-income consumers such as students, and those who only want to cook single portions. Although ready meals often appeal to those who want to create meals with minimal effort, the report suggested that online portals are not as popular as store-based retail outlets as consumers prefer to view the products in person.

In 2016, the ready meals market was valued at US$72,257 million (about AU$91,057 million), and this is expected to rise to US$146,247 million (about AU$184,301 million) by 2023. It will have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.6% during the forecast period, according to the report. However, the market growth has been hindered by poor quality products and negative health connotations associated with these types of foods.

Consumers are moving away from traditional ready meal options, which often have poor nutritional value. Frozen pizza ranked as the highest investment opportunity, along with prepared salad, as they are considered the freshest ready-made options by consumers. Frozen pizza has been gaining popularity in the global ready meals market, and chilled pizza is expected to follow suit with a projected CAGR of 14.1% during the forecast period. Together, frozen and chilled pizza accounted for more than a one-third share in the global ready meals market in 2016.

As well as nutritional concerns, consumers are often driven by quality and poor transportation and storing procedures could hinder the quality of ready meals. Therefore, manufacturers aim to improve packaging to ensure the flavour, texture and quality of the meals are maintained in the future.

Europe has dominated the global ready meals market in the past and is expected to continue to grow at a substantial CAGR. This is due to the fact that the food and drink sector is continuously growing and there is a consistently increasing demand for packaged food.

In 2016, Europe and Asia–Pacific accounted for about a three-fifths share of the total ready meals market. The increasing consumption of ready meals in Asia–Pacific can be attributed to the growing population and stable economic growth. By 2023, the report suggested that China will take up over half of the total share of the Asia–Pacific ready meals market.

Regardless of the nutritional value and perceived quality, the convenience that ready meals provide consumers ensure their continued popularity in the future. The prominent companies in the report suggested their key strategy to gain significant share in the market was product launch. Prominent players in the report included: Bakkavor Foods Ltd, JH Heinz Company Ltd, Nestle SA, Unilever Group, Northern Food Ltd, Kerry Foods Ltd and Premier Foods Group Ltd.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wYW3nl

Synthetic antifreeze could improve ice-cream and organ transplants

Researchers from the University of Warwick have developed a synthetic antifreeze that prevents the growth of ice crystals. From stopping aeroplane wings from freezing to improving ice-cream, the wide-reaching effects of this antifreeze are diverse and could increase the safety and effectiveness of a range of tasks.

Published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Professor Peter Scott and Dr David Fox in the Department of Chemistry and Warwick Medical School co-authored the study alongside lead researcher Professor Matthew Gibson. They drew inspiration from naturally occurring antifreeze proteins (AFPs) in their study, ‘Antifreeze Protein Mimetic Metallohelices with Potent Ice Recrystallization Inhibition Activity’.

Animals living in extreme environments have developed natural AFPs to prevent their blood from freezing, such as the Arctic fish. The antifreeze properties are a result of the iron complex containing separated regions with water-loving and water-hating characteristics, which mimics the properties observed in AFPs. Using this theory, researchers developed an iron-based synthetic version that slows the growth of ice crystals.

“Some of these were found to be very potent at stopping ice growing, a rare property normally only associated with antifreeze proteins,” explained Gibson.

“The versatile synthetic and adaptable nature of these compounds will let us fine-tune the structure to both understand the ice/water interface and develop new inhibitors for (bio)technological applications.”

Preventing ice crystals from forming is not only a convenient solution for making ice-cream smoother, but it could have significant importance in the biotechnical sphere, including safely freezing human tissue for transplants.

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Explosion-proof conveying power for grain mill

Danish juice firms create value-added bakery ingredients with fruit pulp waste

Leftover fruit pulp from the juice industry is being transformed into a value-added and healthy ingredient for cereals, baked snacks and chocolate.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wNyu1v

Heard of tiger nuts? They're the next superfood ingredient for plant milks and gluten-free baking, says Nordic Chufa

Tiger nuts are the original ancient super food, packing a nutritional punch and ideal for plant-based milks and gluten-free baking. Danish company Nordic Chufa is on a mission to make them mainstream.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xHCVXY

Danish juice firms create value-added bakery ingredients with fruit pulp waste

Leftover fruit pulp from the juice industry is being transformed into a value-added and healthy ingredient for cereals, baked snacks and chocolate.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wjdw7N

Analysis of pesticides in egg products will have higher priority after fipronil

Analysis of pesticides in egg products is likely to have a higher priority in future following the fipronil scandal, according to labs.

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Analysis of pesticides in egg products will have higher priority after fipronil

Analysis of pesticides in egg products is likely to have a higher priority in future following the fipronil scandal, according to labs.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vm7bLp

Heard of tiger nuts? They're the next superfood ingredient for plant milks and gluten-free baking, says Nordic Chufa

Tiger nuts are the original ancient super food, packing a nutritional punch and ideal for plant-based milks and gluten-free baking. Danish company Nordic Chufa is on a mission to make them mainstream.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wXrWN2

European firms to sue China for infringing their intellectual property

European countries are being granted the right to sue China if their food trademarks are counterfeited in the country.

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FSSAI to expand its testing network

India’s food regulator plans to strengthen its infrastructure by providing nine mobile test labs in eight states.

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Multivac invests $2.9m to expand production capacity in Germany

Multivac Marking & Inspection has invested €2.5m ($2.9m) to expand its production capacity at its factory in Enger, Germany.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wWu8Va

Taste of Nature acquires licensing agreement for Mrs. Fields Cookies

Famous Brands International partners with snack company to manufacture sell and distribute cookie brand

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wWvIGs

Mettler-Toledo Safeline HDS pipeline metal detectors

Mettler-Toledo Safeline has developed a range of HDS Pipeline Detectors based on its Signature platform. This pipeline metal detection solution was originally developed specifically for use on vacuum filling lines where it delivers detection sensitivity and stability, as well as user-friendly operation in potentially harsh or extreme working environments.

Designed for easy integration with all leading vacuum fillers and other processing equipment, the metal detection system offers consistent and reliable performance. Featuring a full stainless steel construction and sealed to IP69K, the systems are capable of withstanding extreme conditions and stringent washdown regimes required in meat and food processing plants, according to the company.

The detection coil technology and Signature software platform deliver high sensitivity to all metal types. In addition, the product is capable of detecting non-spherical contaminants such as metal clips, wire, swarf and slivers of metal introduced during grinding processes, which have traditionally proved difficult to locate due to a phenomenon known as the ‘orientation effect’.

The short overall length of the throughput tube and utilisation of the zero metal-free zone (ZMFZ) technology minimises product ‘creaming’ (uneven distribution of fats towards the outside of the product). This also enables metal fittings and other process equipment to be positioned in close proximity to the detection head without compromising detector performance.

The product’s slim design and compact footprint allow it to fit into the tightest of environments alongside leading vacuum fillers. Four robust castors offer 360° rotation, facilitating easy withdrawal from the process for cleaning and relocation to other lines if required. Furthermore, flexible height adjustment allows the detection head to be raised or lowered via a gas-strut to link up with the vacuum filler outlet.

All of the company’s systems incorporate ‘stop-on-detect’ functionality. This means that if metal is detected, a signal will be generated to control vacuum filler operation, enabling contaminated product to be purged from the pipeline.

The product can be connected to a wide range of factory data management solutions via Ethernet technology to support compliance with leading food industry standards, regulations and legislation. Manufacturers can also use this connectivity to record performance data and to confirm test routines have been completed for complete product traceability and proof of due diligence.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wMgMvB

Ecolab Pest Elimination Large Fly Program

The Large Fly Program is a comprehensive global program from Ecolab’s Pest Elimination that uses an outside-in approach and technology to help reduce the food safety risks associated with large flies.

The program offers a multifaceted approach that addresses fly activity through ongoing inspections and recommendations, exterior and interior treatments, and the use of technology and science both inside and outside the facility.

The program includes use of the patent-pending STEALTH LED Fly Light, which matches efficacy with safety and sustainability to reduce the risks associated with large flies in a facility. The company claims it uses up to 60% less energy than comparable models, and it is suited for use in both the front and back of house in restaurants and foodservice facilities. The program can also be customised to meet the specific needs of lodging and long-term care properties, food and beverage plants and other facilities.

The LED fly light was developed through extensive testing of fly behaviour and evaluation of environmental characteristics to understand how flies respond to light. By studying flies under field conditions and in controlled environments, they gained a new understanding of fly exploration behaviour and used these findings to develop the fly light. Used in combination with other products as part of the company’s outside-in approach, the light is the last line of defence against large flies that do manage to enter a customer’s facility.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xGg4MC

Strawberry punnets updated with heat-sealed packaging

BerryWorld Australia’s new heat-sealed packaging aims to reinvent strawberry marketing by modernising traditional strawberry punnets. Rather than using labelled lids, the pre-printed, 100% recyclable PET (polyethylene) film provides shoppers with a more aesthetically pleasing and efficient alternative.

“If we’re launching a premium brand, we want as many points of difference as possible, from packaging and presentation, through to berry taste and appearance,” said BerryWorld Australia Managing Director Gavin Scurr.

The raw packaging materials are imported from China and manufactured to specification by Multisteps Industries. BerryWorld strawberries are grown at Piñata Farms, and a customised production line has been installed at the Wamuran packhouse to pack the strawberries.

Using a square punnet that displays the fruit in a single layer, this packaging has a barcode at the bottom for easy scanning. BerryWorld Australia has also given customers more choice by producing a mid-range punnet of 350 g as opposed to the usual 250 g, 450 g or 1 kg punnets.

“Globally, it’s already a size that is instantly associated with strawberries. We’re confident Australian consumers will appreciate it as a convenient, family friendly size.”

The heat-sealed film is perforated with eight air vents and BerryWorld Australia has negotiated with Woolworths to have the strawberries stored in the fridge area of the supermarket, away from the other strawberries that are located in the lounge. As a result, this both maintains freshness and shelf life and distinguishes their brand as unique.

Scurr highlights further benefits of heat-sealed packaging, such as increasing production efficiencies, cost efficiencies and saving energy. The film is faster to apply and it prevents contamination or tampering from outside sources.

“Heat sealing utilises approximately 30% less packaging materials than a punnet with a lid.

“Heat sealing has also been shown to perform slightly better in maintaining fruit weight up to purchase. With strawberries, there’s always a slight margin of weight loss after packing. To achieve the 350 g weight by the time of purchase, we allow for loss by slightly overpacking, typically by about 20 g per punnet.”

However, a disadvantage of using heat-sealed packaging is the inability to reseal it. Scurr has suggested that BerryWorld Australia would take this into consideration in the future.

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SciDev's IIoT solutions break into the food sector

European wine category to continue M&A activity with eye on US market, Rabobank says

The European wine industry has seen over 150 M&A deals since 2010, and a similar pattern is expected to prevail in the future, according to Rabobank.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vkHuuX

Munters receives 2017 Energy Innovation Award

The 2017 Europe Datacloud Awards announced Munters as the winner of the ‘Industry Energy Innovation’ award. As the global leader in energy-efficient air treatment and climate solutions, Munters uses technology to help create the perfect climate for customers in the food, pharmaceutical and data centre sectors.

Presented on 6 June in the Monaco Sporting Club, over 600 executives from the data centre and cloud industry attended the awards. The winners were announced by BroadGroup and were rewarded for showcasing innovation, inspiration and excellence in data centre and cloud.

“We are proud to receive this recognition for our innovation and commitment to energy-efficient solutions within the data centre industry. Our teams are dedicated to working with data centre owners and operators to achieve energy goals whilst offering an innovative edge,” said Munters’ President, Data Centre Business Area, Neil Yule. “The Oasis Indirect Evaporative Cooling technology was submitted and the star of our energy efficiency offering for this award.”

The Oasis Indirect Evaporative Cooler uses a wide array of heat exchangers for indirect evaporative cooling. One of these heat exchangers is Munters’ Oasis Evaporative Polymer Exchanger (EPX), which uses a polymer tube that is suitable for all water quality environments.

Unlike conventional direct air-side economisers, the cooler has been recognised as an innovative product that reduces refrigeration capacity in virtually all climates.

Entries were judged across a range of award categories, and Munters was celebrated for its achievements alongside DigiPlex, which won the ‘Data Centre Above And Beyond’ award, and Global Cloud Xchange, which received an award for ‘Excellence in Cloud Service’.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vjP8Wo

Fermented functional food, Xeniji, increases immunity: Malaysian mouse study

Xeniji, a functional food comprising a variety of fermented ingredients, can boost antioxidant levels and immunity, according to a Malaysian mouse study.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2gidF7r

NutraIngredients-Asia state of the industry survey part 3: E-commerce and online marketing two of the top trends for APAC firms

The ever-growing importance of e-commerce sales for supplements in APAC was underlined in our first state of the industry survey, with almost 70% of respondents believing the channel will ultimately become as important as brick-and-mortar retail.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2iCc7FV

Killing the contamination power of biofilms

Biofilms are the leading cause of cross contamination of food and non-food materials upon contact with contaminated surfaces. The bacterial aggregations also increase bacterial resistance to antimicrobials, as well as to disinfectants, and pose significant threats to food safety.

Now some specially designed plastic films have been developed which can not only kill the bacteria in biofilms but can also prevent the formation of biofilms.

“We tested the modified plastic films using two relevant foodborne pathogens — Escherichia coli and Listeria,” said corresponding author Nitin Nitin, PhD, Professor and Engineer, Departments of Food Science and Technology and Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis. “The tests were conducted to evaluate prevention of biofilm formation, as well as treatment of pre-formed biofilms.”

The researchers modified plastic films by integrating ‘N-halamines’ within the polymer matrix of the plastic. N-halamines are composed of a nitrogen and a chlorine atom, in some cases with other elements attached.

Depending on the precise composition, the N-halamines can kill bacteria on contact, or by releasing the chlorine to kill the bacteria. In the latter cases, bathing the plastic films in bleach can recharge the N-halamines with chlorine, as shown in the study.

“Many foodborne disease outbreaks can be traced back to cross-contamination of food with pathogenic bacteria,” said Dr Nitin. “Currently, we do not have an active approach to continuously prevent deposition of bacteria during food processing operations and can only remove these deposits after processing — during a cleaning shift. Similar risks exist in the hospital environment.”

Conventional sanitisers are difficult to work with in the food production environment because access to areas of potential contamination is limited.

Dr Nitin noted that the plastic films used in this study are versatile and can be cast or modelled into different shapes, “such as conveyor belts, self-sanitising globes, plastic bins for food transport or a plastic mat for biomedical tools. Furthermore, these plastic films can be easily added to existing equipment as a lining material.”

The research has been published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vBvm40

Tavil multiformat box forming machine

The automatic changeover makes the Tavil multiformat box forming machine ready to work in less than 4 s with different box designs and/or different box sizes pre-loaded into the system.

The multiformat system memorises up to 99 different boxes and is able to work simultaneously from one to four different boxes. It can work as a modular system with up to four case formers of differing sizes to feed several production lines.

The machine forms boxes from cardboard blanks using hot glue, and can produce up to 1200 boxes/h depending on box design and size.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wUDMYt

Label designers be aware — shoppers don't wear their reading glasses

Who wears their reading glasses while they grocery shop? Around 70% of adults need corrective eyewear but it seems that only 30% of shoppers actually wear their glasses while doing their grocery purchasing.

Add to this somewhat alarming statistic the fact that the brain only processes 5% of the information it receives from the eyes, only 2% of what we look at is actually in focus and not far off 10% of men are colour blind (1% of women) and you realise the immense challenges of using pack and label information to attract new customers.

Really some are struggling to find the checkout let alone sagely discriminating between the nutritional information on competing products.

How about making it easier for your customers to choose your products? Forget about reverse white capitals on a red background in a miniscule font. Keep it clear and simple with the blindness of people like me at front of mind. I am interested but on the whole, I am not going to struggle to decipher the information. If you think the message will get me to buy the product, make it very easy for me to see the message.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xpdPy0

Flexicon BULK-OUT Bulk Bag Discharging System

The BULK-OUT Bulk Bag Discharging system from Flexicon is designed for use in explosive environments. It features a pneumatically powered hoist and trolley to raise and position the bag inside the discharger frame, eliminating the risk of potential sparks from electrical equipment or fork trucks that might be otherwise used for this function.

A SPOUT-LOCK clamp ring forms a high-integrity, dust-tight seal between the clean side of the bag spout and the clean side of the equipment, while a TELE-TUBE telescoping tube maintains constant downward tension on the bag as it empties and elongates, promoting complete discharge of free- and non-free-flowing material from the bag.

The all-stainless-steel construction is designed to withstand corrosive environments and allows rapid washdown with caustic cleaning solutions.

The unit is available with a hopper and pneumatically driven flexible screw conveyor, a tubular cable conveyor or a rotary airlock valve to feed material into a pneumatic conveyor line.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wJsxTm

Hioki FT6380 and FT6381 earth resistance clamp-on testers

The Hioki FT6380 and Hioki FT6381 are precision earth resistance measurement clamp-on testers. Precise voltage is injected and, by means of current measurement, earth resistance is computed and displayed. The Hioki FT6381 is the Bluetooth-compatible version providing automatic report generation via an Android smartphone including date, time, measurement value and GPS location.

Up to 2000 data points can be stored internally for later downloading. The dual slim jaws clamp up to 32 mm-diameter conductors. Maximum rated voltage is 600 V to earth and the instrument meets EN 61010 safety standards. Magnetic interference is 10 mA or less in an external magnetic field of 400 A/m at 50/60 Hz.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xDOBLG

Healthiest products should be tariff-free post Brexit, says Sugarwise

The market for low- and no-sugar brands could shrink if tariffs are slapped on products after Brexit, according to Sugarwise.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2w8FZ1J

Unilever partners with Quiqup for direct to consumer test

Unilever-owned dressing brand Hellmann’s is working with on-demand delivery start-up QuiQup in its first foray into direct-to-consumer sales.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xn3WRb

Italy introduces country of origin labels for pasta and rice

Rice and pasta products on sale in Italy will be required to carry country of origin labels from February.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2w8HAEN

Preserving structure of plant-based foods limits fat absorption, study finds

Preserving the natural structure of plant-based food products during the processing process can limit the amount of fat and energy absorbed by the body, new research suggests.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xnmQaQ

Lifestyle factors hit French fruit and veg consumption

French shoppers have reduced their consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables as economic pressures and demographic changes mean fewer people are eating the recommended five portions a day, according to think tank Crédoc.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2w8FXa7

Brexit: Food sector warns on worker shortages

UK food makers have issued a warning on the “significant disruption” that will ensue if the sector is hit by a drop in the number of EU workers in the UK following Brexit.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xnlFrQ

Should Europe follow in UK footsteps with childhood obesity strategy?

As the UK’s childhood obesity strategy turned one last week, health campaigners lined up their critiques of the first 365 days. However, the government managed to sidestep any bad press by announcing an expansion of the plan’s focus (from sugar content to calorie counts) and funding for a new €5.4m (£5m) obesity research policy unit.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2w7YW4j

Tate & Lyle adds instant starch to clean label range

Tate & Lyle has developed two instant functional starches to add to its clean label Claria range, which can help manufacturers banish modified starches, it says.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xnujXs

Hilton expands in prepared foods with Polish venture

UK meat packer Hilton Food Group is extending its reach in the processed foods sector thanks to an agreement to supply Tesco with fresh foods such as sandwiches, ready meals, soups and pizzas in Poland.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2w8za06

Quorn CEO talks growth, investment and innovation

Quorn has been using a mix of R&D and marketing to ferment growth and capitalise on rising demand for meat-free products at home and overseas, CEO Kevin Brennan tells FoodNavigator.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xn87wq

Europe leads in innovation as meat-free demand grows

Demand for alternative proteins – beyond traditional meat, fish and dairy sources – is expanding across Europe as consumers turn to products they view as healthier and more environmentally friendly and food makers work to drive excitement through innovation.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2w8rVoQ

The buzz on bugs: Will insect-based foods tip to the mainstream?

Foods made from insects generate a lot of column inches but they are a long way from entering the mainstream European diet: Will they get there?

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2xn4yXf

Cultured connoisseurs: Meet the alt-protein pioneers with a steak in the future

Promises of 'clean' meat that negates the need to raise and kill animals continue to attract both headlines and investment, meaning progress towards getting affordable cultured meat on supermarket shelves has been swift.

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Stealth reformulation of private label food can cut calories, study finds

‘Silent' product reformulation, where own-brand food products are modified without explicitly making the consumer aware, may be effective in reducing calorie consumption, say Danish researchers.

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Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Tweaking ads to show cooking with kids makes brands relatable

Images of mom preparing dinner alone in the kitchen for her busy family have been a staple in food and beverage marketing for decades, but new consumer research from the Benenson Strategy Group suggests brands that continue to recycle this theme are missing the mark with modern families and their sales could suffer as a result. 

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Healthiest products should be tariff-free post Brexit, says Sugarwise

The market for low- and no-sugar brands could shrink if tariffs are slapped on products after Brexit, according to Sugarwise.

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Unilever partners with Quiqup for direct to consumer test

Unilever-owned dressing brand Hellmann’s is working with on-demand delivery start-up QuiQup in its first foray into direct-to-consumer sales.

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Italy introduces country of origin labels for pasta and rice

Rice and pasta products on sale in Italy will be required to carry country of origin labels from February.

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Preserving structure of plant-based foods limits fat absorption, study finds

Preserving the natural structure of plant-based food products during the processing process can limit the amount of fat and energy absorbed by the body, new research suggests.

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Lifestyle factors hit French fruit and veg consumption

French shoppers have reduced their consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables as economic pressures and demographic changes mean fewer people are eating the recommended five portions a day, according to think tank Crédoc.

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Biodegradable plastic packaging that 'disintegrates like orange peel' expands into coffee

Tipa, which launched biodegradable plastic packaging 'designed to behave like an orange peel when it is thrown away' last year, has expanded into coffee.

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Hilton enters supply agreement with Tesco

Specialist retail meat packing business Hilton Food Group has entered into a long-term supply agreement with Tesco Central Europe. 

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Finnish meat processor restructures pig plant

Multi-species meat processor Atria is mulling plans to centralise pork production at its Nurmo factory in a bid to save over €1 million (m) per year.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2gdCuS8

Packaging firm Krehalon wraps up new shrink film line

Netherlands-based food packaging supplier Krehalon has rolled out a line of shrink films it has promised will “reinvent” fresh meat packaging.

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Hilton enters supply agreement with Tesco

Specialist retail meat packing business Hilton Food Group has entered into a long-term supply agreement with Tesco Central Europe. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2voKOkv

Finnish meat processor restructures pig plant

Multi-species meat processor Atria is mulling plans to centralise pork production at its Nurmo factory in a bid to save over €1 million (m) per year.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wOWh0s

Packaging firm Krehalon wraps up new shrink film line

Netherlands-based food packaging supplier Krehalon has rolled out a line of shrink films it has promised will “reinvent” fresh meat packaging.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2voTes5

Salt reduction trials in meat alternatives claimed a success

A series of trials to reduce the sodium content of plant-based, vegan and vegetarian meat alternatives has been completed successfully by Salt of the Earth.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wMLvYC

Vegetarian diet link with lower cholesterol reaffirmed in new study

Plant-based vegetarian diets, especially vegan diets are associated with lower total cholesterol (TC) and ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, finds a new meta-analysis published in Nutrition Reviews.

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Arla sales rise after ‘turbulent’ six months for dairy

Arla Foods UK reported a 10% sales rise in its branded products in the six months to July 1, driven by its Lurpak butter and Castello cheese brands, after a “turbulent” six months for the sector.

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Hillcrest Dairy recalls three cheese products after sample tests positive for Listeria

Certain Hillcrest Dairy cheese products have been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer after a routine sample of cheese tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

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McDonald’s sets out vision to reduce antibiotics

Fast food super-giant McDonald’s has updated its vision on reducing the usage of routine antibiotics in its supply chain on an international level. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vuBg6N

Multivac to expand Enger production facility

Multivac is to invest €2.5 million in the expansion of its Enger site in Germany.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vcd6m4

Danish Crown CEO on the 'perfect' Chinese market

Danish Crown has tapped into China’s booming e-commerce market as it boasts the “perfect combination” of factors needed to fuel economic growth, CEO Jais Valeur exclusively told this site.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vuUQQj

Biotech firm wants to ‘modernise’ meat inspection

A Texas biotech business plans to unveil an approach that bolsters the meat industry’s ability to stop pork tainted with dangerous foodborne pathogens from reaching consumers.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vcaO6Q

Grain better than grass for steak, survey finds

For the third consecutive year, a grain-fed cow won the World Steak Challenge, giving it a 100% success rate. 

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World’s biggest pork plant to hire 250 new staff

Chinese-owned pork processor Smithfield Foods will create 250 new jobs by building a distribution centre at its huge North Carolina factory.

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Russian meat sector profits soaring, says government

The profitability of Russia's meat sector rose by 2.2 times between 2013 and 2016, actually benefiting from the tit-for-tat sanctions imposed by Russia and its Western trading partners, according to the Russian Ministry of Agriculture.

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Swiss meat prices are higher than any other country

Meat prices in Switzerland are the highest in the world, according to a new study, but are these astronomical costs really so unsavoury?

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Danish Crown in deal with e-commerce giant Alibaba

Danish Crown has penned a deal of “enormous potential” to sell meat on Tmall, a digital retail platform owned by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group. 

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Romanian meat processor spends €1.7m on packaging and range

Romanian meat processor Cris-Tim SRL has completed investments worth some €1.7 million (m), with the aim of upgrading its meat packaging capacities and developing its product range, according to senior company representatives. 

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Chinese giant linked to Moy Park bidding war

Chinese pig and chicken giant New Hope Group is rumoured to have joined a fierce bidding war for Northern Ireland poultry processor Moy Park.

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Irish farmers call for government intervention on beef prices

The president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Joe Healy has called on the Minister of Agriculture Michael Creed to intervene on cuts to cattle prices. 

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MLA invests in grass-fed beef sector

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has announced a $1.9 million investment in developing leaders of the country’s grass-fed sector. 

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Corbion develops new meat snacks mould inhibitor

Food solutions provider Corbion has created a new way to prevent mould in meat snacks. 

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South Korea lifts US poultry ban

The government of South Korea has lifted its ban on imports of US poultry and poultry products. 

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Serbian meat producer launches exports to China

Serbian meat processor IM Djurdjevic has signed its first deal to export 3,000 lambs to China, with eight more Serbian meat players finalising talks to launch beef exports the country. 

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Hormel Foods buys Fontanini for $425m

US-based Hormel Food Corporation has announced the acquisition of Italian meat maker Fontanini in a $425m deal. 

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Argentina opens borders to US pork

For the first time since 1992, Argentina will allow US pork to enter the market. 

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Mixed quarter for FDA and USDA recalls

FDA recalls and recalled units fell in Q2 but recalls and recalled pounds rose on the USDA side, according to Stericycle ExpertSOLUTIONS.

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Consumers expects same taste, quality and texture on consistent basis - Thermo

The consumer expects the same taste, quality and texture all the time no matter when or where he buys a product of a certain brand, according to an expert.

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McDonald’s sets out vision to reduce antibiotics

Fast food super-giant McDonald’s has updated its vision on reducing the usage of routine antibiotics in its supply chain on an international level. 

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2w9VkNB

PathSensors enters Chinese pathogen detection market

PathSensors has partnered with a Chinese bio security firm to bring its proprietary pathogen detection technology to that market.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wab2Iw

Tavil MaxPalet touch system to edit palletising mosaics

Tavil’s MaxPalet system is a touch system to edit palletising mosaics. The automatic editing system selects the most appropriate mosaic in accordance with box quantity, stability, cadence and other parameters.

It can be customised to suit the user’s application. The system also has a palletising capacity of up to four pallets simultaneously with a single robot.

The gripping ability works with glued boxes, shrink-wrap, trays, bases, lids and crates.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2g9wObL

Championing small business initiative launches

An initiative designed to champion small businesses has been launched by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

The ‘ICC-WTO Small Business Champions’ initiative is designed to be a platform for companies to develop ideas surrounding micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and conducting business across borders.

MSMEs are often unaware of the potentially wider market and do not always have the resources to navigate sometimes complex trading procedures, meaning that their market share tends to be smaller. However, new technologies are helping to pare back these obstacles and create a more level playing field for smaller companies in international trade.

Helping more MSMEs to trade internationally is an important step in building a more inclusive trading system that benefits a wider array of citizens.

“I have heard many great ideas from the private sector over recent months about how we might be able to help MSMEs to trade,” said WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo.

“This initiative is our response — it is about capturing some of those ideas and using the shared platform of the WTO and ICC to help make them a reality.”

Proposals could take the shape of awareness-raising campaigns, competitions or capacity building, training and mentoring programs.

The ICC and the WTO will use their shared platform to support and promote successful proposals. The precise support provided will depend on the nature of the proposals received.

“This new initiative will seek to harness the knowledge, creativity and networks of the global business community to inspire and support MSME growth,” said ICC Secretary General John Danilovich.

“We call on businesses and private sector organisations across the world to play their part as small business champions.”

The call for proposals is open until the end of 2017, with no limitation as to the number of proposals that may be selected. The selection of proposals will be carried out by the WTO Secretariat and the ICC. The successful proposals will be announced by the ICC and the WTO on a rolling basis.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vbvvQ9

Neousys Technology Nuvo-6108GC industrial-grade GPU computing platform

Neousys Technology’s Nuvo-6108GC is an industrial-grade GPU computing platform supporting high-end graphics cards. It is designed to fuel emerging GPU-accelerated applications, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, autonomous driving and CUDA computing by accommodating NVIDIA GTX 1080 or TITAN X GPU.

The product supports Xeon E3 v5 and 6th-Gen Core i7/i5 CPU with up to 32 GB ECC/non-ECC DDR4 memory. It incorporates standard computer I/Os such as Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 and serial ports. It provides two x8 PCIe slots allowing for additional devices for information collection and communication.

The computer is equipped to handle heavy power consumption and power transients of a 250 W GPU. The product has a tuned cold air intake to effectively dissipate the heat generated by GPU. According to the company, this design guarantees operation at 60°C with 100% GPU loading, which makes it suitable for demanding field usage.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vtObpI

Brexit: Food sector warns on worker shortages

UK food makers have issued a warning on the “significant disruption” that will ensue if the sector is hit by a drop in the number of EU workers in the UK following Brexit.

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Should Europe follow in UK footsteps with childhood obesity strategy?

As the UK’s childhood obesity strategy turned one last week, health campaigners lined up their critiques of the first 365 days. However, the government managed to sidestep any bad press by announcing an expansion of the plan’s focus (from sugar content to calorie counts) and funding for a new €5.4m (£5m) obesity research policy unit.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vaWHyt

Danish Crown CEO on the 'perfect' Chinese market

Danish Crown has tapped into China’s booming e-commerce market as it boasts the “perfect combination” of factors needed to fuel economic growth, CEO Jais Valeur exclusively told this site.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vtD3sZ

Tate & Lyle adds instant starch to clean label range

Tate & Lyle has developed two instant functional starches to add to its clean label Claria range, which can help manufacturers banish modified starches, it says.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vaJSUM

Hilton expands in prepared foods with Polish venture

UK meat packer Hilton Food Group is extending its reach in the processed foods sector thanks to an agreement to supply Tesco with fresh foods such as sandwiches, ready meals, soups and pizzas in Poland.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vtvQZQ

Fruit-based prebiotic: A viable dairy alternative for probiotic foods and drinks?

Pectin and pulp extracted from passion fruit makes an effective probiotic food carrier, research finds as it demonstrates properties that stimulate probiotic growth and survival in the gut.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vaIEcj

The buzz on bugs: Will insect-based foods tip to the mainstream?

Foods made from insects generate a lot of column inches but they are a long way from entering the mainstream European diet: Will they get there?

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CibusDx to commercialize testing system in 2018

CibusDx has acquired Pronucleotein Biotechnologies ahead of commercializing its food safety testing system by late spring 2018.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2w29eTM

Multivac to expand Enger production facility

Multivac is to invest €2.5 million in the expansion of its Enger site in Germany.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vsVkX2

Danish Crown CEO on the 'perfect' Chinese market

Danish Crown has tapped into China’s booming e-commerce market as it boasts the “perfect combination” of factors needed to fuel economic growth, CEO Jais Valeur exclusively told this site.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2va7E3f

Recalls: Fipronil, milk and Listeria

Food and beverage alerts were made by USA, Canada, Australia, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Denmark.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2w86HFR

Biotech firm wants to ‘modernise’ meat inspection

A Texas biotech business plans to unveil an approach that bolsters the meat industry’s ability to stop pork tainted with dangerous foodborne pathogens from reaching consumers.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wrWPti

Gebo Cermex AQFlex contactless product conveying

Gebo Cermex’s AQFlex is a product handling technology that offers agility and contactless product conveying and accumulation in a compact space.

The technology accommodates any product, whatever the application, whatever the market, in all container materials, formats and shapes, full or empty, while also enabling automatic changeovers via an intuitive and user-friendly human machine interface.

Care of product integrity is enabled by the single-lane, contact-free product handling and accumulation system that is able to process even fragile, unstable or premium containers.

The product can operate at any speed, from 1000 to 100,000 containers/h, delivering energy savings of up to 60%, without compromising high efficiency (99.5% even at high speeds) or sustainability, according to the company.

All the conveying functions of the technology, including contactless accumulation and multilane machine infeed, are regrouped into this single, universal, handling solution. As all conveying and accumulation is carried out as a single-file process, the usual peripheral conveying functions associated with mass accumulation — such as deceleration, de-grouping, combining and laning — are eliminated.

The company claims its compact design provides up to 40% space savings compared to traditional solutions and, as a result of its compact footprint, the product is easily integrated into existing production lines. It has a clear and open design that gives full accessibility at floor level for enhanced ergonomics and easy cleaning. Having only a few added mechanical parts compared to a conveyor, maintenance of the product is comparable to that of a standard conveyor — without the need for any lubrication.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wICP5q

Phoenix Contact PT-TWIN Push-in contact inserts

Phoenix Contact has released the PT-TWIN Push-in contact inserts for heavy-duty connectors.

In addition to offering Push-in connection technology, the device comes with a double conductor connection. This feature provides additional user convenience as two conductors can now be wired into one contact point quickly and easily to save time. The double conductor connection also eliminates the need for an additional marshalling level, further simplifying the installation process and minimising the time required. This simplifies the connection process for the user and ensures greater choice.

Created for fast assembly, the device features tool-free installation. The technician pushes the wires in, thereby setting up the connection, and then places the contact insert into the connector, making the process hassle-free and quick, to help save on time.

Suitable for control and power transmission, the unit also provides user flexibility, as it is available with a fixed number of positions and in a modular design for series B housing.

To ensure a high level of performance, the inserts are shock and vibration resistant. They are also safe to use and operate, and meet all required standards.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2vj9rz5

Coca-Cola Amatil eyes up potential of Coca-Cola No Sugar

Coca-Cola Amatil says it has been a ‘challenging’ first half for its Australian business, but highlights the potential of new products such as Coca-Cola No Sugar.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2wIJwnU

IAEA and FAO support projects in Pakistan and Benin

A lab in Pakistan supported by the IAEA and FAO has earned International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accreditation.

Read more about it via http://bit.ly/2g894ol