EU labelling ‘could be seen as a trade barrier
European food labelling must be honest and informative to consumers while not unfairly penalising suppliers from countries outside the EU, Robert...
Archives for March 1, 2010
Short circuit to success
Vision systems, pick and place and palletising are proving popular options as robot capabilities widen and the market picks up, says Rod Addy
Top shelf sauce
The rise of the celebrity chef and the trend towards dining in are stimulating demand for sauces allowing have-a-go home chefs to create restaurant-quality dishes. Lynda Searby gets to the sauce of the matter
Warning labels 'may contain' unclear message
'May contain' allergy warning labels should be replaced by 'not suitable for' labels, which are less ambiguous, Sainsbury has argued.Speaking at Food...
Meat-free is still not problem free for Premier Foods
Firm contracts out more production of Quorn and Cauldron to resolve 'inefficiencies'
Silver-based technology reduces cross-contamination
An environmental trial at a food processing plant in the West Midlands has reduced harmful microbe levels, such as E.Coli and Salmonella, by 96.4%...
M&S to be ‘world’s most sustainable retailer'
Every single product in Marks & Spencer’s (M&S's) food range will carry “at least one sustainable or ethical quality” (eg Fairtrade or...
If you want an ombudsman, get one that looks for trouble
Liberal Democrat shadow DEFRA secretary stresses importance of aggressive regulator
Glisten in position
Snacks and confectionery firm, Glisten is in a stronger position to boost exports, invest in products, upgrade its IT and pursue acquisitions with...
Consumers resist scientific advances
The jury is still out on the efficacy of antimicrobial treatments (AMTs) used to kill off dangerous pathogens on the surface of poultry. But...
Toddlers aren’t eating enough iron, says study
As many as eight out of 10 toddlers are not meeting their daily recommendation of iron intake, which could have serious implications for their health...
Muddy Boots seeks partner to ramp up meals production
A small producer of ready meals made using grass fed Aberdeen Angus beef is looking to join forces with a larger manufacturer to distribute products...
An 'A+' for effort
If you could design your processes again from scratch, asks Glen Annison at Creative Foods, what would they look like?
Trade Talk Pity the imperfect picture of food policy
A picture of the Conservative Party's overall food policy is hard to find. Apart from aiming to move the areas related to nutrition and diet from the...
Marco system gives Cucina Sano 100%
Bakkavör Cucina Sano has installed Marco's Trac-IT line control module at its plant in Lincolnshire. The blend of software and hardware provides...
New food waste disposal unit to open in May
Waste disposal facilities for food processors continue to multiply, with an anaerobic digestion facility at Deerdykes in Cumbernauld, Scotland, due...
Antioxidant health claims will be very hard to prove, say scientists
Academics specialising in phytochemicals say they are "not at all surprised" the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected generic health...
It's make or break time for the UK's fishing industry
Sustainable fishing measures aim to yield a healthier marine environment for the future
MAP films aim to speed up sales, not lengthen shelf-life
The current priority for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems for meat and poultry is not to provide improved barrier or longer shelf-life,...
Lend me your ears ...
The UK's food industry needs politicians with a real grasp of the sector's importance to the nation's wealth, reports Rick Pendrous
Ainsley's amazing new grains
Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott has expanded his easy-to-cook product portfolio with the launch of Amazing Grains. The new range includes chilli and...
Are date marks approaching their sell by date?
I was pleased to hear that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is drawing up new guidance on the use of 'best before' and 'use by' dates. Critics of the...
Pipe ducts save time and money
Cadbury chocolate crumb production plant at Marlbook in Herefordshire has installed an extensive stainless steel modular pipework ducting system. The...
Kettle Chips refreshes core range
Kettle Chips is refreshing its core range of flavours and is adding three new seasonings, which hit the shelves at the beginning of this month. The...
The joy of new neighbours
Jasper has left me another parcel, right between the rose bush and the daffodils. Now and again, I come across his unpleasant and unwanted gifts....
Dutch firms unite vs obesity
A number of ingredient manufacturers and research institutes will pool their expertise in the fight against obesity in a project that will be...
Rice Krispies: soon with 30% less salt
Kellogg has pledged to cut the salt in some of its products by 30%, including Rice Krispies and Kellogg's Corn Flakes.The company claims the move...
Meat sector suffers cold cuts on job front
Processors under consolidation pressure
Seachill works with ImageID to slash pallet scanning time
Fresh and frozen seafood supplier Seachill has slashed pallet scanning times for traceability purposes by implementing ImageID's Visidot image...
Bakers must wait to use high-intensity sweeteners
Bakers hoping to extend the use of high-intensity sweeteners into new food categories have been told they must wait until 2012 before the issue is...
Ice has the edge in food industry cleaning
Using water to clean machinery is dangerous due to the likelihood of it interfering with electrical elements and the risk of leftover liquid...
Business all at sea
Despite the weak pound boosting overseas opportunities, the government isn't supporting firms that want to export. Hayley Brown reports
Rooker plea to keep the FSA independent
Launching the Food Standards Agency's (FSA's) science and evidence strategic plan for the next five years at an event in London last month, chairman...
We must wait years to set the allergen threshold, says FSA
Establishing thresholds for adventitious presence of milk, peanuts and egg will take time
Hello John, got a new flexible motor
The new Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 753 AC drive from Rockwell Automation promises flexibility, ease of use and increased productivity.The drive supports...
Chase for the pot of gold
Government funding for food industry training looks precarious. Rod Addy debates the issues
Apprentices do not have to have all the fun
Much has been written about the rewards of taking an apprenticeship within the food and drink industry. But it's not just the apprentices that reap...
Breath of fresh compressed air
Boge has recently introduced AIReport: a sophisticated compressed air auditing system that can simultaneously analyse up to 12 compressors. Logged...
Waste not water, and want not for tax and cost savings
A study has revealed that a staggering 61% of senior managers do not know how much money their firms spend on water. At the same time the research,...
A lot on their plate
The organic food movement battled falling sales and scientific criticism in 2009. Rod Addy looks at its plans to fight back in the year to come
How to have a healthy low impact diet
A new challenge is emerging from the murky world of policy debate: how best to create a 'healthy, low impact diet' for tomorrow's low carbon...
Skills and training initiatives for trade gather momentum
Pace of progress on delivering workforce of future increases as projects bear fruit
Risk management rises up the agenda as supply chain becomes more complex
Risk management is rising up the company agenda as food and drink firms tackle potential damage from the rising number of threats facing the...
Britvic’s new approach slashes staff sickness
Britvic Soft Drinks has cut sickness absences among its workforce in a joint project with consultancy Healthcare RM.In general, the initiative has...
WRAP to probe into pre-prepared food waste
A new project will calculate the amount of food and packaging waste generated by pre-prepared foods such as pizza, sandwiches and ready meals from...
The right way to prevent imports of illegal fish
SirThe EU Regulation (1005/2008) on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing came into force in January (Food Manufacture, February,...
Beware tight and inflexible product briefs
The number of times I have seen poor packaging design ruin the opportunity for the success of new products. Packaging and the design of packaging...