A Netherlands-based research company claims a breakthrough in
developing a more efficient way to produce the microorganisms used
in industrial food production.
Despite the reluctance of many EU food and packaging companies to
invest more in research and development, some have taken up the
challenge of keeping the bloc on the leading edge of innovation.
The sale of Bulgarian pig meat could soon be prohibited unless the
government can prove it is successfully tackling increased
outbreaks of Classical Swine fever (CSF) in the country, according
to a new USDA report.
We desperately need to change the corrosive debate over obesity by
looking for innovative solutions rather than just scapegoats, says
a Danisco business development manager.
Food safety experts are meeting in Dublin, Ireland this week to
discuss international standards they hope will cut back on the
rising number of infections caused by the deadly enterohaemorrhagic
Escherichia coli (EHEC) bacteria.
The UK's Food Standards Agency has taken action to ensure that
testing and monitoring is carried out on consignments of American
long grain rice in the UK.
Using a combination of microbubbles and ozone treatments to
disinfect water can deliver a chemical-free knockout punch to
bacteria, according UK researchers.
An outbreak of bluetongue disease has led to an export restriction
on all ruminants in a 150 km area covering Belgium, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Germany and France.
A new colour vision detector can help the food industry meet new
traceability regulations in place throughout Europe and North
America, its manufacturer claims.
The most inclusive assessment of the potential dangers of
nanotechnology in the food industry is underway and could impact
the technology's wider integration into the common market.
Further compounding the problems a long-grain rice ban in Japan
will have on US producers is the threat that bans could eventually
be implemented in the EU.
T.D. Sawvel has introduced a low-cost scale-filler kit for liquid
food packers, bringing fast, accurate liquid measurements to
low-budget operations, says the company.
In July the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its most
comprehensive report on acrylamide, posting a database of 2,500
foods and their acrylamide content.
The European Commission yesterday set targets for member states to
meet in reducing the presence of Salmonella in poultry, and has
proposed trade bans on eggs from flocks with persistent high levels
of the pathogen.
Food companies and administrative bureaucrats attempting to dodge
the EU's laws better watch out - the bloc's fraud and corruption
watchdog is on their trail.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will beef up its process for
disclosing the conflicts of interest of its advisory experts, after
a survey suggests it is supressing scientific evidence in favor of
industry.
A combination of specific packaging films, cleaning chemicals and
modified atmospheres can lengthen the shelf life of fruit and
vegetable varieties, according to studies by the US Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
An entry level X-ray inspection system offers processors a
cost-effective way of meeting the EU's food safety requirements,
its UK-based manufacturer claims.
The European Commission has launched an online database and a
journal to help regulators and processors share information on the
EU's new hygiene regulations as they are applied across the bloc.
An updated model of a gristle removal machine, uses new technology
that results in a more gentle treatment of the meat, and a high
quality of product, its manufacturer claims.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) continues to expand its
scientific work this year, with an eye on the upcoming
implementation of new EU legislation covering a variety of industry
segments.
The presence of salmonella in samples of most raw meat and poultry
products tested by federal inspectors decreased slightly in the
first quarter of 2006.
Turmeric, normally used as a spice to Asian foods, can be used to
curb bad flavors from forming in pickles packaged in plastic
containers, according to a study.
A new packaging system provides an extended shelf life for fresh
food products without using the more expensive thermoforming
process, its Swiss-based manufacturer claims.
Scientists have renewed calls for a listeriosis reporting network
across the EU, pointing to the relatively high rates of the deadly
disease throughout the bloc.
Progress is being made in reducing the levels of the potentially
cancer-causing acrylamide from many foods, but reducing its
presence in coffee still poses a challenge, scientists say.
A new pressure tester compensates for temperature and also predicts
shelf life, helping food and beverage packagers to ensure the
quality of their products.