Industrial freezing and chilling equipment specialist, Starfrost has implemented a new, state-of-the-art spiral cooling system for Pladis, the global snacking company behind well-loved brand McVitie’s. The new upgrade was installed at the company’s Cake Bakery in Halifax, where household favourites such as McVitie’s Jamaica Ginger cake and McVitie’s Hobnob Chocolate Flapjacks are baked, enabling the […]
Health & Safety
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) has released guidance on the determination of milkfat purity, providing important additional direction to both scientists and non-scientists involved in the testing of milk and dairy products. Milkfat is an important component of milk and most dairy products.
In addition to having a nutritional impact, it also provides numerous benefits to food […]
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a further assessment of microplastics in the environment and their potential impacts on human health, following the release of an analysis of current research related to microplastics in drinking-water. The Organization also calls for a reduction in plastic pollution to benefit the environment and reduce human exposure.
“We […]
Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology have developed a new methodology for the simultaneous analysis of odorants and tastants. It could simplify and accelerate the quality control of food in the future.
Whether a food tastes good or not is essentially determined by the interaction of odors […]
The new GEA Static Pressure Control System (SPCS) is GEAs most recent service upgrade for older A-Tec spiral freezers. The simple upgrade instantly controls the air flow, reducing frost build-up which increases productivity and improves product quality. Saving time, energy, money and a four-month ROI are further advantages of the new SPCS.
All GEA A-Tec spiral freezers […]
ESI Nutrition – the new nutrition division of French dairy co-operative Laïta – has just received approval from Chinese authorities (GACG – General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China), allowing the business to produce infant formulas in powder for China at its new industrial site, Laiterie Nouvelle de l’Argenon.
With the start of […]
Nine in ten (90%) UK dairy farmers say they are aware that light damages nutrients and taste in milk with 62% saying the whole dairy supply chain should take responsibility for the issue, according to research published by packaging technology company Noluma International LLC. Despite the widespread knowledge among dairy farmers, fewer than a third […]
Mettler-Toledo, one of the market-leading suppliers of product inspection and industrial weighing technologies, is presenting its latest metal detection, x-ray, checkweighing and vision solutions for ensuring quality and conformity in meat products at IFFA 2019 (4 to 9 May 2019, Messe Frankfurt) in hall 11.1, booth B65.
Visitors to the stand will be able to meet with the company’s […]
Single use hand protection specialist Unigloves has enhanced its food-dedicated range with the launch of the new Unicare Flex Nitrile disposable glove. Food handling approved, the new Unicare Flex Nitrile disposable, blue glove has been designed to provide exceptional levels of comfort and performance across a range of food handling environments. It is also more environmentally […]
Tetra Pak has launched its connected packaging platform, which will transform milk and juice cartons into interactive information channels, full-scale data carriers and digital tools. Driven by the trends behind Industry 4.0, and with code generation, digital printing and data management at its core, the connected packaging platform will bring new benefits to food producers, retailers and shoppers.
For […]
Avery Dennison RBIS, a division of Avery Dennison Corporation, the Fortune 500® innovative packaging company, has announced a transformative initiative with partner Beefchain. In partnership with the Wyoming Business Council, Beefchain helps ranchers command more value from their beef by proving, via blockchain technology, that their beef is free-range and fairly farmed, distinguishing themselves from […]
Loma Systems®, a leading manufacturer of high performance metal detectors, checkweighers and X-ray inspection equipment for the global food industry, has further strengthened its X5 X-ray Series for the detection of foreign bodies, with the addition of its X5 Bulkflow model. The X5 Bulkflow is an advanced X-ray inspection system for bulk loose, unpackaged, and free-flowing […]
Flowcrete UK has won the Large Industrial Project of the Year and Large Commercial Project of the Year categories at the FeRFA 2018 Best Practise Awards. The Resin Flooring Association (FeRFA) represents major businesses and organisations involved in resin flooring, screeding and surface preparation. Its annual awards event celebrates the best of the resin flooring industry’s achievements from […]
EU starch producers are proud to renew their firm commitment to continuously improve safety practices and to achieve a safer working environment, through their contribution to the 4th exercise of the Starch Europe Safety Programme. The Starch Europe Safety Programme, launched in 2014, recognises the best performing EU starch plants in terms of reducing workplace […]
When sourcing pallets for handling spirits and other alcoholic beverages, safety in the supply chain is a primary consideration. The alcoholic drinks industry invests in customised pallet solutions – pallets that are suitable for use in automation, whether that’s being moved by forklifts, handled by automated conveyors or stored in high bay racking systems.
Switching from […]
The new distillery for luxury whisky brand The Macallan has installed a variety of Flowcrete UK floors to create surfaces that would reflect its visual identity and maintain the functional properties required to produce this iconic Scottish spirit.
When Edrington, the international spirits group that owns The Macallan, decided to build a £140 million facility to meet increasing global […]
Single use glove specialist Unigloves has launched the brand new 15-glove Pearl Colour System nitrile gloves range, helping organisations across the food sector more effectively manage cross contamination risks. The expanded range, combines high quality food handling approved, AQL 1.5 medical grade, powder-free nitrile gloves available in a range of colour finishes – including those […]
Food allergen specialist Simon Flanagan took the top spot in the prestigious Scientist of the Year category at this year’s Food & Drink Federation awards ceremony. With a long-standing career specialising in allergen risk assessment and management, Simon Flanagan – head of food safety and quality at Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) – successfully demonstrated […]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded GEA a letter of no objection (LONO) for its ABF 1.2 technology, an integrated blowing, filling and capping solution featuring a fully aseptic rotary blowing machine. It is the only system equipped with a 100% aseptic blower that is allowed to produce shelf-stable low acid (LA) […]
Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, has introduced VERYX® digital sorters for fresh-cut leafy greens. VERYX is the world’s only belt-fed sorter that can inspect product entirely in-air with top and bottom sensors in order to detect and eliminate all foreign material (FM) and product defects. Combining Key’s expertise in sorting […]
Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL), a global leader at the forefront of scientific analysis, consultancy, product development and training, has established a dedicated acrylamide testing laboratory in a move to increase capacity and reduce turnaround times. While acrylamide testing has been part of RSSL’s technical service for many years, the prospect and subsequent adoption of the new […]
Intelligent line optimization enables food manufacturers to make the most of their production assets by securing uptime and reducing rework. Product inspection technologies like vision systems have evolved to support these ambitions: with their role changing from a function of brand protection to a more encompassing one related to productivity and increasing overall equipment effectiveness.
Yet […]
EFSA has published the Food Enzyme Intake Model (FEIM), a tool for estimating chronic dietary exposure to food enzymes used in different food processes. FEIM follows the methodology recommended in 2016 by EFSA’s Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF). It has been developed on the basis of actual food consumption data collected […]
The scale of today’s food industry combined with the strict standards that it has to comply with means that food and beverage businesses have never faced so many challenges and concerns in order to successfully grow, process and sell products. This is exemplified by the requirements placed on each building component, piece of equipment and production […]
The top nine retailers across the UK have now published their latest testing results on campylobacter contamination in UK-produced fresh whole chickens (covering samples tested from January to March 2018). The latest figures show that on average, across the major retailers, 3.8% of chickens tested positive for the highest level of contamination; these are the chickens […]
The European Commission has just released a new common methodology for comparing the quality of food products across the EU. The Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s Science and Knowledge service, has developed a common methodology to allow national consumer authorities to carry out tests comparing the composition and characteristics of food products sold […]
Beverage bottlers know the problem of flavour transfer all too well. If the wrong elastomer is used, a new batch can taste like the previous one, even though the facilities were cleaned between batches. The problem being the flavour is transferred from the beverage to the sealing material and then, far worse, back to the […]
In food produce environments and packhouses, the benefits of automation when it comes to workforce health and safety are uncontended. From eliminating arduous and repetitive tasks to working uninterrupted within inhospitable chilled settings, robots are most certainly the future. Case loading specialist Brillopak and industrial automation pioneer Omron explore how smart robots, hardware and software can […]
The global dairy sector must continue its efforts to harmonise methods of analysis and sampling for milk and milk products if trade in dairy products is to continue to thrive, delegates at the recent International Dairy Federation (IDF)/Organisation for International Standardisation (ISO) Analytical Week in Dublin, Ireland, were told.
Speaking at the Analytical Symposium during the week-long event, […]
SICK has launched the LabelChecker, an ‘off-the-shelf’ label inspection solution with the ability to read and verify text, numbers, bar codes and 2D codes, as well as checking label design and print quality. Based on SICK’s InspectorP vision sensor, the all-in-one solution is the first to be developed using SICK’s pioneering AppSpace programming environment. The […]
By Shan Zhan, Global Business Manager for Food & Beverage within the ABB Control Technologies business unit
In summer 2017, 15 EU states, Switzerland and Hong Kong were affected by the Fipronil contamination scandal. The scandal originated in the Netherlands but had global effects. Around ten million tainted eggs were imported into Germany, with not only eggs […]
Findings that many bottled waters contain microplastics have recently hit the headlines. According to news sources, such as the BBC, researchers at State University of New York in Fredonia found microplastic particles in nearly all of 250 bottled waters bought in nine different countries. On average, each litre contained more than 10 particles bigger than […]
Food-security experts from all over the world will converge on Belfast from 28-31 May 2018 for a major Summit on how to feed a growing global population – amid massive challenges such as climate change, Brexit, labyrinthine food-supply chains and food fraud on a global scale.
The Belfast Summit on Global Food Integrity will be chaired by Professor Chris Elliott […]
Responding to consumer concerns about food quality and fraudulent practices concerning food, the European Commission has launched a Knowledge Centre for Food Fraud and Quality, operated by the Joint Research Centre. The Knowledge Centre, a network made up of experts in and outside the Commission, will support EU policymakers and national authorities by providing access […]
The demands in food are high. Only companies that master and check the packing process get safe products. Whether deficiencies in the packing material, filling material residuals in the heat-sealed seam or foreign bodies – leaks and contaminations present a threat to the product safety. This is why from 20 to 23 March 2018, Anuga FoodTec […]
CSP Technologies – a leader in packaging solutions that ensure product protection, enhance brand recognition and improve consumer experiences – has partnered with aseptic sampling specialist QualiTru Sampling Systems to develop TruDraw®, a single-use aseptic sampling system for sampling of liquid dairy products. Particularly relevant to milk producers, the product virtually eliminates the risk of external exposure, ensuring an unprecedented level […]
DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, will exclusively market BIOMILK 300, a compact residual lactose-analyzing device produced by BIOLAN, as from February 2018. For dairy producers, the BIOMILK 300 is a fast, cost-effective, and accurate analyzer for quantifying residual lactose levels in lactose-free and lactose-reduced dairy products.
Consumers are increasingly aware […]
Ishida X-ray inspection technology is helping to maintain the premium quality reputation of one of Russia’s most popular traditional snack brands.
The ‘ROSTRAGROEXPORT’ company was founded by Mr Boris Aleksandrov in 1995, who spotted a niche in the Russian food market for a good quality traditional curd snack. Its ‘B.Y. Aleksandrov’ brand, named after the company’s […]
AGRO Merchants Group, a global leader in cold storage and logistics solutions, announced today the acquisition of UK-based Grocontinental Limited. This transaction reinforces AGRO’s position as the leading cold storage and logistics provider in the United Kingdom and Ireland, deepens its commodity expertise, and substantially enhances its value-added service offerings for customers. David Grocott and Linda Grocott, third generation owners of […]
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced that new EU legislation would be in force from April 2018 requiring food businesses to put in place practical steps to manage acrylamide within their food safety management systems. Since acrylamide was first identified in food products in 2002, laboratories have developed and validated analytical methods for the quantification of […]
The Environment, Foods and Rural Affairs Committee in the UK has published its report into 2 Sisters Food Group and Standards in Poultry Processing. The Committee launched an inquiry into 2 Sisters and poultry standards following the undercover footage released by The Guardian and ITN.
The evidence sessions looked at the issues raised at the 2 […]
With the extension of its testing product range to include polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based systems, Hygiena now covers the entire spectrum of reliable contamination detection, from sample collection to screening of indicator organisms to specific microbial characterisation.
These products are suitable for large and small manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), as well as large corporate laboratories […]
Improving safety practices and achieving a safer working environment is a priority for all EU starch producers. Starch Europe has announced the winners of this year’s safety awards.
In 2014, Starch Europe launched the Starch Europe Safety Programme which recognizes the best performing EU starch plants in minimizing accidents at work. Starch Europe companies go beyond all […]
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published the last set of results from its third survey of campylobacter contamination in fresh shop-bought UK-produced chickens. The full year’s results show that on average, across the entire market, 6.5% of chickens tested positive for the highest level of contamination, (over 1,000 colony forming units per gram – […]
In a move to boost freezer capacity at its modern plant in Glasgow, leading UK fresh meat processing company, Scotbeef has purchased a BFT40 portable blast freezer from Blue Cube Portable Cold Stores – part of The Turner Group – after renting the unit for several years.
Scotbeef is one of the largest privately owned fresh […]
There were double celebrations for Verner Wheelock at this year’s prestigious Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) AGM in London recently. The top prizes for the Level 4 Award in Food Safety for Manufacturing and Level 4 Award in HACCP both went to Verner Wheelock delegates.
Yanis Skerstins (pictured above right), a Global A&A auditor at […]
Irish food safety and traceability company IdentiGEN has secured a major contract in Switzerland which will see it provide DNA based traceability for all Swiss beef. The deal is estimated to be worth in excess of €17 million over a five-year contract period and involves use of IdentiGEN’s DNA-TraceBack system to guarantee the integrity of […]
The European Commission has issued a set of guidelines on the application of EU food and consumer laws to dual quality products, as announced by President Juncker in this year’s State of the Union speech. The guidelines will help national authorities to determine whether a company is breaking EU laws when selling products of dual […]
When it was launched in 2006, the Marel SensorX set a new standard in bone detection for poultry processors around the world. In the meantime Marel has not rested on its laurels but has continued to improve on a popular concept. The company’s drive to achieve the ultimate in quality, a wholly bone-free product, is […]
On stand G24 at PPMA 2017, Eriez Europe will be making their debut at the event showcasing a range of their magnetic separation and metal detection solutions for improved and efficient metal removal and product purity. Magnetic separators are the first line of defence to remove unwanted metals such as steel fragments, scale, rust and […]
At PPMA 2017, stand A42, Fortress Technology will unveil how metal detection sensitivity accomplished by its multi-aperture innovation can deliver optimal food safety whilst helping to eradicate false product rejects. Factory food waste is a huge issue. Yet, choices about production equipment, including metal detection and other quality control, can impact the 1.9 million tonnes […]
Major drinks manufacturer, Halewood International, is to launch a UK-wide quality management system using software from Ideagen. The producers of Crabbie’s, Lambrini and Red Square Vodka – among other brands – will adopt Ideagen Q-Pulse for the management of key operational documentation such as quality policies, specification information, consumer feedback and internal and external audits.
Q-Pulse will become […]
Leading German dairy company Karwendel-Werke Huber is ensuring outstanding product quality for its Exquisa and miree cream cheese and quark specialities with the help of eleven X-ray inspection systems from Ishida Europe. Two models from the Ishida X-ray range have been installed, the IX-GA-4075, which is inspecting plastic tubs with fill weights between 135g and […]
A Teagasc Quality Assurance event was held on the farm of Harry and Amanda Murphy, Ballamon, Ferns, Co. Wexford on Thursday, 24 August. In association with Bord Bia, the objective of the event was to highlight the key areas where farmers are having issues with the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Inspection for beef and sheep. Other […]
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