A major reduction in food packaging, a rethink on how it is measured and a call for greater investment by packing companies to increase recycling are part of a strategy unveiled today by the UK government.
A new laser sorter that makes aflatoxin-contaminated products easier to detect and reduces yield loss has the potential to revolutionise the processing of a wide range of crop plants, claims its manufacturer.
A quality control instrument for flour from French firm Chopin Technologies could play a key role in ensuring flour performance matches customers' expectations in a finished product, attendees heard at a recent conference in Paris.
Outstanding moisture barrier performance, improved strength and the ability to extend product shelf life are claims made for two new high density polyethlyne (HDPE) resins for use in food packing films.
Cereal machinery supplier Baker Perkins has launched updated versions of its cereal flaking roll machine, which is said to reduce operating noise and maintenance.
Affordability in terms of beneficial effects on operating costs, material savings and price per bottle are key advantages of a new PET hotfill process, according to the manufacturer.
The consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry in the US has shown resilience in the current recession and significantly outperformed the rest of the market in 2008, according to a report released this week.
Bemis Company, Inc has bought out the South American rigid packing operations of Huhtamaki Oyj, a global manufacturer of consumer and specialty packaging.
The use of three new valve control heads can boost efficiency and allow processors in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries to make energy and waste reductions, Burkert Fluid Control Systems has said.
High-speed in-motion sizing, a wide variety of parts distribution and a design to aid easy access to components are advantages claimed for a poultry portion classifying machine by its manufacturer.
Debt restructuring and redundancy announcements from two UK packing firms this week provided further proof of the severity of the current economic headwinds facing the packaging industry.
Nanotechnology is opening up opportunities in food formulation, food packaging, and food safety. Stephen Daniells talked to Kathy Groves, principal microscopist from Leatherhead, on how the industry is facing up to the challenges and potential.
Packaging waste derived from snack goods like potato chip packets may provide manufacturers with versatile new ways to cut their environmental impacts by using the materials in bags, pencil cases and even building products, says one US-based group.
The organic food company, Hain Celestial Group has been named number one in the food and drink sector in The Sunday Times Best Green Companies Award 2009.
A new range of sealable, polyester food packaging products designed to replace clear, rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging has been launched by Spartech Corporation.
A supplier of carton and filling technology claims recent developments it has made in aseptic carton filling are helping to negate potential sales risks of moving into the challenging, but desirable smoothie segment.
Europe-based Imtech is set to boost its expertise as a technical service provider for food and beverage processors with a specific focus on the heat and energy efficiency needs of Scandinavian manufacturers.
There is a general trend towards lower levels acrylamide in food products over time, EFSA has observed – but the decrease is not consistent across food groups and for some levels have actually increased.
The launch of a new bottling format by soft drink group Honest Tea is claimed to be the latest development in an ongoing focus for light weighted products by the pack’s supplier.
Lighter, functional and biodegradable packs were key innovations in regards to global pack solutions on display during the first combined Bta and Hispack trade event that took place in Barcelona last week, according to its organisers.
US industrial food processing supplier JBT FoodTech has acquired Double D Food Engineering, one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of custom-built ovens and cookers, for an undisclosed sum.
You can try your best to avoid it, but when it comes to measuring carbon footprint, almost everything we do these days, either as a business or individuals, is likely to have a negative impact on the environment.
China will continue to import UK recovered paper and plastic, including supplies from the food and beverage industries, despite the global recession, says a new survey conducted by Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
The first food-testing laboratory in China recognised to reach international standards for pesticide screenings, melamine and heavy metal testing and microbiological analyses, was opened last month by Eurofins in Suzhou.
Pack supplier Rexam says that declining demand for its beverage can products across European markets and planned restructuring of its plastic operations has not dented its debt reduction ambitions.
The new Pack 201, medium-speed horizontal flow wrapper, is specially designed for the gentle handling of delicate fruit and vegetables, claims manufacturer Bosch Packaging Technology.
Reducing the risk of operator injuries and accidental product spillage, bulk material handling firm Fresco Systems Australasia has rolled out a mobile hopper loader to their range of conveyors.
The first fully-licensed mobile livestock slaughter unit in California will improve animal welfare by eliminating long journeys to slaughter houses and improve meat quality, claims its operator Central Coast Agricultural Cooperative.
More than 1.1m tonnes of waste will be saved from disposal in landfill sites over the next three years thanks to a new initiative from recycling specialists in Wales, Waste and Resources Action Programme, Cymru.
High-pressure processing (HPP) technology developed by Australian researchers to extend shelf life of chilled perishable products without the use of preservatives, is the star turn of a new fruit-juice manufacturing plant hailed “the first of its kind”,...
Poland’s food processing industry will show little or no sign of the turmoil that impacted the global economy last year, according to a new report from international research consultants RNCOS.
International food and beverage brand-owners could jeopardise their share value and reputation by dragging their feet when it comes to implementing alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA), according to a recent US survey.
The outbreak of swine flu may have peaked but countries should not lower their guard against the virus which has claimed more than 100 lives and affected nearly 1000 people in 20 countries, warns the World Health Organisation.
Researchers from Sweden have developed an evaluation model for food process systems to improve production flow and minimize waste that is based on a Japanese philosophy.
A new website has been launched that aims to become the first port of call on issues surrounding food waste and inform food processors and other interested parties about the latest sustainability initiatives.
A food pressure group in the UK is urging consumers to place stickers on plant produced bread in a move to highlight the unlabelled processing aids used in breads formulated by the 'big bakers'.
The extra £10m funding for processing UK food waste announced in the recent UK budget will allow more than 300,000 additional tonnes of food waste to be processed every year, says the recycling action group Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
Weight and packaging material are the key factors influencing the environmental impact of ambient food packaging systems, according to new research from German carton manufacturer SIG Combibloc.
Greater clarity on which supply chains areas to prioritise for action on waste could help food and drink manufacturers as well as grocery retailers identify opportunities to make cost and environmental savings, claims a UK government funded agency.
Two new checkweighing scales have both been durably constructed for demanding production environments and heavy sanitary washdowns, claims their US-based manufacturer, Rice Lake Weighing Systems.
A modularly designed automated potato sorter that uses cameras to recognize colour, size and shape can maximize a food processor’s long-term return on investment, says Key Technology.
Further signs that snack makers are delving deeper into green packaging initiatives with US behemoth PepsiCo attesting that by 2010 its SunChips brand will boast a 100 per cent compostable bag made from plant-based materials.
Matching IT infrastructure needs with rapid expansion in the business, UK baker Warburtons teamed up with data management firm NetApp to develop storage and backup for SAP implementation.
European food manufacturers can now use the ELISA Systems range of food allergen tests kits alongside the regular range of microbiological tests from Oxoid, according to the diagnostics company.
A partnership between UK manufacturer of hotplate baking equipment Sugden and US firm Forpak brings 'Grouper' stacking equipment to the market for reducing human contamination and labour costs.
Endocrine disruptors such as phthalates used in food packaging could be linked to childhood obesity, according to two studies from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Efforts by snack manufacturers to improve their sustainability credentials continue with UK firm United Biscuits reporting "great progress" in its six-pronged sustainability blueprint launched last year.
A pledge to cut its US greenhouse gas emissions 20 per cent per dollar sales between 2006 and 2012 has been made by Ecolab, a provider of cleaning, food safety and health protection products.
