All news articles for March 2006

EU authorities co-ordinate efforts against illegally declared foods

Greater international co-ordination in reducing the amount of illegally declared foods entering and exiting the EU's borders could be the result of a meeting held yesterday by the bloc's anti-fraud office.

Report identifies key drivers in ready meals growth

Food makers must tap into two key consumer trends if they are to profit from the continuing popularity of ready meals, according to a new report.

Salmonella kit delivers results in under a day, company claims

A new testing kit for Salmonella promises to deliver results in less than a day.

Thai chicken processors cooking meat to recover exports

Thailand's chicken processors say they will soon recover their export sales, badly damaged by the bird flu crisis, by offering their international customers premium, cooked products.

Halal foods to benefit from surge in Muslim consumer power

The rise in Muslim purchasing power and growth in consumer-led movements will give Asian food makers with halal certification access to new markets, believes a halal industry expert.

Commission steps in to stem price drop in poultry sector

The European Commission stepped in today to help stem the fall in prices for eggs and poultry due to consumer fears over avian influenza.

Melton Mowbray pie fight to be heard by EU court

Northern Foods' battle to keep its lucrative market for Melton Mowbray pork pies will be heard by the EU's top court.

Genencor launches enzyme technology for meat processors

Genencor International is to launch its Prionzyme as a sanetising device for meat processors - equipment that will help ensure optimum hygiene and also prevent the spread of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in slaughter houses.

Swabs pick up tough bacteria that survive cleaning

Biotrace International has released a range of sponges or swabs to help food companies pick up harmful bacteria that have survived the cleaning process.

UN report shows dramatic fall in BSE incidents

A UN report on the dramatic drop in cases of Bovine Spongiform Encepalopathy (BSE) or "mad cow disease" worldwide, could help food companies win back former beef eaters.

Americans more aware of foodborne illness, says study

American consumers are eating safer, according to new findings that reveal the number of 'risky foods' consumed has declined significantly in recent years.

Food safety watchdog says cooked poultry, eggs "safe"

A report on avian influenza from the EU's food safety watchdog could help to calm consumer fears about eating poultry and eggs, even though the regulator's scientists have also sounded a note of caution.

Meeting debates microbiological standards

A four-day public consultation could result in newor amended rules food companies will have to applywithin their manufacturing plants.

China to monitor bird flu with RFID

An RFID tracking system designed to slow the spread of avian flu will be tested this month by China's poultry industry, currently facing flagging demand and low prices following several outbreaks of the disease in different provinces.

Malaysia looking for bigger role in halal industry

Malaysian trade officials may set up a new agency to oversee halal food governance, as the country seeks to play a greater part in the fast-developing halal food sector.

Industry targets growing demand for local food

The increasing availability of locally ingredients and food is driving sales of products with a clear provenance, according to a new report commissioned by Food from Britain (FFB).

Agency consults UK industry on plan to improve employee skills

The UK's food manufacturers are being consulted on a master plan to develop and boost employee skills.

Ter Beke and Pluma to create processed meats powerhouse

Two food companies in Belgium have announced plans to merge their operations, creating the largest processed meats group in the country and a powerhouse in the Benelux region.

US gears up for possible bird flu outbreak

The Bush administration today published plans to prevent an outbreak of avian influenza in the US, a day after the agriculture secretary forecast that the disease would show up in migratory birds later this year.

Law firm welcomes simplification of food regulations

Owen Warnock, partner and food law expert at law firm Eversheds, believes that UK plans to simplify the regulation and legislation of the food industry are to be welcomed.

Americans eat fish despite mercury fears, says study

American consumers are aware of the levels of harmful contaminants in seafood, but this has not prevented them from omitting fish from their diets, says a new report.

Round up: Denmark hit by deadly strain of bird flu

Avian influenza was found in a wild bird in Denmark this week, making it the eleventh EU member to report a suspected or confirmed case of the Asian strain of the H5N1 virus in the bloc.

Safety regulator finds mollusc allergens not reduced by processing

The EU's food safety authority has found that allergens in molluscs are not reliably reduced by processing techniques, paving the way for the bloc to impose labelling requirements on a variety of foods.

Report claims "life-threatening" dangers of Atkins

Low-carbohydrate diets could pose a serious health risk and are not a safe way to lose weight, according to a new report.

Scientists map out action plan on food industry research

The EU's researchers have received funding to map out a course of action on developing food production in the bloc.

New fire safety rules puts more responsiblity on plant managers

New fire safety rules affecting all businesses in England and Wales will come into force in October, placing greater responsibilities on plant managers.

Stacking robot is fastest in world, company claims

A Spanish company claims to have developed what it calls the fastest robot in the world for the food processing industry.

Consumer confidence in food safety on the rise?

Consumer confidence in food safety in the UK is recovering from the low levels it had reached last year after the Sudan 1 food scare, according to a new survey.

UK introduces licencing law for labour providers

Gangmasters supplying labourers to work in agriculture or food processing and packaging will need licences to operate in the UK.

E. coli outbreak from ground beef suspected in child's death

Following the death of a young boy due to a suspected E. coli outbreak in Norway, discounter Lidl has halted sales of ground beef produced in the country.

US BSE case further blow against regaining markets

The US has found another case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a blow against the country's recent success at regaining its international beef markets.

Argentina suspends beef exports

Processors who import their beef from Argentina are scrambling for another source of supply as the country's president announced the suspension of trade in the commodity for the next six months.

Regulator to begin inspections of meat plants under hygiene law

Like its counterparts across the EU, the UK's food regulator has started inspecting meat plants, threatening to close those that do not comply with the bloc's new hygiene laws.

Dual-lane system inspects two streams of food products

A dual lane x-ray system allows two streams of different food products to be inspected simultaneously on one machine.

Microbiologists meet to discuss role in fighting disease

Microbiology experts from across Europe are meeting in Cardiff, Wales today to discuss how to improve the fight against food borne bacteria such as E. coli O157, and diseases such as avian influenza.

EU to lift ban on UK beef

The European Commission's veterinary experts voted today to lift the 10-year old embargo on UK exports of live cattle, beef and beef products.

Sausage cutter speeds up production process, UFM claims

A high-speed sausage cutter launched in the UK meets the increasing demand for quick and efficient production, according to Union Food Machinery and Equipment (UFM).

Premier Foods strengthened by acquisitions and marketing

UK manufacturer Premier Foods has achieved flat sales but a year-end like-for-like grocery profit rise of 5.4 per cent - bolstered by rewarding acquisitions and a huge marketing drive.

Sweden detects BSE for the first time, along with bird flu

Sweden has been hit with a double blow, becoming the first in the Scandinavian region to detect avian influenza in wild birds, and also finding its first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a cow.

Smart label senses quality of packaged meat

New smart label technology holds the promise of reducing the chance of spoilt or contaminated meat reaching retail shelves and of increasing consumer confidence in food safety.

Western European manufacturers hit low ebb

Fears for Western Europe's food processing industry have been raised following revelations that firms are cutting back on jobs and R&D spending in the face of cheap foreign competitors.

Bird flu spreads to France's southern region

Avian influenza continues to spread in the EU's largest poultry producer, with the country's agriculture ministry reporting over the weekend that the highly pathogenic type H5N1 had been detected in a dead wild swan in the Camargue wetlands.

France pledges bird flu aid for poultry industry

The French government has pledged emergency aid for poultry producers in the country affected by the increasing spread of bird flu.

Bird flu spreads tension in poultry industry

Tension escalated this week over bird flu, after France criticised other countries for banning its poultry and a new report warned of a "steady erosion" in global consumption and prices this year.

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