Breaking News on Prepared Food and Meat Processing

Reports criticise Italy, Greece for poor food safety regs

Italy is in the bad books, while Slovenia is the teacher's pet, according to European Commission's latest reports on the state of EU member states food safety regulations.

US drives global kosher ingredient need

The growing kosher market is prompting manufacturers in countries without much local demand to gain certification so they can export to the high-potential US, and some are exporing continuous kosher production to keep down costs.

Tiny devices developed for pathogen detection

Scientists in Denmark have created two tiny devices, which they have leveraged to detect a range of contaminants, from molecules to whole bacteria, in food and water.

Expert comment

Nitrite free: Where does the truth end?

Cured meat products are appearing on the market as 'naturally cured', 'no nitrite added', 'without added nitrite' or even 'nitrite free' to promote a health image to consumers. Industry expert Gerhard Feiner believes such statements can be misleading.

New rates for meat inspections set to take effect

Increased charges in the UK for inspecting meat slaugherhouses and processing plants are set to come into effect next year.

Organic meat and dairy linked to better quality breast milk

The breast milk of mothers consuming organic meat and dairy contains higher levels of beneficial fatty acids, and has an overall improved quality, suggests new research.

Pie factory moves in bid to keep Melton Mowbray name

Pending EU recognition of the Melton Mowbray pie as a protected food has led to a relocation of a major UK manufacturing plant to the designated region.

Cash injection for Dengue fever vaccine

US biotech firm VaxInnate has been awarded a lump sum from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the development of the company's tetravalent Dengue fever vaccine.

Weekly Comment

Could the E-number be up?

The European Food Safety Authority's review of additive safety could have a bigger effect on the ingredients industry than the ejection of certain colours and flavours with a suspect safety record. It could give the natural ingredients trend an extra push, and possibly prove the death-knell for the ne'er loved E number system.

Commission demands Italy drop law on poultry labelling

Italy's compulsory law requiring poultry meat and related products to carry country-of-origin labelling has been deemed illegal by the European Commission.

Report criticises UK managers for poor performance

UK food processors are so badly managed that three-quarters of the companies in the market are prime takeover targets, according to a research report.

Nanotechnology used in additive to keep PLA clear

A new nanotechnology additive on the market is designed to add strength to polylactic acid (PLA) without diminishing clarity, its manufacturer claims.

Survey reveals RFID benefits beyond supply chain

More companies are realising that radio frequency identification (RFID) can be used to streamline operations beyond supply chain management, according to a new survey by ABI research.

Scientific panel advises keeping ban on growth hormones

New scientific studies do not provide enough evidence for the EU to amend its ban on the use of growth promoting hormones in cattle, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has concluded.

UK outlines salmonella reduction programme

The UK is about to launch a programme to lower the high levels of salmonella contamination in poultry.

US urges China to lift pork and poultry ban

The US has asked China to lift the ban it imposed last week on imports from seven pork and poultry processing plants.

Thermoplastics approved for food contact

A line of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food contact.

Meeting for European nutrition database

A conference to discuss how collecting data on the composition of food can help improve the quality, healthiness and safety of European diets has been called for later this year.

Unilever consolidates UK operations

In a bid to get more competitive in the UK market, Unilever is consolidating its food and consumer goods businesses under fewer managers.

EU examines tougher biosecurity measures for food

The EU is moving closer to implementing measures to protect the food chain from a terrorist attack, by publishing a discussion paper on stepped up security measures that would affect manufacturers.

EU should not relax safety standards, say food technologists

The European Commission should not relax international food safety standards for small food businesses, food technologists said in a statement this week.

Pathogen resistance to drugs rising, according to UK study

Up to 29 per cent of the Campylobacter pathogen are now resistant to a commonly used antimicrobial, according to a UK survey.

Chr Hansen makes novel cultures for sausages

Chr Hansen is introducing two new starter cultures for dry and semi-dry fermented sausages, intended to deliver good flavour even when products are produced with an eye on health and sustainability.

EFSA condemns Red 2G colour as carcinogen

EFSA has issued a damning opinion on the safety of food colour Red 2G (E128), the first under its reassessment programme and a strong indication of a sea-change in the use of additives in processed foods.

Weekly comment

The aspartame science kerfuffle

The publication of a new animal study on aspartame last month has - as expected -sparked yet another bout of head butting from the two opposing sides of the debate. But it also highlights a bigger issue: one of transparency.

New meat packaging for both convenience and safety

The new multi-layer packaging tub from RPC Bebo Plastik provides easy product access without scrimping on health and safety issues, the manufacturer claims.

Chinese ingredients blamed for US salmonella scare

Chinese ingredients used to make a seasoning that flavors processed snacks manufactured in the US could be contaminated with salmonella, the national food safety regulator has warned.

Invest in automation, says study

Suppliers and manufacturers alike should investigate and invest in automation production lines, according to a new report.

Food safety requirements add value, says meat association

International food safety requirements can help make processors more efficient, according to a report by the UK's Red Meat Industry Forum (RMIF).

FDA sets strict safety controls on Chinese seafood

Imports of seafood from China are to be detained by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) until they are proven to be free of residues from drugs that are not approved in the United States for use in farm-raised aquatic animals.

Premier Foods to close six factories

Premier Foods, the UK's largest food company, said yesterday it will close six of its 11 factories in a bid to cut manufacturing costs.

New Zealand campylobacter fight shows early promise

New Zealand's fight against campylobacter is beginning to show signs of promise, after years of problems, the national regulator said last week.

High-speed conveyer handles heavy loads

A new plastic chain belt, designed for heavier loads, can transport goods at over 375 feet (100 meters) per minute, claims its manufacturer.

European health claim rules come into force

The European Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation came into force yesterday, meaning food companies will only be able to make claims about their nutritional or health benefits approved by the European Food Safety Authority.

Weekly comment

M&A: Urge to merge

Mergers and acquisition activity is always ongoing in every segment of industry, but this summer looks to be a particularly hot one for food and beverage manufacturers.

Surplus jellyfish seen as additive source

Controlling exploding jellyfish populations may present the food and cosmetics industries with interesting new additives, suggests new research from Japan.