Bottled water sellers face lawsuit deadline

Lawyers in the US have warned they will sue any US retailer that has failed to recall, by the end of this week, bottled water found to contain cancer-causing bromate...

Amcor uses oxygen-scavenging PET for wine

Amcor has taken out a license to bottle wine using Constar International's oxygen-scavenging polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Food-grade lubricant designed for difficult to reach areas

A new food-grade lubricant will not stain or cause packages to become greasy and is harmless to most rubbers and plastics, its manufacturer claims.

Bluetongue measures restrict meat supply

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.

Combination treatment produces ultrapure water

Using a combination of microbubbles and ozone treatments to disinfect water can deliver a chemical-free knockout punch to bacteria, according UK researchers.

Cadbury probe set to receive cash boost

The UK Cadbury salmonella scare continues to dog the company as its local council applies for around £30,000 (€44,500) in funding to investigate safety breaches at the factory where contamination occurred.

Colour vision sensor designed for product traceability

A new colour vision detector can help the food industry meet new traceability regulations in place throughout Europe and North America, its manufacturer claims.

Antimicrobial coating reduces irradiation time, study finds

Plastic coated with a antimicrobial agent used along with irradiation can reduce pathogens in packaged ready-to-eat vegetables, a scientist claims.

Soft drinks industry to hold benzene summit

Soft drinks industry officials will meet this September to discuss progress on cutting benzene residues out of their drinks, six months after BeverageDaily.com revealed there was still a problem.

Weekly Comment

Some home-eating truths

As food manufacturers inch closer to the holy grail of low-calorie, trans-fat free flavor-fantastic products one has to ask how we veered so far from the common sense of fresh...

Italy hunts for mouldy coffee beans

The discovery of mouldy coffee beans at a port in Italy has put further pressure on an already tight market this month, with prices expected to continue rising.

Special report

Soft drinks firms settle in benzene lawsuit

Two soft drink firms accused of using ingredients that could mix to form a cancer-causing chemical in drinks plan to sign a settlement with lawyers today, agreeing to change formulas...

China returns US milk powder with excess nitrite

China has sent back more than 100 metric tons of American milk powder after it was found to contain potentially dangerous levels of nitrite.

FDA to recall more bottled water in bromate scare

America's food safety watchdog is expected to announce the recall of several bottled water drinks, thought to contain cancer-causing bromate above the legal limit in the US, BeverageDaily.com has learned....

India rejects soft drink pesticides claims

India's Health Ministry has rejected a campaigns group study that found Coca-Cola and PepsiCo soft drinks containing pesticide residues an average 24 times above the proposed maximum limit.

DNA used for cheese quality stamp

Scientists are using DNA extraction to build a quality 'ID card' for Andalusian goat's cheese, potentially offering a new way of proving the safety and quality of speciality products.

Logoplaste launches Europe's lightest PET bottle

In answer to demands from beverage manufacturers to keep costs down and to meet tough EU waste legislation, Portuguese packaging company Logoplaste is expanding a new line of PET pre-forms...

Experts and consumers convene on nano risks

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.

New Synergy cheese ingredients designed to enhance flavour, mouthfeel

Savoury ingredients supplier Synergy has launched a line of cheese ingredients designed to enhance flavour and mouthfeel while also providing manufacturers with some cost benefits.

Nano-herbicide in the works

Scientists have begun development on a nano-herbicide, which will allow farmers to clear their fields of weeds without using toxic chemicals.

Instant, portable, simultaneous pathogen inspection

US scientists have developed a miniature portable nanotech device to simultaneously detect numerous toxins, pathogens and chemicals in foodstuffs.

Cow completed

It was announced yesterday that scientists have successfully mapped the most extensive cow genetic sequence - bringing and end to a three year project that is promising to revolutionize the...

Conveyor belts now easier to clean, claims company

Habasit Rossi says it has designed a new conveyor belt that will be easier to clean in food environments prone to sticking and clogging.

Sensitive salmonella detection

A new testing kit for Salmonella promises to give the most sensitive detection results in less than a day, its manufacturers claim.

Organic fish farms get green light in UK

Organic fish farms in Britain are to be recognised by the country's organic food body, the Soil Association, for the first time, helping them to tap in to the UK's...

Worms' noses hired to benefit wine industry

Scientists in Australia will harness the sensory ability of insects and worms to improve the electronic noses used by the food and beverage industry, particularly in the wine industry.

Instant identification of contaminates in water

A ground-breaking system for monitoring water quality has the ability to instantly detect pathogens and microbial contamination, say its developers.

Pork quality is a matter pH, says scientist

US scientists are proposing a new way to evaluate pork quality - its pH content.

United Biscuits to stamp out trans fats

European biscuits and snack manufacturer United Biscuits has become the latest bakery company to eradicate harmful trans fats from its products, tying in with the industry drive towards healthier production...

US: Bottled water pulled in bromate scare

Bottled water containing cancer-causing bromate above the level allowed by America's food safety watchdog has been pulled from shelves by one of the country's upmarket retailers.

Scientist shortage threatens UK research

Britain is failing to recruit enough world-class scientists because the country's education system is not up to the job, the UK's Confederation of British Industry has warned.

The obesity blame game- reader feedback

Last week's comment on the food industry's role in the rising obesity epidemic has generated a flood of responses from readers agreeing with or disputing our position that the industry...

Low-cost scale-filler for liquid packers

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.

Latex threat - it's all hype, says group

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is pushing ahead with product testing methods after scientists found new ways to detect latex allergens in food packaging.

New malting system saves water

Dutch brewer Bavaria says its new malthouse in Holland can cut water consumption by up to 30 per cent, highlighting the beer industry's potential as a food industry leader in...

Temperture changes and the threat of E. coli growth

A new report indicates that temperature fluctuations during fresh ground beef production do not increase the presence of E. coli.

Scientists develop compostable heat-resistant packaging

A biodegradable heat-resistant coating has been developed which could replace petroleum-based resins in foodservice packaging, developers say.

Government lab criticises pesticides in soft drinks study

Tests in India that found soft drinks contaminated with pesticides are 'doubtful', warns a lab affiliated to the UK government, as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola face more bans and threats of...

Weekly Comment

The obesity blame game

Laying the blame for a fatter world at the feet of the food industry has become a convenient mistake, and until this is recognized there is little chance of controlling...

Weigh and collect tech a valuable prospect

A computer-integrated weighing system will allow food packagers to weigh products and automatically collect data, its manufacturers claim.

Sumac increases poultry shelf life, reduce pathogens

A water-soluble sumac berry extract has been found to increase shelf life and decrease bacteria contamination of chicken wings.

Use of natural antimicrobials grows, analyst says

EU manufacturers are using more and more natural antimicrobials instead of the synthetic versions, according to a new report.

Inspectors to be granted right to enter plants for testing

Under a proposed new law, UK inspectors would have the right to enter any manufacturing premises to check for the presence of animal borne diseases.

Latex used in one-third of food packaging, study finds

About one-third of the UK's food packaging has been found to contain hidden latex, leading to calls for processors to note the presence of the known allergen on their products.

Flavour scientists hold key to low-fat dairy, suggests review

The growing demand for healthier, low-fat foods is the biggest challenge for the flavour scientist, say the authors of a new review.

National Uniformity for Food Act

Under-resourced FDA unable to regulate food safety, says former official

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is under-resourced, under-staffed, and essentially incapable of overseeing potential threats to the US food supply, according to a former FDA official who last week...

Processors increase their use of biocides

The demand for biocides in the food and drink industry is expected to grow due to consumer's heightened awareness of bacteria and pathogens.

Japanese soft drink breaks benzene limit

Japanese food safety authorities have found unacceptable levels of the carcinogen benzene in a nationally distributed soft drink.

Grape's nutraceutical content boosted by pest agent spray

Spraying grapes with a safe anti-bacterial agent could triple the nutraceutical content, says a study from Italy, but the effects are not carried over into wine.

Pigeon pea could boost pasta's sensory & nutritional content

Adding flour from pigeon peas, one of the world's oldest food crops, could lead to nutritionally enhanced pasta, with quicker cooking times, as well as boosting flavour, according to a...

Baby-boomers may benefit most from flavanol-rich cocoa

The heart health of the baby-boom generation could benefit from flavanol-rich cocoa, reports a study co-funded by Mars, but independent experts warn against confusion with commercial chocolate snacks.

EC: How to navigate proposed new additive regulations

The European Commission has issued guidance for food companies regarding proposed changes to additive, flavouring and enzyme regulations.

Amazonian aphrodisiac hits market

A new dark chocolate bar, formulated by a US-based research food technology company, promises to increase libido, boost energy levels and improve mood thanks to exotic rainforest ingredients.

Britain's ale brewers bring wine tasting to beer

Britain's ale brewers are looking to reconnect with consumers by providing tasting notes alongside pints of their beer, a tactic they say has already worked wonders for wine.

Cognis launches healthier aerating agent

Cognis has launched a new aerating agent that it claims has the potential to improve the health value of baked goods.

Cadbury contamination proves costly

A UK product recall due to Salmonella contamination could cost £20m (€29.3m) and perhaps more, Cadbury Schweppes said yesterday.