Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Danone's beautiful designs for functional yoghurts

Danone is planning to introduce a new line of cosmetic yoghurts next year, according to press reports, as it seeks the next level of differentiation in the increasingly competitive functional dairy market.

Food firms unaware of contamination risk

Many food and drink firms in the UK remain unaware of the need to insure themselves against accidental or malicious contamination of their products.

EU approves Bulgaria, Romania's food safety measures

An EU scientific advisory body yesterday approved Bulgaria and Romania's contingency plans forcontrolling outbreaks of avian influenza, Newcastle disease, classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.

Nanotechnology risks need more study, German survey finds

Clear definitions, terms and standards as well as far more research into the potential problems of nanotechnology is needed before the science is used to a greater degree in products, according to a consumer survey by Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).

Cadbury's secret benzene recall

As the makers of Perrier water absorbed the full consumer backlash from recalling drinks containing benzene in the US, Cadbury Schweppes quietly pulled one of its own products for the same reason, new documents show.

Weekly comment

Folic acid: Sisters aren't doing it for themselves

When the idea of fortifying staple foods with vital nutrients is raised, the battlecry goes up from industry groups and advocates of consumer choice: "Why should we bear the costs?" "Educate, and let people make their own decisions". But when evidence for the benefits is overwhelming, neither the state nor the individual can afford to let their interests be shouted down.

Redesigned standardiser improves milk production, companies claim

A redesigned automatic milk standardiser allows processors to continually monitor fatcontent and eliminates the need for skilled technical support, the manufacturers claim.

Soy lecithen blamed for Hershey's salmonella scare

Hershey's have named soy lecithen as the cause of the Salmonella scare that led to a plant closure and recall of 25 products.

Wild wheat gene could boost nutrient content of modern varieties

US scientists have identified a gene from wild wheat that could increase protein and micronutrient content of its cultivated cousin by 10 to 15 per cent, and could soon be used in food products with enhanced nutritional value.

Russian ban on EU meats 'unjustified', claims EC

The EC has called threats by Russia to ban all imports of EU meat products into the country as "unjustified", as processors and food producers in the bloc face the possibility of losing a major market for their products.

Hershey's comes clean about contamination

Hershey's have named soy lecithen as the cause of the Salmonella scare that led to a plant closure and recall of 25 products.

Live at Emballage

Hybrid can offers better hygiene, claims manufacturer

A hybrid can now on the market helps increase hygiene during aseptic filling processes claims its manufacturer.

FreshCan extends shelf life of sports drinks

A new drinks container can extend the shelf live of drinks containing active ingredients, claims its manufacturers.

Live at Emballage

Decontamination method reduces chemical use

A decontamination process for packaging chilled products reduces the amount of chemicals needed for sterilization and increases shelf-life, claims its manufacturer.

Live at Emballage

Banknote protection transformed for packaging

Anti-counterfeit software that puts hidden design features into banknotes has been transformed into a brand protection tool for use by industry.

MAP packaging ensures fresh bread

A new Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) system has been developed by Italian firm PFM to prolong bread freshness.

Doubts hit FDA handling of benzene in soft drinks

Serious questions remain over how America's food safety watchdog handled the presence of benzene residues in soft drinks, a senior ex-official has said, after tests showed some drinks still contained the chemical 15 years after the industry agreed to cut it.

FSA stands by Spanish Salmonella claims

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has hit out against Spanish claims that the regulator's findings, published last week, were out of date, inaccurate and commercially driven.

Weekly Comment

Self-entitlement and food: the globally irresponsible spiral

Until consumers lose the attitude that they deserve and have a right to goods from all over the world, our food systems and the environment are at peril.

Gas equipment firm achieves highest food standard award

A global gas technology company has been awarded the food industry's highest international quality standard for food safety management.

Fragile-food sorter breaks barriers, its manufacturer claims

A new fragile-food sorting system can remove up to 100 per cent of foreign material while losing less than 0.5 per cent yield, its manufacturer claims.

Third soft drinks firm settles over benzene lawsuit

Another soft drinks firm has reformulated and agreed to pay out compensation in the US to head off a lawsuit over the potential presence of cancer chemical benzene in its drinks, as the controversial issue continues to bubble.

Apple and oregano coating kills E. coli, say scientists

An natural and edible coating for fresh fruits and vegetables killsdeadly E. coli bacteria, whileproviding boost to flavor, say scientists.

Nanotech research holds promise for food industry, say scientists

Discoveries in nanotechnology are affecting a range of aspects in the food industry, from food safety to the molecular synthesis of new products and ingredients, according to a survey of current research by scientists.

Salmonella contamination found in 3% of egg imports

About one box of eggs out of every 30 imported into the UK tests positive for salmonella,according to figures released yesterday by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Modular belt designed for hygiene, claims manufacturer

A new modular belt uses less links, reducing the risk of contamination, claims its manufacturer.

EU proposes fees for food safety authorisations

A proposal to charge companies fees for assessments by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) would impose too heavy of a financial burden on companies, says an industry consultant.

Meat preservatives work as antibacterial agents, scientist claims

Solutions used by meat processors to improve shelf life and taste can also help to reducepathogens, including E. coli 0157:H7, according to a recent study.

FSA summit plans UK food terror response

Plans to deal with widespread contamination of the UK food supply caused by a terrorist attack have been discussed by industry, food safety and security officials amid concerns at the terror threat facing the country, BeverageDaily.com can reveal.

Nano ink indicates safety breach in food packaging

A new ink leverages nanotechnology to detect the presence of oxygen in food packages, giving awarning that the product is no longer safe to eat.

Sudan Red found in Chinese duck eggs

Duck eggs containing the carcinogenic dye Sudan Red IV have been pulled from shelves in Beijing, in the latest food scare to hit the city.

Tie layer bond strengthens barrier, claims manufacturer

A new hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers for use as tie layers can help food processorsextend the shelf life of their products.

Company recalls meat due to breach of BSE safety rules

A Northern Ireland company is recalling thousands of cuts of meat sold in the UK, France, Italy and Spain after a breach of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) safety procedures allowed an untested cow into the food chain.

Weekly Comment

Why climate change cannot be ignored

Ignoring climate change will cost countries billions and lead to food scarcity.

Optical sorter sets new standard for accuracy, claims its manufacturer

A new optical sorter with "laser guided missile" precision can improve efficiency and reduce costs, claims its manufacturer.

Food safety agency recommends application of international standards

Food processors should be monitored to ensure they apply proper manufacturing and hygienicpractices throughout their plants says an EU food safety panel.

One in 20 EU pesticides fake, claims study

More than one in 20 pesticides sold in the EU could be fake, potentially endangering food safety and human health, according to the Society of Chemical Industry.

Processors pushed to reduce pesticide residues in foods

Processors need to put more pressure on growers to reduce pesticide levels in their cereal crops, according to a guidance document from the UK's food safety regulator.

Business call for regulator to scrap recall guidance

The Forum on Private Business has called for a proposed UK guidance document on EU food law to be scrapped, criticising it for not further clarifying provisions of the bloc's regulations.

Automated test speeds up contamination enumeration

The first automated test for enumerating Enterobacteriaceae will slash confirmation time dramatically, the manufacturer claims.

Cleaning blamed for Jersey milk scare

Routine cleaning may have been to blame for the contamination of up to 2,000 packs of milk with excessive levels of bacteria in Jersey, the manufacturer has announced.

New horizontal wrapper designed for delicate bakery

A new horizontal wrapper suitable for handling delicate products such as tray baked goods, biscuits and chocolate confectionery has been developed by Bosch packaging subisidary, Tevopharm.

Coating protects floors against bacteria, molds

A new range of urethane-based floor coatings reduces bacteria and mold levels in plants, its manufacturer claims.

Weekly Comment

Transparency is the key to the science kingdom

In the food and nutrition world, science is king. So when journals do not force scientists to fully disclose financial support and potential conflicts of interest, they are not helping anyone.

Global coding standard being tested with RFID

A global product coding standard being developed for use with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is being tested on the sea-shipment of cartons between Hong Kong and Japan.

New conveyer belts take the heat out of power usage and tortillas

Two different new conveyer belts have been released on the market, one designed to reduced energy consumption, while the other targets the tortilla manufacturers.

Traceability requirements relaxed by UK regulator

The UK's processors will be given more leeway on how they apply the EU's traceabilityrequirements, under proposed guidance notes issued by the country's food safety regulator.

Chlorate compound stops Salmonella in its tracts

Mixing a chlorate-based compound into livestock feed or water could dramatically reduce Salmonella and E. coli in gastrointestinal tracts, claim researchers.

Tomatoes may have started US salmonella outbreak

US health officials investigating a salmonella outbreak that infected 171 people across 19 States believe fresh produce may have been the cause of the spread.

Live at PackExpo

Fluid extraction system helps eliminate waste

A new automated extraction system increases the amount of high viscosity fluids that can be removed from bulk bag-in-box packages, its manufacturer claims.

Jersey milk recall adds to dairy hygiene fears

Up to 2,000 packs of milk contaminated with excessive levels of bacteria have been recalled in Jersey, raising more questions about dairy hygiene practices in the EU.

Supermarkets cut out trans fats

British supermarkets are reacting to mounting fears over trans fats in foods, pledging to remove them from own branded products by the end of the year.