Food Engineering articles from March 2006

Food Engineering archives from March 2006

Amaze yourself.(food processing plant surveyed)(Editorial)
March 1, 2006... Do you ever consider how much you accomplish in a day, a week or a year? We do. Each year at this time, Food Engineering's editorial team begins work on a three-and-a-half month project that provides a very unique service to our industry--the...

Calendar.(Brief article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... MARCH 2006 19-22 SNAXPO, Las Vegas, NV; Snack Food Association; 703-836-4500; www.sfa.org. 20-22 Frozen Dough Production, Sandusky, OH; American Institute of Baking; 800-633-5137; www.aibonline.org. 20-23 National Manufacturing Week,...

RFID solutions center doors open.(radio frequency identification device, Alien Technology Corp.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Alien Technology Corporation opened a new facility last month focused on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, discovery, innovation and implementation. Located in Dayton, OH and comprising 23,000 sq. ft. of educational, R&D and...

USDA report reveals downers.(United States. Department of Agriculture)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Slaughterhouse operators can expect closer scrutiny from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in the months ahead. In a critical report, USDA's Inspector General warns federal beef inspectors aren't strictly following cattle screening...

Leprino Foods Co.(expand capacity for cheese production)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Leprino Foods Co. began construction on an $83 million Cheese plant expansion in Allendale Township, MI. The expansion will add 10 million pounds of cheese production to the existing 70 million produced annually.

Pineland Farms.(builds cheese plant)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Pineland Farms plans to build a 13,000-sq.-ft. specialty cheese plant in Hew Gloucester, ME. The plant will use a portion of its annual milk production for value-added farmstead cheese products.

Barber Foods.(builts food processing plant)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Construction of a multi-phase 210,000-sq.-ft. processing facility in Portland, ME, was recently completed by Barber Foods. The project involved converting a warehouse to a distribution freezer and corporate facility.

Hilmar Cheese.(new plant by Hilmar Cheese Company Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Hilmar Cheese plans to build a $30 million cheese and whey processing plant in Dalhart, TX. The facility will be built in two phases, the first of which is expected to be completed in the fall of 2007. Initially, the plant will employ 120...

Kellogg Co.(PLANT OPENINGS & EXPANSIONS)
March 1, 2006... Kellogg Co. is expanding its plant in Columbus, GA, with a $5 million project adding production of Keebler Grahams.

New World Pasta Co.(appoints Scott Greenwood )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... New World Pasta Co. appointed Scott Greenwood as CEO. Prior to joining this company, Greenwood was US president of Puratos Corp., a supplier to bakery and patisserie companies.

Coca-Cola Co.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)
March 1, 2006... The Coca-Cola Co. promoted Muhtar Kent to the newly created position of president, Coca-Cola international. He will be responsible for all operations outside North America.

B&G Foods purchased Grandma's Molasses brand from Mott's LLP.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)
March 1, 2006... B&G Foods purchased Grandma's Molasses brand from Mott's LLP, a Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages company for $30 million.

Wayne Farms LLC.(promotes Tommy Myers )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Wayne Farms LLC promoted Tommy Myers to the newly created position of vice president, supply chain. He will be responsible for managing the complete supply chain, including further processing assets, production and inventory plants and...

Coffee Pacifica.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)
March 1, 2006... Coffee Pacifica promoted Terry Klassen to COO. Klassen initially joined the company in June 2005 as vice president of coffee sales.

Cal-Maine Foods signed an agreement with Green Forest Egg Co., LLC, for the formation of a new egg company.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Cal-Maine Foods signed an agreement with Green Forest Egg Co., LLC, for the formation of a new egg company. The new company, Green Forest Foods, will be owned and operated jointly by the two companies.

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream.(closes facility)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... With the completion in 2005 of its new Bakersfield, CA, ice cream manufacturing facility, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream will close its City of Commerce, CA, plant at the end of April and shift production to Bakersfield. Dreyer's says it hopes to...

Tropicana Products.(promotes Rick Gomez )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Tropicana Products promoted Rick Gomez to chief marketing officer of the company. A 14-year PepsiCo veteran, Gomez's most recent role was vice president of marketing with Tropicana.

Sara Lee Food & Beverage.(INDUSTRY & PEOPLE)
March 1, 2006... Sara Lee Food & Beverage, the North American retail food division of Sara Lee Corp., appointed Brad Patrick as senior vice president of human resources.

Campbell Soup Co.(appoints Barry Rand and Sara Mathew )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Barry Rand and Sara Mathew have been nominated to Campbell Soup Co.'s board of directors. Rand is the former chairman and CEO of Equitant, Inc., and Mathew is senior vice president and CFO of The Dun & Bradstreet Corp.

Coke's 'coffee fusion' aims to impress with sleek aluminum bottle.(Coca-Cola Co. (Atlanta, Georgia) launches coffee fusion beverage)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The Coca-Cola Company has launched a new "coffee fusion" beverage called Coca-Cola Blak in France, the first of several countries including the US, that will see the new beverage in an aluminum bottle this year. Coca-Cola Blak is a lightly...

Unique flip-top closure for 'Silly Squirts' ketchup.(Graham Packaging Co. with H.J. Heinz Co. introduce new packaging for ketchup)
March 1, 2006... Once playing with your food at the dinner table was discouraged--now ketchup-maker H.J. Heinz Company and Graham Packaging Company, York, PA, have joined together to create an innovative plastic ketchup bottle called Heinz Silly Squirts that...

Munch pita chips out of a resealable pouch.(SPECIAL SECTION: Food Packaging Materials & Containers)
March 1, 2006... Nonni's Food Company, a Tulsa, OK-based company which specializes in premium deli snacks, including bagel crisps, pita chips, flatbreads and biscotti, recently upgraded its New York Style garlic pita chips to a larger sized 24-oz. resealable...

Frozen fruit juice concentrate kicks the can.(SPECIAL SECTION: Food Packaging Materials & Containers)
March 1, 2006... McCain Foods (Canada) claims it has become the first producer in the world to launch a line of frozen fruit beverage concentrates in 250-ml Tetra Top cartons from Tetra Pak Canada Inc., Richmond Hill, ON, Canada. Called Cool Quenchers, the...

Resealable ice package helps UK brand boost sales.(SPECIAL SECTION: Food Packaging Materials & Containers)
March 1, 2006... Blue Keld, a British company that produces bottled natural mineral water and spring water ice cubes says it introduced the first resealable ice packages in the UK. Blue Keld Spring Water Premium Ice Cubes are made from spring water and packaged...

Tamper-evident containers with in-mold labeling.(Eye on MATERIALS, CONTAINERS AND FITMENTS)
March 1, 2006... IPL Packaging released a line of retail and food service tamper-evident packaging. Suitable for the dairy industry, the containers feature IPL's in-mold labeling technology, which allows images to be designed into a label, creating a...

Why can't scientists communicate science? Poor media coverage ad a lack of consumer education feed fear about our nation's food supply.
March 1, 2006... The food supply in the United States is one of the most diverse and safe in the world. A stroll through a grocery store almost anywhere in the country reveals a variety of choices unknown anywhere else around the globe. So, one wonders, how can...

Central chilling station.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The Pinnacle chiller from AEC, Inc. offers rotational compression technology with scroll compressors. Scrolls use 50% fewer moving parts than reciprocating compressors, resulting in higher efficiency and reliability and less noise, says the...

Desiccant dehumidifier.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Munters Dehumidification Division's IceDry desiccant dehumidifier is used to reduce or prevent ice and frost in cold storage areas with temperatures as low as -30[degrees]F. IceDry is installed on a wall to conserve floor space and requires a...

Double-wall plates.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Alfa Lavars Gemini series of hygienic double-wall plates, which are suitable for heating or cooling duties in sanitary industries, prevent leakage between two media. They are available for use in the company's FrontLine and Baseline Series of...

Frictionless chiller.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Sterling says its RTCW frictionless chiller offers a savings of 35% over rotary screw designs. A digitally controlled magnetic bearing system, consisting of both permanent magnets and electromagnets, replaces conventional lubricated bearings....

Temperature profiling system.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Datapaq's Food Tracker temperature profiling system helps reduce energy costs by optimizing continuous or batch cook, bake, chill, freeze or fry processes. The system calculates bacterial kill rates and provides necessary HACCP documentation....

Refrigeration monitoring.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Zero Zone's refrigeration monitoring system uses load cells to weigh the contents of the receiver and condenser to continuously monitor the refrigerant charge throughout the system, recording and providing an accurate account of its...

Defrost solution.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Heatcraft Refrigeration Products says its Smart Defrost Kit reduces refrigeration operating costs and increases product integrity by evaluating the refrigeration system and determining how much frost accumulation is on the evaporator coil. If...

Ask the expert.
March 1, 2006... Q How can we add value to our frozen bulk products without huge capital investment? A Consider sauce coating technology that enrobes food pieces with sauces or herbs, then quick-freezes them individually to produce portionable,...

Spiral freezer.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The GYRoCOMPACT M10 tight-curve spiral freezer from FMC FoodTech has a footprint the same width as the previous model, but offers 40% greater capacity. The unit's 40-in. belt expands on the outermost side and collapses on the innermost to...

Portable chillers.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Mokon says its family of Iceman portable chillers provides continuous, accurate cooling and long-lasting performance in food processing applications. Units are available from 1/4 ton to 20 ton cooling capacities. Features include components...

Batch freezer.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The CFB batch freezer from Air Liquide provides rapid freezing and minimum dehydration with moisture loss of less than 0.5%. The company says it preserves cell integrity of products through smaller ice crystal formation and helps maintain...

Needle strips.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Bird-X's Spikes bird blocking needle strips project up and out from their base at varying angles to prevent bird landing and roosting. Outer spikes have additional spiked branches to offer full, dense coverage that birds will avoid. Bird-X...

Live-bird cages.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Dapec's live-bird handling and transport system features modules that do not require major adjustment for the grower or in the broiler house. The drawers have a flap system that does not harm the birds during loading. The company says the...

Security software.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Keller-Soft Food Security Strategist from J.J. Keller for companies in the manufacturing, processing, packaging and distribution of food helps users develop, implement and audit a security program. It identifies hazards and security risks...

Case former.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Loveshaw's Little David CF-5 semi-automatic case former seals up to 15 cases per minute, depending on operator performance and range of case sizes. It resets itself automatically to receive the next case blank. Jams common with air-logic-driven...

Food Engineering's Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference & Expo 2006: April 9-12, 2006 Sanibel Harbour Resort Fort Myers, Florida.(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... Sunday, April 9 12:30 p.m. Golf Tournament Join us for a relaxing day on the links. Fee includes green fees, cart, box lunch and beverages. 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Registration 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Welcome Reception Network with...

Dual-shaft mixer.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The new Dual-Shaft VersaMix from Charles Ross and Son incorporates a special helical agitator and high-speed dispersion blade. The company says this combination provides improved axial and radial turnover of the materials being mixed by...

Hand sanitizer.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Purell E3-rated sanitizer from Gojo Industries is a no-rinse formula that sanitizes hands between washing, lowering the risk of cross contamination from employees' hands to product in food processing facilities. The formula meets guidelines for...

Pest control: Gold Medal Protection, Orkin's pest management program, was designed for highly regulated food processing and packaging facilities.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Gold Medal Protection, Orkin's pest management program, was designed for highly regulated food processing and packaging facilities. It provides an integrated pest management program tailored to each facility, as well as a reporting system that...

Pest control lighting.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Designed to comply with health codes and energy-efficiency and address the problem of flies, the Guardian Glueboard Wall Sconce Model GBWS252 delivers discreet pest control via an aesthetic lighting fixture, says the manufacturer Isect-O-Cutor....

Pest control: the Terminix Ultimate Protection program offers the expertise of AIB-certified professionals trained annually in the specific requirements of the food engineering industry.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The Terminix Ultimate Protection program offers the expertise of AIB-certified professionals trained annually in the specific requirements of the food engineering industry. Participation in the program provides a response to pest problems...

Gas fumigant.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Postharvest gas fumigant from Dow AgroSciences was approved by the US EPA for use in food processing facilities, pet food facilities, warehouses and shipping containers. Recognized as a replacement for methyl bromide, it is non-reactive, so it...

Pest control: the Exosex system is a replacement for fumigation products such as Methyl Bromide to control stored-product moths such as the Indian Meal moth.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The Exosex system is a replacement for fumigation products such as Methyl Bromide to control stored-product moths such as the Indian Meal moth. The system uses a patented, food-grade powder that adheres to insects. The powder, formulated with...

Ultrasonic flowmeter.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The Preso PTTF ultrasonic, transit-time, clamp-on, integral-mount flowmeter uses time of flight ultrasonic technology to measure most clean liquids containing moderate amounts of suspended solids or aeration. The unit is installed by clamping...

Dough trough dumper.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The 60-degree, direct-lift hydraulic dough trough dumper from Material Transfer & Storage discharges materials into elevated hoppers or processing equipment. Features include a 60-degree discharge angle for non-free flowing materials, a 304...

UV sterilization system.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Xenon's SteriPulse-XL surface decontamination system, a non-contact sterilization system that instantly kills microorganisms on the outside of packages to prevent the contents from becoming contaminated when opened, employs pulsed UV light to...

Bulk pasteurization system.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Radio Frequency Co.'s Macrowave pasteurization systems are suitable for bulk applications for bagged or conveyed loose product. In a radio frequency heating system, the RF generator creates an alternating electric field between two electrodes....

Universal connectors.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... When Spirax Sarco's line of universal steam trap strainer connectors with an upgraded BDV3 blowdown valve is used with standardized, universal-type steam traps, it creates a complete, compact steam trap station with NPT, socket weld or...

Screenless granulator.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The S Series screenless granulator, a portable, beside-the-press unit from Cumberland, combines low-speed, energy-saving, granulating technology with primary and secondary blades. Cutting chamber sizes of 10 in. by 9 in., 10.5 in. by 13..5 in....

Colloid mills.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Bematek colloid mills feature a milling head that has a rotor and stator gap that can be adjusted while running to efficiently achieve particle size reduction and micron dispersions and emulsions of varying viscosities. Providing precise...

Screened grinders.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Corenco says the proprietary designed shredder screens in its new A series grinders improve yield by 1%, which translates into about 30 gal. per hour of single strength juice. The M15A grinder, says the company, will pay for itself in about...

Scraped-surface agitator.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The Lee #9MSI heavy-duty, inclined, double-motion, scraped-surface agitator is available in a variety of specialized designs for product viscosities as high as 2 million CPS. Piggyback motors for independent speeds and a variety of turbine and...

Ultrafiltration module.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The ABCOR HFK ultrafiltration spiral module series from Koch includes membranes that provide high yields for whey and milk processing, as well as other food applications. The elements use the proprietary KMS semi-permeable polyethersulfone...

Carbon monoxide monitor.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Mocon's PAC CHECK Model 333 hand-held headspace analyzer measures carbon monoxide levels in modified and controlled-atmosphere case-ready meat packaging. The unit also measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. To provide headspace analysis of...

Vibratory feeder.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Eriez Magnetics Model 6C vibratory feeder is suitable for small trays up to 80 sq. in. and capacities up to 1,600 Ibs./hr. The model has a maximum tray weight of 3 1/2 lbs. at 0.045 in. amplitude with a maximum tray amplitude of 0.045 in. ...

Rubber tubing.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... K-4156 thermoplastic rubber tubing from Kent Elastomer Products is an extruded silicone replacement compound. Suitable for the food and beverage industry where high temperature stability is not vital, the translucent tubing meets FDA food grade...

Metal detector.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Mettler-Toledo Safeline's PowerPhase PRO is a three-frequency metal detector with a color, touch-screen interface. The IP69K-rated unit features one-pass auto product set up. A product-clustering feature allows a range of products to run...

Vision sensor.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Cognex's Insight 5400S stainless steel vision sensor is industrial-grade, meets IEC specifications for shock and vibration and achieves an IP68/NEMA 6P rating that stands up to chemical washdown and submersion. It can be used to sort objects,...

Absorber agitator.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... SPX says its Lightnin VSF absorber agitator for flue gas desulfurization processes incorporates the most efficient impeller (A312) for fluid motion and gas dispersion and the latest sealing technology (no seal water). The VSF line provides a...

Static mixer.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Chemineer offers Kenics sanitary static mixers for blending, dispersion and heating/cooling. Continuous, in-line mixing is achieved with no moving parts, no maintenance and no external power requirements. The mixers feature sanitary stainless...

Low-maintenance conveyor.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Dorner's Series 220 conveyors feature bearings installed in a re-designed blind housing hole instead of a through hole. This protects the bearings from outside elements that could prematurely damage or corrode them, adds strength to the...

Air filters.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Airguard's Activator series air filters have multi-stage media construction with layers of multi-denier polyester fibers that capture particles throughout the filter's depth, preventing "face-loading," and increasing dust-holding capacity. The...

Case packer.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... The Standard-Knapp Versatron 939s APT case packer handles difficult shaped containers. The unit can pack reverse-tapered bottles, flasks, unstable bottles, locking shapes, trigger bottles and other non-round products. This design incorporates...

Motorized pulleys.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Motorized pulleys with integrated shaft encoders from BDL America allow conveyor system operators to synchronize product movements. The encoders use either SKF or SNR pulse outputs to precisely monitor motorized pulley movement to control...

Pump software.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... seepex offers a free computer program that calculates the savings realized when users switch from an air-operated double-diaphragm pump to an electrically operated progressive cavity pump. The program is available in Visual Basic for PCs...

Lift table.(TECHNOLOGY SOURCEBOOK: Focus on Pest Control and Refrigeration, Cooling & Freezing Equipment)
March 1, 2006... Pentalift's lift table is equipped with a powered deck extension that moves laterally. The 3,000-lb. capacity unit has a 60-in. by 84-in. platform with a 50-in. vertical lift. A 48-in. by 22-in. deck, stored within the platform, can be extended...

Allergens & labeling got it under control? While the allergen labeling law explicitly impacts ingredient statements on packages, it also implies better control of in-plant processes.(Cover story)
March 1, 2006... The heart-rending story of Christina Desforges was a grim reminder of both the rationale behind the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and the challenges faced by processors in helping safeguard consumers with...

Make it better, not cheaper: by focusing primarily on material costs, packaging suppliers have short-changed functional improvements. That is beginning to change.
March 1, 2006... Kevin T Higgins, Senior Editor In food and beverage packaging function often takes a back seat to form. Take a recent sales promotion at Safeway Inc.'s Dominick's supermarkets in metropolitan Chicago: on one page, the flyer featured a gallon of...

Goodbye, elbow grease: manual sanitation regimens gradually are giving way to automated cleaning systems, with CIP only part of the mix.(clean-in-place)
March 1, 2006... The business case for automating plant sanitation has always included soft savings, though the value of extending production runs between sanitation shifts is appreciated by food and beverage processors. But even the soft dollars are acquiring...

Matter's fourth dimension: atmospheric plasma is the term physicists use to describe a microwave heating technology developed for metal joining but it also holds promise for food.(Devendra Kumar and Satyendra Kumar research on microwave heating)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Arcing and uneven heating are two issues that have limited industrial applications of microwave technology, be it in food or any other manufacturing process. Researchers in Dana Corp.'s Disruptive Technologies Group in Rochester Hills, MI,...