Sensors that work flawlessly in laboratory settings may stumble when it comes to performing in real-world conditions, according to researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. [ + ]

Opening packages is taken for granted by most. But Arthritis Australia asks that we all be cognisant of those members of society who struggle with opening packs. [ + ]

Even if milk has been pasteurised to kill off microbes that can cause food spoilage and disease, certain bacterial strains can survive the heat shock as spores and cause milk to curdle in storage. Now it seems that higher pasteurisation temperatures may aid spore germination. [ + ]

A new slippery technology that has been shown to prevent more than 99% of bacterial slime from forming on surfaces may prove a boon in food processors’ battles to keep surfaces hygienic. [ + ]

When looking to tighten its contamination detection capabilities, John Morley Importers approached Mettler Toledo for X-ray inspection solutions. [ + ]

Since the mid-1990s, Denmark has reduced animal consumption of antimicrobial agents by 60% without reducing its agricultural output. Bearing in mind that the global consumption of antimicrobial agents for animals is almost twice the size of human consumption, Denmark’s efforts are a shining light in the global struggle against antimicrobial resistance. [ + ]

Along with minimal packaging, consumers like recyclable packaging, environmentally friendly packaging materials and to support consumer packaged goods companies that bring sustainability to the production floor with improvements to reduce energy usage or air and water waste. Following, some of the food packaging industry’s major players reveal some of their environmentally friendly materials and innovations which can improve productivity while reducing carbon footprints. [ + ]

Affordable cooking equipment such as continuous spiral ovens and mini flame grills provide a cost-effective bridge for producers of ethnic ready meals to meet skyrocketing demands. [ + ]

Researchers have found evidence that regular consumption of dietary cocoa flavanols may improve cognitive function in elderly subjects with early memory decline. [ + ]

Innovia Films’ compostable, cellulose-based material NatureFlex is helping a New Zealand coffee roaster meet its commitment to being socially and environmentally responsible. [ + ]

Leading up to the introduction of the carbon tax, Teralba Industries was approached by a number of food processing plants for a solution to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs. [ + ]

As part of the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship festivities, SIPA of Italy worked with IDS Ukraine to develop special football-shaped Morshinka branded mineral water. [ + ]

EU-funded research has developed an ‘intelligent cargo’ system that knows where it is, where it is going, when it needs to be there and who is handling it. [ + ]

CostaExchange selected Muddy Boots’ Greenlight Quality Control to improve visibility and pinpoint areas where improvements are needed. [ + ]

Specialised inks company Chromatic Technologies Inc (CTI) has made a lasting impression on a liqueur from Tuaca. The bottle’s lion, a classic brand image for Tuaca, was redesigned as a thermochromic feature for the label on the limited-edition bottle. [ + ]