Food waste in Finland is lower than most European and Western countries but even so this waste is responsible for 1% of the country’s greenhouse emissions. Consumers are responsible for most of the waste but the food processing industry is not far behind. [ + ]

The foods most likely to be affected by deliberate substitution, addition, tampering or misrepresentation for economic gain are olive oil, milk, honey, saffron, orange juice, coffee and apple juice. A new, publically accessible database is now available to help minimise the risks of food fraud. [ + ]

Julian Cribb looks at the future of food and sees giant jellyfish, insects, algae and synthetic sausages - among other things. [ + ]

The 2nd National Sustainable Food Summit took place over 3 and 4 April at Dockside in Sydney. The two days were packed full of stimulating discussion and exciting ideas for changing the way we look at food - from research to production to consumption. Discussion ranged from climate change to synthetic meat to social responsibility - even human waste got a mention. [ + ]

Investing in three Manta 2000 series sorters for processing spinach and green beans has helped Belgian company Pinguin reduce its yield loss to less than 2%, enabling the company to more efficiently handle the 6- to 8-week Belgian spinach harvest. [ + ]

The unholy trinity of bad-for-you food ingredients has traditionally consisted of MSG, trans fats and sugar. Recently, however, a fourth nutrition sin has been added to the mix: salt. As World Salt Awareness Week draws to a close, we look at some of the issues behind the movement and what industry players have been doing to reduce salt in processed food products. [ + ]

Innovia Films’ compostable cellulose-based material, NatureFlex, has been selected by Miss Muffet & Co, to wrap its range of fairytale- and nursery rhyme-inspired premium confectionery. [ + ]

Restaurant patrons in China face stomach-turning odds of a 1 in 10 chance that their dinner has been cooked in ‘gutter oil’ - used cooking oil that’s dredged from gutters and sewers, reprocessed and sold back to restaurants to be used as cooking oil again. It’s ‘purified’ with chemicals, bleached to change its colour and contains carcinogens PAH and aflatoxin. [ + ]

Major cava producer Bodega Jaume Serra has installed a Krones line that maximises output. [ + ]

Companies faced with food tampering need to make sure they remain sensitive to their customers’ cultural views before trying to assign blame when responding, according to a new study. [ + ]

In 2010, Coca-Cola’s chunky fruit juice Pulpy was on sale in 14 different nations; by 2011 it was already being produced and sold on 25 national markets. Beverages featuring fruit chunks are regarded as the paramount drivers for future global growth in the fruit juice segment. [ + ]

A joint initiative of a German engineering firm and Australia’s largest industrial automation and control systems integration company is generating returns on investment for manufacturers in months, rather than years. [ + ]

Anuga FoodTec is the premier international food processing equipment and technology exhibition. At this year's event, four Australian/New Zealand companies, Heat and Control, Gold Peg International, Cavitus and GEA Avapak, will show the international food processing community their wares. [ + ]

The Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology Incorporated is hosting the 45th Annual Convention in Adelaide in July. The theme of the Convention is ‘Reaping the rewards’. [ + ]

The International FoodTec Awards celebrate the best new products, technologies, services, equipment and ideas that will improve the quality, safety and efficiency of the food industry. In 2012, nine companies have been awarded Gold and 10 Silver. [ + ]