Ocean Spray Cranberries and Complete Phytochemical Solutions have joined forces on a project to develop a cranberry-specific PAC standard. [ + ]

Modified probiotics, the beneficial bacteria touted for their role in digestive health, could one day decrease the risk of Listeria infection in people with susceptible immune systems, according to Purdue University research. [ + ]

Human tongues apparently recognise and have an affinity for fat, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis. They have found that variations in a gene can make people more or less sensitive to the taste of fat. [ + ]

Patane Produce commissioned three 1.8-tonne Toyota 8FG18 forklifts at the end of 2011 to increase production and improve the reliability of its material handling fleet. [ + ]

The name of the game has become one of intense competition, of finding the growth niches within the overall packaging market to make sure that you grow faster than your opposition. The overall packaging market in developed countries may therefore seem to be rather mature and static but internally it certainly is very dynamic. [ + ]

Australian company A&G Engineering beat off international competition to win the contract to fabricate 10 x 100 hectolitre stainless steel beer fermenters for Casella Estate. [The finished tanks are beautiful. - Editor] [ + ]

In a search to uncover the patterns and principles people use in choosing ingredient combinations beyond individual taste and recipes, a team looked at the key ingredients of 56,498 online recipes and then analysed those ingredients for shared flavour compounds. The results showed differences between Eastern and Western dietary preferences. [ + ]

With a final death toll of 30 people, including one miscarriage, the US’s most deadly outbreak ever of food poisoning has been declared over. In total, 146 people across 28 states became ill after eating Listeria monocytogenes contaminated whole rockmelon. While the number of deaths was not the largest ever recorded for a food poisoning outbreak, the greater than one in five death rate makes the outbreak of listeriosis the deadliest food poisoning incident in the US. The outbreak was also the first caused by whole, unprocessed produce. [ + ]

Yoghurt manufacturer five:am had eight months to set up its manufacturing plant, commence production and get product on the supermarket shelves. Its success was dependent on the specialist vendors it partnered with to make this happen - Process Partners and Schneider Electric. Schneider Electric provided a full suite of sophisticated automation and control technology so the product could be manufactured as quickly and efficiently as possible. [ + ]

Kompass Milan has successfully installed three of its PF 6-head capper machines for plastic pre-threaded and plastic pressure caps at the Sydney plant of Sanofi Aventis, a specialist in pharmaceuticals, consumer healthcare products and vaccines. [ + ]

The days are gone when packaging was used for nothing more than protecting the product and ensuring an attractive presentation at the point of sale. These days, packaging has to do a lot more. It has to be intelligent and interactive, and it is supposed to track goods along the entire supply chain, to expose counterfeits, to test whether a package has already been opened, or to indicate whether a cold chain has been interrupted. Finally, it is supposed to make it possible to pursue new methods of brand communication and to interact with the consumer. [ + ]

There is all this ballyhoo about ‘traffic light’ information on foods so consumers can select the healthiest options but following my recent experience with labelling on roast beef all I want is front-of-pack labels that clearly inform me what the food actually is.

For over 20 years Bakery Du Jour has established itself as one of the highest quality patisseries of French pastries and breads in Australia. Proudly Australian owned and family operated, the bakery supplies its unique and innovative range of frozen, uncooked, par-baked and frozen-baked products to cold stores and distributors nationally. [ + ]

The European Food Safety Authority has commenced assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the EU's current meat inspection methodology so it can provide a scientific basis for the modernisation of meat inspection across the European Union. It has released its first reports covering the inspection of swine.

Owens-Illinois (O-I) has helped Carlton United Brewers (CUB) introduce an innovative bottle for its new Victoria Pale Lager. [ + ]