It doesn’t matter if you are a one-man band or part of a huge multinational conglomerate - every food processor and manufacturer needs equipment, ingredients and resources. If you want to find out what’s hot in equipment and supplies for the food industry, visit foodpro 2011.

The Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology will be holding its annual convention alongside foodpro. The convention theme is Tackling Tomorrow Today - what can we be doing today, that will help solve some of the problems we foresee for the future?

Five leading food bugs have been reported by the US to cost $12.7 billion in annual economic loss.

A metagenomics study has discovered that every human being’s intestinal system consists of one of three types of gut microbiota, which in turn affects the intake of medicines and nutrients into the body.

The Cadbury Adams (Thailand) Co chewing gum factory in Thailand achieved a 60% reduction in energy use and also reduced humidity and lowered maintenance requirements by changing its dehumidifier technology.

Nelson-based biscuit manufacturer David Crispo was refused entry to the US when border security at LAX first detected a metallic object somewhere on the man at a security checkpoint. Crispo, whose company produces Li’l Tart brand individually packaged biscuit tarts for the airline industry, was visiting the US to exhibit his new range of pre-packaged in-flight biscuits at the bi-annual Airline Food Service & Supplier Fair in Orange County, CA.

Enmin Vibratory Equipment engineers were asked to develop a vibratory handling system that would allow frozen meat to be presented to a special conveying process that individually weighed the meat pieces before transferring them to a packaging process.

More than 400 manufacturing staff at Bairnsdale-based Patties Foods will be able to develop their work skills through a new suite of online training modules.

At the Australian Institute of Packaging - National Technical Forum last month, the latest packaging trends were discussed. Here is a summary.

Breweries can successfully utilise the biogas from their wastewater treatment plant as an energy source in their operations, saving money as well as minimising waste, according to environmental solutions company Talbot & Talbot.

Murray Goulburn Cooperative (MGC), the largest dairy cooperative in Australia, has implemented Icon Global Link’s (ISES) tool to manage its food safety plans across all its sites.

MasoSine pump technology from the Watson-Marlow Pumps Group has solved a number of pump-related problems for UK pie manufacturer Pukka Pies. Aiming to lower decibel levels, reduce cycle times and cut energy consumption, Pukka Pies replaced pneumatically operated air pumps with MasoSine SPS 2.5 pumps to transfer meat fillings at its headquarters in Syston, Leicestershire, from where it produces over 60 million pies every year.

Fixed weight and fixed size packing is steadily becoming more and more popular - and the packing method is on the agenda at many producers. The benefits of fixed weight and/or size packing are primarily found in case ready and food service.

Robern Menz has announced a major upgrade investment to its production facility at Glynde, Adelaide. An amount of $1.1 million will be spent over the next 10 months overhauling the business’s refrigeration plant and warehousing infrastructure. This will have a major environmental benefit once implemented with the company’s carbon footprint significantly reducing.

Pallets, boxes, containers and crates transport Primo and Hans products around Australia, which, until recently, have been provided by several suppliers. Primo, Australia’s largest producer of ham, bacon and smallgoods, has recently made the switch to CHEP as its sole supplier in order to create a more efficient streamlined process for its distribution and delivery, and reduce costs and administration time.