SAI Global has announced upcoming food safety courses in NSW. [ + ]

Nominations will shortly close for the 2016 ARBS industry awards, which recognise excellence in Australia's HVAC, refrigeration and building services industries. [ + ]

Professional assurance services organisation LRQA has joined the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF). [ + ]

A survey on packaging chemicals in food should provide reassurance for consumers, according to Food Standards Australia New Zealand. [ + ]

The global frozen ready meals market is expected grow from US$50 billion to US$64 billion by 2020. [ + ]

The Bentley dairy processing plant in Perth is to be modernised as Lion Dairy & Drinks (LDD) commits to a $40m investment over the next three years, but 30 logistics roles will go as this section is outsourced. [ + ]

Restaurant-goers think they should know when their meals have been pre-prepared off-site and simply microwaved. [ + ]

Health policy formulators take note: a recent Spanish study has found an improvement in diet quality and better weight management were both associated with an increase in diet cost. [ + ]

The US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) is conducting a gut health study titled 'Effects of Meal, Ready-to-Eat consumption on gut health'. The question is how to get volunteers to eat nothing except Meals, Ready-to-Eat for 21 days. [ + ]

4.3% CAGR increases in volume and increasing demand for PET bottles, especially in the bottled water category, are just two of the predictions for the Asia Pacific region in a recent PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, market research study. [ + ]

Aurizon has expanded its relationship with Wilmar Sugar Australia Limited with the signing of a new rail haulage agreement. The two-year agreement will see Aurizon haul approximately 245,000 tonnes per annum of bulk sugar from the Proserpine Mill to Queensland Sugar at Mackay Harbour and 60,000 tonnes of molasses from the Burdekin mills to Port of Townsville from January 2016. [ + ]

FSANZ is reviewing the labelling requirements for irradiated foods and is seeking industry input. [ + ]

Juremont has won the exclusive Australian agency to supply Barry Callebaut cocoa powder, butter and liquor to the Australian food manufacturing sector from March 2016. [ + ]

Food safety auditing, training and consulting company NSF International has acquired the Burwater Pacific Group, a NZ-based food safety training, auditing and consulting business. [ + ]

Milacron Holdings' Klear Can technology, which will give users an alternative to metal cans for fruits, vegetables, soups, meats and other products, has passed an important food safety test and is undergoing additional testing with a number of select prospects. [ + ]