Aleah Black, a packaging engineer with Johnson&Johnson Pacific, was named as the winner of the sixth annual APPMA scholarship. The scholarship will enable Black to study a Diploma in Packaging Technology. [ + ]

Fresh produce marketer Perfection Fresh and glasshouse operator D'VineRipe have announced that the two companies will merge as of 1 July. [ + ]

Functional foods and beverages fail when they rely too much on health claims to differentiate them from the competition, a new report from New Nutrition Business shows. [ + ]

Westpac has appointed a new General Manager, Agribusiness. Steve Hannan will take over the role from Graham Jennings, who retired from the role in March. Hannan has been acting in the post since Jennings' retirement. [ + ]

Kansas State University master's student Lance Noll has developed and validated a molecular assay that can detect and quantify major genes specific to E. coli O157. [ + ]

Packaging industry veterans Ralph Moyle and Craig Wellman have each been awarded an AIP Fellowship for their contributions to the industry. [ + ]

Fonterra President Greater China Kelvin Wickham has been appointed to the newly created position of Managing Director Global Ingredients. Johan Priem will take over the President Greater China role on 1 August when Wickham assumes his new role. [ + ]

Advancing Food Safety (AFS) - SAI Global is offering a new course: Understanding WQA v8. All Woolworths Trade Partners are obliged to meet training requirements outlined in WQA v8. [ + ]

The countdown to foodpro 2014 is on. The iconic triennial event will kick off in Melbourne on Sunday, 22 June, running through to Wednesday, 25 June. [ + ]

White bread seems to have gained a bad reputation - but scientists say this reputation may not be totally deserved. A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reports that white bread appears to encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. [ + ]

False, misleading and deceptive: these were the terms the Federal Court used to described Coles' "Freshly Baked" and "Baked Today" marketing claims. [ + ]

Food processing equipment manufacturer Gold Peg is launching its new high-volume RotaTherm continuous cooking system at foodpro 2014, Australasia's largest food processing exhibition. [ + ]

Monosodium glutamate has been linked to obesity and progressive liver disease. A study identifies MSG as a critical factor in the initiation of obesity and shows that while a restrictive diet won't stop obesity, it can slow the progression of related liver disease. [ + ]

Researchers say a new antimicrobial coating that combines copper and silver colloids with anti-adhesive surface properties will provide long-term germ resistance. The coatings could be used in food preparation and the manufacture of packaging materials. [ + ]

A study has found that diets higher in protein - particularly from fish - may reduce the incidence of stroke. A meta-analysis of seven studies revealed that those with the higher amounts of protein in their diets were 20% less likely to experience a stroke. [ + ]