The use of fenthion on a number of food crops has been restricted due to potential short-term dietary risks. It has also been prohibited for use on specific fruits and vegetables. [ + ]

Increasing the use of water recycling in food production and manufacturing is among new research being undertaken by the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence. [ + ]

The opening of the Victorian Centre for Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing is expected to boost green manufacturing in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. [ + ]

A new method described in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry is said to be able to determine whether specialty cheeses are true to label. [ + ]

Greenpeace claims John West coerced a company to remove a billboard featuring Greenpeace‘s “Reject John West” campaign advertising. The charity is calling on Simplot to clarify whether this is true. [ + ]

Applications for the ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research Program schemes open next week. The first round funds research into food storage, food processing, manufacturing capabilities and product opportunities. [ + ]

Sealed Air Corporation has entered into an agreement with the Carlyle Group for Carlyle to acquire Diversey Japan for ¥30 billion (equivalent to US$377 million). [ + ]

Australia’s food processing sector will need urgent and significant policy reform if it is to achieve the aspirations identified in the ‘Australia in the Asian Century’ white paper, according to the AFGC. [ + ]

Plantic Technologies has struck an exclusive distributor agreement with LINPAC Packaging, which will see Plantic expand its product offering with the addition of LINPAC’s range of high-barrier films. [ + ]

Schneider Electric has announced that MIX2012, a worldwide power and cooling event, will be coming to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in November. [ + ]

After determining global food losses in terms of kilocalories per person, it has beed established that halving current food losses would mean feeding an extra billion people. [ + ]

IMCD Group has signed an agreement to acquire PT Alam Subur Tirta Kencana, a Jakarta-based food ingredients distributor. The acquisition is IMCD’s first entry into South-East Asia. [ + ]

Macleay River Meats, which trades at Eversons Food Processors, has won the 2012 Prime Minister’s Water Wise Award. The award was presented at the savewater! awards gala dinner on 26 October. [ + ]

Young adults can boost their working memory by increasing omega-3 fatty acid intake, research from the University of Pittsburgh has shown. [ + ]

AUSPACK PLUS will feature the successful Bioplastics Pavilion at the 2013 event. The pavilion allows key industry experts to come together under one roof to help visitors understand bioplastics. [ + ]