The Indian packaged food industry looks likely to reach $30 billion by 2015, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The current compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15-20% annually should see the $15 billion industry reach $30 billion in the next three years. [ + ]

Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s (FSANZ) decision to extend country-of-origin labelling to unpackaged beef, lamb and chicken has been welcomed by the Australian Made, Australian Grown (AMAG) campaign. The campaign has been pushing for tougher food labelling laws in Australia. [ + ]

Most foods contain sulfites at acceptable levels, a recent FSANZ survey has shown. The survey examined sausages, cordials and dried fruit and found that sulfite levels in almost all foods tested were well below those allowed in the Food Standards Code. [ + ]

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) has announced a new half-day training course - Introduction to Extrusion Blow Moulding. Stephen Barter will present the first course on Thursday 26 July in St Kilda. [ + ]

Coles has announced that all of its Coles brand frozen vegetables will now be sourced from Australian vegetable growers. The supermarket giant announced the move in conjunction with vegetable processor Simplot and the Tasmanian government. [ + ]

Innovia Films are helping Italian school children learn healthy eating habits. Under the EU funded ‘Frutta nelle Scuole’ (School Fruit Scheme), children aged 6-11 years are given organic fruit wrapped in Innovia’s NatureFlex NVS each day at school. [ + ]

Yesterday, Guala Closures Australia launched Viiva - what they claim is Australia’s first screw-capped sparkling wine closure. Guala partnered with glass manufacturer Owens-Illinois (O-I) and Australian winemakers De Bortoli Wines to create the closure, which they say was developed in response to industry complaints about loss of fizz and difficulty opening traditional sparkling wine closures. [ + ]

It’s tna’s birthday - but the company is giving out the presents. As a way of thanking its customers, suppliers and staff, the company has launched a multiplatform competition with the top prize being a $5000 diamond. [ + ]

CSIRO researcher Dr Peter Dodds is developing synthetic rust resistance genes that that could help protect cereal crops from damage by rust diseases. It’s estimated that rust fungi has the potential to cause up to $300 million in losses to the Australian wheat industry each year. [ + ]

Unpackaged beef, sheep and chicken meat could soon be required to have country of origin labelling. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved a proposal to extend country of origin labelling to some unpackaged meats. [ + ]

Reactive, Australia’s largest independent digital agency and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) have won the judges’ Webby Award in the category of ‘Mobile & Apps - Lifestyle’ for the Beef Essentials iPhone app. [ + ]

A world authority on food safety, CSIRO leaders, a maverick politician and a food additive lobbyist: these are some of the speakers at the upcoming 45th Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST) Conference. With a theme of ‘Reap the Rewards’, the conference will be held in Adelaide from 15-18 July. [ + ]

2012-13 will be a good year for grape production, according to a recent report released by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). [ + ]

To help the banana industry achieve its aim of a 5% increase in production efficiency “with minimal to no environmental impact” by 2014, researchers are launching a $6 million research project. A Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) research team, led by principal research scientist Associate Professor Andre Drenth, will spearhead the Banana Plant Protection Program. [ + ]

interpack has organised PACK PLUS, a special exhibition devoted to the topic of package printing that will be staged at drupa, from 3 to 16 May in Düsseldorf. [ + ]