The mammalian gut is home to hundreds of bacterial species that contribute to food digestion and, in some cases, inflammatory gut diseases. Probiotics, beneficial bacterial species, can enhance gut health by keeping the resident bacteria in check. Now, a team of researchers at the Riken Innovation Center in Wako, Japan, including Mitsuharu Matsumoto, report that administration of the probiotic bacterial strain Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis LKM512 to mice can lengthen their lifespan. [ + ]

Time is running out to submit your entry for the 2013 APPMA Awards of Excellence. Submissions are due no later than Friday, 22 March 2013. [ + ]

RMIT’s Professor John Hawley has secured a $520,000 grant from the Dairy Health and Nutrition Consortium to examine the role of dairy-rich products in weight loss. [ + ]

The FoodBowl, a government-backed food innovation pilot plant which aims to grow New Zealand manufactured food exports to $150 billion (270%) by 2025, is officially open. Aimed at all food and beverage companies, from start-ups to SMEs and corporates, resources include commercial and test kitchens, laboratory facilities, pilot plant testing (from existing to leading-edge technology) and short-run processing capability to allow in-market testing of new product concepts.

Milmeq has won the Mechanical and Manufacturing category at the 2011 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards for its Ovine Automated Evisceration and Brisket Cutting Processing Systems, developed for Ovine Automaton Ltd. The systems achieved the commercial reality of robotic technology fully integrated within meat processing lines.

With the possibility of a US national tax on foods with high sweetener content, Iowa State University economists have examined the impacts for food processors and consumers, and how such a tax could best be applied.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for submissions from government agencies, public health professionals, industry and the community on its assessment report for an application to allow food derived from hemp.

When the Brau Beviale 2011 opened its doors in Nuremberg on 9 November 2011, the German Packaging Institute awarded Krones the German Packaging Prize as an accolade for the firm‘s microwave heating technology incorporated in its stretch blow-moulding machines. [ + ]

Bright Food Group has completed its acquisition of a 75% equity stake in Food Holdings Pty Ltd (Manassen Foods) and signalled its commitment to the Australian food industry by opening a permanent office in Sydney.

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) awarded the third scholarship for the Certificate in Packaging during the 2011 Cormack Innovation Awards evening. [ + ]

New research carried out in the UK has found out more information on human noroviruses.

A study has confirmed the safety of Australia’s food supply.

Krones has won the German Packaging Prize for its microwave heating technology.

FSANZ has called for submissions to change the Food Standards Code to allow food derived from a GM corn line.

Katronic Technologies’ range of non-invasive, clamp-on flowmeters is available in Australia through AMS Instrumentation & Calibration. [ + ]