Industry News
Avocado industry researchers receive Australia Day awards
Avocados Australia and Australian avocado growers congratulate both Dr Tony Whiley and Mr Ken Pegg for their tireless and dedicated work for the avocado industry, recognised in the Australia Day 2008 Honours List.
[ + ]Marketing influences the sale of fast food
Marketing may influence how often parents feed their children fast food, according to a study by Sonya A. Grier, an associate professor of marketing at American University’s Kogod School of Business.
[ + ]Australian organic exports to gain boost over cloned meats
Australian organic meat exporters say their business could be bolstered by the US Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to approve the consumption of food from cloned animals and their offspring.
[ + ]Strong demand for Australian dairy in Asia
Demand for Australian dairy products is expected to remain strong throughout key Asian export markets despite commodity prices increasing during the past 12 months.
[ + ]Strategic opportunity overview released
Targeted foods have broad implications for the future of the food and beverage industry. As consumers are using diet to address health conditions, companies are responding by launching products with functional benefits targeted at specific health needs or population groups.
[ + ]Probiotics study reveals metabolic interactions
Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Imperial College London, England, published a study in the January edition of Molecular Systems Biology expanding knowledge about the mechanisms of probiotic action on gut microbial activity and ultimately, metabolism.
[ + ]EFSA’s panel to split
EFSA’s scientific panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food (AFC Panel) will soon branch into two separate panels, in order to increase further EFSA’s pool of expertise and to accelerate processes in a field where output is particularly high. EFSA expects the new panels to begin operating by mid 2008.
[ + ]Multiple awards for Constar’s DiamondClear
There is great news for Constar and its customer, ConAgra. A PET bottle with Constar’s DiamondClear oxygen scavenging material created for Hunt’s Ketchup has been recognised by the Institute of Packaging Professionals as the top sustainable package for 2007. In addition to winning the 3M Sustainable Packaging Award, the Hunt’s Ketchup PET with DiamondClear also won the Ameristar Food Category Award.
[ + ]Poultry is the green meat
Research has found poultry and eggs to be the most environmentally friendly source of energy, compared to beef, pork or lamb.
[ + ]NZ clarifies poultry processing regulations
New Zealand Food Safety Authority and the New Zealand Poultry Industry Association have developed a new code of practice (COP) specifically for poultry processing.
[ + ]Changing leadership at O3C
The Omega-3 Centre (O3C), a not-for-profit health organisation promoting the benefits of long chain omega-3 fatty acids, is having a change of leadership this year after the founding executive director, Wendy Morgan, resigned in December.
[ + ]EFSA finds animal cloning safe
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is launching a public consultation on its draft scientific opinion on the implications of animal cloning on food safety, animal health and welfare and the environment.
[ + ]Fresh produce opportunities in China
Australian fresh produce companies have a chance to foster Chinese business opportunities at China’s SFT — the annual fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts exhibition.
[ + ]New records for NZ dairy exports
Statistics New Zealand has released figures showing that the total value of NZ merchandise exports in November 2007 rose 18.4% compared with November 2006. This is the second consecutive month to see a large increase driven by milk powder, butter and cheese, and petroleum and products. Combined, these two commodity groups made up a third of all exports and accounted for over 90% of the increase from November 2006.
[ + ]Functional proteins from potatoes
Developer of customised industrial-scale separation services Upfront Chromatography has announced that commercial production of highly functional proteins from the side stream of potato processing has been enabled using its Rhobust processing platform. The Rhobust adsorbent is a key component of Solanic’s industrial processing plant, which was officially opened in December 2007 in Gasselternijveen, Netherlands. Solanic is the protein business unit of the potato starch giant AVEBE.
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