Technology that transfers computer-generated information onto the physical world is being tested for use in poultry farms to improve communication between computers and workers.

Using new milling technology, ConAgra Food Ingredients (USA) has introduced Ultragrain White whole-wheat flour, a product the company describes as a 'revolutionary whole grain flour'.

Australian beer and wine could soon come in glass bottles that insulate them from the damaging effects of ultraviolet and visible light.

With the acquisitions of well-established ingredient specialists Bronson & Jacobs (B&J), Woods & Woods (W&W) and Keith Harris (KH) in the last 15 months, adding to the previous acquisition of Fernz, Orica has established a platform on which to grow their food ingredients business in the region.

The NSW Food Authority has been asked by the world’s leading health body to help devise communication solutions so other countries can show people how to safely eat fish while reducing the risk from mercury.

Amcor Australasia and Plantic Technologies have announced an alliance to work towards the development of a new biodegradable material, which if successful, has potential to change the mainstream confectionery packaging market and provide manufacturers and retailers with a cost effective, functional and environmentally-sustainable packaging solution.

Simon Hall has been named applications engineering manager of Flexicon Corporation (Australia) by John Simonof, vice president of Worldwide Operations.

Five elements are necessary for a dust explosion: ignitable dust; suspension of the dust into a cloud (in sufficient concentration); confinement; oxidant (usually air); and ignition.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has released details of changes being considered to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and has invited individuals and organisations with an interest in food standards to comment on the proposals. The changes include the fortification of cereal-based beverages with selected vitamins and minerals, two new GM foods, the addition of phytosterols to fruit juices and fruit drinks and an examination of benzoate and sulfite additives in food.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has released the results of its 21st Australian Total Diet Survey (ATDS) of preservatives in food.

Tropical fruit wine has found international approval and is now being exported to Singapore and Taiwan by a winner of the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women's Award. Developed out of frustration with the 'excessive' wastage of tropical fruit in traditional markets, tropical fruit wine has rapidly developed into a new regional industry.

The process of integration between the two former competitors Aarhus United and Karlshamn AB has been accelerating since the new company AarhusKarlshamn AB was established. The new company has the opportunity to combine deep knowledge of vegetable oils with extensive knowledge of the markets in Europe, Nafta, South America and Asia.

At the Australian Beverages Council's annual general meeting President Andrew Dawson (Cadbury Schweppes) was re-elected to lead the Council for the coming year.

As the largest growing beverage worldwide, bottled water manufacturers are rapidly growing in numbers. But as a packaged food product like any other, bottled water is also in constant need of safety controls to ensure superior quality for its consumers.

Cormack Packaging's annual Innovation Awards of 2005 are under way. The competition gives third year industrial design students from University of Technology Sydney and New South Wales University an opportunity to design an innovative closure suitable for the food and beverage industry.