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The European food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the bloc, coming ahead of the automobile and chemical industries, but R&D investment remains “insufficient”, according to a new report. (foodanddrinkeurope.com) Published last week by CIAA (the Confederation of the food and drink industries of the EU) the report collates the latest available statistics on the industry, which provide a snapshot of its structure and economics... read more →

Reacting to suggestions that industry may be approaching the natural limits of lightweighting, Euromonitor has argued that there is still plenty of scope to reduce the weight of PET packs, glass bottles, and beverage cans. (foodproductiondaily.com) Lightweighting presents a seductive route to sustainability for beverage producers because it offers the opportunity to reduce the impact of packaging on both the environment and profit margins. But some industry... read more →

Attempts to tackle saturated fat levels by reducing portion sizes could backfire if consumers don’t understand what you are trying to achieve, Ginsters has warned. (foodmanufacture.co.uk) Speaking at Food Manufacture’s round table debate on saturated fat last week, Ginsters technical manager David Ion said the Cornish pasty giant had done a lot of work exploring the different ways it could reduce saturated fat in its products without compromising... read more →

An innovative concept in fish packaging that provides added barrier protection is now available to the whole market after the expiration of an exclusive two-year deal with one company, said Sudpack Verpackungen. (foodproductiondaily.com) The German firm said its Ecostar rigid foil film used for premium fresh fish packaging broke the mould in 2008 when it worked with Norwegian dairy firm Tine to develop the solution in place of the usual tubular bag and... read more →

Growing demand for retortable pouches in the food industry is creating a need for investment in new capacity in bi-oriented nylon film (BOPA) film production, according to PCI Films Consulting. (foodanddrinkeurope.com) BOPA film is used primarily for the packaging of fresh and processed meat products like bacon because of its superior oxygen barrier properties and its puncture resistance. But in recent years demand has grown thanks to the emergence of... read more →

Banning artificial trans fats in the UK could prevent 11,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths a year, according to two senior doctors writing in the British Medical Journal. (foodnavigator.com) Artificial trans fats are made by partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils, a process that turns them into semi-solids, giving them a higher melting point and longer shelf-life, thereby making them better suited for use in the food industry. However, evidence has... read more →

Even some of the most unusual innovations from top restaurant kitchens could inspire manufacturers of packaged foods, according to Ted Russin, food scientist at specialty hydrocolloids firm CP Kelco. (nutraingredients.com) Speaking at the recent Research Chefs Association conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Russin demonstrated how the techniques and ingredients used to produce foods in cutting-edge restaurants could be translated for use in packaged foods,... read more →

An Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) inquiry into the treatment of migrant and agency workers in the meat and poultry processing sector has found alleged “widespread mistreatment” across the industry. (meatinfo.co.uk) The EHRC inquiry examined the employment and recruitment practices in the sector to identify differences in pay and conditions between agency and temporary workers and employees with permanent or directly employed status. The... read more →