In response to the increased presence of probiotic food ingredients, the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) will include draft standards intended to ensure quality in these ingredients. The latest FCC Forum will contain the proposed standards, which are available for public review and comment. Read more »

Food irradiation could be made safer with the introduction of a new ISO standard, ISO 14470:2011. Read more »

CSIRO is once again hosting the International Nonthermal Food Processing Workshop - FIESTA 2012. Read more »

The US Center for Progressive Reform (CPR) has urged US authorities to urgently address Bisphenol A regulations. Read more »

The New Zealand Government is encouraging submissions for its proposed response to reviews on milk pricing and raw milk regulations. Read more »

Following the carbendazim scare in the US, Australia has begun testing incoming imported orange juice concentrate. FSANZ’s backflip on testing of orange juice products from foreign sources - and the Australian citrus industry’s reaction to the carbendazim scare - raises some questions about Australian standards and the state of the Australian citrus industry. Read more »

A new proposal by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) could see restrictions on the sale and production of raw milk products in Australia relaxed. Read more »

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry says there is no need for panic despite avian influenza being detected near Melbourne. Read more »

The certification body of the German technical inspectorate TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH has tested Krones’ Hydronomic water treatment system at the Einbecker Brauhaus brewery in Einbeck and certified its compliance with the requirements of the enviro management system. The independent certification is now on file for the water treatment system from Krones. Read more »

Meat packaging specialist Ennio International has announced the appointment of Malcolm Hughes as General Manager. The new position came about as a result of international growth and strong home market sales for the company. Read more »

Kmart has presented Dematic Real Time Logistics with its Supplier of the Year award for Project Innovation, in recognition of Dematic’s contribution to the success of Kmart’s new distribution centres in Australia and New Zealand. Read more »

Pest managers have formed a partnership with the food industry to reduce the number of foodborne illnesses suffered by Australians each year. Read more »

Phillip Zhang has been appointed to the role of Financial Controller, South Pacific with Rockwell Automation. Read more »

Progel is developing technology to fortify milk and juice products with probiotics and omega-3. Read more »

Leading global specialty chemicals and food ingredients company IMCD has acquired two major companies in India and Australia, strengthening its expansion strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. Read more »

Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) Chairman John Doumani has announced that AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell will leave the industry group at the end of March 2012. Carnell has accepted the position of CEO at beyondblue. Read more »

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. Read more »

Ecolab has launched a poultry export program featuring Inspexx 150, a peroxyacid-based antimicrobial food additive for treating poultry carcasses, parts and trim. Read more »

A cutting-edge short supply chain engineered by a Southern Cross University researcher could change the way food is delivered from farmers to consumers. Read more »

Avocado seeds are typically seen as waste by growers. But a study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists, found that crushing avocado seeds along with air generates an orange colour that may be used as natural colouring for food products in the future. Read more »