When people start contemplating doing business in China, opinions will gush forth about everything from giving gifts, to using chopsticks, to attempting a few phrases in Chinese. It won’t be too long before another mystifying concept is encountered: Guanxi. [ + ]

As part of its sustainability focus, McCormick Distilling Co Inc decided to change the 1.75 L bottle for its eco-friendly 360 Vodka from glass to lightweight polyethylene terephthalate (PET). [ + ]

We usually think of adult fat as white and hard to get rid of but brown and beige fats are present in adults and their role in the metabolism of triglycerides and glucose may make them allies in the fights against obesity and diabetes. [ + ]

Researchers have developed what they claim is the world's first low-GI potato. Research on the Carisma potato will be presented at the International Congress of Nutrition in Granada, Spain. [ + ]

The large, and growing, market share of ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables has been made possible by the development of invisible, colourless, odourless, tasteless, edible coatings. [ + ]

Upgrading old powered roller technology to a modular belt design driven by a highly efficient drive package has reduced the downtime and running costs in a major NZ meat processing plant. [ + ]

Anti-erasing ink can make it much harder for the unscrupulous to fraudulently alter coding on your products. [ + ]

Covert, low-cost, heat-resistant, edible silica microtags can serve as invisible barcodes which can be incorporated into the very fabric of a food or pharmaceutical. [ + ]

WNIFT&M spoke with Maria Said, President of Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, about the importance of allergen labelling, allergic consumers' attitudes to processed food and how processors can earn the trust of allergic consumers. [ + ]

Grapes can be graded for quality and be checked for foreign object contamination simultaneously using a new system under development in Germany. [ + ]

Most refrigerated trucks and delivery vans used to rely on diesel power to keep their cargoes at the desired temperature, but now silent, emmission-free fuels are being trialled as an alternative. [ + ]

Not only are beverage consumers looking for new experiences, taste sensations and health promotion from their soft drinks and juices, on a global scale they are also simply wanting more. [ + ]

The Epirez Supatuff FG (Food Grade) flooring product helped a Queensland food processing plant meet all its legal requirements for safety and hygiene. [ + ]

Food manufacturers need to be vigilant of rodent infestations to prevent reputation backlash and physical damage to their businesses. [ + ]

ALDI Australia has adopted CHEP's new-generation re-usable plastic crate. The Gen 3 crate was developed in consultation with the retailer and was launched at ALDI's Salisbury store in Brisbane. [ + ]