WorkSafe Victoria has released new guidance to help improve safety in Victoria’s cold storage operations.

Murray Goulburn, Australia’s largest exporter of processed food, has commissioned the country’s first Pallet Runner high-density storage system at its Integrated Logistics Centre at Laverton in Victoria.

In the fruit juice drinks and still water segments, carton packaging has lost market shares to PET in recent years, but worldwide, the use of carton packaging for beverages is still increasing.

The melamine adulterated milk crisis in China is providing a warning to all companies of the dangers of operating in a global market.

What is it about food science that makes it so difficult to single out a single food-based compound or element as the cause for a clearly observed benefit or hindrance? This was the underlying concern at the inaugural Go Grains Conference, marking the launch of the '4+ serves a day' campaign.

Cadbury is proposing to invest AU$135 million to improve the efficiency and productivity of its three chocolate and confectionery manufacturing sites in Australia and New Zealand. Cadbury’s managing director, Mark Callaghan, reveals details about the thought processes behind the restructure plans.

An efficient, accurate and sensitive method of detecting toxins in shellfish has been validated for worldwide acceptance in a project completed by the IRL-initiated Virtual Institute for Metrology in Chemistry and Biology, in collaboration with the Cawthron Institute.

The role of food consumption and processing in human exposure to antimicrobial resistant bacteria is an emerging biological hazard caused in part by the use of antimicrobial agents throughout the food chain, from the farm to the fork according to the opinion released by the European Food Safety Authority's BIOHAZ Panel.

Biologically active, biodegradable optical devices made from silk and needing no refrigeration may be used to create edible optical sensors. The sensors could detect harmful bacteria in produce, and be consumed right along with the food.

Tests for Campylobacter and Salmonella could be run on the spot in as little as half an hour using a portable, easy-to-use and cost-effective chip system that prepares samples and performs DNA tests on bacteria on the spot.

The tomato is being blamed for causing salmonella infections across the US but the location and source of the infection has not been established. So the tomato industry and the tomato's reputation are possibly suffering unfairly.

Biofortification of the cassava through genetic engineering is leading to a plant that will provide better nutrition for the 800 million people who use the root as a major source of food. The research is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Things are looking good for the beverage industry with above average growth expected for new types of drinks. Improvements in processing technology will help processors realise this growth.

The top priority for food and beverage manufacturers is to develop strategies with the trade and producers for a long-term stable supply and the utilisation of raw materials as efficiently as possible using state-of-the-art technology.

Foodborne viruses are a common, and probably the most under-recognised, cause of outbreaks of gastroenteritis. The prevention of foodborne viral illness depends on the quality of raw materials, staff education and a high level of awareness in the manufacturing industry. In this three-part article, the Institute of Food Science & Technology’s April 2008 Information Statement will bring food producers up to date with this important topic.