Synlait will establish a research and development centre in Palmerston North, New Zealand, focusing on the development of new milk products, processing technology and packaging. [ + ]

Held 11–18 November, the Australian Food Safety Week 2017 has announced that the theme will be 'Is it done yet? Use a thermometer for great food, cooked safely every time'. [ + ]

It's natural so it must be good — right? Actually — no! [ + ]

A new cold chain advocacy group has been established in Queensland to improve compliance and standards in the handling of food at all levels of the cold chain. [ + ]

Salmonella and Shiga toxigenic E. coli (STEC) are two pathogens that can go into a dormant state where they remain virulent but can't be detected through traditional culturing methods. [ + ]

John Lemon lemonade has been forced to change its name following legal action claiming infringement of the John Lennon trademark. [ + ]

With Amazon set to enter the Australian market, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has reminded the online retail giant that it must ensure it complies with Australia's unfair contract terms legislation. [ + ]

After analysing the preparedness of the food and beverage industry for product recall, a recent survey conducted by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and Victual found that most companies are underprepared in the event of a crisis. [ + ]

New Zealand's commitment towards a global sustainable dairy development has been confirmed, with DairyNZ, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) endorsing the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam. [ + ]

Allpax has announced it is partnering with the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences from Louisiana State University (LSU) Agricultural Center to assist North American shelf-stable food companies that create nutritious products. [ + ]

Research by global marketing intelligence agency Mintel suggested European consumers enjoy the taste of beer containing low or no alcohol as much as full-strength beer. [ + ]

GoodMills Innovation is set to introduce its new product 2ab Wheat, an ancient grain that is well tolerated by the gut even for those sensitive to wheat. [ + ]

Some people lose weight more easily than others and this could be due to the type of bacteria in the dieter's intestines, according to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity. [ + ]

MycoTechnology, an Aurora company that uses mushrooms to improve the taste of food and drinks, closed a US$35 million Series B round of financing with food investors worldwide. [ + ]

With the plant-based foods market expected to reach US$5 billion by 2020, Nestle USA has entered into this segment by agreeing to acquire plant-based food manufacturer Sweet Earth. [ + ]