Industry News
Nutrition, food safety makes GM foods more palatable
The majority of consumers will accept the presence of nanotechnology or genetic modification (GM) technology in foods if the technology enhances the nutrition or improves the safety of the food, according to research. [ + ]
Associations help Foodbank spread festive cheer
Congratulations to over 130 members of the SCLAA, AIP and the APPMA, who spent their annual Christmas party packing hampers for Foodbank to distribute to those in need at Christmas. [ + ]
Study examines transfer of packaging ink to food
A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Dyes and Pigments investigates the migration of printing inks from food contact materials (FCMs). [ + ]
Researchers laser in on the perfect apple
Researchers have developed a method to help farmers harvest climacteric fruits - like apples, bananas, pears and tomatoes - at their precise peak in ripeness, using laser biospeckle technology. [ + ]
Food and agriculture precinct to encourage science, industry collaboration
Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has launched the National Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Precinct (NAESP) at CSIRO's redeveloped $200 million Black Mountain site in Canberra. [ + ]
Levy to combat oyster mortality syndrome
Australian Seafood Industries (ASI) will collect a levy, in conjunction with hatcheries, to undertake research into developing spat with resistance to the Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS). [ + ]
Australian manufacturing sector edges into growth
The Australian manufacturing sector has shown some positive signs, experiencing its third consecutive month of improved results and edging narrowly into overall growth, according to November's Australian Industry Group PMI result. [ + ]
US gluten-free market surges 63%
The surge in popularity of gluten-free diets has led to a 63% growth in the US gluten-free food market in the past two years. [ + ]
Fizzy physics
When bubbles burst at a liquid's surface, as seen in champagne or carbonated drinks, droplets are ejected. This little event, which is commonly seen in much greater scale on the ocean's surface, involves a fascinating facet of physics. [ + ]
AUSPACK 2015 on track to break records
With AUSPACK 2015 less than three months away, the line-up of multinational companies set to exhibit is continuing to grow. [ + ]
Test for fast detection of horse meat
Scientists at the Institute of Food Research have teamed up with Oxford Instruments to develop a fast, cheap alternative to DNA testing as a means of distinguishing horse meat from beef. [ + ]
Kitchen pests chomp through plastic waste
The larvae from the Plodia interpunctella, otherwise known as pantry moths or Indianmeal moths, have gut bacteria that can degrade polyethylene, the most common plastic. [ + ]
Bioplastics production capacities to grow by more than 400% by 2018
Global bioplastics products capacities are predicted to grow by more than 400% by 2018, according to François de Bie, the chairman of European Bioplastics. [ + ]
Economical, eco-friendly polystyrene alternative in development
The VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland is working to develop an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative for polystyrene from PLA (polylactide) bioplastic, which is derived from organic sources. [ + ]
Fake honey producers in sticky situation
A company that tried to pass Turkish honey based predominantly on plant sugars off as pure Australian honey has been penalised more than $10,000 and issued with an infringement notice by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. [ + ]
