To help the seafood industry understand the financial impact of implementing traceability, the Global Food Traceability Center has launched a Seafood Traceability Financial Tool. [ + ]

As carbonated soft drink sales start to drop in the US, there's one fizzy drink that's gaining ground: carbonated water. The US is forecast to have a growth rate of 12% in carbonated packaged water consumption in 2014, compared to an average global growth of 1%. [ + ]

The authors of a new study, which examined global food security and the patterns of food trade, have highlighted that the global food supply may not meet escalating future demand. [ + ]

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) is calling for comment on the proposed commercial release of a genetically modified E. coli chicken vaccine. [ + ]

Roy Morgan Research has identified a significant decline in soft-drink consumption in Australia since 2003, while the number of people consuming breakfast drinks and iced tea has more than doubled in the same period. [ + ]

Samantha Saunders has been announced as a new director to the board of the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association. Saunders is the general manager of Integrated Machinery, a pallet-wrapping equipment manufacturer. [ + ]

The 2014 Agriculture & Food Biotechnology Symposium will explore how Australia's food and agri-bio industry can secure its future as a niche provider of technology, services and products. [ + ]

The achievements of the international label industry were celebrated last week at the Label Industry Global Awards, held as part of Labelexpo Americas. [ + ]

The NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has released the How to Determine the Shelf Life of Food document. The document replaces the 2005 Information Booklet for the Food Industry - A Guide to Calculating Shelf Life of Foods. [ + ]

The AIP and the APPMA have issued a call for papers for the 2015 National Technical Forums, which will be held in conjunction with AUSPACK 2015. [ + ]

While beer consumption in Australia is falling, it's not all bad news for the alcohol industry: research firm IBISWorld is forecasting a 21.5% increase in cider sales over the next five years. [ + ]

Here's a reason not to feel bad if you don't get your two and five a day: a new study from the University of Michigan shows that diets that conform to federal dietary recommendations could have higher carbon footprints than non-conforming diets. [ + ]

A Perth import business has been fined more than $50,000 for illegally importing pork products labelled as fish from Taiwan. The importer reportedly concealed the products among other imported goods as he knew the product is prohibited in Australia. [ + ]

A new online system for lodging imported cargo documentation is set to save commercial importers and customs brokers time and money, the Department of Agriculture says. [ + ]

A Canadean report predicts that consumer packaged-goods providers will capitalise on the trend of ‘Westernisation’ in China and integrate more Western groceries onto their shelves. [ + ]