The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) will run a new half-day Flexible Packaging and Bioplastics training course in November. [ + ]

Coles has hit back at comments about food labelling made by Greens leader Christine Milne, calling them “misleading” and “false”. [ + ]

Researchers at the University of Western Australia have developed two new chickpea varieties that they say will “take the Indian market by storm” and rejuvenate the Australian chickpea industry. [ + ]

Recent research from Roy Morgan shows Australian consumers prefer Australian made when it comes to food and beverage, but are indifferent as to where their furniture and household appliances are made. [ + ]

University of Wolverhampton researchers have found a way to use waste oil from deep-fried food to create environmentally friendly plastic cheaply. [ + ]

LycoRed has received full approval for its new premix plant in Changzhou, China, which is said to be one of the largest premix factories in Asia. [ + ]

Research from Mintel shows that global launches of foods with sodium claims actually declined by 5% over the 2010/2011 period, with only 2% of food launches in 2011 sporting sodium claims. [ + ]

A recent Stanford University study comparing organic and conventionally produced food is "irrelevant" for most Australian consumers of organic products, an academic claims. [ + ]

USP has been granted observer status by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, allowing it to provide expert information, advice and guidance to the commission. [ + ]

Pro-Pac Packaging has announced it will purchase the business and assets of Start Food Tech Australia, a national supplier of packaging consumables and products to the meat, chicken and fish processing industries. [ + ]

Supermarket-branded shredded cheese is becoming increasingly popular, especially among consumers with children aged 12 to 15, new research from Roy Morgan has shown. [ + ]

Naturally occurring toxins and contaminants that either affect final product quality or are classified as probable human carcinogens are being prevented from developing by harnessing the innate functions of specialist yeasts. [ + ]

Cases of ciguatera poisoning are on the rise among people living in Pacific Island nations, researchers have found. The poisoning causes acutely painful and debilitating effects that can last for months. [ + ]

Submissions are invited on an application to remove restrictions on package size for low-fat, phytosterol-enriched cheese. [ + ]

Researchers from China have found that a key chemical in green tea positively affects the generation of brain cells, benefiting memory and spatial learning. [ + ]