Industry News
Microsphere breakthrough means safer food
Scientists from UQ and DAFF have developed new technology that enables DNA amplification on ‘microspheres’ to rapidly detect and identify large numbers of different bacteria at the same time. [ + ]
FDA proposes new food safety rules for imports
The US Food and Drug Administration has proposed two new food safety rules aimed at preventing foodborne illness that could impact food producers exporting to the US. [ + ]
AWRI offers advice on smoke taint for winemakers
The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) has developed an information page for winemakers and grapegrowers that gives advice on how to deal with recent hot weather conditions and the potential for smoke taint. [ + ]
Plastics will pollute oceans for hundreds of years
Even if we stopped putting plastic into our oceans today, giant garbage patches would continue to grow for hundreds of years. Recent ARC research examined how giant ocean garbage patches form as a result of ocean currents. [ + ]
Plastics recycling facility to be built in Queensland
The Australian Packaging Covenant has announced joint funding of a state-of-the-art plastic recycling facility to be built this year in Queensland. [ + ]
Ecolabelling growth to continue in 2013
The number of ecolabels in the food industry will continue to increase in 2013, but the mushrooming number of ecolabels could have adverse implications, according to Organic Monitor. [ + ]
Reducing food waste key to solving sustainability challenges
Addressing the issue of food waste could help resolve many sustainability challenges faced by the food industry, according to the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [ + ]
Nut milks on the increase but soy still dominates
While soy milk continues to dominate the dairy alternative drinks sector, interest has been rising in other alternatives, according to Innova Market Insights. [ + ]
Discount milk at Coles Express a “shallow marketing tactic”
Coles’ move to offer discount fresh milk at its Coles Express stores has angered Queensland dairy farmers, who say the supermarket giant has learnt nothing from the supermarket price wars. [ + ]
Private label campaigns reducing choice, says AFGC
Major supermarkets are reducing their overall product range as they aggressively promote their home brand products, the Australian Food and Grocery Council claims. [ + ]
New information page on NZ imports available
A new information page on importing food from New Zealand is now available on the DAFF website. [ + ]
Depression-beverage link is “unfounded”, says Bev Council
The Australian Beverages Council has called findings from a recent study that suggests a link between beverage consumption and depression “unfounded” and has criticised the authors’ scientific methods. [ + ]
Onion and garlic waste clean up heavy metals
Indian researchers have discovered a use for onion and garlic waste from the food industry: mopping up hazardous heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, mercury and tin. [ + ]
OIV publishes good fining practice for allergens
The OIV has published a document for winemakers entitled Good fining practice guidelines for wine to be applied after the use of proteinaceous [allergenic] wine fining agents [casein and egg white]. [ + ]
The super-trend of 2013: naturality
‘Naturality’ is likely to be the dominant trend of 2013, according to a new report. The author of 10 Key Trends in Food, Nutrition & Health 2013 calls naturality a ‘super-trend’ that is influencing the food industry across all categories. [ + ]
