FoodWaikato spray dryer processes avocado powder for export
07 June, 2013Avocado Oil New Zealand is using NZ’s only open-access product development spray dryer at Waikato Innovation Park to dry avocado pulp into a high-value powder to be marketed under the Avopure brand.
Irish potato famine mystery solved
04 June, 2013An international team of scientists has discovered the unique strain of Phytophthora infestans that was responsible for the Irish potato famine by using dried herbarium samples held in Munich and London.
Calls for gingko ban following cancer study results
04 June, 2013A report from the US National Toxicology Program has found “clear evidence” that Gingko biloba caused liver cancer in mice, and “some evidence” that gingko caused thyroid cancer in rats.
Green-lipped mussel extract eases exercise-induced asthma
04 June, 2013A study has found that an omega-3 supplement derived from NZ green-lipped mussel significantly improved lung function and reduced airway inflammation in asthmatics who experience exercise-induced asthma.
Mixed response to BPA study
03 June, 2013A journal article claiming that bisphenol A (BPA) exposure during pregnancy in mice can affect brain function and behaviour has drawn mixed responses from experts.
New alternative to wheat and maize set to take off
03 June, 2013A sustainable farming model could transform cassava from a poor people’s food crop into a 21st-century crop, the FAO says. Cassava is a cheaper alternative to wheat and maize, and can be processed into a high-quality flour.
Pack-Vac Leak Detector
31 May, 2013 | Supplied by: Niche Gas ProductsContinual process monitoring with the Pack-Vac Leak Detector will detect sealing problems before they snowball and catch defects before they get to customers.
Phthalates raise blood pressure in children, study suggests
29 May, 2013Phthalates are odourless, colourless and just about everywhere: flooring, plastic cups, beach balls, plastic wrap, intravenous tubing and - according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - the bodies of most Americans.
Taro research to boost Pacific agribusiness
29 May, 2013Australian research into taro could open new markets and create greater food security in the Pacific region, according to UQ and PARDI research leader Shane Dullahide.
Food laboratory accuracy remains a concern
28 May, 2013A retrospective study of nearly 40,000 proficiency test results over the past 14 years shows that food microbiology laboratories continue to submit false negative and false positive results on a routine basis.
Healthy gut bacteria protects against E. coli O157:H7
28 May, 2013Having healthy gut bacteria could mean the difference between life and death, new research suggests. Healthy human gut bacteria protected mice against the effects of E. coli O157:H7 in a study carried out by the University of Michigan.
New guidelines for whole grain food products
27 May, 2013The AACCI has approved the Whole Grains Working Group’s characterisation of whole grain products, which states that whole grain food products must contain 8 g or more of whole grain per 30 g of product.
Bring back the spud, researcher says
24 May, 2013A Purdue University researcher says we should reconsider our opinion of potatoes and other white vegetables as they are just as important to a healthy diet as their colourful cousins.
High-fibre diets and E. coli infection
23 May, 2013Consuming diets higher in fibre may increase the risk for Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection and severe disease.
Too much of a good thing: controlling ethylene
20 May, 2013As part of a worldwide effort to find better ways of controlling ethylene, scientists compared all existing ethylene control/removal methods and technologies. The results of their review are published in the journal Chemical Reviews.
