Food and Beverage Manufacturing Top Stories

Food Safety

How to upgrade your plant to meet food safety standards

If your plant is more than 30 years old, chances are it needs some work if it’s to meet current regulations and pass muster with food safety and customer audits

Wayne Labs

March 18, 2018

Just like an older home, an aging food plant can have its share of problems. If your roof leaks, or there’s a hole in the wall in which cold air and critters could come through—or your front door loses all its weather stripping—you’d be on it in no time. These situations are even more problematic for an older food and beverage facility, especially where food safety is concerned.

New automation solution for pizza production

Soft Robotics introduces robotic end-of-arm tooling gentle enough to make pizzas.

Debra Schug

March 16, 2018

Robotics have been steadily moving further up the packaging and processing line in food and beverage production. And the latest example of this trend is the automated pizza solution from Soft Robotics.

Food Safety

How food processors can build corrective action programs

Processors must have a program to identify deviations and initiate corrective actions or corrections

Richard F. Stier

March 16, 2018

According to FSMA, each processor must have a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI). This person is responsible for developing the food safety program, ensuring the controls are validated, reviewing records and reassessing the plan.

Innovation

Is the last mile the last challenge for retailers?

Many retailers know that a quick and speedy delivery is key to finding new business and holding onto it

Wayne Labs

March 15, 2018

Companies like Target and Amazon realize the importance of quick, same-day delivery when it comes to food and beverage products.

Food Safety

Smoked sausage recalled due to possible contamination

Johnsonville recalls more than 109,000 pounds of product

Casey Laughman

March 15, 2018

Johnsonville, LLC has recalled more than 109,000 pounds of smoked pork sausage products due to possible contamination with extraneous materials.

Food Safety

Catfish recalled due to possible contamination

Product may be contaminated with leucomalachite green

Casey Laughman

March 12, 2018

Heartland Catfish Company, based in Itta Bena, Mississippi, has announced a recall of almost 70,000 pounds of catfish products due to possible contamination by leucomalachite green.

Food Safety

GAO releases report on FDA/FSMA progress

Report calls for performance measures, timeline for long-term food safety activities

Wayne Labs

March 9, 2018

With FSMA now the law of the land and the FDA budgeting $1 billion annually for food safety and nutrition, the agency needs to take several steps to meet food safety and nutrition objectives, says a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Tariff decision could drive up costs for certain food and beverage items

CMI urges exemptions for steel and aluminum used to make food and beverage cans.

Debra Schug

March 9, 2018

The CMI says 42 percent of tinplate steel needs to be imported to manufacture food cans that provide nutritious product for American consumers. More than 60 percent of primary aluminum needs to be imported from foreign sources to produce aluminum cansheet, used to manufacture beverage cans.

Michigan and Iowa encourage processors to choose them for future factories

These Midwestern states want food and beverage manufacturers to know they are open for business.

Debra Schug

March 9, 2018

Recently, these two states have made investments into their assets and offerings for manufacturers, particularly those in the food and beverage industry.

Gossner Foods cheese processing facility

Cover Story

Technology helps processors produce natural foods and beverages

How processors are using minimal processing equipment and techniques to keep up with changing consumer demands

Debra Schug

March 7, 2018

Many food and beverage producers are using new technology to make products that will satisfy modern consumer tastes, as well as to differentiate their items on the shelf.