Processing

TECH FLASH

Flowers Foods acquires second organic bread company in less than a month

The company has acquired the Alpine Valley Bread Company and Dave’s Killer Bread.

September 14, 2015

Flowers Foods—whose current brands include Wonder and Nature’s Own—is expected to spend more than $400 million in just one month on organic acquisitions.

Non-Thermal Processing

Take off the heat

For some applications, non-thermal pasteurization or sterilization techniques can produce safe food as well as thermal techniques and preserve taste, texture and color.

Wayne Labs

August 14, 2015

Thermal pasteurization techniques have been around since Louis Pasteur, and there is no question they’re effective.

TECH FLASH

Federal judge rules Idaho ag-gag law unconstitutional

US District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill rules the law violates the First Amendment.

Jeremy Gerrard

August 12, 2015

The statute would criminalize undercover surveillance and investigations that document animal welfare, worker safety and food safety violations at agricultural production facilities.

TECH FLASH

GMA petitions FDA for use of partially hydrogenated oils

GMA argues there is “reasonable certainty of no harm” from consumption of PHOs for the uses and at the levels the association is seeking.

Jeremy Gerrard

August 12, 2015

In June, FDA announced its determination that PHOs are not generally recognized as safe or GRAS for use in human food.

PROCESS EXPO, Int’l Dairy and InterBev Process Show Preview

Innovation on display at 3-in-1 food expo

The co-located shows offer more than 1,000 exhibits featuring the latest food and beverage technologies and innovations.

August 11, 2015

Projecting nearly 325,000 combined net square feet of exhibit space, the co-located PROCESS EXPO, International Dairy Show and InterBev Process is shaping up to be the largest in the event’s history.

Preventive & Predictive Maintenance

The future looks smarter

Whatever maintenance program you follow, an intelligent data gathering system plus a CMMS can decrease parts expenditures and increase uptime.

Wayne Labs

July 22, 2015

If run to failure is no longer an option, food and beverage processors have alternative ways to keep their equipment running at peak performance levels; they can plan maintenance schedules based on OEM suggestions.

13th Annual Replacement Parts Survey

Replacement Parts Survey: Proactive inventory practices

Study shows processors are continuing to find solutions to reduce unscheduled downtime and improve operational excellence.

Debra Schug

July 10, 2015

Food Engineering’s 2015 Replacement Parts and Components Trends Survey identifies the “who, what, why and how” of replacement parts purchasing, inventory maintenance, condition monitoring and related topics.

TECH FLASH

Maximizing productivity and improving OEE

METTLER TOLEDO examined the OEE model to identify six key productivity challenges.

Jeremy Gerrard

June 29, 2015

These challenges include increasing available production time and reducing unplanned downtime.

Food Safety

X-ray inspection: Getting more for less

With new demand and recent advancements, manufacturers are offering more affordable X-ray inspection machines that are easier to use.

Debra Schug

May 19, 2015

Whether it is a loose screw that falls off a machine, a bone that manages to stay wedged in a piece of meat or a bit of plastic that finds its way into a batch, contamination in a finished product can be a major blow to a brand.

Tech Update: Model Predictive Control