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A recent Food Marketing Institute (FMI) survey reports that consumers are changing the way they shop not only because of recent foodborne outbreaks, but also due to rising energy costs. Unfortunately for the food industry, the survey also says the number of consumers completely or somewhat satisfied with the safety of supermarket food declined from 82 percent last year to 66 percent this year, the lowest point in almost two decades.

Air conditioners and potato tumblers are being engineered to deliver a dose of short-wave ultraviolet light to control mold, viruses and bacteria that infect food.

A pest management program that doesn’t address birds has a significant gap.

Lettuce, spinach, peanut butter and pet food are part of many Americans’ daily lives. As ordinary as these products may seem, we have all seen in the past year how extraordinary circumstances can suddenly put processors in a very unwanted spotlight.

Robotic palletizer helps vegetable producer meet peak production demands.

Nothing happens until money changes hands is a maxim all researchers and developers need to keep in mind. Turning great ideas into viable business plans is the focus of the National Science Foundation’s small business innovation research (SBIR) program, and a recent beneficiary of the federal government’s largesse is a nanofiltration technology capable of removing microbes, heavy metals and chemical toxins from wastewater and drinking water.

Darin Davis, the environmental manager of General Mills’ frozen pizza facility in Wellston, OH, needed to find a way to turn 90 million gallons of murky pond water into clear water with no more than 8 mg/l of suspended solids.

Nourishment and replenishment from food is so last century: modern man and woman crave food and drink that consume more calories than they contribute. Fortunately, one of the industry’s biggest suppliers is joining the growing pool of beverage companies with products that do just that.

Certification programs have become a big business in the food industry. Some companies are willing to certify anything, provided you pay them enough money. 

What were you doing 25 years ago today? Regardless of whether or not you were employed in the food industry, still in school, or heaven forbid, not born yet, you know how much the world has changed.