Articles by Rose Shilling

Link environmental, process controls to keep surroundings just right for quality

Out-of-control temperature, humidity or airflow can wreck a variety of products

December 1, 2020

When moisture levels in the air, room temperature or airflow aren’t consistent in a food manufacturing plant, products can suffer.

Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference (FA&M)

FA&M Recap

The 2020 Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference

Virtual conference provides food and beverage processors with insights from industry experts

November 30, 2020

With in-person gatherings still not possible, the 2020 Food Automation & Manufacturing conference shifted to a virtual platform for the first time. Although it was a different format, one thing stayed the same: A number of industry experts provided attendees with valuable insights on topics ranging from successful project management to the engineering challenges of alternative meat, and almost everything in between.

Packaging

New shrink film for Coca-Cola Co. sparkling water uses recycled plastic

Packaging with PCR resin performs similarly to virgin plastics

Rose Shilling

November 11, 2020

AHA Sparkling Water is using new shrink film with recycled plastic for some warehouse club packages.

Packaging

Mars uses recycled plastic in some pet packaging

The food-grade plastic helps the pet food leader meet sustainability goals

Rose Shilling

November 10, 2020

Mars Inc. is including recycled plastic in its pet food packaging in Europe and plans to expand the pilot to other brands.

How two industry leaders invest to save the water supply as scarcity grows

Kraft Heinz and Nestlé Waters North America sustainability leaders say protection of the lifeblood resource will require looking outside the factory walls

Rose Shilling

October 28, 2020

With water stress a growing concern, food and beverage companies invest to cut usage, increasingly looking outside their factory walls to conserve a lifeblood resource for the industry.

Packaging

Bacardi will use biodegradable spirits bottles for plastic-free goal

The latest alternative to standard plastic beverage bottles decomposes in 18 months

Rose Shilling

October 27, 2020

Spirits maker Bacardi will bottle all brands in a biodegradable material from plant-based oils, entering the race to replace petroleum-based plastic drink bottles.

Packaging

Water bottles from wood materials? Poland Spring explores alternatives

Nestlé Waters North America brand works with University of Maine on bio-based materials to reduce packaging impact on environment

Rose Shilling

October 19, 2020

Poland Spring bottled water and the University of Maine are trying to develop new packaging materials from trees grown in the state.

Packaging

Here’s a recap of companies addressing race on food packaging

Updated packaging designs are starting to trickle out this fall, including new names for Eskimo Pies and Uncle Ben’s rice

Rose Shilling

October 14, 2020

Food manufacturers, including Quaker Oats, Mars and Conagra, are updating packaging and branding to eliminate images or names viewed as racially insensitive.

Packaging

Kraft Heinz wants European ketchup bottles to be recyclable as new food packaging

Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottles switching to single-material PET for circular economy goal

Rose Shilling

October 14, 2020

Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottles in Europe will soon be made of one type of plastic so they can be recycled into food-grade PET.

Food Safety

Meijer recalls cantaloupe for possible salmonella contamination

Midwest-centered recall resulted from sampling investigation by Michigan agriculture authorities

Rose Shilling

October 7, 2020

Meijer recalled whole cantaloupes and some cut fruit containers for possible salmonella, found in a sampling investigation by agriculture authorities.

Explore food safety strategies that strengthen sanitation, risk management, operational efficiency, and compliance across foodservice and facility environments.

The webinar will examine how these trends are impacting every stage of the manufacturing process, from research and development through production, distribution and fulfillment.