Sharon Spielman

Sharon Spielman is former senior editor of Food Engineering magazine. She has more than 25 years of experience as a writer and editor for a range of trade publications, including those that cover food and beverage processing, restaurants and institutions, chefs, process heating and cooling, finishing, and package converting.

Dry Processing

New GEA Pavan cereal line makes pillow-shaped product

Polish cereal maker rests easy with decision to install its seventh GEA Pavan line

Sharon Spielman

July 31, 2020

GEA Pavan installed a seventh production line at Obst S.A. that will allow the company to go to the market with cereal shaped like pillows.

Regulatory Watch

FDA outlines steps to help prevent recurring Salmonella outbreaks linked to papayas

Federal regulators issue second letter to papaya growers and others in the industry

Sharon Spielman

July 29, 2020

The FDA has issued a second letter to papaya growers, harvesters, packers, distributors, exporters, importers and retailers outlining a series of steps to help prevent recurring outbreaks of Salmonella linked to papayas.

Food quality plans help meet demand, maintain quality certifications

Sharon Spielman

July 15, 2020

Consumers expect their food to be safe, and there are methodologies to ensure that it is. Quality is a bit of a different story, but it's just as important when it comes to consumer expectations.

Supply chains

Food fraud is not only an economic drain but also a supply chain safety concern

Sharon Spielman

July 14, 2020

Guarding against food fraud in the supply chain can be a costly, resource-intensive effort—but the potential effects of not catching it can be disastrous.

Regulatory Watch

FDA, USDA issue recommendations for PPE shortage during COVID-19 pandemic

Sharon Spielman

July 13, 2020

The FDA and USDA have released recommendations to help address shortages of personal protective equipment, cloth face coverings, disinfectants and sanitation supplies in the food and agriculture industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dual-energy inspection at CCPs may help reduce physical hazard risks

Sharon Spielman

June 26, 2020

Eagle Product Inspection has found that deploying advanced X-ray systems at critical control points (CCPs) in the production and packaging process is a crucial, proactive step in mitigating risks from physical hazards. Although it is not possible to eliminate all the risks that lead to foodborne illness and injury, Eagle says that manufacturers can take steps to identify and prevent biological, chemical, allergenic and physical hazards.

COVID-19 coverage

LowFlow valves help to build life-saving ventilators

Sharon Spielman

June 19, 2020

According to a story reported by Cincinnati Public Radio News, a Michigan-based car manufacturer making ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic reached out to Cincinnati-based Richards Industrials and asked if they could supply the particular valve needed immediately.

Field Reports

Brewer expands cooling system with help of GF Piping, while remaining open

Sharon Spielman

June 17, 2020

While the team was aware of the important role of the cooling loop in the brewing process, the ambitious startup was purposely planned as an inexpensive short-term means of getting the brewery operational.