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.

FDA removed 25% of food facilities from its registration database

Many facilities do not realize their registrations are expired until their shipments are detained

Sharon Spielman

February 4, 2021

The FDA removed 59,420 food facilities from its registration database in January 2021, resulting in a 25% decrease in the total number of food facilities registered with agency.

Packaging

Sugarcane-based bowls are a sustainable solution

Natrellis offers a sweet, renewable resource for packaging

Sharon Spielman

February 3, 2021

As consumers become more environmentally conscious, they are looking for the same kind of commitment to the environment from the brands they support.

Dry Processing

Equipment upgrade helps almond processor achieve gentle conveying sans air

Hilltop Ranch installed a tubular drag cable conveyor system from Cablevey Conveyors to help process 50 million pounds of almonds annually

Sharon Spielman

February 3, 2021

When Hilltop Ranch, a family-owned almond processing corporation in Ballico, Calif., decided to overhaul its processing line, it had to find an efficient way to move the 50 million pounds of almonds processed annually to various points in its plant.

Smart packaging: Connecting the physical with the digital

Technology embedded into packages makes a compelling business case for food processors, with the potential to reduce costs and increase profits.

Sharon Spielman

January 29, 2021

In today's food industry, a product's package is every bit as important as its contents. Today's packaging can be smart, embedded with technology that offers a range of functionality.

PepsiCo, Beyond Meat establish The PLANeT Partnership

Joint venture to introduce new plant-based protein offerings

Sharon Spielman

January 26, 2021

PepsiCo, Inc., and Beyond Meat, Inc., have announced they will form The PLANeT Partnership, LLC (TPP)—a joint venture to develop, produce and market snack and beverage products made from plant-based protein.

VAI’s S2K Mobile and order entry solution

Field Reports

Bakery supply company streamlines with ERP solution

Inter-County Bakery Supply modernized and automated its processes with an ERP solution from Vormittag Associates Inc. (VAI)

Sharon Spielman

January 26, 2021

When Inter-County Bakery Supply, a family-owned bakery supply distributor in Deer Park, N.Y., needed to modernize its process and automate its capabilities, they decided an ERP solution from VAI that would offer the most bang for their buck.

Hungry Planet partners with Post Holdings

Plant-based meat company meets consumer packaged goods holding company

Sharon Spielman

January 25, 2021

Hungry Planet Inc., a plant-based meat company, has announced a partnership with Post Holdings, Inc., a consumer packaged goods holding company.

PepsiCo to reduce GHG emissions by 40% by 2030

Net-zero emissions pledged by 2040, a decade ahead of Paris Agreement

Sharon Spielman

January 22, 2021

PepsiCo, Inc. plans to more than double its science-based climate goal, targeting a reduction of absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its value chain by more than 40% by 2030.

Lancaster Foods halts butternut squash production

FDA, company investigating possible health risk. No illnesses reported.

Sharon Spielman

January 20, 2021

Lancaster Foods LLC has temporarily halted production of its processed butternut squash items. This break in production follows a voluntary product recall of items because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes.

Lake Champlain Chocolates voluntary recall

Lake Champlain Chocolates issues voluntary recall on selected milk chocolate products

No adverse health effects have been reported

Sharon Spielman

January 20, 2021

Lake Champlain Chocolates (LCC) has issued a public alert and a voluntary recall on select LCC milk chocolate products from a determined best-by date range for potential foreign objects.