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Alyse Thompson-Richards

Alyse Thompson-Richards has held many positions with BNP Media, first serving as an intern at Candy Industry in summer 2012. She joined Candy Industry's staff full time as associate editor in August 2016 after a few years at newspapers in West-Central Illinois. Alyse has since served on Cannabis Products Insider and joined FOOD ENGINEERING in 2024. She has bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from Western Illinois University. Image courtesy of Thompson-Richards

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Perfecting Panning for Cannabis-Infused Confections

Panned confectionery products are ideal cannabinoid delivery vehicles, but they require the right equipment and manufacturing expertise.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

November 8, 2021

Successful panning operations must manage many considerations, but these concerns can be alleviated with the right equipment and manufacturing knowhow.

Considerations for Chocolate Tempering

Proper chocolate tempering is critical to achieving snappy, glossy chocolate.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

June 8, 2021

Chocolate is an ideal medium for delivering cannabinoids—given its natural fat content and its popularity and familiarity among consumers—but its unique properties make using chocolate as challenging as it is appealing.

How the Cannabis and Hemp Industries Can Use Carbon-14 Analysis for Product Authentication

Beta Analytic offers insights on carbon-14 analysis and its potential for certification programs.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

April 28, 2021

Beta Analytic, which provides bio-based content testing for a variety of industries, suggests a new possibility for hemp and CBD manufacturers. They could turn to carbon-14 analysis to authenticate the “naturalness” of their products.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Canning Equipment

Flexibility, efficiency among top considerations for beverage canning equipment.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

March 23, 2021

As this segment grows, cannabis-infused beverage manufacturers will need filling equipment that will meet their needs for efficiency, speed and safety.

Flexibility Critical to Cannabis Food and Beverage Manufacturing Equipment

Manufacturers must work with OEMs to develop individualized solutions.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

March 23, 2021

PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, notes in its report, "Cannabis Market Update: Unique Packaging Challenges for THC and CBD Products," manufacturers must work closely with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to develop solutions that suit their individual requirements.

CANNABIS PRODUCTS | NOVEMBER 2020

Using High-Shear Mixing to Develop Cannabis Edibles

High-shear mixing is critical for developing stable emulsions, homogenous cannabis-infused products.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

November 9, 2020

Developing successful mixing processes for cannabis-infused food and beverage manufacturing relies on several factors. Moreover, manufacturers of mixing equipment note one process in particular is especially important to consider: shear.

How Chocolate Can Interfere with Cannabinoid Potency Testing

New research suggests chocolate can cause “matrix effect” when testing for cannabinoids.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

October 14, 2020

New research, published in the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,” suggests a product’s matrix can impact a lab’s ability to precisely test for cannabinoid content.

AssurPACK Packaging for Cannabis Baked Goods

How to Choose Child-Resistant Packaging for Cannabis Edibles

Packaging for Protection: Selecting child-resistant cannabis packaging also involves cost, environmental impact and intuitive use.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

August 19, 2020

Child-resistant packaging plays an important role in preventing young children from accessing cannabis-infused foods and beverages—products that could potentially look appealing to them.

Seasoning Systems Can Apply Cannabinoids with Care

Applied with Care: Seasoning systems multitask by offering gentle methods for topical application of cannabis to food products.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

August 17, 2020

Developers of seasoning systems say they're ready to serve manufacturers seeking to apply cannabis topically and evenly without breaking apart the base product.

CANNABIS PRODUCTS | JUNE 2020

Sanitizing Equipment for Safe Cannabis Edibles

Even without federal oversight, cannabis food and beverage manufacturers should follow GMPs for equipment cleaning and sanitization.

Alyse Thompson-Richards

June 23, 2020

Whether manufacturers make cannabis-infused foods and beverages or non-infused ones, proper sanitation is a must to create safe, high-quality products.

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