Food and Beverage Manufacturing Top Stories

Inspection Systems: Don’t Settle for a Single Point of View

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Inspection tools today include metal detectors, vision systems, X-ray and NIR hyperspectral systems, and for some applications, all of them may be required for a specific food or beverage product. AI/ML promises to extend their capabilities in the coming years.

Fresh Doesn’t Have to Mean Cold: How Aseptic Processing Can Redefine Fresh Dairy in the U.S.

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:38:00 -0400

While pasteurization holds an important role in dairy processing, aseptic processing opens the door for more product options.

Will Predictive Maintenance Lead to Data Standardization and AI Wins?

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The pursuit of improved operational margins is difficult, as CPG companies face over 20% in cost losses due to inefficiencies. Many are implementing advanced sensors and contextual data analysis to enhance maintenance and develop AI-driven strategies in manufacturing.

Product Preview: PACK EXPO International Returns to Chicago

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

PACK EXPO International 2026 will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago from October 18 to 21. The event will feature over 1.3 million square feet of exhibition space, accommodating 2,600 exhibitors and 48,000 attendees. Here’s a preview of some of the equipment solutions that exhibitors will introduce or showcase at the show.

Executing Food Safety Strategies in Complex Manufacturing Environments

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 11:14:00 -0400

While there are multiple hygienically designed machines and sanitation methods available to the industry, labor shortages and new or changing regulations pose hurdles for food and beverage manufacturers.

Tips for Getting a Food Plant Ready for AI

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:18:00 -0400

For food and beverage manufacturers, AI readiness begins with gaining visibility into the plant that exists today, identifying the risks and constraints that matter most, and establishing a practical roadmap for modernization.

The State of Food Manufacturing in 2026

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Food and beverage manufacturers encounter significant challenges beyond simply delivering products, including tightening regulations, rising costs, and labor shortages. Despite these obstacles, they continue to prioritize investments in food safety, traceability, automation, and sustainability to enhance operational efficiency.

HHS, FDA Submit Proposed Definition of ‘Ultra-Processed Foods’ for Final Review

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. HHS and FDA have submitted a proposed definition of "ultra-processed foods" to the OMB for review. Developed with feedback from various stakeholders, the definition aims to create federal uniformity, but it has not yet been published in the Federal Register.

AI, Big Data and Sustainability Top the List of Industry Concerns

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:59:00 -0400

In addition to artificial intelligence (AI), big data and sustainability concerns, food industry professionals taking part in PMMI's research emphasized health-driven product shifts, ongoing workforce constraints and heightened sanitation scrutiny.

Generic ERP Lessons Food Manufacturers Should Apply to AI Solutions

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Just like a generic ERP in food manufacturing will never function as efficiently as a purpose-built ERP, the same holds true for AI.

Don’t Scrap Your Equipment. Connect it Instead

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Plants often have aging equipment that works fine, and it may have sensors, but in many cases that data never connects with data from other siloed processes. Why not connect all the data together with intelligent networks and use AI to get a better understanding of the whole process?

How Are Food Manufacturers Investing in Inspection and Detection Technologies?

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

New research from FlexXray explores how food manufacturers detect and prevent contamination from foreign materials, as well as their future investments in inspection technologies.

How Reusable Plastic Packaging Supports the Future of Automation in Food Manufacturing

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As automation has become increasingly sophisticated, reusable plastic packaging has evolved alongside it. Rather than viewing packaging simply as something that transports products from point A to point B, manufacturers can view it as an integral part of the automated system.

Before the Recall: How Spectroscopy Can Help Food Producers Find Problems Faster

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A spectrometer watching a conveyor or checking a stainless steel surface between shifts may sound futuristic, but research suggests we may not be as far from that factory as we think.

How Pearl Crop Turned to Rented Robots to Combat Seasonal Labor Concerns

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:18:00 -0400

For Pearl Crop, a processor of nuts and seeds based in California, seasonal labor pressures prompted a search for a more flexible automation strategy, ultimately leading the company to explore a robot rental model rather than a traditional capital equipment purchase.

Is Your Manufacturing Facility Prepared for Future Food Safety Risks?

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Whatever the manufacturing model, the fundamental principle remains the same: food safety cannot be designed solely around yesterday's problems. The facilities best prepared for the next pathogen will be the ones designed to recognize change, reassess risk and adapt before that risk becomes a recall.

11 Steps Manufacturers Should Take to Prepare for the 2D Barcode Transition

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Manufacturers have a strategic opportunity to unlock operational efficiency, supply chain transparency and direct consumer engagement by taking tangible steps in their 2D barcode journey.

How to Accelerate Water and Energy Pilot Projects with Data Context Tools

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

AI projects in food manufacturing have slowed down because large data projects have not provided great results. This has limited progress in the field. Now, a new group of data system integrators is here to help. They offer services like semantic labeling and data context, which can speed up new strategies in the industry.

Improving Chicken Processing with Flexibility, Easy-to-Use Equipment

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

To stay competitive, chicken processing facilities need line equipment that delivers flexibility to handle multiple products, simplicity to support a less-skilled workforce and service support to maximize uptime.

How Food Manufacturers Should Evaluate AI for True Innovation

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Some industry conversations fail to distinguish between genuine innovation and long-established automation, leaving plant and supply chain executives to make investment decisions without enough clarity to evaluate what they're actually buying.

4 Ways to Reduce Product Loss in Fluid Ingredient Processing

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 10:04:00 -0400

Product can be left behind in containers, lost during transfers, damaged in handling or discarded due to inventory expiration or poor stock rotation. Over time, these incremental losses add up, especially when working with viscous or high-value liquid ingredients.

Cleaning and Sanitation: Organize and Record Your Data with the Right Tools

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Rather than a hodge-podge of sanitation and cleaning records scattered everywhere, why not tie them together digitally so they’re available in minutes or hours rather than days or weeks?

Bringing Temperature Control to Over-the-Road Tankers and ISO Tanks

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

By enabling processors to control product conditions during receiving, staging and shipping, bulk tanker heating systems help bridge the gap between logistics and production. What was once an unpredictable step is now a controlled, repeatable process.

Why Food Processing Facilities Need Contaminant-Specific Ambient Air Testing

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:15:00 -0400

Contaminant-specific testing provides a clearer understanding of the dust, biological contaminants and loading characteristics present within individual production areas, allowing facilities to select filtration strategies that support operational performance, product quality and long-term system efficiency.

How Conagra Brands Advances Plant-Level Sustainability

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Christine Daugherty, vice president and chief sustainability officer at Conagra Brands, discusses the company’s approach to developing goals for packaging, carbon reduction and water stewardship, as well as Conagra’s Sustainable Development Awards, which recognize innovative, plant-level efforts to operate more sustainably.

FOOD ENGINEERING’s 2026 Top 100 Food and Beverage Companies

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0400

See where the world’s leading food and beverage companies landed in FOOD ENGINEERING's 2026 Top 100 ranking, as economic pressures, major acquisitions and shifting strategies reshaped the industry in 2025.

Top 100: Ingredient Processors Pinched in 2025

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

One of my favorite times of the year is approaching, and it’s not just because autumn is on its way. While I do enjoy the cooler temperatures and the seasonal activities that fall brings, this time of year also marks the release of our annual Top 100 ranking.

Key Preventive Maintenance Considerations for Expansion Joints in Food Processing Plants

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:12:00 -0400

A failed expansion joint can release hazardous media, damage adjacent equipment and trigger unplanned shutdowns, but a preventive maintenance program with scheduled professional survey inspections can reduce failure events.

Mixing and Blending of Dry Ingredients: Art Gets a Little Help from Science

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While the mixing and blending of liquid ingredients into a liquid product is an exact, controlled process, combining dry ingredients has unique challenges that have been difficult to control with automation. Finally, sensors and automation are here to help.

From Recall Reaction to Prevention: How AI Is Changing Food Safety Execution

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:05:00 -0400

The recalls making headlines are not happening because food manufacturers stopped caring about safety. They are happening because the systems designed to catch problems are built to record what happened, not to prevent what is about to happen. This is one area where agentic AI can be transformational for food supply chains.