Food and Beverage Manufacturing Top Stories

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.

Is AI the Missing Link in the Commercialization of Cultivated Meat?

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The cultivated meat sector faces many challenges, especially in scaling production. AI — and in particular hybrid model digital twins — can help overcome critical hurdles to industry viability.

Food Plant Openings and Expansions August 2026

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

FOOD ENGINEERING Editor-in-chief, Alyse Thompson-Richards, recaps some recent plant openings and expansions in the food and beverage industry.

The Food Manufacturing Documentation Paradox: Audit-Ready Plants, Undocumented Know-How

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:50:00 -0400

Documentation is written to demonstrate compliance, but the knowledge that keeps lines running lives somewhere else entirely: in the heads and hands of a shrinking group of veteran operators.

Alt Protein Targets Scale and New Product Development

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

With rising demand for protein, food manufacturers are turning to plant-based proteins, precision fermentation, and AI-powered tools for innovation. Pea protein is becoming popular, and new partnerships and digital technologies are aiding in reformulation and product development.

FDA Proposes Rule to Make GRAS Notification Mandatory

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The FDA proposes making the GRAS notification program mandatory, requiring food substances to demonstrate safety for their intended use, aiming to enhance transparency and regulation. The process would apply to both existing and new substances, with some exceptions, and initial evaluations would take 45 days.

5 Things Food Manufacturers Should Know Before They Grow

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Dennis Group engineers and project managers discuss the lesser-known factors that can make or break a food manufacturing plant’s long-term expandability.

Traditional ERP: End of the Road?

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Some new ERP providers are building their systems from scratch totally on AI, but can their systems fulfill all the demands that manufacturers have expected from conventional ERP over the years?

Starting the 2D Code Journey to Strengthen Food Safety

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As food manufacturers approach a turning point in the application, verification and sharing of product data, a practical roadmap can support faster implementation, stronger compliance outcomes and measurable operational efficiencies.

Building the Protein Boom: How Dairy Processors Can Engineer Success through Plant and Utility Upgrades

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:47:00 -0400

Dairy processors are racing to add capacity as whey protein demand outruns supply. The harder question is whether that capacity can come online when it's needed.

Managing Facility-Induced Food Waste

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Older facilities, in many cases, can be maintained to protect ingredients and finished goods. However, attention should be paid to drainage systems, along with monitoring environmental temperatures, humidity and airflows in critical spaces.

Top Seedz Gains the Advantage with Automated Cracker Production

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Rebecca Brady, CEO of Top Seedz, and her husband Will Brady, COO, are expanding and automating operations, recently commissioning a second manufacturing line. This has doubled production capacity, putting Top Seedz on track to reach $100 million in annual sales.

Food Plant Openings and Expansions July 2026

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

EIC Alyse Thompson-Richards reports on recent food and beverage industry developments, including new plants from Bauducco and Gelatys, expansions from Killer Brownie and DG Foods, and Good Culture’s partnership with a Michigan dairy co-op.

FDA Advances Post-Market Review of Phthalates Used in Food Contact Materials

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. FDA has evaluated eight ortho-(o)-phthalates used as plasticizers in food contact for a cumulative risk assessment. This analysis will inform the FDA's upcoming safety assessment and determine if these substances should be grouped based on their chemical or pharmacological similarities.

How Impedance Sensors Advance CIP Processes

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Impedance sensors give operators a new method of observing soil removal in real time, reducing the uncertainty that undermines CIP efficiency.

Food Plant Openings and Expansions June 2026

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

EIC Alyse Thompson-Richards recaps some recent plant openings and expansions in the food and beverage industry.

Innovative Materials Offer Increased Sustainable Functionality

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While research insights indicate that most companies have a low-to-moderate likelihood of increasing their use of reusable materials, recyclable materials continue to be the primary focus for packaging innovation and sustainability initiatives.

Will the Food and Beverage Market Grow in 2027?

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

It's essential to remember that the primary goal of food manufacturers is to provide products for consumers. Understanding consumer demand, trends, and behaviors is key, as these factors greatly impact product and process design.

How Coconut Cult Keeps Culture Alive through Automation

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

To keep the culture and grow the company, Coconut Cult partnered with Integrated Packaging Machinery to implement its first robotic automation system, featuring three custom KUKA robots at the company's manufacturing facility in Utah.

How Koch Foods Streamlined Endpoint Operations with a Unified Thin Client Strategy

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0400

As Koch Foods evaluated its endpoint strategy, it faced a familiar issue for many manufacturers: how to modernize IT infrastructure without increasing operational complexity or sacrificing reliability.

Robotics Solutions for All Food Processing Jobs and Seasons

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This visual overview, featuring images and videos of robotics applications in the food industry, illustrates what is possible with modern vision systems, artificial intelligence and robotics in a range of applications — from agricultural harvesting to serving up RTE meals, smart palletization and carcass cutting.

Data Modeling in Processing Targets Micro-Stops to Increase Quality

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

AI may dominate industry conversations, but data modeling is delivering measurable results today. Discover how food, dairy and pet food manufacturers are using real-time production data to improve quality, increase throughput and give operators the insights needed to drive smarter decisions.

Smart Packaging: What Is It?

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The world of smart packaging comprises many parts — intelligent equipment, recyclable materials, captivating art and lots of data — but pulling it together is a challenge. However, if done correctly, it benefits everyone in the supply chain from producer to consumer with timely information.

When Food Meets Fermentation: Engineering the Next Revolution in Protein Production

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:13:00 -0400

The next phase of growth is shifting from science to scale — infrastructure is required to produce alternative proteins with the precision and consistency required of these systems.

Cross-Functional Food Safety: Breaking Silos to Drive Safe Food Manufacturing

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Food manufacturers face stricter demands as recalls and outbreaks push a more reactive focus on food safety. Responsibility is shifting from quality teams to shared ownership, using cross-functional approaches to improve safety, compliance, and daily practices.

Mitigating Brand Risk with Assured Product Destruction

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Finding a secure way to manage waste in the food and beverage industry helps ensure that through every change of hands waste is handled discreetly and securely, mitigating brand risk.

CPG Firms Must Move Strategically to Meet Sustainable Packaging Goals

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As CPG companies transition to sustainable materials, trade-offs are almost guaranteed.

How Do Food Manufacturers Feel About Food Safety in Their Facilities?

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Food safety underpins every aspect of food manufacturing, yet new CRB research shows cost and competing priorities continue to hinder improvements. This month's From the Editor explores why investing in hygienic design and facility planning remains essential.

How Automation Supports Variability and Flexibility in Food Manufacturing

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:06:00 -0400

As product portfolios expand and production requirements become increasingly complex, manufacturers are under growing pressure to maintain efficiency with systems originally designed for predictable, repetitive production.

Food Plant Openings and Expansions May 2026

Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400

EIC Alyse Thompson-Richards highlights recent food and beverage industry developments, including Ferrara’s South Carolina plant, Ferrero’s line installation, Conagra Brands’ expansion in Arkansas, Walmart’s new milk processing facility, Kraft Heinz’s investment in Canada, and Swaggerty Farms’ expansion.