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USDA issues final country of origin label rule
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has issued the final regulation for the mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) program required by the 2002 and 2008 farm bills. The full text of the final rule will be published in the Jan. 15, 2009 Federal Register. The rule becomes effective on March 16, 2009, 60 days after the date of publication.
The rule covers muscle cuts and ground beef, lamb, chicken, goat, and pork; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities (specifically fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables); macadamia nuts; pecans; ginseng, and peanuts. Commodities covered under COOL must be labeled at retail to indicate its country of origin. For fish and shellfish, the method of production—wild or farm-raised—must be specified. Commodities are excluded from mandatory COOL if the commodity is an ingredient in a processed food item. The definition of a processed food item remains unchanged from the Aug. 1, 2008, interim final rule.
Excluded from COOL labeling are items derived from a covered commodity that has undergone a physical or chemical change—such as cooking, curing, or smoking—or that has been combined with other covered commodities or other substantive food components such as chocolate, breading, and tomato sauce. Also exempt are food service establishments, such as restaurants, lunchrooms, cafeterias, food stands, bars, lounges, and similar enterprises.
The final rule outlines the requirements for labeling covered commodities and the recordkeeping requirements for retailers and suppliers. The law provides for penalties of up to $1,000 per violation for both retailers and suppliers not complying with the law. The rule prescribes specific criteria that must be met for a covered commodity to bear a “United States country of origin” declaration. In addition, the rule also contains provisions for labeling covered commodities of foreign origin, meat products from multiple origins, ground meat products, as well as commingled covered commodities.
The USDA plans to make funding available to accelerate and expand training of state cooperator employees, initiate development of an automated review tracking system, conduct a retailer survey, conduct audits of the retail supply chain, and continue conducting education and outreach activities. Currently, the USDA has cooperative agreements with 42 states to conduct retail surveillance reviews. The USDA will conduct the retail reviews in the states not covered by a cooperative agreement and perform the supply chain audits.
COOL final rule |
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 | Peanut butter recall, Salmonella linked to three deaths
According to an Associated Press article, two adults in Virginia had Salmonella when they died, and Minnesota health officials said a local elderly woman had the illness at the time of her death. However, it is unclear if the illness is what caused their deaths. On Jan. 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised the number of confirmed cases of Salmonella to 410, from 399 as of Jan. 9, and Mississippi became the 43rd state to report a case. All the illnesses began between Sept. 15, 2008 and Jan. 7, but most of the people became sick after Oct. 1. A spokeswoman for the CDC has stated that DNA testing has shown that it involves a strain known as Salmonella typhimurium. This strain is commonly found in poultry, produce, raw milk, cheese, or through contacts with animals such as small turtles.
On Jan. 11, King Nut Companies, an Ohio peanut butter distributor, issued a voluntary recall for two brands of peanut butter after health officials in Minn. found Salmonella bacteria in a tub of King Nut peanut butter. The King Nut and Parnell’s Pride peanut butter products are made by Peanut Corp. and distributed by King Nut Companies to establishments such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools, universities, restaurants, delis, cafeterias, and bakeries.
Minn. state officials discovered the contamination as a result of product testing initiated after a Minn. Dept. of Health (MDH) epidemiological investigation implicated King Nut creamy peanut butter as a likely source of Salmonella infections in residents. The Minn. cases have the same genetic fingerprint as the cases in the national outbreak. However, King Nut Companies’ President and Chief Executive Martin Kanan has argued that King Nut could not be the source of the nationwide Salmonella outbreak because the company distributes only to Ohio, Minn., Mich., N.D., Ariz., Idaho, and N.H.
Associated Press article
FDA release
CDC release
MDH release
King Nut release
Food Technology’s The Weekly e-newsletter, ePerspective
As you have probably noticed, Food Technology has made some changes to this e-newsletter. With all of the content that you have come to depend on, The Weekly is just a new look and feel to bring this Food Technology product into 2009.
The New Year also brings with it the launch of Food Technology’s new ePerspective—a venue where our authors and experts will deliver insight into the sometimes frenzied food landscape. Live today—visit foodtecheperspective.wordpress.com—the first posting features Doug Powell, Associate Professor of food safety at Kansas State Univ. and Publisher of Barfblog.com, who offers his commentary on a current food safety hot topic. In addition to reveling in Doug’s insightful prose, you—our readers—are encouraged to post your thoughts on the issue. Check back often, because our experts will be posting regularly. And if there’s a topic out there you feel we need to address, let us know.
ePerspective
Natural claims ranked #1 on products in 2008
The latest review from the Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) shows the food and drink claims classified as “natural” (including all natural, no additives/preservatives, organic, and wholegrain) were the most frequently featured on new products globally in 2008. “Natural” claims appeared on nearly one in four (23%) food and drink launches last year, a 9% increase from 2007.
Meanwhile, Mintel GNPD saw only 12% of new food and drink products highlighting “convenience” benefits, while a mere 5% claimed to take an “ethical and environmental” stance. “Although convenience and the environment are popular talking points today, these benefits did not receive anywhere near the same level of attention as ‘natural’ claims did,” stated Lynn Dornblaser, Leading New Product Expert at Mintel. “With economic struggles driving people toward a simpler way of life, we expect that food and drink manufacturers will continue to prize natural, wholesome benefits well into 2009.”
In the U.S., Mintel GNPD saw an even greater percentage of new food and drink products launched with “natural” claims. One-third of new launches highlighted these attributes, up 16% from 2007. Only 18% of new food and drink products communicated “convenience” on the packaging, while just 7% expressed “ethical and environmental” benefits.
While “natural” claims increased on new food and drink launches in 2008, fortified “plus” claims, such as added vitamins or calcium, took the hardest hit. These claims fell 20% during 2008, appearing on just one in 20 new product launches worldwide. What is more, “minus” claims (low-fat, reduced sugar, low-calorie, etc.), once the height of healthy living, have begun to fall off in popularity on new products. Between 2007 and 2008, the number of new “minus”-claiming food and drink launches started to stagnate globally.
Mintel
Climate-induced food shortages by 2100
A study conducted by the Univ. of Washington and Stanford Univ.’s Program on Food Security and the Environment examined the impact of climate change on the world’s food security. The research shows that the rapidly warming climate is likely to alter crop yields in the tropics and subtropics by the end of this century and, without adaptation, could leave half the world’s population facing food shortages.
By combining direct observations with data from 23 global climate models that contributed to Nobel Prize-winning research in 2007, the researchers determined there is a greater than 90% probability that by 2100 the lowest growing-season temperatures in the tropics and subtropics will be higher than any temperatures recorded to date. The researchers used the data as a filter to view historic instances of severe food insecurity, and concluded such instances are likely to become more commonplace. Those include severe episodes in France in 2003 and the Ukraine in 1972. In the case of the Ukraine, a near-record heat wave reduced wheat yields and contributed to disruptions in the global cereal market that lasted two years.
In the tropics, the higher temperatures can be expected to cut yields of the primary food crops, maize and rice, by 20–40%. Currently 3 billion people live in the tropics and subtropics, and their number is expected to nearly double by the end of the century. The area stretches from the southern U.S. to northern Argentina and southern Brazil, from northern India and southern China to southern Australia and all of Africa.
The study was published in Science.
Abstract
Stanford Univ. release
Agricultural sustainability reports shows progress
Field to Market: the Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture has released its Environmental Resource Indicators report, which measures agriculture sustainability and indicates that crop production is already making progress toward reducing its environmental footprint. The report evaluated national-scale metrics over the past two decades for land use, water use, energy use, soil loss, and climate impact in corn, soy, cotton, and wheat production. In 2007, these crops comprised nearly 70% of the 305 million acres of U.S. cropland. The initial index shows that soil-loss efficiency trends have improved substantially by 30 to nearly 70% for the four crops evaluated. Energy use per unit of output is down in corn, soybean, and cotton production by approximately 40–60%. Irrigated water use per unit of output has also decreased 20–50%, while carbon emissions per unit of output have dropped by about a third for corn, soybean, and cotton.
“Several trends are emerging,” said Michael Reuter, Director of Conservation Programs for the Central U.S. Region of The Nature Conservancy. “Importantly, production agriculture has become increasingly efficient, relying on fewer inputs to produce more. However, we recognize there are significant challenges ahead in meeting increased global demand in a sustainable manner.”
Experts predict demand for agricultural goods will double by 2050 as global population increases by an additional 3 billion people. Agriculture is already the predominate user of all habitable land and 70% of fresh water. In fact, the World Water Council predicts that in just a decade we will need 17% more water than is available to feed the world.
In addition to the findings, the report is a first step toward creating a comprehensive methodology that can become the standard for measuring agriculture sustainability. Field to Market is an alliance representing many links in the food chain, including grower organizations, agribusinesses, food companies, and conservation organizations. The alliance conducted a broad-based peer-review process that included 17 experts from universities, government, and other institutions to help enhance the methodology. Currently, the group is finalizing water quality and biodiversity indicators and expects to issue a next-generation report that assesses these in mid-2009.
Environmental Resource Indicators report download
Wine, dark chocolate, tea improve cognitive performance in elderly
A study conducted by researchers at Oxford Univ. and the Univ. of Oslo finds that a combination of wine, dark chocolate, and tea, in moderate amounts, enhances cognitive performance in the elderly. All three contain relatively high levels of flavonoids. The researchers pulled data on 2,031 Norwegian men and women, ages 70–74, who had taken part in a previous Norwegian study. In that research, participants filled in information about their habitual food intake and underwent a battery of cognitive tests.
The Oxford Univ. researchers found that participants who consumed chocolate, wine, or tea had significantly better mean test scores and lower prevalence of poor cognitive performance than those who did not. Additionally, participants who consumed all three had the best test scores and the lowest risks for poor test performance. The associations between intake of these and cognition were dose dependent, with maximum effect at intakes of 10 g/day for chocolate, 1–3 oz/day for wine, and up to 200 mL of tea. The authors warn, however, that this study was observational and not clinical, thus more research is needed.
The study was published in The Journal of Nutrition.
Abstract
Cranberry may prevent bacteria from “sticking”
Researchers at the Worcestor Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts have found that cranberry helps to prevent infections in the urinary tract. The researchers investigated the unique A-linked proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberries and their effect on E. coli. Two types of E. coli bacteria were studied—those with and those without hair-like projections called P-fimbrae. Many of the most virulent bacteria are known to have P-fimbrae, and it was on these types of bacteria that the effect of cranberry juice was seen.
The cranberry juice worked by changing the thermodynamic properties of the E. coli with P-fimbrae. The researchers measured the change in the amount of energy bacteria need to attach themselves to cell walls. Even at low concentrations, cranberry juice increased the energy required, indicating a reduction in the likelihood of infection. However, the cranberries had no effect on the bacteria without P-fimbrae, which are often the “friendly” bacteria that help promote good health.
“Our results show that, at least for urinary tract infections, cranberry juice targets the right bacteria—those that cause disease,” said lead author Terri Camesano. “It has no effect on non-pathogenic organisms, suggesting that cranberry juice will not disrupt bacteria that are part of the normal flora in the gut.”
The results were published in Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces.
Abstract
Pomegranate shows anti-prostate cancer potential
Researchers from the Univ. of California, Los Angeles found that polyphenols found in pomegranate were able to suppress the expression of genes linked to prostate cancer. In prostate cancer’s early stages, it is dependent on circulating testosterone. However, recurrent prostate tumors advance to an androgen-independent state in which they progress in the absence of circulating testosterone. During the development of androgen independence, prostate cancer cells are known to increase intracellular testosterone synthesis, which maintains cancer cell growth in the absence of significant amounts of circulating testosterone. This is linked to an over-expression of the androgen receptor (AR).
Using androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines, the researchers investigated if pomegranate extract and juice had an effect on the expression of genes for key androgen-synthesizing enzymes and the AR. They found that the polyphenols from pomegranate were capable of stopping the spread of both types of cancer tested, and that the compounds promoted apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the cells.
The study was published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.
Abstract
Merisant files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Merisant Worldwide, the tabletop sweetener company, and its U.S. affiliates have filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in order to restructure its balance sheet. The company’s U.S. and global businesses will continue normal operations. In addition, the company states that it will continue to support the current brands and launch PureVia in partnership with PepsiCo.
“During the last four years, we took aggressive measures that succeeded in cutting costs and making Merisant more efficient as well as building a platform for future growth,” said Paul Block, Chairman and CEO of Merisant. “Yet despite these efforts, recent turmoil in the financial and credit markets has made it impossible for us to refinance our debt, without which we cannot complete the restructuring of our business.”
Merisant has secured a $20 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing facility from Wayzata Investment Partners in order to ensure that is has adequate liquidity to operate while it restructures its debt. In addition to its Chapter 11 petitions, the company filed customary “first-day” motions seeking Bankruptcy Court authorization to, among other things: incur and deploy the DIP financing; maintain its existing cash management system; pay certain pre-filing employee wages and otherwise maintain employee benefits; fulfill certain pre-filing vendor obligations; maintain utility services; pay certain outstanding taxes; and honor its customer programs in the ordinary course of business. The company anticipates that its First-Day Motions will be approved by the Bankruptcy Court in the early stages of its Chapter 11 proceeding.
Merisant release download
Gerber lawsuit to move forward
The Gerber Products Co., owned by Nestlé, has drawn criticism from a U.S. Court of Appeals for using pictures of real fruit to market a gummi-bear-like candy formerly called Gerber Graduates Juice Snacks. The Court said that consumers would likely be deceived because the package depicts images of oranges, cherries, and strawberries, though the product does not contain any juice from these fruits.
Initially, the case was dismissed by the Federal District Court in California, which found that because the ingredient list is on the side of the box, consumers shouldn’t be confused. However, the case was reinstated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Dec. 22. The court stated that consumers should not be “expected to look beyond misleading representations on the front of the box to discover the truth from the ingredient list in small print on the side of the box.”
The case was originally brought against Gerber by two mothers who had a problem with the statements on the packaging, which included: “one of a variety of nutritious Gerber Graduates foods and juices” and “made with real fruit juice and other all natural ingredients.” The only juice in the snack comes from concentrated white grape juice, and the two leading ingredients are corn syrup and sugar.
The reversal of the original dismissal will allow the case to be heard at a later date, which has yet to be set. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) will serve as lead counsel in the case against Gerber.
Meanwhile, Gerber has renamed the product Juice Treats.
CSPI release
The Daily Green article
Monsanto’s drought-tolerant corn advances
Monsanto Co. has announced that its first-generation drought-tolerant corn has moved to the fourth, and final, phase before an anticipated market launch early next decade. In addition, the company has submitted the product to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for regulatory clearance.
Drought-tolerant corn is designed to provide farmers yield stability during periods when water supply is scarce. Field trials for drought-tolerant corn conducted last year in the Western Great Plains met or exceeded the 6–10% target yield enhancement—about 7–10 bushels/acre.
This drought-tolerant technology is a result of the R&D and commercialization collaboration in plant biotechnology between Monsanto and BASF.
Monsanto release
Commodity prices force Kellogg to raise prices
According to an article in BusinessWeek, Kellogg Co. plans to raise prices on most of its cereal brands and Pop-Tarts pastries, due to high costs for commodities such as corn and oil. The price hikes, which go into effect Jan. 18, are in the low- to mid-single-digit percentages and are effective nationwide at all retail outlets.
While commodity costs have declined from highs reached in 2008, they still remain above historical prices. These higher prices have hurt the profit margins of food makers, including Kellogg.
BusinessWeek article
Butterball announces layoffs
According to an article in the Springfield Business Journal, Butterball LLC, Raleigh, N.C., has announced it will lay off 75 workers at its Carthage, Mo. plant in March. The layoffs represent 11% of the plant’s 685-member staff and are due to the decision to combine two deboning shifts into one.
“I am deeply saddened that we must cut back employees due to several factors, most notably the increased cost of corn,” said Butterball CEO Keith Shoemaker. “This dramatic increase (in corn costs) is caused largely by government policies providing mandates and subsidies for blending corn-based ethanol. It is unfortunate for our workers that the cost of corn for animal feed is resulting in production cuts and layoffs at the very same time the ethanol industry is seeking a government bailout.”
Springfield Business Journal article
Emmi acquires Roth Käse USA
Emmi has acquired Roth Käse USA Ltd., Monroe, Wis., for an undisclosed amount. Since 2006, Emmi has been a strategic partner with a minority stake in Roth Käse USA, a U.S. cheese producer. While Emmi has been marketing Swiss cheese in the U.S. for years, joining forces with Roth Käse is expected to grow the retail and food service sectors with Swiss premium cheese and American specialties. Roth Käse, with its main focus on the food service sector, employs approximately 125 people and has annual sales of $90 million. The companies are focused on joint growth, but will continue to operate as separate entities.
Release download
Extra credit reading
Squirrel: the meat of choice?
Due to a surge in the squirrel population in England, and the novelty and curiosity surrounding it, the rodent meat is increasingly appearing on menus and in butcher shops in England.
More caffeine please
According to a new poll, Tampa, Florida tops the charts as the most caffeinated city in the U.S., followed by Seattle and Chicago.
Enjoy a Fling
Mars has introduced a “naughty but not that naughty” chocolate treat for women called Fling—a chocolate finger that is a guiltless pleasure since it only has 85 calories per finger.
Obama’s chef
President-elect Barack Obama has decided to keep Cristeta Comerford on as the White House Executive Chef.
Indulge in a natural pizza
Pizza Hut has introduced The Natural, a new pizza made from natural ingredients and a whole grain crust for $9.99.
FDA warns Newman’s Own Organics
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned Newman’s Own Organics in a letter that packages of the company’s spelt pretzels fail to note “the presence of wheat.” Under the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, major food allergens must be listed on the packaging. Allergens are defined as milk, egg, fish, crustacean, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans, as well as any food ingredient that contains protein derived from one of these foods, with the exception of highly refined oils.
The packaging on the company’s spelt pretzels includes the statement, “While spelt is a member of the same grain family as oats and wheat, it's an entirely different species.” Although this statement is true, the FDA has stated that “wheat” means all species of the genus Triticum, of which spelt (Triticum spelta L.) is a part. The FDA is concerned that the statement may give the impression that the spelt pretzels product does not contain the allergen found in wheat and is safe and suitable for consumption by consumers who are allergic to wheat.
This is not the first time the company has been warned about this issue. The FDA sent a similar warning letter in Dec. 2006. According to an article on Bloomberg.com, Peter Meehan, Newman’s Own Organics’ CEO, said that the pretzel’s packaging will change.
FDA warning letter
Bloomberg.com article
FDA appoints Valdez, Davis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has appointed Lou Valdez as Associate Commissioner for international programs, and Lori Davis as Chief Information Officer. Having previously served as Deputy Director of the Dept. of Health and Human Services’ Office of Global Health Affairs, Valdez will help lead implementation of the FDA’s international programs.
Davis joined the FDA as Deputy Chief Information Officer in Nov. 2007. In her new role, Davis will be responsible for strengthening the FDA’s information technology (IT) infrastructure, and for creating a robust IT foundation to enhance the interoperability of systems across the agency.
“At a time when the FDA is strengthening its presence in multiple regions around the world, and implementing state-of-the-art information technology systems, Lou Valdez and Lori Davis bring experience, dedication, and leadership that will contribute significantly to the Agency’s mission of protecting and promoting the public health,” said Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach.
FDA release
HHS, FDA open office in Costa Rica
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have opened an office in Costa Rica to serve Latin America. The countries of Latin America are key trade partners for the U.S., and the HHS/FDA presence in the region will allow the countries to work closely together. The office in Costa Rica is the first in a series in the region, which will eventually include an HHS/FDA presence in South America and Mexico later in 2009. Work on the office opening began in June 2008, when HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt and Health Ministers from the countries of Central America and Panama gathered at a summit in El Salvador to map out a broad framework for cooperation on food and product safety.
“The countries of Central America, along with Panama, and the Dominican Republic, create the third-largest U.S. export market in Latin America, and, every year, the U.S. imports millions of dollars in goods from these important trade partners,” said Leavitt. “An HHS/FDA presence in the region will improve collaboration, strengthen our partnership, and hasten the flow of quality goods to our markets.”
HHS release
HHS, FDA open office in Costa Rica
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have opened an office in Costa Rica to serve Latin America. The countries of Latin America are key trade partners for the U.S., and the HHS/FDA presence in the region will allow the countries to work closely together. The office in Costa Rica is the first in a series in the region, which will eventually include an HHS/FDA presence in South America and Mexico later in 2009. Work on the office opening began in June 2008, when HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt and Health Ministers from the countries of Central America and Panama gathered at a summit in El Salvador to map out a broad framework for cooperation on food and product safety.
“The countries of Central America, along with Panama, and the Dominican Republic, create the third-largest U.S. export market in Latin America, and, every year, the U.S. imports millions of dollars in goods from these important trade partners,” said Leavitt. “An HHS/FDA presence in the region will improve collaboration, strengthen our partnership, and hasten the flow of quality goods to our markets.”
HHS release
EPA issues interim health advisory for perchlorate
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an interim health advisory of 15 ppb to assist state and local officials in addressing local contamination of perchlorate in drinking water. Currently, the EPA is seeking advice from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) before making a final determination on whether to issue a national regulation for perchlorate in drinking water. States have the right to establish and enforce drinking water standards, and the EPA encourages state-specific situations to be addressed at the local level.
On Oct. 10, 2008, the agency issued a preliminary regulatory determination for public comment in the Federal Register. The notice described the agency’s decision that there is a not a “meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction” through a national drinking water regulation for perchlorate. The agency received more than 32,000 comments on the notice.
After considering the comments, as well as recommendations from the EPA advisory groups and offices, the EPA is asking the NAS to provide additional insight on various issues. Specifically, the EPA is asking the NAS to evaluate its derivation of the Health Reference Level of 15 ppb, the use of modeling to evaluate impacts on infants and young children, and the implication of recent biomonitoring studies. The agency is also asking the NAS how it should consider the role of perchlorate relative to other iodide uptake inhibiting compounds and if there are other public health strategies to address this aspect of thyroid health.
EPA information on perchlorate
USDA issues E. coli notice
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a notice to establishments that receive, grind, or process raw beef products concerning E. coli O157:H7. The FSIS is finding an increasing number of products with E. coli O157:H7, which indicates that the measures employed by many establishments to address E. coli O157:H7 are inadequate.
The notice states that an establishment can’t conclude that E. coli O157:H7 is not reasonably likely to occur in its production process because the product it receives bears the mark of inspection. This mark is a reflection of a finding made by FSIS personnel that the establishment has followed the validated procedures in its Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan, not that the pathogen has been eliminated or reduced to undetectable levels. If this how the establishment has been operating, it needs to correlate with the District Office through the Front-line Supervisor to determine whether it is necessary for an Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis Officer to conduct a Food Safety Assessment, or whether an enforcement action such as a Notice of Intended Enforcement is warranted because the HACCP plan is inadequate.
USDA FSIS notice download
EPA seeks applications for grants
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4 (Ala., Fla., Ga., Ky., Miss., N.C., S.C., and Tenn.) is seeking grant applications for its Strategic Agriculture Initiative, which promotes the use of less and reduced risk pesticides, alternative methods of agricultural pest control, and sustainable practices in food production. The program supports grants for education, extension, demonstration, and studies for the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) transition and reduced risk practices for pest management in agriculture, especially on minor use crops (most fruits and vegetables).
The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $268,000. The EPA anticipates awarding two or three grants from this announcement, subject to availability of funds and the quality of proposals received. The maximum award is $100,000. Applications must be received by the EPA on or before Feb. 28, 2009, 5 p.m. EST.
EPA grant information
IFT Press book investigates the food industry’s sustainability practices
One new IFT Press book is now available to order from Wiley-Blackwell. Sustainability in the Food Industry, edited by Cheryl J. Baldwin (ISBN: 978-0-8138-0846-8. 2008. 280 pp.), defines sustainability with a comprehensive review of the industry’s current approach to balancing environmental, economic, and social considerations throughout the supply chain. The text includes an overview of sustainable sources of impact and improvement, how they relate to the key sectors of the food industry, and how programs may be implemented for further improvement.
Sustainability is beginning to transform the food industry with environmental, economic, and social factors being considered, evaluated, and implemented throughout the supply chain like never before. The book combines technical research summaries, case studies, and marketing information to provide insight about sustainability as it relates to agricultural practices, food processing, distribution, waste management, packaging, life cycle analysis, food safety and health, environmental labeling, consumer insight and market demand, product development, practices in food manufacturing companies, food retailing, and food service. An international group of authors covers the information from a global perspective.
IFT Press books, developed in partnership with Wiley-Blackwell and crafted through rigorous peer review and meticulous research, delivers leading-edge handbooks for industrial application and reference, in addition to essential texts for academic programs. IFT members receive a 20% discount on all Wiley-Blackwell books. The member coupon code is available at ift.org. For more information, call 877-762-2974 or visit http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-323967.html.
Traceability webcast invites you to learn from the experts
The Challenges of Traceability
Jan. 28, 2009, 12:00–1:30 p.m. CST
The benefits of traceability are clear. They include larger net revenues, which have driven the widespread development of traceability systems across the U.S. food supply chain. Firms build traceability systems to improve supply-side management, to increase safety and quality control, to reduce product recalls, and to market foods with credence attributes. But what about the challenges?
Learn about the challenges associated with traceability direct from the experts in this highly interactive webcast. You’ll learn about available technologies, relationship with country of origin labeling, and cost. You will also hear what your peers think and are doing about traceability. Gain a deeper understanding about the key outbreaks and issues that have placed this topic in the regulatory spotlight, and the regulations that relate to traceability.
Discover how IFT is involved in the issue of traceability with the Food and Drug Administration, and how you and your organization can become involved. Attendees are encouraged to participate in this webcast by sharing experiences, challenges, and opportunities, which may include discussions about standardization, paper vs. electronic systems, technologies (barcode, RFID, etc.), and cost.
For more information and to register, click here. When registering, please enter this code: 0109EM1303.
Nominate a 2009 IFT Fellow
Time is running out to nominate a talented IFT professional member for 2009 IFT Fellow. The professional distinction of IFT Fellow rewards individuals with outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience in food science and technology. IFT Fellows come from all over the world, and all areas of the food science profession. Expertise in their field, experience, and service to IFT connects this group of professionals.
Help us to honor these dedicated food science leaders by nominating a colleague for IFT Fellow today. To access the IFT Fellow nomination form, click here. The deadline for IFT Fellow nominations is Feb. 1, 2009. If you have questions about the nomination process please contact Jenny Schmidli at jschmidli@ift.org.
Wellness 09: Maximize revenue potential within the healthful foods arena
Nearly 3,000 new products have been introduced since 2006 that claim to have no, low, or reduced sugar, according to the Mintel Global New Products Database. With sales of such products projected to grow to $7.7 billion by 2010, and consumers purchasing foods and beverages based on sugar content and caloric claims, it appears that consumers will continue to purchase sugar-free and low- or reduced-calorie products. Is your organization aware of the market opportunities, applications, and benefits of the newest sweeteners?
The Wellness 09: At the Forefront of Food & Health conference, March 25–26, 2009 in Rosemont, Illinois, is the forum that can help you and your organization get better prepared to meet the challenges posed by developing these and other products that promote health and wellness. You'll learn from the experts as they share their research, experiences, and findings, and gain information on practical applications that can help shape your next product. Get better prepared to meet the challenges posed by health concerns driving the growth of the healthful foods market.
Register now at ift.org/ftpc. When registering, please enter this code: 0109EM1305.
Webcast call for proposals: Submit a topic today
IFT webcasts offer focused, applicable information on a wide range of topics within the food industry. If you would like to propose a topic to be presented as a webcast, or if you would like to present a webcast, please submit a webcast proposal form. For more information, please contact knowledge@ift.org.
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