the latest in food science and technology news

On May 29, The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) announced a new agreement to co-locate the IFT Food Expo and FSPA Process Expo at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center beginning July 18–20, 2010. This brings together two premier events that will draw a range of food industry professionals interested in product development, processing, packaging, and the science of food.

Each year, the FPSA Process Expo draws approximately 10,000 food processing and packaging professionals during its three-day meeting while the IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo® welcomes more than 18,000 professionals working in the food science and technology fields. In 2010, the two events will be held on separate expo floors but will be in close proximity within McCormick Place Convention Center to expand offerings for those interested in food science, food technology, packaging, and processing.

“We are extremely pleased that we can generate new opportunities for both our exhibitors and show attendees,” said IFT Executive Vice President Barbara Byrd Keenan. “Food industry professionals interested in attending Process Expo will have an additional compelling reason to attend the 2010 Annual Meeting & Food Expo®, especially if their work is in the area of food engineering, processing, product development, packaging, quality assurance, or foodservice.”

The partnership provides a unique opportunity to expand food safety education across the food chain. Exhibitors at both Process Expo and Food Expo have a shared commitment to food safety, and the agreement will generate new opportunities to develop educational programming that will expand food safety education throughout the food chain. In addition, the combination of both expos creates an additional value for corporate teams with interests ranging from product development to production.

IFT

FPSA

IFT’s Web presence at the Annual Meeting & Food Expo^®

The 2009 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo^® kicks off this Saturday, June 6, in Anaheim, Calif. If you are attending or exhibiting at the event, we look forward to seeing you there! For event coverage on each day of the show, make sure you visit IFT LIVE, which is IFT’s event daily in electronic form! You can access IFT LIVE from your PDA, your laptop, or the Internet Café terminals by going to ift.org/iftlive. If you aren’t able to attend the meeting this year, you can check out IFT LIVE to see what’s happening at the show via articles, news, videos, pictures, blogs, and much more.

In addition, this year IFT is utilizing the social networking sites LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr to communicate about highlights and changes for the Annual Meeting & Food Expo^® as well as to allow those on-site to engage in the virtual IFT community. On-site, Annual Meeting & Food Expo^® staffers will be using Twitter to gather questions from the audience during the Keynote Session. In addition, for those attending the meeting, we will be having a treasure hunt using IFT09’s Twitter page, so keep checking Twitter at the show!

As a part of the electronic show daily coverage, IFT will be blogging live from the event, reporting to you on interesting things from the show floor, sessions, panels, and networking events. Keep an eye on IFT’s ePerspective blog for these posts and participate in the discussion by posting your comments to the blog during the show.

Dutch Collaboration Nurtures Innovation

Food Technology magazine has published an online-only, 11-page supplement with the June issue that highlights food innovation in the Netherlands. Four articles detail how government investments in R&D are facilitating advancements in food product development, how food researchers in industry, academia, and government partner to turn ideas into commercial successes, how pilot plants and ‘living’ labs enable product developers to test and advance their concepts, and how research and technology are converging to detect and control foodborne pathogens in minimally processed foods.

Online supplement (pdf)

Salmonella’s sweet tooth may help vaccine development

U.K. scientists have discovered that Salmonella feeds on glucose to survive and replicate during infection. This knowledge could provide a new way to vaccinate against Salmonella, and lead to vaccine strains to protect against other disease-causing bacteria, including superbugs.

“This is the first time that anyone has identified the nutrients that sustain Salmonella while it is infecting a host’s body,” said Arthur Thompson from the Institute of Food Research.

The nutrition of bacteria during infection is an emerging science. This is one of the first major breakthroughs, achieved in collaboration with Gary Rowley at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K. During infection, Salmonella must acquire nutrients to replicate. In the research, the scientists focused on glycolysis, the process by which sugars are broken down to create chemical energy. They constructed Salmonella mutants unable to transport glucose into the immune cells they occupy and unable to use glucose as food. These mutant strains lost their ability to replicate within immune cells, rendering them harmless. The mutant strains still stimulate the immune system, and the scientists have filed patents on them that could be used to develop vaccines to protect people and animals against poisoning by fully virulent Salmonella. Glycolysis occurs in most organisms including other bacteria that occupy host cells. Disrupting how the bacteria metabolize glucose could therefore be used to create vaccine strains for other pathogenic bacteria, including superbugs.

This research was funded by a Core Strategic Grant from Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Release

Meat consumption not linked to breast cancer risk

A study published in the International Journal of Cancer shows that there is no link between eating meat—total meat, red meat, processed meat, or meat cooked at high temperatures—and the risk of breast cancer in older women. The researchers examined data from 120,755 postmenopausal women who participated in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. The women provided information on what they ate and how often they ate certain foods when they entered the study between 1995 and 1996. They also provided information on meat-cooking methods. Over the next eight years, 3,818 women developed breast cancer. According to the researchers, breast cancer risk was not associated with intake of total meat, red meat, white meat, processed meat, or meat cooked at high temperatures, or level of doneness of the meat.

Abstract

Functional food growth slows

Consumers are more proactive about their health, which spurred the U.S. retail market for functional foods and beverages to a 6% gain with sales totaling about $30.7 billion in 2008, according the Packaged Facts report “Functional Foods and Beverages in the U.S., 4th Edition.” However, this growth is slower than reported in 2007, in which the segment experienced an 8% growth to reach $29 billion. To some extent, the numbers reflect category maturation after an extended period of accelerated growth. Sales of the largest functional categories grew at a compound annual rate of 8% between 2003 and 2008 in retail outlets tracked by Information Resources Inc. The slowdown also reflects the weak economy in which consumers are not able to afford non-essential and more costly specialty items.

Though the market has not proven to be recession proof, it has advantages that could prevent it from being as vulnerable as most other markets. Namely, in the short term functional products may save consumers money since these foods and beverages carry nutrients that shoppers would otherwise seek in expensive nutritional supplements. While in the long run, functional products save consumers money on medical expenses by helping to prevent illness and chronic conditions.

During the five-year period from 2003 to 2008, several functionally oriented food and beverage categories performed well, including yogurt, energy drinks, nutritional snacks and trail mixes, milk substitutes and soymilk, and refrigerated blended fruit drinks, among others. Those showing significant declines included other snack/granola bars and refrigerated cranberry cocktail/drink and juice/juice blends. Breakfast/cereal/snack bars and shelf-stable cranberry juices continued to show sales increases, however. Packaged Facts projects that total U.S. retail sales of functional foods and beverages will continue to grow at a steady pace through 2013, and reach approximately $43 billion.

Packaged Facts report

Study shows BPA may leach from plastic bottles

In a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, Harvard School of Public Health researchers found that participants who drank for a week from polycarbonate bottles showed a two-thirds increase in their urine of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). The study, according to its authors, is the first to show that drinking from polycarbonate bottles increases the level of urinary BPA. The study participants—77 Harvard college students—began by drinking all cold beverages for seven days from stainless steel bottles in order to minimize BPA exposure. The participants provided urine samples during the seven-day period. They were then given two polycarbonate bottles and asked to drink all cold beverages from the bottles during the next week. Urine samples also were provided during that time. The results showed that the participants’ urinary BPA concentrations increased 69% after drinking from the polycarbonate bottles. In this study, the students did not wash their bottles in dishwashers or put hot liquids in them. The researchers noted that they would expect the levels to be even higher if the bottles were heated, as in the case of baby bottles.

Abstract (pdf)

Compusense forms U.S. branch; names Dana Craig-Petsinger President

Compusense, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, has formed Compusense U.S. and has appointed Dana Craig-Petsinger as President of the new location. Over the last decade, the diversification of Compusense into providing a full range of sensory and consumer research services has led to the business need to create a U.S. company. Craig-Petsinger has spent the last 20 years in the consumer packaged goods industry, most recently with the Kellogg Co. Her experiences in consumer research, sensory science, statistics, nutrition, R&D, and marketing give Craig-Petsinger a unique perspective into the needs of the industry. The U.S. operation will have full access to Compusense technology and support services with a strategic focus on insights into the product creation life cycle as a central area of expertise. Headquartered in Michigan, the business launches in July 2009.

Release

Campbell, Coca-Cola Hellenic partner in Russia

Campbell Soup Co. has entered into a long-term agreement with Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. for the distribution of Campbell’s Domashnaya Klassika (Campbell’s Home Classics) concentrated broth and other soup products in Russia. Under the terms of the agreement, Campbell will be responsible for consumer and market research, brand management, marketing, product development, and production. Coca-Cola Hellenic will be responsible for distribution, sales, in-store marketing, and trade receivables. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Coca-Cola Hellenic is currently distributing Campbell’s Domashnaya Klassika products in the Moscow region and in August 2009 plans to expand distribution to over 100 cities and 12 regions of Russia, with further nationwide distribution to follow. Coca-Cola Hellenic is Russia's largest distributor and seller of beverages and is responsible for managing the sales and distribution of an extensive range of brands of The Coca-Cola Co. and other brands. The company operates 14 plants with distribution centers located across the country. Campbell entered the Russian market in 2007, launching in the Moscow region. Along with its parallel launch in China, the Russian initiative is part of Campbell's strategy to expand the availability of its products in new geographies.

“Coca-Cola Hellenic has a world-class distribution network in Russia and its other markets, unmatched by any other distributor,” said Larry McWilliams, President, Campbell International. “Working with Coca-Cola Hellenic, we will be able to accelerate distribution throughout Russia, expanding more quickly into additional markets.”

Soup consumption in Russia is more than double that of the U.S.; nearly 32 billion servings are consumed each year, or approximately 230 servings per capita, which are still predominately homemade. This makes Russia the world’s second largest soup consuming market after China. Campbell currently offers four varieties of its Domashnaya Klassika broth products: chicken, beef, mushroom, and beef & mushroom. Campbell developed these broths to meet Russian consumers’ high standards, while dramatically reducing the time it takes to prepare soup from scratch.

Release

New Danisco R&D center opens

On May 29, Danisco opened a new BioScience Development Center in its site in Dangé-Saint-Romain, France. Started in 2007, the building is now completed and hosts a 2000-sq-m center with up to 30 scientists and technicians. The new facility will contribute to improve the R&D capabilities of Danisco, especially for the activities related to process development, enhanced stability, and preservation of microorganisms. The goal of the group is to discover new benefits for human health, food protection, to create new textures and tastes, and to promote a natural and good quality food.

“The Dangé Saint Romain site is to become a real competence centre in microbiology and biotechnology operating for the whole of Danisco worldwide,” said Doug Willrett, Executive Vice President of Danisco Cultures Division.

Release

Danone Waters of America strengthens senior management

Danone Waters of America has appointed two new vice presidents. Jerome Goure joins as Vice President, Marketing, North America and Steve Finn joins the company as Vice President, Retail Sales, U.S. Goure will oversee marketing and communications programming for all brands in the Danone Waters of America portfolio. Over the past nine years, Goure has held a number of positions within the Groupe Danone organization in both Europe and North Africa. He spent the last year as marketing director with Danone Dairy Algeria, staffing a local marketing team, setting portfolio and brand strategies, and building a network with key agencies.

A former Danone executive, Finn is returning to the company to lead the U.S. retail sales organization for the Evian Natural Spring Water business. Finn spent the last three years with ConAgra Foods, most recently as Director of Sales, Costco Team Leader. From 1992 to 2002, Finn held a variety of positions within Danone Waters of America, with his latest position as Senior National Account Manager overseeing national accounts in the club, cash and carry, mass merchandiser, drug, and supermarket channels. He also held the roles of Western Division Sales Manager, Sales Planning Manager, Region Sales Manager and District Sales Manager during his tenure. Prior to that, he spent two years with The Pillsbury Co.

Release

ConAgra Foods revamps its look

ConAgra Foods has revealed a new brand identity that highlights the appeal of its products to consumers. The new identity was created after research with multiple stakeholder groups, including customers, revealed lack of association between ConAgra Foods and its popular brands, such as Hunt’s tomatoes, Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn, and Healthy Choice meals. The logo itself features a new, more contemporary color palette along with a ‘spoon in plate’ icon designed to reinforce the company’s position as a leading food company. The tagline, “Food you love” reinforces the individual company brands that consumers love.

“Our new brand identity is an articulation of the essence of ConAgra Foods—making great food,” said ConAgra Foods CEO Gary Rodkin. “We’ve changed the company fairly dramatically over the past several years to get these strong brands and products at the core of everything we do.”

In 2008, the company sold its trading operation, exiting the commodity trading, fertilizer and ethanol businesses, and now focuses exclusively on branded packaged food sold at grocery stores and other retailers and food sold to restaurants and other manufacturers.

The company introduced its new brand identity through a targeted advertising campaign that began June 2 in selected print, broadcast, and online outlets.

Release

Bunge partners with agribusiness firms

Bunge North America, the North American operating arm of Bunge Ltd., has created a joint venture with ITOCHU and STX Pan Ocean to build and operate a state-of-the-art export grain terminal at the Port of Longview, Wash. ITOCHU is the second largest marketer of grain and food products in Japan, and STX Pan Ocean is one of the world's leading shipping companies of agricultural products. Called EGT Development, LLC, the project will be the first export terminal built in the U.S. in more than two decades. The terminal will be capable of handling grain, oilseeds, and protein meals. It features a rail loop track unloading system capable of holding four 110-car unit trains at any given time. The facility will include a highly efficient shuttle train unloading system as well as the capability to unload barges from the Columbia River. When it is fully operational, the facility will be able to handle more than eight million metric tons annually. Construction will begin this month with the facility accepting product for the fall 2011 harvest.

“The Pacific Northwest is already the second largest export corridor in North America but additional capacity will be needed to meet the growing demand for agricultural products in Asia,” said Carl Hausmann, Bunge North America President and CEO. “All three partners currently ship to the Pacific Rim and this facility will be well-positioned to create a more direct and stable supply base so that we can better serve our operations and customers in Asia.”

Release (pdf)

Extra credit reading

Kraft Singles teams up with Minor League Baseball
Through Sept. 1, families can enjoy the “Tuesday Night Tickets” offer at most Minor League Baseball parks nationwide by bringing a Kraft Singles package wrapper to the ballpark box office, which allows you get a free ticket with the purchase of one.

Great American Cookies contest
Great American Cookies has launched its first-ever search for the “Great American Dad.” During the contest, which runs through July 31, participants will be asked to tell the world, in 200 words or less, what makes their dad a “Great American Dad.”

Push-Up’s 50th anniversary
This year, Nestle celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Push-Up frozen snack with the introduction of new flavors: Laffy Taffy varieties, including Sammy Strawberry, Hanna Banana, and Barri Berry; and Nesquik Creamy Delights varieties, including Milk Chocolate and Double Chocolate.

FDA to study impact of nutrition symbols

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it will conduct an Experimental Study of Nutrition Symbols on Food Packages. The FDA uses the term “nutrition symbols” to refer to symbols used in food labeling that highlight a food’s overall nutritional profile or a particular nutritional attribute. Because of the growing popularity of nutrition symbol programs, the FDA held a public hearing in September 2007 and requested public comments responding to specific questions posed by the agency. Following the public hearing, the FDA released a memorandum reviewing the comments it received and outlining its next steps with regard to nutrition symbols. The FDA also has begun collecting consumer research regarding how consumers interpret and use nutrition symbols. Because the FDA does not currently have relevant information about the effects of nutrition symbols on consumers to make fully informed regulatory decisions on their appropriate use, the agency is undertaking its own consumer study.

The proposed experimental study is intended to “assess quantitative consumer reactions to front-of-package nutrition symbols.” As part of the agency’s continuing efforts to enable consumers to make informed decisions about their nutritional intake and to “construct healthful diets,” the study will focus on consumer processing of a selected sample of nutrition symbols in the U.S. marketplace. The study will employ a Web-based survey of 2,400 adults in an online consumer panel. The FDA plans to sample subjects randomly assigned to groups in which they will view and analyze various labels. Based on those variables, researchers will focus on the following consumer reactions: (1) Judgments about a food product in terms of its nutritional attributes, overall healthfulness, health benefits, and other characteristics such as taste; (2) judgments about a label in terms of its credibility in conveying the product’s nutritional attributes and helpfulness in product choices; (3) identification of the more nutritious product in a pair of products; and (4) impact of the symbol on the use of the Nutrition Facts label.

Federal Register notice

Oregon passes calorie posting law; Connecticut nears same decision

According to The Oregonian, in a 21-7 vote, the Senate passed House Bill 2726, which requires 181 Oregon restaurants with 15 or more outlets nationwide to post calories next to food and drink listings on menus and menu boards, including drive-through displays. Those that fail to do so face up to a $1,000 fine. Governor Ted Kulongoski has stated that he will sign the bill into law, in which case it would take effect on Jan. 1, 2011. The Oregon Restaurant Association questioned the cost and effectiveness of the proposal but withdrew opposition after legislators agreed to pre-empt local laws and extend the effective date to 2011, when a similar law in California kicks in, said Bill Perry, lobbyist for the group. Menu labeling legislation similar to Oregon’s has passed in Seattle and King County, Wash.; New York City; Philadelphia; Nashville, Tenn.; and Massachusetts, and it is under consideration in 15 other states. A bill requiring restaurants nationwide to display calorie counts was introduced in Congress last month.

According to The Hartford Courant, the Connecticut House of Representatives granted final legislative approval June 1 to a bill requiring major chain restaurants to publish the number of calories for each food item on their printed menus and menu boards. As in Oregon, this bill would apply to national chains with at least 15 restaurants. However, in Connecticut the bill would go into effect in July 2010. The measure would not apply to mom-and-pop restaurants, delicatessens, grocery stores, and sandwich shops. Under the bill, the calories would not need to be listed for daily specials or for free items—like bread—that are placed on the restaurant table. After 3.5 hrs of debate, the House voted 89-60 for the bill, with more than 20 Democrats joining all 37 Republicans to oppose the measure. Governor M. Jodi Rell has not said whether she intends to veto the bill—instead waiting to see the legislation in its final form after it arrives on her desk.

The Oregonian article

H.B. 2726

The Hartford Courant article

House panel proposes new fees for food manufacturers

According to Congressional Quarterly, House lawmakers have proposed food safety legislation in which food manufacturers would face more federal scrutiny and new government fees. The Energy and Commerce Committee draft is the latest in a string of attempts to move toward an all-encompassing food safety legislation. Sponsored by John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), the measure was also spurred by President Obama’s call in March for an overhaul of the nation’s food safety system. The panel will have a hearing on the bill June 3.

The draft would create an up-to-date registry of all food facilities that serve American consumers and impose an annual $1,000 user fee on those facilities. Registered facilities would be required to pay the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any costs associated with re-inspections and food recalls. A separate bill, sponsored by Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Adam H. Putnam (R-Fla.), would only assess fees on manufacturers who violate the law or importers who voluntarily expedite inspections.

Congressional Quarterly article

Connecticut BPA ban moves forward

According to The Hartford Courant, the Connecticut State House unanimously approved a bill to ban bisphenol A (BPA) from plastic containers used by children and babies. The ban does not take effect until Oct. 1, 2011, and involves only a limited array of products, including reusable food and beverage containers, containers of infant formula and baby food, reusable spill-proof cups, plastic sports bottles, and Thermoses. The bill does not address products geared to the general population, beverage containers, and single-use jars and cans. Under the bill, the existing inventory for retailers can still be sold in stores. The state’s Department of Consumer Protection will be charged with enforcing the ban. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to maintain BPA is safe.

The Hartford Courant article

Ground beef products recalled due to possible E. coli contamination

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that SP Provisions, Portland, Ore., is recalling approximately 39,973 lbs of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The products subject to recall include Cascade Natural Beef Brand and SP Provisions Brand.

These ground beef products were produced on various dates from April 8, 2009 through May 28, 2009, and were distributed to retail establishments as well as hotels, restaurants, and institutions in Oregon and Washington. The products, produced from the same source material, were sent into commerce prior to May 29, 2009.

Release

Hearing on Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing on the discussion draft of the “Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009,” on June 3. The purpose of this hearing was to elicit views from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other stakeholders on this legislation. The following people were present at the hearing as witnesses:

• Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner, FDA
• Michael Ambrosio, Food Marketing Institute (FMI), Vice President Quality Assurance Division, Wakefern Food Corp.
• Pamela G. Bailey, President and CEO, Grocery Manufacturers Association
• Caroline Smith DeWaal, Safe Food Coalition, Food Safety Director
• Center for Science in the Public Interest
• Tim F. Jones, MD, State Epidemiologist, Tennessee Dept. of Health
• Thomas E. Stenzel, President and CEO, United Fresh Produce Association

Of the hearing, FMI President and CEO Leslie Sarasin said, “FMI supports many policy initiatives in the draft Food Safety Enhancement Act legislation because they are clearly intended to prevent problems in the food supply before they ever occur. Preventing food safety problems from occurring by mitigating risk must be the guiding principle for changes.”

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health

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