FSA vindicated in organic nutritional probe

16-Nov-2010 - The methodology used in the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) controversial review of the nutritional merits of organic vs conventionally-produced food has been given the stamp of approval by an independent scientific panel.

Weigher on show

04-Nov-2010 - Ishida Europe will launch a new multihead weigher for citrus fruits and root vegetables at the Emballage exhibition in Paris this month.

Cranberry price to rise on lower stock levels

01-Nov-2010 - Commodity prices for cranberry fruit and concentrate look set to rise as harvests fall, eradicating supply surpluses, according to leading producer Ocean Spray.

Uniq tackles £436m hole in its pension fund

20-Oct-2010 - Uniq has unveiled plans to tackle the £436m hole in its pension scheme with a deficit-for-equity swap that will deliver 90% of the company's equity to the pension fund.

Up to 375 jobs at risk at Bakkavör Bourne site

15-Oct-2010 - Unions are urging Bakkavör to improve its redundancy package at Bourne Prepared Produce in Lincolnshire in order to encourage volunteers and avoid compulsory redundancies.

Tesco: Pricing structure on organics is all over the place

15-Oct-2010 - The pricing hierarchy in organic foods is confusing shoppers and holding the category back, with some products costing more than twice as much as conventional counterparts and others achieving price parity, according to the UK’s biggest grocer.

Rub a dub dub three veg in a tub

04-Oct-2010 - A Lancashire businesswoman has been working with a nutritionist from Manchester Metropolitan University to create recipes for a new range of vegetable meals.

Graham's dairy makes 'major investment' in butter plant

27-Sep-2010 - Independent Scottish dairy Graham’s The Family Dairy is investing heavily to expand its butter plant following the acquisition of rival Claymore Dairies.

Could broccoli and garlic prove key weapons in fight vs arthritis?

16-Sep-2010 - A groundbreaking study exploring the potential of bioactive compounds in broccoli and garlic to slow or prevent the breakdown of cartilage is one of nine projects to secure a share of £4m, in the final funding round of the Diet and Health Research Industry Club (DRINC).

Ex-Tulip manager drives UK roll-out of Danish traceability system

09-Sep-2010 - 
A software package designed for traceability in the food sector is set to be rolled out across the UK. 


Interfruit moves to new plant

09-Sep-2010 - Fresh fruit and vegetable wholesaler Interfruit has moved into a new 1,600m2 refrigerated food processing plant at Witton.

Multi-million pound investment at Nature's Way Foods

07-Sep-2010 - Nature’s Way Foods (NWF) is investing millions of pounds in upgrading kit at three plants in Selsey and Runcton and building a fourth factory at a third site.


M&S hits back as CASH blasts salt levels in its salads

26-Aug-2010 - Surveys that compare salt levels in products of different weights targeted at different eating occasions and then single out individual firms for criticism are unfair and unhelpful, Marks & Spencer has argued.

Electicity and ultra sound boost potatoes’ antioxidant content by 60 per cent

24-Aug-2010 - Treating potatoes with electricity and ultra-sound could improve their antioxidant activity by up to 60 per cent, according to new research from Obihiro University in Hokkaido, Japan.

Anxious wait for staff at Northumberland Foods as firm calls in administrators for second time

19-Aug-2010 - Staff at Northumberland Foods face an uncertain future after bosses were forced to call in administrators this week for the second time in 18 months.

Tiptree still on acquisition trail post puds acquisition

19-Aug-2010 - Tiptree jam maker Wilkin & Sons is on the lookout for further acquisitions after sealing a deal to buy Essex-based luxury puddings manufacturer Coles Traditional Foods.

CenFRA helps food manufacturers ‘virtually’ evaluate robots

29-Jul-2010 - Food robotics and automation centre CenFRA (Centre for Robotics and Automation) has introduced new simulation techniques that can help food manufacturers ‘virtually’ evaluate the merits of automating aspects of their processes without disrupting production.

Uniq "still viable" despite £436m pension deficit

22-Jul-2010 - Uniq is still a viable business despite the £400m+ hole in its pension fund, and it is “still plausible” that a solution will be found to enable it to trade its way out of trouble, analysts have claimed.

Change4Life didn't change anything, claims academic

09-Jul-2010 - There is “no evidence” to suggest that the Change4Life initiative has helped to improve the eating habits or lifestyles of the most vulnerable people, according to one health expert.

A prince among tomato slicers

01-Jul-2010 - Preparing fresh ingredients such as tomatoes can be labour-intensive and time-consuming. The Prince Castle Tomato Saber makes slicing whole tomatoes quick, precise and easy. The device, which is supplied by Foodservice Equipment Marketing (FEM), can help companies maximise profits by producing perfect slices time after time.

Cut fruit firm invests £2-3m in factory expansion

25-Jun-2010 - Craigavon-based Orchard County Foods will pump £2-3m into its cut fruit factory over the next 18 months as it seeks to expand its presence in the branded fruit snacks market.

News in brief

Kanes Foods installs next-generation waste water treatment system

08-Jun-2010 - Salad maker Kanes Foods has installed a second cross-flow membrane bioreactor for recycling waste water at its plant near Evesham.

Campaign for five-a-day may bear bitter fruit

04-Jun-2010 - Food scientists fear the failure to correct claims that the cancer reduction benefits of eating fresh fruit and vegetables have been exaggerated could put people off eating more fruit and veg.

Spuds they like

01-Jun-2010 - QV Foods has bought potato packer Taypack Potatoes, which has a factory at Inchture, Perthshire.