All news articles for May 2016

Müller Milk & Ingredients: the dairy closures will lead to the loss of 225 jobs

Müller dairy closures a ‘devastating blow’: union

By Noli Dinkovski

Müller Milk & Ingredients’ decision to close its smaller dairies in East Kilbride and Aberdeen with the loss of 225 jobs has been called a “devastating blow” by the union representing the workforce.

Under threat: drought and high temperatures are triggering the accumulation of chemical compounds in crops

Extreme weather making crops more ‘toxic’

By Noli Dinkovski

Food crops are protecting themselves from more extreme weather by generating toxins that are potentially harmful to humans and animals, a new United Nations report has claimed.

The National Obesity Forum report on fats and carbohydrates has been attacked by its own board members

National Obesity Forum fat report rejected by board members

By Rick Pendrous

Health lobby group the National Obesity Forum (NOF) has come under swingeing attacks from some of its own medical advisers in press reports over the past weekend, following controversial advice it rushed out last week advising people to eat more fatty...

Skipjack controls, but action still needs to be taken to rebuild overfished yellowfin tuna stocks

Skipjack tuna to be harvest controlled

By Michelle Perrett

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) has taken the ground-breaking step of agreeing harvest control rules for skipjack tuna in the Indian Ocean.

Sir Stuart Rose, chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe

Brexit debate

EU is ‘friend to food and drink’: Sir Stuart Rose

By Sir Stuart Rose

The EU is a friend to our food and drink industries. As former executive chairman of Marks & Spencer, I have experience of the benefits that our membership of the EU provide.

Manufacturers and retailers disagree about targets for reformulating food

Pressure mounts for mandatory fat, salt and sugar targets

By Rick Pendrous

Government is coming under increasing pressure to set targets for the fat, salt and sugar content of food and drink in advance of the publication of its childhood obesity strategy, which is expected later this summer.

Smashburger plans UK expansion

Smashburger plans UK expansion

By Aaron McDonald

US restaurant chain Smashburger has announced the acquisition of a further five sites in the UK, following the launch of its first UK restaurant at the Kingston Centre in Milton Keynes retail park this May.

Entry-level sleeve and carton coder is launched

Entry-level sleeve and carton coder is launched

By Rick Pendrous

The Celtic Bakers, a north London baker of hand-crafted breads, cakes and patisserie, has become one of the first users of Rotech’s new RF-Lite sleeve and carton coder.

Multi-page labels add more space

Multi-page labels add more space

By Rick Pendrous

Food labelling will become more complex from December 2016 when the latest requirements of the EU’s Food Information for Consumers Regulation come into force, making it mandatory for products to carry a nutrition declaration on the back of packs.

AVT has further developed its Machine Sentry condition monitoring system

Condition-based maintenance keeps kit rolling

By Rick Pendrous

The Machine Sentry condition monitoring (CM) system for rotating equipment from AVT Reliability has been further developed to enhance its condition-based maintenance (CBM) capability.

Nut packer installs new metal detectors

Nut packer installs new metal detectors

By Rick Pendrous

An unnamed UK nut and dried fruit processing and packing company has seen a 40% improvement in sensitivity and eliminated false rejects by replacing its old metal detectors with five Fortress Technology Stealth Vertex systems.

Safeline wins Innovation Award

Safeline wins Innovation Award

By Rick Pendrous

Mettler-Toledo Safeline, supplier of metal detection systems, has been awarded a second Queen’s Award for Enterprise, this time in the Innovation category, for developing its family of Profile metal detection products.

Robotic pot swap loader for mixed food trays

Robotic pot swap loader for mixed food trays

By Rick Pendrous

The manual process of putting together mixed chilled product trays has now been automated by Fanuc in collaboration with Pacepacker Services, using a robotic pot swap tray loading system.

Radical design for steam boiler

Radical design for steam boiler

Fulton claims its SRT Series vertical steam boiler, exhibited at the recent Foodex show at the National Exhibition Centre, near Birmingham, features...

Expertise is needed to correctly interpret CM data that is collected

Condition monitoring needs hands-on diagnostic expertise

By Rick Pendrous

An overreliance on collecting condition monitoring (CM) data could be hampering maintenance teams in their quest to improve plant operational efficiency, industrial service provider Eriks UK has warned.

Tesco's mushroom and cauliflower steaks

Tesco launches vegetarian bbq range

By Michelle Perrett

Tesco is capitalising on the growing vegetarian trend by launching, what it claims are, the UK’s first ever cauliflower and mushroom barbecue (bbq) steaks.

Monsanto has long been involved in GM research

Monsanto rejects Bayer’s $62bn takeover bid

By Michelle Perrett

Monsanto, the international agriculture and seeds company, said it was still open to “constructive conversations” after rejecting an offer from German chemicals company Bayer, which would have reportedly created the world’s biggest agriculture supplier.

EU membership 'is vital' for the success of our food and drink sector: Sir Stuart Rose

Exclusive

EU ‘vital for food industry success’: Sir Stuart Rose

By Michael Stones

EU membership is “vital for the success” of the UK food and drink manufacturing sector, argues Sir Stuart Rose, chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe and former executive chairman of Marks & Spencer.

2 Sisters said production would remain unaffected by industrial action

2 Sisters faces strike at RF Brookes factory

By Michelle Perrett

Members of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) at 2 Sisters’ RF Brookes factory in Rogerstone, Newport, are to strike over proposals to change their working conditions.

Mohammed Zaman was sentenced to six years in prison, after one of his customers suffered fatal anaphylactic shock

Food firms warned after allergy death conviction

By Michelle Perrett

Food manufacturers have been warned to ensure comprehensive risk management over allergens, after an Indian restaurant owner was sentenced to six years in prison this week following the death of a customer from anaphylactic shock.

Watch our exclusive interview with Mark Bullock. Noli Dinkovski asked the questions

Me and my factory

Lean and green tops the agenda for Kinnerton

By Gwen Ridler

Leaner manufacturing and improved staff engagement are the twin targets of Kinnerton Confectionery’s site in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire.

The Apprenticeship Levy could be used to fund SME training needs, said Sue Husband.

Supply chain SMEs could gain from the Apprenticeship Levy

By Gwen Ridler

Plans to allow the Apprenticeship Levy paid by large food and drink manufacturers to fund training of staff working for their small and medium-enterprise (SME) suppliers are under consideration, according to the Skills and Funding Agency (SFA).

Exploitation gang from left to right, Oksana Valujeva, Lauma Vankova, Ivar Mezals, Juris Valujevs

Migrant exploitation gang jailed for 23 years

By Gwen Ridler

Four people have been jailed for a combined total of 23 years for offences relating to the exploitation of migrant workers ­– some employed in the vegetable sector – after a joint police and Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) investigation.

2 Sisters is seeking talks with union officials to avert the threat of further strikes

2 Sisters seeks union talks after Pennine strike

By Michael Stones

2 Sisters Food Group is seeking talks with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), after its members at Pennine Foods factory in Sheffield staged a 48-hour walkout, at the end of last week.

Food and drink sector is leading the UK manufacturing recovery

Food and drink manufacturers boost UK output

By Gwen Ridler

Rising output reported by food and drink manufacturers has boosted the UK manufacturing sector, despite lacklustre export demand, according to a new Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report.

GACS chair Professor Sir Colin Blakemore: expressed 'uninanimous' fears of committee members

Food Standards Agency in row with scientists

By Rick Pendrous

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) board last week decided to go ahead with plans to replace its General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS) with a new Science Council in the face of unanimous opposition from members of GACS, who feared the loss of independent...

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