Trends & Analysis

Empiricai's new system can detect violations to social distancing rules and if employees aren't wearing PPE

AI system tracks COVID-19 in food factories

By Gwen Ridler

Identifying COVID-19 symptoms and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning were key topics in our exclusive interview with Salman Chaudhary, chief executive of AI systems developer Empiricai.

This latest iteration of rice starch from Beneo suits a range of applications, including dressings

Beneo discusses first instant rice starch of its kind

By Rod Addy

Global food ingredients supplier Beneo discusses the launch of the first instant clean label rice starch able to withstand harsh processing conditions, which debuted at virtual trade show Fi Europe Connect 2020 earlier this month.

Scientific papers on emerging aspects of nutrition and COVID-19 continue to be published

Food scientists assess nutritional weapons against COVID-19

By Rod Addy

Selenium, zinc, Vitamin D and a healthy gut microbiota can all help fight the effects of COVID-19, according to scientists presenting at the British Nutrition Foundation's (BNF's) virtual conference Nutrition and COVID-19.

Mewies: 'As AI gets more advanced, it may begin to create new ideas. Who would own the intellectual property rights in new inventions created solely by AI?'

Opinion

Reaping the benefits of artificial intelligence

By Sally Mewies

New opportunities are emerging at an unprecedented rate to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in order to optimise processes in food production and while the benefits are often very clear, there are legal bear traps for the unwary....

Preventative maintenance is shaping up to become a major part of the production process

Preventing the future, today? The world of preventative maintenance

By Gwen Ridler

While artificial intelligence does not offer all the predictive solutions to production line problems, it can help humans to take action in advance of a major breakdown. But how advanced is the UK food and drink industry in adopting a more technological...

Ellen Norman talks to Food Manufacture about this year's Royal Society of Chemistry Emerging Technologies Competition.

Prizes up for grabs at food innovation contest

By Gwen Ridler

Food and drink entrepreneurs could be in the running for a share of a £160,000 prize pool at this year’s Royal Society of Chemistry Emerging Technologies Competition.

Fraunhofer Institute's new cleaning robot uses advanced sensors to reduce man hours in the factory

Robot cleaner for food factories developed

By Gwen Ridler

Food safety, hygiene and cleaning in food factories has gained a boost in the form of a robot cleaner developed by Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Dresden.

Guest: 'Technical competency is essential to collect high quality information'

Ask the Expert, in collaboration with the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST)

Dalziel group technical manager: technical staff and data

By Rod Addy

How can data access and analysis be improved to help technical staff do their jobs better? Alexis Guest, group technical manager at Dalziel, explains in this Ask The Expert article.

Holmes: 'These folks have all got a bright future'

Food Man Talks

Diageo quality head on Ecotrophelia innovation competition

By Rod Addy and James Ridler

Tim Holmes, head of quality at international distiller and brewer Diageo, speaks about his role as chairman of judges at this year’s Ecotrophelia UK and why the competition is so important.

Christy Draus: 'SimulTask™ PRO offers up to 65,535 greyscale values – the highest on the market'

Eagle eyes on advanced inspection

By Michelle Perrett

Food and beverage processors need to focus on advanced inspection systems to help improve yield, product quality and consistency, according to Eagle Product Inspection.

The In-Sight D900  has been touted as being able to self-learn like a human inspector

Cognex finds smart answer

By Michelle Perrett

Cognex has introduced the first industrial smart camera powered by its ViDi deep learning software.

Pictured, Omron's new range of smart cameras

Omron extends focus on cameras

By Michelle Perrett

Industrial automation specialist Omron has launched two new smart cameras to its MicroHAWK line.

The electronic apple (seen here in blue) can help reduce food waste by identifying potential causes of damage during packing

Electronic apple helps prevent food waste

By Gwen Ridler

A new electronic ‘apple’ could help prevent delicate goods being damaged in transit and prevent food waste, according to its developer Brillopak.

The dairy industry is adopting automation, but can traditions still keep up with these technological advances?

Dairy processing

Dairy industry balances automation and tradition

By Gwen Ridler

As with other food businesses, the dairy industry is gradually moving towards automation, but in a way that respects some time-honoured production methods.

Manufacturing execution systems can deliver value on the shop floor much more cheaply and quickly, claimed Andea

Benefits of cloud-based MES aired

By Michelle Perrett

Food manufacturers should consider implementing cloud-based applications for MES (manufacturing execution systems) that can deliver value on the shop floor much more cheaply and quickly.

Allen: ‘Sales are down slightly, but probably not as much as most people would think, given the barrage of anti-meat propaganda’

Meat trends

Meat trends: A brave new world

By Alyson Magee

Despite the challenge posed by the rise in plant-based diets, the meat industry is holding its own and, galvanised into standing its ground in the face of a negative media, has started to take positive action.

Made Smarter supports investment in a range of industrial digital technologies, including data analytics, artificial intelligence and robotics

Food firms win funds to boost digital technology

Food firms win funds to boost digital technology

By Noli Dinkovski

Four food companies are to ramp up their digital capabilities after securing funds from the Made Smarter programme.

Sugar reduction will remain an important topic in 2020

Opinion

Why sugar reduction remains on the agenda

By Judy Buttriss

British Nutrition Foundation director general Judy Buttriss explains why sugar reduction is still a key concern for manufacturers.

VR headsets for cows and sugar reduction are key trends in the dairy industry

Opinion

Dairy trends in 2020: VR headsets for cows and sugar reduction

By Azhar Zouq

As news emerges that Russian cows are being given virtual reality headsets in a bid to boost milk yields, Azhar Zouq, managing director at Lancashire Farm Dairies, looks at the trends set to affect the UK dairy industry and gives his predictions for the...

The project aims to establish the biggest challenges of using plant-based proteins in products

New project to boost plant-based knowledge

By Noli Dinkovski

A two-year research project that aims to help food and drink manufacturers use protein-rich plant-based ingredients more effectively has been launched by Campden BRI.

Food industry leaders already utilise the platform’s monitoring of 100,000-plus web pages to identify documents, articles, commentaries, images and labels that together create a vast database of compliance services

Tech provider launches improved intelligence platform

By Dan Colombini

Technology solutions provider SGS Digicomply has launched its Smart Knowledge Explorer intelligence platform, providing food and drink manufacturers with greater access to regulatory intelligence in over 100 markets.

Does the future of bakery lie in automation, or are we limited to the scope of today's technology?

Bakery processing feature

Batch control: the rise of automation in bakeries

By Paul Gander

Automating bakery can reduce expenditure on energy and labour, but the trickier decorative elements of the bakery process are beyond the robots... at least for now.

Proposals concerning chlorates in food and drinking water are to extend in to 2020

EU chlorates debate to extend into 2020

By Rod Addy

European Commission (EC) proposals concerning chlorates in food and drinking water look set to be debated into 2020, according to chief executive of the Chilled Food Association Kaarin Goodburn.

Regulation on phage usage needs to be examined on a case by case basis, claimed an expert

Clarity urged on phage use

By Rod Addy

A weapon to fight listeria in ready-to-eat foods can keep being sold in the EU under a European Court of Justice Order, but more rulings are needed to support similar solutions, one expert claims.

New oven innovations were on display at Host Milan

Milan plays host to oven innovation

By Ellie Woollven

Host Milan (18–22 October) provided an opportunity for several firms to introduce new cooking and baking equipment and technology.

RFID tags could see a major rollout across the food sector soon, according to PragmatIC

Lower-cost RFID rollout on horizon

By Paul Gander

A future role for lower-cost, item-level tags in areas as diverse as materials recognition for reverse vending, odour detection for in-pack freshness indicators and wider consumer engagement, is being predicted by radio frequency identification (RFID)...

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