< PreviousnewsCold Chain Monitoring – Now easier than ever! Labfacility are UK distributors of the Verigo Cold Chain range of Data Loggers for monitoring temperature, humidity and food storage quality - Introducing the new Pod Range. Cold Chain Monitoring - Easier than ever. Save time, ensure quality, and increase visibility of your temperature-controlled logistics operations. No wires or WiFi required. The Pod environmental data logger records and wirelessly transmits temperature data and excursion alerts to your smartphones and tablets; no cables or readers required! Simply download the Verigo app for Android™ or iOS™ to your smart device and start using your Pod. • Accuracy+/- 0.5°C • Resolution0.01°C • Logging Interval1 min to 18 hours (user configurable) • Min/Max. Temperature-25°C to +60°C • Standards MetIP65Grote Company exhibiting best-in-class meat slicers at IFFA Grote Company, manufacturer of precision food slicers and “slice & apply” technology, will be showcasing its equipment at IFFA Frankfurt. “Our best-in-class slicers are custom-fit for bacon, deli, cordon bleu, jerky, Berner Würstel and other processed food types,” says CEO Bob Grote. “We continuously work with our customers to ensure they receive accurate and consistent slices, yield and machine performance from their Grote slicers.” The slicers on display will include Modular and Slicer Applicator models, both of which offer a cantilevered design ideal for slicing and applying product onto continuous dough lines, oven belts and moving targets such as meat patties, sandwiches and pizza. Grote’s 613 model is a versatile slicer to tackle a variety of slicing applications, including bulk slicing, stacking and shingling into portions. A user-friendly keypad makes it easy to control and operate, while the machine’s streamlined and mobile design makes it easy to clean and move on location.To advertise your services on the news pages contact us on 01472 31030210 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.net04-13.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 14:22 Page 7Food & Drink International 11www.fdiforum.netFinnebrogue boosting nitrite-free bacon production Finnebrogue has invested £17 million to build a new nitrite-free bacon facility in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. The facility aims to boost the output of the company’s Naked Bacon range which hit British shelves last year. Although nitrites are added to bacon for visual, textural and preservation reasons, they are classed as carcinogens by the World Health Organisation. In order to replace nitrites without compromising taste, texture or longevity, Finnebrogue worked with Spanish chemist Prosur to develop the flavouring process. Denis Lynn, Chairman of Finnebrogue Artisan, said that “after much research, we discovered a process that uses fruit and spice extracts to flavour the pork, keep it pink and retain shelf life. We are using this technology in our Naked Bacon and we’ve had a great response from both retailers and consumers.” The company secured more than £1.3 million of support towards the total cost of the facility from Invest NI.European standard launched for food fraud A European standard defining the terms and concepts used in connection with food fraud has been launched by food experts and the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (Nofima). The standard – called ‘Authenticity and fraud in the feed and food chain – concepts, terms, and definitions’ – was published by Standard Norway and is also being distributed by several other National Standardisation Bodies in Europe. Petter Olsen, a senior scientist at Nofima, coordinated the standardisation efforts as part of the EU-funded projects Authent-Net and FoodIntegrity. He asserts that there was a great need for a common standard that defines, categorises and clearly separates the different concepts. “Terms relating to food fraud are often used interchangeably even though they mean entirely different things. This can lead to confusion and misunderstanding, especially across borders,” he said. “It is clear that this standard will be significant, especially when it comes to research and legislation.”Xylem’s Jabsco brand enhances iconic Hy-line rotary lobe pump Xylem’s Jabsco brand has launched an update to its iconic Hy-line series of hygienic rotary lobe pumps; an enhanced redesign based on 11 years of research and development. The newly improved Hy-Iine Plus pump is the first update to the series since 2007 and features enhanced stability when in operation, a tri-lobe rotor design, ideal for high viscosity liquids, as well as the brand’s much-loved front-loaded mechanical seal system. Unlike most rotary lobe pumps on the market, Jabsco Hy-line pumps including the new Hy-line Plus, boast a front-loaded mechanical seal system. This delivers significant time and cost savings if maintenance on the pump is required; changing a seal on a front-loaded pump can be completed within 15 minutes. Peter Wright, Director, Engineering and Product Management at Xylem Specialty Flow Control, said: “It’s not easy to better an icon but we’ve done it! The Hy-line Plus features a more stable operating design as well as a tri-lobe rotor option.” Europe ‘must set binding limits’ to tackle acrylamide Regulators in Europe should do more to help protect consumers from the presence of acrylamide in their food, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) says. The organisation is calling on the European Commission to lower the current indicative benchmarks for the carcinogenic acrylamide and make them binding on food producers. The calls follow a Europe-wide test exploring the presence of acrylamide in foods. “This EU-wide test proves that it is possible to produce crisps, chips or cereals with low acrylamide content,” said Monique Goyens, Director General of BEUC. “But as long as the measures are voluntary, some manufacturers will not take the issue seriously and consumers might still be exposed to high acrylamide levels. “To oblige food makers to pay more attention to this contaminant, the EU Commission must set binding limits, as we have repeatedly called for.”Formal agreement to regulate cell-cultured food products in US The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have reached a formal agreement to regulate cell-cultured food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry. The agreement describes the oversight roles and responsibilities for both agencies and how the agencies will collaborate to regulate the development and entry of these products into commerce. This shared regulatory approach will ensure that cell-cultured products derived from the cell lines of livestock and poultry are produced safely and are accurately labelled. Under the formal agreement, the agencies agree upon a joint regulatory framework wherein FDA oversees cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation. A transition from FDA to Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) oversight will occur during the cell harvest stage. FSIS will oversee the production and labelling of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry.on line© Shutterstock/Africa Studio© Finnebrogue© Shutterstock/Aleksandar Mijatovic© Shutterstock/M. Unal Ozmen04-13.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 14:22 Page 812 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netSouthover Food Company targets retail sector with premium meat range Southover Food Company has launched a range of new premium cooked meats; its first product range created specifically for retail customers. The company has served wholesale and manufacturing businesses for decades and is now targeting the retail sector. The new Southover Sussex Cured range is traditionally butchered and made using local ingredients. It’s made up of five flavours: New-York Style Pastrami; Honeyroast Farmhouse Ham; Farmhouse Plain Ham; Cooked Topside of Beef and Cooked Back Bacon. The range is designed to appeal to middle and high-end retailers with cardboard sleeves and new branding. “It is rewarding that after so long in the business we are still challenging the team, producing new products and pushing ourselves to do better,” said MD Steve Pearce.Heinz adds Mayocue & Mayomust to condiments line Heinz has expanded its range of condiments with the launch of Mayocue, mixing mayonnaise and barbeque sauce, and Mayomust, a mixture of mayonnaise and mustard. This follows last year’s launch of Mayochup, which brought together mayonnaise and ketchup in one product. “Sauce lovers nationwide have been mixing different condiments to create flavour combinations that will take their favourite foods to the next level for years,” said Nicole Kulwicki, Director of Marketing for the Heinz brand. “First with Mayochup sauce and now with Mayocue and Mayomust sauces, we’re taking out the guesswork to give our fans the perfect condiment blends from the start.” The two new condiments have launched in the US, while a UK rollout is planned for Mayochup.Plant Pops crowned ‘Best Snacking Innovation’ Plant Pops, the popped lotus seed company, won ‘Best Snacking Innovation’ at the World Food Innovation Awards 2019 in March. Having officially launched the Plant Pops range at the International Food Event earlier in the month, this exciting new brand succeeded 2018 winners Hippeas to win the ‘Best Snacking Innovation’ at the World Food Innovation Awards 2019. Plant Pops launched with three delicious flavours of popped lotus seeds: Himalayan Salt, Smoked Chilli and Peanut Butter. Popped lotus seeds are a naturally gluten-free and healthy snacking option that have a similar crunch and texture of large popcorn pieces, but without the pain of getting kernels lodged between teeth. They are sustainably grown and harvested. Anushi Desai, co-founder of Plant Pops, said: “We are delighted to have won this award, we officially launched our product on Sunday, so it’s incredibly humbling for us to be recognised so early in our journey.” Each flavour comes in at less than 100 calories a bag. Fanta launches Wild Cherry flavour The Coca-Cola Company has added a new flavour to its Fanta range a year after the launch of Fanta Green Apple. According to the company, the new Wild Cherry flavour offers a “distinctly tart yet sweet profile”. “Cherry is one of our best-selling flavours across the Coca-Cola family of products and a natural fit within our Fanta line-up,” said Debra Origel, Associate Brand Manager, Fanta. “When it came time to launch a new flavour, we knew it had to be Wild Cherry based on the overwhelmingly positive response we received.” As part of the company’s commitment to reducing sugar, Fanta Wild Cherry contains less than 11g of sugar per 100ml which Coca-Cola said is “less sugar than other current recipes”. The new flavour launches in the US southeast, southwest and mid-west.Nestlé launches first organic Nescafé product in UK Nestlé has launched the first organic version of its premium Nescafé brand in the UK. Made using 100% organic Arabica beans, Nescafé Gold Organic launches in Sainsbury’s stores this month. “This is our first organic offering from Nescafé,” said Neil Stephens, who heads up Nescafé in the UK and Ireland. “Demand for organic products continues to grow in Britain and remains a big factor for many consumers, particularly those interested in the environmental benefits of going organic.” Nescafé Gold Organic displays the European organic logo, making it easy for customers to see it has passed the rigorous and strict rules covering its organic production.on the shelf© Heinz04-13.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 14:22 Page 9appointmentsTech industry veteran joins Impossible Foods Plant-based pioneers Impossible Foods have appointed tech industry veteran Dennis Woodside in the newly created role of President. Woodside most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Dropbox, where he was responsible for all customer-facing functions and revenue generation. Before that, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Motorola Mobility, a $10 billion mobile device company, after its acquisition by Google. He worked at Google from 2003-2012, overseeing more than $10 billion in sales in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, among other leadership roles. In his new role, Woodside will oversee Impossible Foods’ operations, manufacturing, supply chain, sales, marketing, HR and other functions. “I love what Impossible Foods is doing: using science and technology to deliver delicious and nutritious foods that people love, in an environmentally sustainable way,” Woodside said. Loma appoints new UK Sales and Strategic Accounts Director Loma Systems has appointed Paul Johnson as its new UK Sales and Strategic Accounts Director. Mr Johnson, who will head up Loma’s established UK sales team, brings some 20 years’ sales management experience to the Farnborough-based business. Prior to joining Loma, he spent 12 years at Domino, a global supplier of printing and coding solutions to the food and pharmaceutical industries, progressing to National Sales Manager. Earlier roles include UK Sales Manager at CSi UK and Regional Sales Manager (EMEA) at Cerulean. “A major part of my role will be to develop Loma’s relationship with our key customers and industry partners as well as forging new business growth,” said Mr Johnson. “In addition, I will be working closely with leading retailers to ensure our equipment meets the latest industry challenges.” He added: “This is a great time to be joining the business and I am looking forward to working with Loma’s talented team.” Don’t forget you can now read Food & Drink International Digital Editions now available on iPad & iPhone www.fdiforum.netIdeal for those who spend time away from the officeon the go!Food & Drink International 13www.fdiforum.netDennis Woodside© Impossible FoodsTo advertise your services on the news pages contact us on 01472 310302Paul Johnson04-13.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 14:22 Page 1014 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORT Meeting demand With the aim of meeting growing domestic demand for red meat, Japan is casting a wider net for food exports, forging new trade deals and revisiting old trading ties. © Shutterstock/ Sean Pavone14-17.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 09:46 Page 1Food & Drink International 15www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTThis year, Japan opened its market to beef and lamb exports from the UK. Signed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a visit to Britain, the deal sees Japan lift its twenty-year ban on the exports of UK beef and lamb imposed during the BSE crisis. Motivated by the need to meet growing consumer demand for red meat, the deal followed long negotiations between UK and Japanese officials. The apotheosis of which came in 2018 with the inspection of beef and lamb production systems here in the UK. This was a critical step in securing the trade deal as Japan is famous for its stringent food safety and import controls regime. As the time, the UK government said that the deal will send “positive signals” to other countries, reiterating the safety of UK exports. For Japan, however, it’s all about ensuring demand is met. The consumption of beef has been rising for years now though it’s a meat more widely consumed out of the home. In 2016, for example, beef eaten at restaurants and bars accounted for seventy per cent of all beef consumption. Although lamb isn’t a meat typically associated with Japan, consumption has been growing steadily over the past three years. In major cities across the country, restaurants have recently opened specialising in the ‘Jingisukan’ grilled lamb or mutton dishes. Sheep farming in Japan began in the Meiji Era (1868 – 1912) with the advent of westernisation and the government actively promoting a western lifestyle to its populace. Part of this policy included the endorsement of stock farming. As wool was an important commodity for military uniforms, the government put official stock raising plans in place for sheep, and after World War II there were as many as one million sheep in Japan. However, during the country’s economic growth – the so-called “economic miracle” from post-WWII to the end of the Cold War – Japan was able to import high-quality wool at a low price, rendering its domestic sheep farming redundant. Excess sheep were consumed for meat and, at present, there are around twenty thousand sheep farmed in 16 Á© Shutterstock/ HikoPhotography14-17.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 09:46 Page 216 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORTJapan. Compare this to the 9.80 million sheep in Wales and it’s clear that, in order to meet demand, Japan is dependent on imports. Although the consumption of lamb is rising and beef will always play an important culinary role in Japan, there’s no denying the nation’s appetite for pork. With 2.5 million tonnes of pork eaten each year in Japan, it remains the country’s most popular meat. However, it only produces half of the pig meat it consumes annually, meaning its dependent on exports to make up the deficit. Despite being an important market for pig meat producers, Duncan Wyatt, lead analyst for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) Pork division, says, “The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) is not forecasting growth in demand, so any increase in EU exports would need to be won by taking market share from others.” To that end, the European Union signed a deal with Japan in February enabling its members to benefit from lower duties on some pork products – including frozen pork and ground seasoned pork – beginning April 2019. “The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership also improves access conditions for Canada and Mexico, so competition for a share of the Japanese market will continue,” Wyatt adds. “However, the US, which supplied thirty five per cent of Japan’s pig meat imports last year, does not as yet have a free trade agreement in place, although negotiations have been announced.” Despite the successes Japan has been having recently, the country is still haunted by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Eight years after the event – which saw the meltdown of the Daiichi Nuclear Plant in Okuma due to a tsunami after the Tohoku earthquake – twenty-four countries and regions still limit agriculture and food exports. Tests have shown products from the area and surrounding regions to be safe, but exports are still hindered by the spectre of the past and by lingering misconceptions keeping restrictions in place. 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 09:46 Page 3Food & Drink International 17www.fdiforum.netIMPORT AND EXPORT© Shutterstock/ f11photoBumble Bee Foods tracing fresh fish using blockchain Bumble Bee Foods, the largest branded shelf-stable seafood company in North America, is using Blockchain to track fresh fish from the ocean to table. With SAP’s blockchain technology, consumers and customers will be able to easily access the complete origin and history of Bumble Bee Foods’ Natural Blue by Anova yellowfin tuna by using their smartphones to scan a QR code on the product package. The technology provides instant information about the fish-to-market journey, including the size of the catch, point of capture and the fishing community that caught it, as well as valuable insights to verify authenticity, freshness, safety, fair trade fishing certification and sustainability. “With SAP, we have the ability to track fish the moment it’s caught and as it travels around the world, telling the story of each tuna while positively impacting ecosystems and the lives of the people all the way down the line,” said Bumble Bee Foods Chief Information Officer Tony Costa.The strictest restrictions remain in place in eight countries and regions including China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States. Of all these, China is the strictest, prohibiting imports of all agriculture and food products from Fukushima and nine other prefectures. But others are relaxing their bans, including Hong Kong which has partially lifted its ban on food imports from four of Japan’s prefectures. It remains to be seen whether Japan can ever completely recover from the nuclear disaster and win back lost allies, but the county has not been quiet on the trade front, securing deals with new allies and reappraising old relationships. © Shutterstock/ dencg© Shutterstock/ Elena ElisseevaIndonesia export deal a boon for Australian growers A new trade deal with Indonesia has been hailed as a boon for Australia’s vegetable and potato growers. The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) will help Australian vegetable growers looking to export into this growing market. The IA-CEPA will create the framework for a new era of closer economic engagement between Australia and Indonesia, which should improve two-way trade between the two countries and provide opportunities for Australia’s fresh vegetable exporters. In the 2017/18 financial year, Australian vegetable exports to Indonesia were valued at $3.7 million, with the top commodity being potatoes, which accounts for nearly half of this total. “Given Indonesia is predicted to have the world’s fifth largest economy by 2030, the IA-CEPA will help ensure that Australia, and its horticulture producers, will be able to benefit from the country’s expected economic growth,” said James Whiteside, CEO of industry body AUSVEG. 14-17.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 09:46 Page 418 Food & Drink Internationalwww.fdiforum.netEND OF LINE PACKAGINGIt’s absolutely vital product security is the top priority and items can be transported quickly and efficiently, and the latest cases, containers and boxes are ensuring these high standards can be met. Yet it’s also doing this while meeting the growing requirement for energy efficiency in the supply chain. It is not enough nowadays for a product to simply be protected by its end of line packaging. For the investment that has been put into it, the packaging must make the process more efficient and – if possible – cheaper. This can be a daunting task at first glance. How can a process which is not only going to cost money, but also significant investment in machinery – make the product cost less? The answer is simple and complex at the same time. Simply installing shrink-wrapping machinery or palletising processes will do little if there isn’t a bigger strategy behind it, as any within the industry might say. There has to be a view on everything that comes after the point, and what tangible benefit the packaging offers. Take for example the transportation process itself. It is still more common than not for food products to be transported by road by lorry. In these cases the biggest investment often comes from fuel, with the item that a company is buying essentially being the empty space in the back of the vehicle. The problem comes from the fact that in many cases, all of this space cannot be utilised. The weight of products will push down on those stacked beneath them, often damaging products beyond what can be sold in a retailer. Obviously, this is unacceptable, and thus it is not uncommon for space to go unused in the back of a vehicle. This is empty space that has been paid for. Strong and rigid end of line packaging can help prevent this, strengthening and protecting the product so that more of it can be stacked without damage. This can be a delicate task, least of all because stronger material will undoubtedly be more expensive. There is a necessity to judge and test on how much is saved by filling lorries further than they were before, and whether this takes a significant number of vehicles off the road. In many cases this will depend on the product itself and how fragile it is. Products more prone to breakage will benefit more from the stronger packaging. This is particularly prevalent in the food and drink industry due to how fragile many foodstuffs are, from biscuits to crisps, ready-meals to cakes. Stronger end of line packaging can protect them during transit, while also diffusing the weight of additional boxes down supporting frames. If twice as much content can be placed into a single vehicle, then in theory it should allow for a 50% saving on transport costs (or at least fuel). This balancing act must be taken The end packageEnd of line packaging is integral for transportation, display and safety – but how is the market developing?18-23.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 10:46 Page 1Food & Drink International 19www.fdiforum.netEND OF LINE PACKAGINGYPS launch new Stretch Wrapping solutions in 2019 Yorkshire Packaging Systems, the leading supplier of shrink-wrapping solutions in the UK, are delighted to announce that they can now offer stretch wrapping machinery and stretch wrap film. Available in both semi-automatic and fully automatic specifications, YPS stretch wrap machines are designed to handle any pallet width. Features include intuitive touch screen systems for absolute control, water-proof wrapping cycles, film carriage safety stops and pallet height recognition sensors. Both models have a superior build quality compared to competitor equipment and comply with industry regulations for pallet load security, despite their capacity to handle stretch up to 300% which reduces the amounts of film required. The BRC-approved and British-manufactured stretch films offer the utmost protection for transit of goods. Available in a range of widths, microns and stretch ratios, these films promise the highest of quality. YPS stretch film offers the opportunity to downgauge in thickness without compromising on strength, equating to a 20% saving in cost and volumes of plastic year on year. For more information please visit www.yps.co.uk further, however, and it’s always important to keep the end user in mind. While saving money on fuel – and thus environmentally as well – might sound nice, the enthusiasm will rarely reach the workers in the warehouses of supermarkets, who will not appreciate packaging that is difficult to get into. Rigid and unyielding end of line packaging that might have been good for protecting the product from strain, will not always be the easiest to break apart for the shelves. Unless it is specifically designed to be © Shutterstock/Robert Kneschke20 Á18-23.qxp_Layout 1 26/03/2019 10:46 Page 2Next >