The Lead

$100K Reward Offered In Beef Plant Arson Attack

February 22, 2012 1:00 pm | News | Comments

Fresno County authorities are offering $100,000 for information leading to an arrest in last month's arson attack on California's biggest beef processor.

View Sample

FREE Email Newsletter

Today in Food Manufacturing

Daily news and top headlines for food manufacturing professionals

X-Ray Inspection System

February 21, 2012 4:12 pm | Products | Comments

The PowerChek x-ray system  identifies objects that are a different density than the product it is inspecting.

More Schools Serve Three Meals A Day

February 21, 2012 1:08 pm | by HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH,Associated Press | News | Comments

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in December 2010, provides federal funds for the after-school dinner program in areas where at least half the students qualify for free or reduced price lunches. Before the change, the program was limited to 13 states and the District of Columbia. Most states had provided money for only after-school snacks.

Indiana City Looks To Use Food Waste To Get Methane

February 21, 2012 1:06 pm | News | Comments

Valparaiso is looking at using food waste to increase the amount of methane now generated at its sewage treatment facility, a move that would cut the plant's utility bills.

ADVERTISEMENT

How We Process Processed Food

February 21, 2012 1:00 pm | Videos | Comments

Artist Stefani Bardin, TEDxManhattan 2011 Fellow, shows us her latest project — using a "smartpill" to reveal how we digest differently processed foods.

Consumer Trends: More Employees Lunching At Home

February 21, 2012 12:45 pm | News | Comments

Spurred by the lingering effects of the recession, consumers are cutting back on away-from-home lunch purchases.  More than a third of respondents (37 percent) say they've cut back on foodservice spending at lunch over the past year, and 31 percent say they are eating lunch at home more often.

N.Y. Bans Shellfishing In Long Island Area

February 21, 2012 10:15 am | News | Comments

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation is closing a shellfishing harvesting area on Long Island for seven months. The closure, beginning Saturday, affects about 7,100 acres of Hempstead Bay, west of the Wantagh.

Pilgrim's Pride Posts 4Q Loss

February 21, 2012 10:13 am | News | Comments

Like other poultry producers, Pilgrim's Pride has been squeezed between rising costs and flat demand for poultry. The company has cut costs, and on Friday said that 2011 was a "transformational" year in its efforts to build a leaner operation.

Dry Midwestern Winter Could Mean Summer Drought

February 21, 2012 10:02 am | by STEVE KARNOWSKI,Associated Press | News | Comments

A relatively snow-free winter in the Upper Midwest has some officials worried about damage to agriculture if the dry weather persists into spring planting. Minnesota's agriculture and commerce commissioners, Dave Frederickson and Mike Rothman, signaled their concern when they advised farmers Thursday to buy crop insurance before next month's deadline. Most of Minnesota is in the earliest stage of drought, and parts of Iowa and the Dakotas also are abnormally dry or worse.  

Judge Won't Halt Anti-Whaling Group's Activities

February 17, 2012 12:47 pm | News | Comments

Judge Richard Jones said he would issue a written ruling later, but that he's inclined to deny a request for a preliminary injunction made by Japanese whalers against the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

European-Moroccan Pact Loosens Food Trade

February 17, 2012 12:45 pm | News | Comments

The European Parliament approved on Thursday a new fishing and farming accord with Morocco designed to reduce customs costs and boost trade across the Mediterranean.

Consumer Trends: Using Technology To Improve Food Shopping Experience

February 17, 2012 12:37 pm | News | Comments

The Department of Food Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University will host the sixth annual Food Industry Summit on Thursday, March 8 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. A venue for food industry CEOs, presidents and executives to present their insights on major issues and trends, this year’s event will focus on how companies can best use technology to improve their customers' shopping experience.

Fat Analysis System

February 17, 2012 12:02 pm | Products | Comments

The EAGLE™ FA 720 PRO provides a non-invasive and highly accurate inline method of fat analysis with 100% inspection. Based on dual energy x-ray absoptiometry (DEXA) technology, the system accurately produces chemical lean (CL) values within ±1 CL.

Butterball Employees Arrested For Animal Cruelty

February 17, 2012 10:07 am | News | Comments

Hidden-camera video secretly shot at a North Carolina Butterball factory farm by an undercover investigator with the animal protection organization Mercy For Animals (MFA) has led to felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges of five Butterball employees by state authorities.

Consumer Trends: Organic Food Sales Hit Record In 2011

February 16, 2012 12:35 pm | News | Comments

For the first time in four years since undertaking its Annual Organic Product Survey, TABS Group found a significant increase in American consumers reporting they purchased organic products and a jump in overall sales.  Specifically, the percentage of all consumers stating they purchased organics rose from 39.8 percent in January 2011 to 41.8 percent in January 2012, a 5 percent increase, according to Dr. Kurt Jetta, TABS Group CEO.

2011 Beef And Pork Prices Hit Record Highs

February 16, 2012 10:15 am | News | Comments

A government report says U.S. beef and pork exports hit record highs last year because of stronger demand, particularly in Asian countries.

U.S. And EU Sign Organic Food Agreement

February 15, 2012 1:06 pm | News | Comments

American and EU officials say they've signed an agreement that will allow products certified as organic in Europe or the U.S. to be sold as organic in both regions.

Delay Of $650M Agro-Defense Lab A 'Huge Food Safety Issue'

February 15, 2012 1:00 pm | by JOHN MILBURN,Associated Press | News | Comments

The $650 million lab is to be built near Kansas State University and replace an aging facility at Plum Island, N.Y. Kansas officials said Tuesday they're uncertain when the administration changed its mind on the project, but they will be seeking answers.

Analyst Sees Solid Year For Food Makers

February 15, 2012 12:53 pm | News | Comments

Morgan Stanley analyst Matthew Grangier sees a solid year ahead for food makers. As he initiated coverage of the industry with a research note Tuesday, he noted that food makers and sellers typically benefit during a weak economy because consumers still need to eat — and they tend to do so at home more often.

Particle Size Analyzer

February 15, 2012 12:23 pm | Products | Comments

The Mastersizer 3000 supports improved productivity through fast, fully automated measurement and cleaning, combined with instrument and data analysis software that streamlines every aspect of the instrument's use. In-built intelligence supports each measurement, from the outset through a successful conclusion.

Spiral Freezer

February 15, 2012 11:52 am | Products | Comments

The Maxi-Stack™ is a spiral freezer with Q-belt™ self-stacking conveyor system.

Corn Products International To Change Name

February 15, 2012 10:14 am | News | Comments

Food ingredient maker Corn Products International Inc. plans to change its name to Ingredion as part of a strategy to present itself as a maker of several ingredients for the food, beverage and brewing industries.

Florida Only State With Official Chef

February 15, 2012 10:08 am | by TAMARA LUSH,Associated Press | News | Comments

Justin Timineri is part culinary ambassador, part farm expert and part cheerleader for Florida-grown food. Technically, he's a state employee working for the Florida Department of Agriculture — and he's the only full-time state chef in the nation.

Photo Of The Day: Florida's Official Chef

February 15, 2012 9:52 am | News | Comments

Justin Timineri, Florida's State chef, grills Star Melon Shrimp Kebabs at a tailgating party before the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Timineri travel through Florida showing people how to use the state’s produce and seafood in recipes.

Mexican-American Youth Add Pounds, Lose Native Dining Habits

February 14, 2012 1:03 pm | News | Comments

A University of South Carolina study shows that Mexican-American youth gain pounds as they move away from the dietary habits of their native country, a move that is putting them at risk for serious health problems.

FDA Requests $4.5 Billion To Support Food Safety & Public Health

February 14, 2012 12:59 pm | News | Comments

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requesting a budget of $4.5 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget – a 17 percent increase over the FDA enacted budget for FY 2012. Industry user fees would fund 98 percent of the proposed budget increase. The FY 2013 request covers the period from Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept 30, 2013.

Pages