US FDA developing post-market assessment process for chemicals in food – Food Packaging Forum

On August 20, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a document outlining a proposed new process for the post-market assessment of chemicals used in food and food contact materials. With the process, the FDA hopes to “identify and target chemicals currently in the food supply for assessment in a structured manner based on risk.” This includes “food additives, color additives, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances, substances used in contact with food, and those chemicals present as unintentional (for example, environmental) contaminants.” 

To be undertaken by the new Human Foods Program (FPF reported), this process would involve first reviewing the available information on food chemicals, performing “triage” to rate the quality of information available, and then decide what needs to be assessed. Assessments will be divided into less intensive “focused assessments” or if needed, a “comprehensive assessment.” 

Focused assessments are meant to take 4-12 months and be done completely internally in the FDA. It would involve a review of newly available information to “determine if substances or ingredients intentionally added to food continue to meet the ‘reasonable certainty of no harm’ standard”. Depending on the outcome, substance(s) may be referred for comprehensive review.  

Comprehensive reviews would involve stakeholder engagement, performing full risk and safety assessments, and considering larger risk management options including regulation. The FDA anticipates that comprehensive reviews may take years to complete.  

The FDA will hold a public meeting to discuss the proposed assessment strategy on September 25, 2024. Public comment on the proposal is due by December 6, 2024.  

 

References 

US FDA (August 20, 2024). “Discussion paper development of an enhanced systematic process for the FDA’s post-market assessment of chemicals in food.”  

US FDA (August 9, 2024). “FDA to Hold Public Meeting on the Development of an Enhanced Systematic Process for FDA’s Post-Market Assessment of Chemicals in Food.”  

Read more 

Keller & Heckman (August 6, 2024). “FDA to Hold Public Meeting on Post-Market Chemical Assessment.” The Daily Intake 

Julia John (August 22, 2024). “US FDA eyes two-tiered revisitation of substances in food supply.” Chemical Watch News & Insight 



Source link

Derry Group Ireland finalist in Road Transport Operator of the Year award

London, UK: Derry Group Ireland has been shortlisted for the title of “Road Transport Operator of the Year” at the Logistics Awards 2024, run by Logistics UK. Derry Group Ireland specialises in the storage, order picking and distribution of chilled and frozen product throughout Ireland with depots in Armagh (NI), Dublin and Cork (Republic of Ireland).

Gist has been shortlisted in the “Decarbonisation Champion of the Year” category while Ceva Logistics and XPO Logistics are finalists in the “Diversity & Inclusion Champion of the Year” category.

Megan Lynch from Ceva Logistics and Zoe Middleton from Kerry Logistics UK have both been shortlisted in the “Rising Star of the Year category”.

David Wells, chief executive of Logistics UK, said: “The entries for our 2024 Logistics Awards demonstrate the excellence and diversity of our sector, with organisations and individuals from across the industry recognised for their high standards and commitment to delivering for customers.

“I know that our board is going to have a very tough challenge in deciding on the eventual winners, and everyone shortlisted should be incredibly proud of their achievement in making it thus far – to do so is testament to their excellence and the work which they deliver for customers. “

The awards will take place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London on December 12.



Source link

J&J Snack Foods benefits from regional distribution centers

https://res.cloudinary.com/dmgi9movl/video/upload/q_1/v1724859799/news/text_to_speech/j-j-snack-foods-regional-distribution-centers-benefits-q2-earnings_icqnbu.wav
This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.

Dive Brief:

  • J&J Snack Foods is “exceeding” expectations and driving productivity improvements from its three new regional distribution centers, CEO Dan Fachner said in a Q2 earnings call.
  • Eighty-five percent of the food maker’s orders are being shipped from the new distribution network, up from 26% a year ago. The company was also able to reduce length of haul — the average transit distance, in miles, from a J&J shipping point to customers’ docks — by 38%, VP of Supply Chain Jay Montgomery said in an email.
  • “The regional distribution model places our RDCs in optimal geographic locations so that we are closer to our customers than ever before,” Montgomery said. “That enables higher fill rates, improved on-time performance and the ability to quickly service them when unexpected needs arise.”

Dive Insight:

J&J Snack Foods is reaping the benefits of recent efforts to simplify its supply chain network. On the Q2 earnings call, Fachner said that investments in manufacturing and distribution capabilities are resulting in improvements across several areas of its supply chain.

Last year, J&J Snack Foods announced it was opening the three self-owned cold storage distribution facilities in Texas, New Jersey and Arizona to cut down shipping from third-party logistics partners.

With these facilities, the company aimed to consolidate all of its stock instead of having it spread out across more than a dozen different buildings, Montgomery told Supply Chain Dive in an interview last year.

Since the announcement, the company has reduced its number of cold storage locations to 10, further driving efficiencies in how it ships products and decreasing transfers across its network by 9%, Fachner said.

The company also improved its on-time delivery versus “must arrive by date” to more than 82%, up from 73% last year, the CEO told analysts. Both metrics are for outsourced trucking, as the company outsources 100% of last-mile freight, according to Montgomery.

“The regional distribution centers are strategically located close to our customers, increasing our agility to service them,” Montgomery said.

J&J Snack Foods has also increased capacity by adding six new production lines that utilize automation in areas like mixing, processing and packaging. The new lines will help in the production of pretzels, pretzel dogs, churros and frozen novelties.

“The expanded capacity has created production efficiencies and higher output metrics through better automation, which improves product margins, decreases over time, and provides the flexibility to respond to new sales opportunities,” Fachner said.

“Most of all, these lines added capacity for our key segments, enabling growth,” he added.



Source link

Sun World launches two new grape brands

Global variety developer Sun World announced two new table grape brands: Epic Crisp and Applause. The products were presented at the firm’s Mid-to Late-Season Table Grape Field Day on August 22 at their Center for Innovation in Wasco, California. 

These new brands enable producers, marketers, and retailers to increase sales by delivering retailers and consumers a high-quality, delicious, and consistent eating experience, the company said in a release.

The Sugrafiftyfour variety, marketed under the Applause brand, is a mid-season green seedless variety that brings “an unexpected twist with its sweet, tropical fruity flavor”. It offers a unique series of limited edition red, green, and black seedless grapes with different shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors.

As for Sugrafiftysix, marketed under the Epic Crisp brand, the green seedless variety will be available during the mid-season. It offers consumers “a serious crunch with every bite, bursting with sweet, juicy goodness”.

More than 250 grower licensees, retailers, and media partners joined Sun World International for their field day. The annual event brought together licensed growers, marketers, importers, retailers, and media partners from around the globe. 

“Sun World’s Field Day was a milestone in the company’s history as we introduced the Epic Crisp and Applause brands. It was a privilege to showcase these brands to over 250 of our partners from around the globe,” said Jen Sanchez, vice president of marketing at Sun World. “We are excited to see these brands grow in prominence in the coming years as production volumes increase worldwide.” 

Sun World shared a behind-the-scenes look at their commercial, semi-commercial, and pipeline grape varieties in commercial vineyards as well as at their test block at the Center for Innovation. 

“It was an honor to be part of the first audience to have exposure to the Epic Crisp and Applause branding at Sun World’s Field Day,” said Mecia Petersen, market development and communications manager at the South Africa Table Grape Industry. “Exciting developments are happening in the table grape space, and we look forward to seeing what’s next.”

The Field Day allowed licensed growers and marketers to see mid-to late-season varieties in a setting similar to what they would see in their vineyards, helping them make more informed decisions on their future plantings. Sun World also brought together ag tech and industry partners who shared their distinctive offerings with attendees.

In addition to exploring innovative varieties, attendees had the opportunity to witness Tortuga’s cutting-edge automated robots harvesting grapes in Sun World’s fields, a first-time experience for many. 

Additionally, Director of Global Marketing Insights at Sun World Elena Hernandez shared the early success of the global Autumncrisp marketing launch and retail partnerships. Hernandez also shared a sneak peek of retail partnerships this fall. 

“We know and love Autumncrisp grapes, and now it’s time for consumers to experience and savor them by name,” said Kyle Hackett, president of Dayka & Hackett. “Sun World’s Autumncrisp grape marketing campaign showcased how strong grower partnerships and a well-executed retail strategy can elevate an exceptional product from vineyard to the forefront of consumer demand.”

Related articles: Sun World CEO on Biogold acquisition: “There’s an appetite for more innovation in the produce section”



Source link

Posted on Author Categories Fruits

Ottawa to limit low-wage temporary foreign workers in Canada



The federal government is moving to restrict the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers in Canada, with the exception of some sectors Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement on Monday in Halifax, where the Liberal cabinet is meeting for a summer retreat.

“We are tightening the rules and restricting eligibility to reduce the number of low-wage, temporary foreign workers in Canada, with exceptions in certain industries like health care, construction and food security,” Trudeau said.

Starting Sept. 26, the government will refuse applications for low-wage temporary foreign workers in regions with an unemployment rate of six percent or higher.

For employers, there will be a cap of 10 percent of employees coming from the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program and a reduction of maximum duration of employment from two years to one, according to the Employment and Social Development Canada. This comes after Quebec announced last week its own limits of low-wage temporary foreign workers — a six-month freeze in Montreal that will take effect next month.

Source: msn.com

Publication date:



Source link

Colorado Specialty Coffee Company Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyDaily Coffee News by Roast Magazine

Stock photo

An influential player in the specialty coffee scene of Colorado Springs, Colorado, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month.

Switchback Coffee Roasters, which was founded in 2010, filed the petition in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court on August 19. As of this writing, both of the coffee company’s cafes, Shooks Run and Hillside, were open for business.

In the bankruptcy petition, Switchback listed estimated liabilities between $500,001 and $1 million, with estimated assets of $50,001-$100,000.

Filing as a small business in search of Subchapter V protections — which can simplify and expedite small business Chapter 11 filings — the company listed the estimated number of creditors as less than 50.

Among the claims listed is a nearly $400,000 Small Business Administration loan secured in 2021, and separate claims from the City of Colorado Springs and the Colorado Department of Revenue for unpaid sales taxes totaling more than $76,000.

DCN’s attempts to reach Switchback Coffee Roasters Owner and President Brandon DelGrosso were not successful.

DelGrosso and a friend founded Switchback Coffee Roasters in a garage in 2010 before growing the business to include multiple cafes and a dedicated production roastery. The company has helped propel the region’s coffee industry over the past decade, with numerous Switchback employees medaling at barista competitions and/or launching their own coffee businesses.

Switchback is the latest in a series of U.S. coffee businesses to seek Chapter 11 protections in recent months. Those businesses include California-based green coffee production company Frinj Coffee, fellow Colorado-based coffee roaster and retailer Ink! Coffee and South Dakota-based specialty purveyor Cottonwood Coffee. In December 2023, green coffee trader Mercon Coffee Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Mercon Specialty business was subsequently acquired by StoneX.

Comments? Questions? News to share? Contact DCN’s editors here. 



Source link

Telemar to support Italy’s GNV safety and navigation systems

Telemar, a provider of smart maintenance and remote access technologies, has secured a contract with GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci) to deliver safety maintenance services for its expanding fleet.

Under this agreement, Telemar will oversee the management and maintenance of GMDSS and navigation safety systems on GNV’s new vessels: GNV Polaris, GNV Orion, and GNV Virgo, which are being built at the CSSC shipyard in Guangzhou, China.

The contract will streamline the servicing of essential bridge navigation equipment by consolidating it under a single provider. This will save time and labour while reducing the risk of non-compliance, as services will be scheduled rather than performed on an ad hoc basis.

Established in 1992 and part of the MSC Group, GNV is a global player in coastal navigation and passenger transport, operating 25 ships across 31 routes in seven countries, including Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, France, Albania, Tunisia, Morocco, and Malta.

Telemar, specializing in smart maintenance and bridge electronics management, offers proactive remote and on-site support. Their services aim to minimize downtime and boost vessel efficiency with a higher rate of first-time fixes.

By optimizing asset lifecycles through collected data, Telemar enhances troubleshooting processes and repairs. This efficiency allows for more remote fixes and better service during field engineer visits to customer vessels.

“Telemar is grateful to GNV for the trust they have shown in the expertise of our people and our ability to manage these critical safety systems on their behalf. These companies have a deserved reputation for quality and quality of care for people and cargo and we are focussed on upholding that reputation,” stated Mike Bauwens, CEO of Telemar.




Source link

Proper Ventilation Is Vital for Pig Health and Productivity – Swineweb.com

Inadequate ventilation presents many challenges for hog producers, including heightened risks of animal distress, respiratory diseases and reduced productivity. Heat stress is also a significant concern, costing the swine industry approximately $900 million annually1. When pigs experience heat stress, it negatively impacts their health and efficiency. Healthy, non-stressed pigs grow faster, are less prone to illness, and contribute more to the operation’s bottom line.

“When pigs are stressed, it can have a variety of negative impacts on their health, behavior and productivity,” said Mark Oberreuter, PE, System Design Engineer and Tech Team Manager at Automated Production (AP). “The pig that is the most comfortable will be the most productive. So anything a producer can do to regulate the barn environment will help improve the pig’s health and optimize productivity.”

Understanding the Impact of Inadequate Ventilation

Proper ventilation is more than just airflow. Ensuring your ventilation system functions properly is critical for maintaining a stable barn environment. Adequate ventilation removes excess heat, gases and moisture that accumulates within the barn, promoting the overall health and well-being of the animals and the efficiency of operations.

Inadequate ventilation causes many issues for producers, including:

  • Poor air quality
  • Heat stress
  • Increased respiratory illnesses
  • Heightened disease risk
  • Animal discomfort and aggression
  • Reduced efficiency and growth
  • Decreased profitability potential

“Raising pigs efficiently involves optimizing inputs, minimizing costs and maximizing performance while ensuring the pigs grow and thrive,” said Oberreuter. “Achieving ideal airflow is crucial for creating the best environment for pigs from a young age. This means maintaining the right temperatures, ensuring adequate oxygen levels and avoiding drafts. Precision in air exchange is essential. As the temperature in the barn changes, it’s vital to have equipment like AP’s Commander Fan that can adjust ventilation to meet the pigs’ needs.”

Optimize Your Barn’s Ventilation System

Does your barn air ventilation system need to be optimized? AP offers comprehensive solutions. Whether you need a new ventilation system designed, an existing one updated or an audit of your current system, AP’s experts can help ensure your barn’s ventilation is in top shape.

For more detailed information on the Commander Fan and how it can benefit your swine production operation or to find a dealer, visit AP’s Commander Series Fans.

1 University of Minnesota Extension: https://extension.umn.edu/swine-production-management/heat-stress-swine-affects-production#effects-on-grow-finish-stage-of-production%C2%A0-255312

 



Source link

Posted on Author Categories Meat

Govt confirms favourable change to egg marketing regulations

Egg producers and packers will no longer need to change how eggs are labelled during an outbreak of avian influenza under measures announced by the Government.

Currently, when mandatory housing measures are introduced to protect birds from the spread of disease, eggs from free-range birds can only continue to be labelled as ‘free-range’ for 16 weeks after the housing order has come into effect – the existing ‘derogation’ period under the Egg Marketing Standards Regulations.

See also: 10 reasons to attend Poultry Network Live 2024 on 5 September

After that period, these eggs must then be labelled as barn eggs.

In both 2021-22 and 2022-3, the 16-week derogation period was exceeded by six and seven weeks, respectively, which led to significant costs for the poultry sector as egg packaging had to be changed to comply with legislation.

The amends to existing legislation, introduced through a Statutory Instrument later this year, will mean that free-range eggs can continue to be labelled as such throughout mandatory housing measures.

Defra said that the move would “cut unnecessary red tape and costs for British producers while strengthening the supply chain and maintaining consumer confidence”.

Daniel Zeichner, minister for food security and rural affairs said:
We understand the pressures facing the egg-producing sector and the crippling impact that avian influenza outbreaks can have on their businesses.

“Removing the need to change labels on eggs and packaging will help them keep costs down and remain competitive.

“This Government will restore stability and confidence in the sector introducing a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen food security alongside nature’s recovery.”

The UK has self-declared freedom from HPAI for Great Britain with effect from 29 March 2024.

There are currently no outbreaks of HPAI in poultry or other captive birds in the UK. However, HN51 continues to be found in wild birds in Great Britain and across Europe, but keepers should remain vigilant and practice stringent biosecurity to protect the health and welfare of their birds.

Most respondents supported the proposal to remove this derogation period for England and Scotland in an eight-week consultation undertaken earlier this year.



Source link

Posted on Author Categories Poultry
Exit mobile version