A new week is under way, and that means it is time to take a look back at the stories that were at the forefront of the food and beverage manufacturing industry from May 7-13 in this edition of Food Manufacturing: Last Week In Review.
1. Worker Crushed To Death At Utah Pet Food Manufacturing Facility
A Utah man was killed earlier this month while trying to restart a palletizing machine at a pet food manufacturing facility. On Tuesday, May 1, first responders were called to American Nutrition in Ogden, Utah around 3 a.m. for a report of an employee injured on the packing line. The 33-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
2. California Judge Affirms Ruling For Coffee Cancer Warnings
A court ruling that gave coffee drinkers a jolt earlier this year was finalized Monday when a Los Angeles judge said coffee sold in California must carry cancer warnings. Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle said Starbucks Corp. and other roasters and retailers failed to show that benefits from drinking coffee outweighed any risks from a carcinogen that is a byproduct of the roasting process. He had tentatively made the same written decision in March.
3. Judge Slashes $50M Punitive Penalty Against Pork Giant
A federal judge in North Carolina has slashed $50 million in damages that a jury awarded neighbors of an industrial hog operation in order to punish a pork producer for smells and noise so bad that people couldn't enjoy their rural homes.
4. Nestle Takes Over Sales Of Starbucks In Grocery Aisles
Nestle is paying more than $7 billion to buy the rights to sell Starbucks coffee and tea in supermarkets and other stores outside its coffee shops. The deal comes with a huge price tag for Nestle, but it could pay off big for the Swiss company. Its Nescafe and Nespresso don't carry anywhere near the heft in America that the Starbucks brand does, with its $2 billion in annual sales. Nestle will also put Starbucks in grocery stores outside the U.S. and Canada.
5. Texas Company Recalls Nearly 25 Tons Of Smoked Sausage Items
A Texas company has recalled nearly 25 tons of smoked sausage products due to possible contamination with plastic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the recall by Eddy Packing Co. of Yoakum.
6. Romaine Lettuce Outbreak Update: 149 Sick In 29 States
Four more states are reporting illnesses in a food poisoning outbreak linked to romaine lettuce. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its numbers on the outbreak Wednesday, revealing that 149 people in 29 states had gotten sick. It's unclear if new illness are still occurring. There's a lag in reporting, and the most recent illness began two weeks ago.
7. 4 Trends In Food & Beverage Formulation
Recently, there has been a great focus on reformulating or developing new products with healthier ingredients and cleaner labels. Formulators have been challenged to find new ways and ingredients to simplify labels while meeting expectations in term of nutrition, function and taste. Here are some trends that should be embraced to stay relevant with consumers.
8. China Cutting US Soybean Purchases In Face Of Tariffs Threat
With the threat of tariffs and counter-tariffs between Washington and Beijing looming, Chinese buyers are canceling orders for U.S. soybeans, a trend that could deal a blow to American farmers if it continues. At the same time, farmers in China are being encouraged to plant more soy, apparently to help offset any shortfall from the United States.
9. People, Power Costs Keep Indoor Farming Down To Earth
More than 30 high-tech companies from the U.S. to Singapore are hoping to turn indoor farming into a major future food source, if only they can clear a stubborn hurdle: high costs. These companies stack plants inside climate-controlled rooms, parse out nutrients and water, and bathe them with specialized light. It's all so consumers can enjoy tasty vegetables year-round using a fraction of the water and land that traditional farming requires. Farmers can even brag the produce is locally grown.
10. E. Coli Is Making Headlines Again: Can Blockchain Help?
Maybe it’s time for the food industry to start seriously considering a more sophisticated and innovative solution to its tracking and sourcing issues? As hundreds of new blockchain startups begin to promise such a solution, there is seemingly no excuse for growers and regulators alike to adopt this 21st century approach.