Stay on top of the biggest stories in the news and find out what was trending by taking a look at the most-viewed content that appeared last week on Food Manufacturing.
1: BE MINE: Maker Of Candy Hearts, Necco Wafers Sold At Auction
The bankrupt 171-year-old candy maker known for its chalky Necco Wafers and those little inscribed hearts that are everywhere on Valentine's Day got a sweet message from a rival Wednesday: BE MINE. Ohio-based Spangler Candy Co. had the winning $18.83 million bid for the New England Confectionery Co., or Necco, at a federal bankruptcy auction in Boston.
2: FDA Didn't Warn About Rat-Meat Chicken Wings
There's been no seizure of hundreds of thousands of pounds of rat meat by U.S. officials, nor has the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers that such meat may be for sale as "boneless" chicken wings. Those were claims in a story shared on social media, but the FDA said the story is false.
3: Brewery Told To Stop Making Beer With Hemp-Derived Extract
U.S. officials have ordered a San Francisco brewery to stop producing a specialty beer containing cannabidiol, the hemp-derived extract known as CBD, because it lacks the proper permitting. The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is allowing Black Hammer Brewing to sell the rest of the CBD beer it has already brewed, including an IPA called Toke Back Mountain that was introduced in 2017 in honor of the 4/20 marijuana holiday.
4: Missouri Lawmakers Approve Measure Regulating Fake Meat
Missouri lawmakers have approved legislation that bans companies from labeling lab-grown meat products or meat substitutes as meat. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the provision approved Thursday states that a product cannot be marketed as meat if it isn't derived from an animal with two or four feet. It's part of a package of changes to state agriculture and conservation laws on its way to the governor's desk. The legislation is backed by the state's pork producers, the Missouri Farm Bureau and the Missouri Cattlemen's Association.
5: Improving Product Flow In Your Food Manufacturing Facility
Improper product flow can be detrimental to your food plant’s operations in more ways than one. These inefficiencies can cost money, waste time, jeopardize food quality and introduce safety hazards on the production floor.
6: Has The Time Come To Upgrade Your ERP System?
An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is an integral part of complex manufacturing organizations. It is the system of record and oftentimes the single source of truth. Most organizations implement an ERP to improve business performance, ensure regulatory compliance and improve employee productivity. As with any critical system, an ERP needs regular check-ups and upgrades to maintain peak efficiency.
7. Keurig Green Mountain Creating 500 Jobs In South Carolina With New Roasting And Packaging Facility
Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., a leader in specialty coffee and innovative single-serve brewing systems, announced plans to construct a new, state-of-the-art roasting and packaging facility in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The company is projected to bring $350 million of capital investment and create 500 new jobs.
8: Crowd Cow Announces $8 Million In Series A Funding
Crowd Cow, the company transforming the meat industry and delivering small-batch craft meats to your door, announced an $8 million Series A financing round led by Madrona Venture Group with new participation from Ashton Kutcher & Guy Oseary's Sound Ventures and existing investors including Joe Montana of Liquid 2 Ventures. The Series A financing will help Crowd Cow add more new ranches and farms to its online platform, further improve its innovative supply chain and go all-in on the search for new and unique flavors in categories like Craft Beef, Pastured Chicken, Heritage Pork, and beyond.
9: Little Leaf Farms Expands Hydroponic Greenhouse
Little Leaf Farms, one of the largest growers of hydroponic baby greens in North America, announced that it has officially opened its expanded greenhouse in Devens, Massachusetts. The expansion doubles the size of the greenhouse from 2.5 acres to 5 acres, and more than doubles its annual production of baby greens.
10: Eels Break Records In Maine, Where They Sell For Big Money
America's only significant state fishery for baby eels has blown past records for value as high demand from overseas aquaculture companies is driving prices to new heights. Fishermen in Maine search for the eels, called elvers, in rivers and streams every spring so they can be sold to Asian aquaculture companies as seed stock. Fishermen have sold more than $20 million worth of the eels so far this season, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources.