A record 19 million kilograms of food and groceries – the equivalent of 1000 semi-trailer loads – was donated to food charity Foodbank Australia by Australia’s food and grocery industry to people in need over the past year. Between January and December 2010, food and grocery manufacturers donated more than 71,000 meals a day to people in need, as well as helping thousands more people affected by the recent floods and cyclones. Known as the pantry of the charity sector, Foodbank is the largest... ...Read more »

‘Judas’ carp are being used to locate their mates in an innovative project taking place in Western NSW, which aims to give commercial fishers a better idea of where carp aggregate to maximise their catch. Industry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW) has been tracking the movements of a number of radio tagged carp in Lake Cargelligo since last year. I&I NSW Senior Fisheries Technician at Narrandera Fisheries Centre, Martin Asmus, said I&I NSW are working with commercial fisher,... ...Read more »

Peak horticulture organisation Growcom today welcomed news that the federal government has told a Senate enquiry it has decided to rethink its decision not to fight the invasion of the destructive Asian honey bee. Growcom recently made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural Affairs and Transport currently investigating the science underpinning the technical feasibility of eradicating Asian honeybees. Growcom argued that more time and debate needed to be given to the question of whether... ...Read more »

British department store Marks and Spencer has revealed that it is planning to return to France with a combination of its department stores and its Simply Food convenience outlets. The UK retailer is planning to open its first department store on the Champs-Elysées ahead of the Christmas trading period. It said it was in “advanced talks” with SSP, one of its UK franchise partners, around opening a number of its Simply Food outlets. The retailer said it is considering “strategic... ...Read more »

Just when you think we couldn’t know less about where our food comes from, the RSPCA says a revolution is stirring, with people increasingly curious about how and where their food is produced and about the animal that provides it. Bottom line is, consumers are becoming more conscious shoppers. With supermarkets stocking up on higher welfare products, the manufacturing and food service industries are also listening to consumers and looking to source more humanely produced products including cage-free... ...Read more »

The UK’s Food and Drink Federation has called on the food industry to take a holistic approach to reducing waste and improving efficiency. Speaking today at the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum, FDF director of sustainability and competitiveness Andrew Kuyk said that, to date, food manufacturers have taken an approach to sustainability that focuses on reducing waste and improving resource efficiency within their own operations. “This has been an easy sell,” he suggested. “Resource... ...Read more »

Billed as the largest show of its kind ever in Australasia, Foodpro, the pre-eminent trade event for the food and beverage processing industry across the region, returns to Sydney on Sunday 10 to Wednesday 13 July 2011. Showcasing the most comprehensive display of innovative food processing developments and technologies, Foodpro is certainly the imperative triennial destination for the food and beverage industry. This year Foodpro will confidently fill five large halls at the Sydney Convention &... ...Read more »

Looking to spice up your sex life? Try adding ginseng and saffron to your diet. Both are proven performance boosters, according to a new scientific review of natural aphrodisiacs conducted by University of Guelph researchers. Indulge in wine and chocolate, too, but know that their amorous effects are likely all in your head. Stay away from the more obscure Spanish fly and Bufo toad. While purported to be sexually enhancing, they produced the opposite result and can even be toxic. Those are among... ...Read more »

The global food production system is “not fit for purpose” and requires a “radical redesign” in order to secure adequate food supplies and ensure future food security, a leading scientific expert insisted today. Speaking at a conference in London, Professor John Beddington, chief scientific advisor to the UK government, warned that current methods of food production are failing to meet the demands of a growing global population, a problem that looks set to intensify. “The... ...Read more »

Food technology company Aibrean Foods has announced the latest milestone in bakery innovation, the Toastette Microwaveable Toast range. The company said that the microwaveable ‘instant’ toast is the product of years of research and development by the company, and features a nanotech coating which keeps the bread crunchy in the microwave, as well as a caramel pre-browning and a moisture-resistance agent. The Toastette Microwaveable Toast range will be available in plain or pre-buttered... ...Read more »