Welcome to the supermarkets of the future: self service checkouts, ‘Tap N Go’ card readers, new smartphone barcode scanning apps and trolleys complete with computers and GPS tracking.  They promise speed, convenience and even more information for customers and retailers. But just how useful are they? Consumer group CHOICE has reviewed these new innovations to see if they live up to the hype, by truly benefiting consumers and retailers. Self service checkouts allow consumers to scan,... ...Read more »

Tourism Victoria has unveiled the tenth edition of its official The Wine Regions of Victoria guide and, for the first time, it is also available in iPhone app format.The Wine Regions of Victoria app brings information about Victoria’s 22 wine regions and more than 240 wineries to wine lovers’ fingertips anywhere, anytime. Featuring enhanced mapping functionality, the new app also offers instant access to winery contact details; including websites, phone numbers and addresses, a ‘wineries... ...Read more »

Australia’s first laser guided pork cutting robot has been installed, at a cost of $700,000, at Craig Mostyn Group’s Linley Valley Fresh pork processing works at Wooroloo, WA.Highly accurate laser imaging takes precise measurements of the carcase and programs the robot to cut based on the individual animal’s anatomical features, with cuts designed to maximise the production of high-value meat based on particular customer requirements. Project Manager Dean Romaniello, Senior Manager,... ...Read more »

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has commended US Congress for passage of landmark food safety legislation, which represents the largest changes in the country’s food safety laws in more than 70 years. “This is a critical moment when it comes to the safety of the food we eat every day, because it puts science at the forefront of public policy,” said IFT President Bob Gravani, PhD. “This legislation will be a platform to build on that ensures the consuming public continues... ...Read more »

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) this week released details of proposed changes to the Food Standards Code and invited comment from interested organisations and individuals. Among the changes under consideration are the approval of a GM corn, steviol as a high intensity sweetener, and food for special medical purposes. Anyone can apply to amend the Food Standards Code. FSANZ assesses the safety of any new food, substance or food production technology and conducts a regulatory impact... ...Read more »

The Coca-Cola Company, the world’s largest beverage company, and Chromocell Corporation, a company focused on using proprietary technologies to discover and develop novel flavor ingredients for the food, beverage, and ingredient supply industries, announced today that they are collaborating on flavor innovation research. This partnership agreement includes the discovery and development of sweetness enhancers, natural sweeteners and other flavor ingredients. This partnership is central to The... ...Read more »

A healthy lupin snack and a sweet and salty ice cream have clinched the 2010 WA Department of Agriculture and Food Student Food and Beverage Product Development Awards.Western Australian Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman today congratulated the award recipients and participants for their creativity. The annual awards form part of a link between the Department of Agriculture and Food’s food technology unit and Curtin University’s food science and technology program. “The... ...Read more »

Scan2List has recently announced the launch of their iPhone application into the Australian Market. Scan2List is a free Australian iPhone App that allows you to quickly and easily create shopping lists simply by scanning the barcodes of items in your pantry or manually adding them to a list. Lists can then be saved for future use and be synchronised with other Scan2List App users in the household. When at the shops, a list can be organised into aisles that match the layout of the store and items... ...Read more »

A growing need for more food science and technology graduates in Australia will be addressed by a landmark new partnership between The University of Queensland (UQ) and the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC).Under the industry-first, five year agreement, UQ will partner with AFGC to help overcome a national skills shortage in food science and technology roles following the appointment of the AFGC Chair in Food Science and Technology early next year. AFGC Deputy Chief Executive Dr Geoffrey... ...Read more »

The Chinese government will accelerate building a national third-party food inspection system after recent food scandals involving mooncakes, shrimp and tea oil.   A report from the State Council office of food safety and 17 central government departments, including the health and commerce ministries, said China will also increase investment in monitoring equipment and technologies, although the report did not disclose total spending. Currently, local offices of the Administration of Quality Supervision,... ...Read more »