Strong employee training programs increase engagement and productivity. Not all learning, however, is created equal.

Read the article, Training is An Investment, Not an Expense to learn more.

Originally published in Food in Canada.

Identifying common gaps in current food defense plans and the key components that can strengthen compliance for the Intentional Adulteration rule.

Download the article, Food Defense: It’s Everyone’s Job to learn more.

Originally published in Food Quality and Safety.

Food waste is a global issue that has gained much attention recently. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has shown that roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. This amounts to about 1.3 billion tons per year. Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from agricultural production to household consumption. In Canada, $31 billion worth of food ends up in landfills or composters each year, with 47 per cent of food waste happening in the home (Value Chain Management International, 2014 report). Countries all over the world are taking initiatives to reduce and divert food waste.

Download the article, Food Waste Reduction: Can Packaging Play a Role? to learn more.

Originally published in Food in Canada.

BD FSQ Mushrooms Canada Microbiological Consulting Report

Ready-to-eat fresh-cut produce including mushrooms are subjected to the provisions of the Canadian Policy on Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Foods and the USFDA Food Safety Modernization Act Final Rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food. Although there have been no reported cases of listeriosis attributed to mushrooms, food safety recalls due to Listeria monocytogenes in mushrooms in recent years were devastating to the recalled mushroom growers and packers (packers) and the mushroom industry.

Download the article, Prevention of Listeria Hysteria for Mushroom Growers and Packers to learn more.

Clean labelling is a popular trend in the food industry. Consumers are seeking “natural” foods that are free of chemicals. Packaging techniques can provide solutions to maintain food quality as well as satisfy the movement to reduce or eliminate preservatives and additives.

Download the article, Clean Labelling: Can Packaging Play a Role? to learn more.

Originally published in Food in Canada. 

According to Mintel (Home Meal Replacement Canada 2017), the meal kit trend is growing, and about 24 per cent of Canadian consumers say they are
interested in a meal delivery service from home meal replacement retailers. But the popularity of meal kits leaves us with a dilemma: weighing personal convenience against contributing to the packaging waste issue.

Download the article, Meal Kits: Convenience Versus Packaging to learn more.

Originally published in Food in Canada.

Packaging is a visible and crucial part of the environmental waste issue. Canadians produced 33.5 million tonnes of nonhazardous solid waste with 25.2 per cent diversion in 2012, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The consumer is bombarded with terms such as biodegradable, eco-friendly and “green” packaging. This, along with eco-labelling, causes consumer confusion. In some cases, claims about sustainable packaging mislead the consumer about the environmental benefits of the product.

Download the article, A Practical Approach to Sustainable Packaging to learn more.

Originally published in Food in Canada.

Packaging in bottles is not a recent invention. Early examples of the bottle appeared in ancient civilizations of China, Greece and Rome and were made from clay and glass. The bottle is a rigid container that has a neck that is narrower than the body with a mouth that is sealed to hold liquids for consumption such as water, milk, soft drinks, beer, wine and cooking oil.

Download the article, Evolution of the Bottle to learn more.

Originally published in Food in Canada.

Companies invest heavily in building brand equity. It is important to protect your brand and minimize revenue loss from threats such as counterfeiting and substitution. Consumption of counterfeited food and beverages can also pose health and safety risks. A May 2015 report by Allied Market Research called Global Anti-counterfeit Food and Beverage Packaging Market predicts that the anti-counterfeiting food packaging market is expected to reach $62.5 billion globally by 2020.

Download the article, Anti-Counterfeiting Technology for Packaging to learn more.

Originally published in Food in Canada.

Rigid plastic containers and stand-up pouches are growing package formats for the fresh produce segment.

Download the article, Fresh Produce Packaging: Wrapping It Up to learn more.

Originally published in Food in Canada.