MSU expected to open food processing center for companies to test expansion
The Michigan State University Product Center, which aims to assist food companies grow their businesses, will open a new food processing center intended to provide companies testing abilities before expansion.
The Product Center originally worked with small and/or startup companies to assist them in gauging the market and expanding. However, the Product Center made the move four years ago to help second-stage food companies — generally those with five to 50 employees and $5 million to $50 million in annual revenue.
The new $8 million Food Processing and Innovation Center will expand the MSU Product Center’s efforts with second-stage companies, allowing companies to rent the processing center for three to seven (or longer) days in order to test new products and markets before heavily investing in a new avenue as well as decide on necessary equipment. The center will offer a variety of food processing equipment, covering 80 percent of the needs of the industry.
Final funding for the Food Processing and Innovation Center is still awaiting approval. If approved, the facility will likely be the first of its kind associated with an American university.
FDA confirms multiple Listeria-positive surfaces in onion processing plant
The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes at the Oregon Potato Co. (DBA Freeze Pack) onion processing plant in Washington and sent a warning letter on July 15 to the company, according to Food Safety News.
Samples collected during FDA’s march inspection were positive for the pathogen — 19 out of 106 environmental swabs tested positive. Seven of the 19 surfaces that tested positive were direct food contact surfaces including the chiller water and water chiller, a strip in the tunnel discharge chute, and a conveying arm.
Whole genome sequencing performed by FDA identified two strains of Listeria, which are linked to eight cases of human illness dating back to 2013, six isolates from finished products and six related hospitalizations.
Oregon Potato Co. responded to FDA’s warning letter, providing corrective actions being taken and documentation of its own testing, which saw negative results. FDA, however found the company’s measures inadequate because no timeline was established and detailed test documentation was not submitted.
The Oregon Potato Co. recalled many of its vegetables as a result of this case, and many secondary recalls resulted from it. Nine cases of listeriosis was linked to the recalled vegetables, though the CDC declared the outbreak over on July 15.
Global process poultry market to see substantial 5-year growth
The global process poultry market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4 percent through 2020, according to a report by Acute Market Reports.
The chicken market segment continued to take the largest market share, followed by turkey and then duck.
The driving force behind the markets growth is its price compared to other meats and increased popularity of uncured poultry due to natural preservatives. Negatively affecting the market are its lack of product differentiation, a threat of backward integration, which lowers supplier bargaining power, and stringent government regulations.
Natural food color market to see greatest growth in 2016
A new report from Future Market Insights (FMI) expects the natural food colors market to grow by 6.8 percent in 2016, reaching $1.3 million revenue.
The market was valued at $1.2 million in 2015, with North America and Western Europe accounting for 60 percent of all revenue.
Growth in the market is contributed to an increase in natural food coloring use by the food processing industry, technological advancements, clean-label product demand increases, concerns over synthetic color effects on humans, consumer health consciousness increase, and synthetic coloring regulation changes.
Spirulina extract is expected to see the highest growth rate of natural coloring types, with an expected growth rate of 11 percent.
