The same technology that was able to provide microscopic tags to track and trace food has been applied to finding E. coli and Listeria

Water. We can’t live without it, and you can’t run a food or beverage plant without it. However, having it available for all earth’s inhabitants worldwide in the next 20 to 30 years will be a challenge—as already two-billion of the planet’s population live in areas where water is scarce. Unsurprisingly, the food and beverage industry is one of the largest water users, so it’s well worthwhile to minimize waste wherever possible. Water treatment companies are only too aware of the importance of conserving this precious resource, which in some areas can be more valuable than oil.

The FDA has recently taken the heat from the U.S. House of Representatives, which released a report finding several baby food companies to have high toxic levels of heavy metals in their products.

Technology companies are employing AI/ML techniques to deter nefarious actors, but users still need to exercise common sense in defending their industrial control systems.

Aquacycl used bacteria to clean up a wastewater stream and generate enough electricity to run the system and produce clean water.

Gray, a fully integrated, international A&E/C design/build service provider, has again partnered with Clemens Food Group, a sixth generation family owned pork business, to build a new smoked meats processing facility in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. The companies recently broke ground on the new facility that will support increased smoked meats and cooked sausage production.

Egan Food Technologies, based in Grand Rapids, MI, supplies customized food process machinery for the confectionery, baking, and snack food industries. The heart of molding plants is the PLC/servo-controlled depositor, which optimizes center-to-shell ratios and overall product weights. Since each chocolatier is unique, Egan builds engineer-to-order (ETO) solutions—including parts and equipment.

SunOpta, which produces organic, non-GMO snacks and plant-based beverages, worked with Dennis Group to expand a production facility to meet demand for oat milk.

Cybersecurity may seem only for enterprise systems and critical infrastructure, but at the control system level there are too many gaps in the food and beverage industry.

There are several methods to reduce energy needs, usage and costs. Some are basic and simple; others are more sublime. Four recent news items show how processors can take steps to decrease energy inputs, improve their carbon footprint and look smarter and be more sustainable.