While some consider cloud-based software to be more cost effective and efficient that its counterparts, a new survey of manufacturers found that 66 percent saw improvements in plant productivity after deploying the systems.

ConAgra Foods, Inc. announced this week it has acquired Blake’s All Natural Foods in a move to grow its frozen food business.

 The awards recognize facilities that improve sustainability efforts in food, beverage or consumer product manufacturing operations. 

 FDA released results of its investigations into Blue Bell plants that detailed 17 presumptive positive tests for Listeria at the Oklahoma plant. 

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed it found the highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in a backyard mixed-poultry flock in Whitley County, Indiana. The flu strain is different from the HPAI H5N2 virus that has been detected in multiple states throughout the Mississippi flyway. The H5N8 strain had previously only been confirmed in the Pacific flyway.