Safety & Security: Page 273

Are You Ready for FSMA?

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Food and Drug Administration takes a non-prescriptive approach to improving food safety.

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Robotics and Automation: Evolution, not Revolution

Robots take on more picking, sorting and packaging as technology advances.

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Software Solutions

Honeywell Nears Agreement to Acquire JDA Software for Around $3 Billion

Honeywell International

The acquisition would boost Honeywell’s shift into software, as opposed to the heavy goods like jet engines and building control systems for which the company is best known.

Honeywell International Inc. is nearing a deal to acquire JDA Software Group Inc., a maker of software that helps businesses manage their supply chains, according to a person familiar with the matter, according to MarketWatch.

The Fresh Market Signs Wholesale/Distribution Agreement with Supervalu

In its role as grocery wholesaler, Supervalu will supply The Fresh Market with traditional and signature grocery products across a range of categories including meat, deli, bakery, grocery, frozen foods and dairy.

The Fresh Market, Inc. operates 176 stores in 24 states across the U.S.

Emerging Technologies

IBM Demonstrates How Big Data Speeds Foodborne Illness Investigations

Leveraging retail scanner data with spatial information collected at any grocery store/supermarket along with the confirmed geo-coded cases reported from the public health agency makes it possible to quickly identify a small set of “suspect” products.

IBM researchers believe the availability of electronic retail scanner data with new analytics and laboratory techniques can hugely accelerate outbreak investigation and aid public health agency in that mission at the county, state, and national levels. The potential benefits of this opportunity include reducing the costs of foodborne illness (now $9 billion annually in the U.S.) and of economic losses from outbreaks and recalls.

Risk/Compliance

Email Campaign Urges McDonald’s to Remove Antibiotics from Global Livestock

McDonald's Corp.

U.K.-based ShareAction has launched an online action enabling people to email Steve Easterbrook, the CEO of McDonald’s Corporation, calling on him to stop the routine use of antibiotics in the company’s global livestock supply chains.

ShareAction, U.K.-based responsible investment charity, has launched an online action enabling people to email Steve Easterbrook, the CEO of McDonald’s Corporation, calling on him to stop the routine use of antibiotics in the company’s global livestock supply chains.

Risk/Compliance

Panera Bread Removes Artificial Flavors, Colors and Ingredients from Kids Menu

Not only is Panera banning a long list of artificial additives from its kids menu, the company provides kids a broader selection of wholesome meal choices based on its adult menu, versus the usual nuggets and fries fare.

The Panera Kids menu – featuring an array of soups, salads, pasta and sandwiches – will be free of all artificial flavors, preservatives, sweeteners and colors from artificial sources identified on the company’s No No List starting September 7.

Amazon Prime Video Makes Japanese Delicacies '1-Click' Purchase

Amazon hopes this combination of online streaming and shopping can differentiate the new service from traditional shopping channels.

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Sonoco ThermoSafe Offers Courses to Train and Certify Cold Chain Packaging Professionals

Sonoco ThermoSafe

ISCLabs marks another milestone with launch of the industry’s first temperature assurance packaging (TAP) certification program.

The certification program was developed by Sonoco ThermoSafe’s ISCLabs in partnership with The Packaging School.

Feds Investigate Flowers Foods Over Misclassifying Drivers as Contractors

U.S. Department of Labor

The company intends to cooperate with the department, and because the review process is confidential, the company has no further comment at this time.

The company is currently being sued by a number of truck drivers alleging they were wrongly classified as independent contractors, causing them to miss overtime pay and other employee benefits.

United Natural Foods Acquires Gourmet Guru

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI)

Founded in 1996, Gourmet Guru is a distributor and merchandiser of fresh and organic food focusing on new and emerging brands.

Texas Company Recalls 60,350 Pounds of Ground Beef Over Contaminant

Sam Kane Beef Processors is recalling approximately 60,350 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with foreign materials, specifically metal.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 337” inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the product packaging seam. These items were shipped to three HEB Grocery distribution centers in Texas.

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