CONTENTS                                                  Sep-Oct 2000

IN THE NEWS
WHO certifies safety of irradiated food Ö New EU food safety rules Ö Standard labelling rules proposed for vitamins Ö Role of oxygen absorbers in packaging unveiled Ö P&G donates nutritional beverage technology Ö New stringent food-safety rules in Japan Ö Shortage of food packaging equipment in China Ö Database to boost food safety efforts Ö New website provides information on GM foods Ö CD-ROM directory of food processing machinery Ö Sri Lankan initiatives to enhance fruit exports Ö ICICI to raise exposure in food business

INVENTIONS/NEW PRODUCTS
UV/EB release coatings Ö Fermentation process for ribose sugar Ö Non-alcoholic wine Ö Enriching milk Ö New antimicrobial compound Ö Highlights of new products from around the world Ö Microbial DNA fingerprinting Ö Robotics improve meat processing hygiene Ö Solution to prevent chemical leaching into bottled water

R&D IDEAS
Low-calorie sweetener from corn fibres Ö Genetic code for Listeria completed Ö Silica-coated bottles/pouches Ö New know-how for brewing beer Ö Gourmet chip Ö Antifreeze proteins in food preservation

SAFETY/QUALITY CONTROL
Post-process pasteurization Ö CO2 purifier for processors Ö New fat analysis procedure Ö Antibacterial protein to control pathogens

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD
Stringent guidelines for GM food labelling Ö Japan plans compulsory testing for GM products Ö Tougher European Union rules for GMO products Ö Sri Lanka bans import of genetically altered food

STANDARDS/CERTIFICATION
New and revised Indian food standards Ö GMO threshold for food labelling Ö Joint Australia-New Zealand food standards code

PRESERVATION
Large-scale solar drying installation Ö CO2 treatment for juices Ö Ham pasteurization Ö Electronic pasteurization technology miniaturized Ö Electroporation process for pasteurizing liquid foods Ö New berry-drying process

MACHINERY/EQUIPMENT
Extrusion adds value Ö Oil/cream filler

PACKAGING
Filling and sealing machines Ö Packaging equipment Ö Heat-stable PET Ö New oxygen scavenging system developed Ö Self-refrigerating can utilizes salt-based desiccant

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