Dean Kamen, mastermind behind the Segway and inventor of other revolutionary devices, founded For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), an organization designed to get kids (and their parents) excited about science, technology, and engineering. This year, FIRST sponsored the Food Safety Youth Invention Challenge, inspiring teams of youth participants to develop solutions that would ensure the safety and quality of our food supply. Some of the winning inventions include a smart sticker that warns when food is stored at improper temperatures, a milk pitcher that detects spoilage by measuring pH levels in milk, and an erasable barcode that ensures spoiled meat never makes it past the checkout. This video shows the winning teams' inventions in action.

Join key manufacturers and industry professionals from around the globe at GlobalSpec's Material Handling & Supply Chain Technology event. Explore the latest developments in conveyors, overhead handling, purchasing, logistics, warehousing, storage, and more. Watch for registration details.

• Exhibitor Opportunities
• Speaking Opportunities

Brentwood Plastics Inc. features low temperature stable polyethylene film (LDPE) for individually quick frozen (IQF) vegetables and meats. Designed to seal through contaminants at maximum speeds. Available as single-layer plain or corona treated for flexographic printing packaging, either for pre-made bags or form/fill/seal roll stock. Learn more...

At LINDAR, our food packaging containers can be made of various plastics — PET, PLA, PP, or HIPS are just a few that we form. We work with different plastics materials because many of our customers have different and specific applications and use requirements.

Focused on advanced separation technologies for wastewater treatment, Dow is committed to maximizing the vast potential in the world's reusable water, working with industries and communities to recover water, energy, nutrients, and other valuable components of wastewater streams. In the world's vast sources of wastewater, we see potential in every drop.

A molecular biologist at the Agricultural Research Service has developed a patented technology for isolating the antimicrobial enzymes that some viruses use to kill bacteria. The enzymes can be manipulated so they only attack a particular pathogen — for example, Staphylococcus aureus — reducing the reliance on antibiotics as well as the risk of inevitable resistance. The researcher hopes the enzymes, called endolysins, can replace the use of antibiotics to treat foodborne intestinal diseases in cattle and chickens.

The reliability and print quality provided by Videojet products is an essential factor in an industrial food production environment. Production is often carried out in damp environments, and Videojet systems are designed to work reliably, even in tough conditions.

We've become accustomed to a huge selection of exotic fruits and vegetables available fresh in stores. Sometimes, though, goods flown in from far away carry along pests, fungi, or viruses, invisible to the naked eye. To address this, these plants undergo strict inspections. Microscopy systems from Leica Microsystems, Inc. make these inspections easier.

Incorporating Owlstone's proprietary FAIMS spectrometer, Lonestar can detect freshness or degradation of food, individual flavor compounds, or groups of aroma molecules. Exceptional limits of detection, combined with simple sample introduction and the ability to reprogram the detector for different compounds, make Lonestar suitable for a broad range of online and lab-based applications.

Avure Technologies is the world's largest manufacturer of High Pressure Processing (HPP) systems for the packaged food industry. HPP is a non-thermal process using water under very high hydrostatic pressure to produce packaged foods that are safer, longer lasting, more natural, and better tasting.

Control Company's Traceable® waterproof food HACCP thermometer features easy-to-use membrane switches and a rugged ABS body making it ideal for food labs, food processing, food preparation, and brewing. Waterproof construction allows it to be used in labs, plants, wash-down, and all food areas.

A significant number of food suppliers are moving to implement certification audits primarily as a risk management tool. In general, food suppliers see the need for a lower cost of implementation and a more consolidated/harmonized set of standards for third-party food safety certification.

The safety and quality of a food product can depend on getting a full view of the entire item, and thanks to the new full-object, line-of-sight imaging system on this sorter, manufacturers can see their products from all sides. Designed with two proprietary cameras and a unique metal-mesh catenary C-Belt to properly position products, the sorter views the product from both the top and the bottom, while the C-Belt launches the product in-air to remove foreign material.

This report explains how the Food Safety Modernization Act and other regulations are forcing many companies to examine their overall pest control processes and technologies. These new laws put the emphasis on food contamination prevention, as opposed to response, giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration greater enforcement authority. The report also explores ways pest management companies can transition from "service providers to partners" in meeting the new standards with their customers.

China has had its share of food safety issues, such as aflatoxins in dairy products, but now a new alliance of government officials, business leaders, and public policy experts hopes to more effectively address these problems. Part of the agenda involves more open and honest assessment and reporting of food safety and credibility problems, such as exposing the use of sub-standard components to make higher profits. One participating company has adopted a zero-tolerance non-smoking policy, professing that it provides for a cleaner, healthier plant and better products.

A portable food safety test kit has been certified to identify Salmonella in whole and ground chicken, ground beef, and lettuce — common carriers of the dangerous food-borne pathogen. The fully-integrated and affordable test kit features real-time PCR testing technology, widely accepted as the gold standard in the industry. Unlike current systems, there is no need for specially-trained staff or an extensive laboratory set-up.

Researchers have discovered a cool idea for decontaminating foods. A cold plasma process, which combines electricity with a gas like oxygen, is showing promise as a way to rid certain foods like almonds, apples, and tomatoes of microbes. Typically used to clean electronics, the process is waterless and chemical-free. Next challenge: implementation on a commercial processing line.

In a laboratory at the Illinois Institute of Technology, scientists decked out in hazard-proof moon suits prepare a giant 500 lb spinach salad that is intentionally contaminated with 5,000 gallons of dirty water. The point is to test the effectiveness of various decontamination techniques, from sanitizing solutions and biofilm disrupters to handheld ultrasonic washing machines that vibrate the germs right off the greens.

Newsletter Subscriptions
Your source for technology news and industry information

Questions & Discussion
CR4: Q&A and discussion for the engineering, scientific, and technical community

Product Alerts
Receive e-mail updates on new products and suppliers

Engineering News
Engineering and scientific news from hundreds
of sources

Download the Engineering Toolbar
Put the power of GlobalSpec right at your fingertips

Product Announcements
New and featured products from manufacturers and suppliers

Online Trade Shows + Events
Featuring educational presentations from industry leaders and product and technical content presented by participating manufacturer exhibitors.
Call for Speakers — submit your proposal

Directory of Companies
Part Number Search
Technical Articles
Engineering & Scientific Links

To ensure prompt delivery, add do-not-reply@email.globalspec.com to your safe senders list. Learn how.

Please do not reply to this e-mail, as we are unable to respond from this address. If you would like to contact us, please send an email to: newslettercomments@globalspec.com

To unsubscribe from this e-newsletter, click here.
To unsubscribe from all GlobalSpec email communications, click here.
To edit your user profile, visit Your Profile.
If a friend forwarded this e-newsletter and you'd like to receive it in the future, subscribe directly.