Food Bulletin - September 2009

Industry News

Online Info Resource Champions Food Safety

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) website now features a revamped Food Safety and Traceability website.

The updated content includes information on:

• funding programs, such as the new Food Safety and Traceability Initiative
• the Advantage Series of Food Safety Programs, including those that apply to food processors (e.g., Advantage Good Manufacturing Practices, Advantage Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Advantage HACCP Plus)
• Ontario's food safety leaders and how they implemented food safety and became Advantage certified
• traceability in the agri-food industry
  

Visit www.ontario.ca/haccp for general information about food safety for food processors.

More information about the content posted in this web area is available by emailing advantage@ontario.ca or by calling our food safety and traceability help line toll-free at 1-866-641-3663.

New Online Forum Opportunities for EMC Food & Beverage Sector Network

Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) is introducing Food & Beverage Internet Forums to help food sector processors and manufacturers share expertise, experiences, suggestions and best practices.

There are currently three active forums open and available to members. Participating companies first need to register for online access. Once registered, members can also subscribe to news, blogs and forum items, and receive personal notifications of new content and updated commentary.

For more information or to take part in one of these forums, please contact Bren McKeachnie at bmckeachnie.emcccanada.org or visit www.emccanada.org/forums.

Call for Letters of Intent for New Directions & Alternative Renewable Fuels Research

OMAFRA has issued the 2010 Call for Letters of Intent for the New Directions and Alternative Renewable Fuels 'Plus' Research Program. Jointly, the New Directions and Alternative Renewable Fuels 'Plus' Research Program will continue to support novel research and the exploration of new markets and new uses for alternative renewable fuels, bioproducts and their co-products.

Letters of Intent are solicited that will generate new knowledge and/or technologies in the following areas:

• organic agriculture (animal and plant)
• life sciences: food for health & bioproducts
• agriculture & rural policy
• alternative renewable fuels
  

The application process has two stages: 1) Submission of a Letter of Intent and 2) Submission of a Full Proposal (following approval of the Letter of Intent).

The deadline for receipt of Letters of Intent is Friday, September 25, 2009 at 4 p.m.

For more information, please contact Anna Formusiak at (519) 826-3490 or at anna.formusiak@ontario.ca. The Call for Letters of Intent document and program information is available on the OMAFRA website at: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/research/new_directions/index.html.

New Project to Boost Sustainable Performance of Food & Beverage Processing Sector

A new initiative is under way to help Ontario-based food and beverage manufacturers adopt more environmentally sustainable business practices over the long term.

Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC), Guelph Food Technology Centre (GFTC) and the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) have joined forces to produce a sustainability framework and tools to help the food and beverage processing sector - particularly small and medium-sized (SME) companies - improve environmental performance.

The project will be implemented in phases over three years:

• Phase 1 will benchmark the superior sustainable performance of leading global companies in the food and beverage sector and develop a comprehensive, customized "how to" framework to guide SME food and beverage processors as they integrate sustainability aspects into their business operations.
• Phase 2 will involve pilot testing the framework and tools (developed in Phase 1) with SME food and beverage companies in Ontario.
• Phase 3 will transfer the pilot program platform across the entire food and beverage sector in Ontario.

Ultimately, the project could help food and beverage processors across Canada become more environmentally sustainable.

The first phase of the project is funded in part through the Food and Beverage Industry Innovation Fund (FBIIF) developed by the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors. FBIIF was jointly funded by OMAFRA and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The Agricultural Adaptation Council administers the FBIIF, which encourages investment in new, innovative processes, products, and skills development.
Other organizations providing funding support and resources for the project include the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and the City of Toronto.

Events

Sept. 23 & 24 - GFTC Symposium: Handle with Care, Guelph

This Guelph Food Technology Centre (GFTC) symposium explores gentle processing technologies for the food, functional foods and natural health products industry. An international group of presenters will provide insights on new technologies in extraction, dehydration and non-thermal processing. Learn why these technologies are critical to maintain product integrity and efficacy, as well as applications to key products in food categories, and implications for processing and packaging technologies.

For more information, visit GFTC's website.

October 5 & 6 - Ethnic & Specialty Food Expo 2009, including All Things Organic™, Mississauga

The latest in ethnic, specialty and organic products will be on display at this expo to catch the eye and the budget of retail and foodservice buyers. Last year, more than 1,400 buyers attended this event from Sears, Sam's Club, Costco, Sobeys, Metro, Longo's, Loblaw and Sysco, as well as hundreds of chefs, caterers, restaurant owners and others.

Booth space is $900 per 10x10 booth with a few spots still available.

This event will also feature educational seminars presented by Guelph Food Technology Centre. Topics include: food blogs; marketing and demographics; the allergen-free market; active intelligent packaging; understanding the Global Safety Initiative; food and taste trends; sustainability; health and wellness; regulatory and nutritional labelling; and resolving food safety and quality issues.

For more information, contact event director Donna Wood at dwood@divcomevents.com or by phone at 1-888-443-6786, Ext. 231 or visit http://www.ethnicandspecialtyfood.com.

October 26 & 27 - Grocery Innovations Canada 2009, Toronto

See the latest innovations, learn from industry leaders and check out the future of the grocery industry at Canada's premier grocery conference and trade show. More than 350 exhibiting companies - both home grown and international - will showcase their products, services and equipment. Specialty pavilions include ethnic fare, first-time exhibitors, and local and provincial processors.

For more information, visit http://www.groceryinnovations.com. To find out about special pricing for first time exhibitors visit http://www.groceryinnovations.com/exhibitor/exhibitors_pavilion.htm.

October 28 - GFTC Innovation Breakfast: Agri-food for Healthy Aging (Guelph)

Hear what the experts have to say about agri-food, nutrition and healthy aging to explore the needs and opportunities in research and product development for the older adult market. Each speaker and panelist will offer a piece of the big picture of food for healthy aging. Functionality, palatability and anti-aging properties are all key development areas.

Registration is free for GFTC members, and $50 for non-members. For more information or to register, contact Barb Dillingham at bdillingham@gftc.ca or (519) 821-1246, Ext. 5048.

Training Providers

Guelph Food Technology Centre (GFTC) has a comprehensive and innovative line up of courses for the fall. They include:

• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP):
  • HACCP 1: Prerequisite Programs (Sept. 14-15)
  • HACCP II: Developing your HACCP Plan (Sept. 16-18)
  • HACCP: A Management Summary (Sept. 28)
• Health Claims Workshop: New Guidance Document (Sept. 10)
• Food as Natural Health Products: Opportunities and Challenges (Sept. 15)
• Webinar - Country of Origin Labelling: The COOL Conundrum (Sept. 18, 1-2 p.m.)
• Implementing SQF 2000 Systems (Sept. 21-22), Toronto
• Halal Foods: Standards and Regulations (Sept. 22):
• Webinar - 5 Steps to Your Environmental and Energy Management Plan (Sept. 25)
• Fundamentals of Wheat Flour Properties (Oct. 20-23)

More information and registration for these and other GFTC courses are available online.