NEWS & ANALYSIS
NEWS OF INDUSTRY
American DNA testing firm chosen to certify foods in Great Britain as not genetically modified
In Great Britain, a consortium of major retail food chains and their manufacturers has chosen Genetic ID, Inc., Fairfield, Iowa, an American laboratory that detects genetic modifications in foods, to join Law Laboratories, Ltd., a British consulting firm to the food industry, to operate CERT ID, a certification program to assure the supply of non-genetically modified foods.
CERT ID provides a standardized approach using molecular biology, ISO-approved certification procedures, and objective tests to ensure that genetically modified foods are identified or that non-genetically modified foods are as labeled. The test can detect genetically modified crops to within 0.1% and 0.01% of contamination.
As European resistance to such foods has increased, American exporters of crops and finished foods have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in export business. With CERT ID, American exporters will now have a standardized approach that will guarantee acceptance of their non-genetically modified products in Great Britain. This acceptance is expected to rapidly expand to the European Union in general.
Inventors of new food safety technology receive FDA award
The creators of Cox Technologies’ FreshTag™, Dwight Miller and Jon Wilkes, recently received the FDA Award of Merit, the highest honor given by the Food and Drug Administration. Miller and Wilkes invented the new food safety technology last year at FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Ark. The two scientists were commended “for significant and exceptional performance benefiting the public by designing and building a product that is a simple, quick, and inexpensive method for determining the decomposition of food products.”
FreshTags are small adhesive labels attached to the outside of seafood packaging. Applicators create a hole on the reverse side of the label, allowing vapors generated inside the package to diffuse into the tag. Volatile compounds produce a gradual color change in the tag, and a bright pink color is eventually revealed on the visible surface of the tag, warning of impending decomposition of the seafood product. Sensitivity of the tags can be “tuned” to show exactly the signal needed for taking the right action with a certain type of seafood package. FDA is exploring a range of applications of these tags in other protein products as well.
Miller and Wilkes also received the 1999 Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer for their work on FreshTags from the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, the first time an FDA laboratory invention has been so honored.
More information about FreshTags may be obtained from Cox Technologies, Belmont, N.C., via the company’s Web site (www.cx-en.com), or by phone at 800-848-9865.
Church & Dwight increases sodium bicarbonate production capacity
Annual production capacity at the recently modernized Church & Dwight plant in Green River, Wyo., is 200,000 short tons, expected to increase to 240,000 tons by the year 2000. The plant features what is described as “the world’s largest column reactor for sodium bicarbonate.” With production capacity at the company’s Old Fort, Ohio, plant growing from 240,000 to 280,000 short tons by 2000, a corresponding increase in sifting capacity, or the ability to separate out product of a specific particle, will result.
Takasago launches newly expanded flavor facility
Takasago Flavor Division’s Teterboro, N.J., facility recently celebrated the grand opening of its 53,000-sq-ft addition. The expansion more than doubles manufacturing space at the facility. It provides increased liquid compounding areas, expanded dry blending areas, and room for future growth; and marks the company’s commitment to North America as well as its strong growth globally.
Dakota Growers Pasta Co. redesigns logo
Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Carrington, N.D., has revised its corporate logo to illustrate the advancements the cooperative has made since it began operations in 1993. The revised logo, which will be phased into all areas of company identity over the next two years, is intended to emphasize that North Dakota produces fine-quality durum wheat in demand by pasta companies around the world.
NEWS OF PEOPLE
• At National Starch & Chemical Company, Bridgewater, N.J., James A. Kennedy retired and was succeeded as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer by William H. Powell. Walter F. Schlauch, Chief Operating Officer, will become President of National Starch in addition to his current role; Wayne Harkins was appointed Plant Manager of the company’s starch manufacturing facility in North Kansas City, Mo. • Bert R. Ott joined Sonic Air Systems, Inc., Fullerton, Calif., as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. • Gale (Shemwell) Rudolph left Weider Nutrition to head up food product development for USANA, a supplement and nutraceutical manufacturer in Utah.
• The following were promoted at Schweizerhall, Inc., Piscataway, N.J.: Gary McGhee to President/CEO of Schweizerhall US Inc., Schweizerhall Manufacturing Co., and Schweizerhall Development Co.; Frank Jones to Vice President, Sales & Marketing, of Sweizerhall US Inc. and Pharmaceuticals and Specialty Chemicals Division; Philip A. Santoro to Executive Director, Sales & Marketing, Chemicals Division; David Bercher to Director, Sales & Marketing, Nutritional Products; and Rene Stoufer to Purchasing Manager. Gwen Johnson joined the company as Director of Sales & Marketing, Food and Beverage Ingredients; and Joseph R. Kalba as National Sales Manager.
• Jeffrey Nichol has joined the sales team of Gills Onions, Oxnard, Calif. • At Amgraph Packaging, Inc., Versailles, Conn., Marc G. Friedlander was appointed National Sales and Marketing Director, Tim Almany Midwest Sales Repretions sentative (based in Imperial, Mo.), and Scott Kretzschmar Southeastern Sales Representative (based in Tucker, Ga.).
• The National Drying Machinery Company, Philadelphia, Pa., promoted John “Skip” Richardson to Director of Sales. • Barbara Lum was appointed Cook/Chill Director of Sales, Eastern Region, for Cleveland Range, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. • Alvey Systems, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., appointed Ed Cape to the newly created position of director of the parts group of Customer One Protection, the company’s service and support division. Alvey also restructured the parts sales and marketing department, naming Elaine Payne and Ron Therina supervisors of the newly formed maintenance, repair, and operations parts team and key accounts parts team, respectively.
• Baker & Baker, Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill., named Michael T. Lasch Plant Manager of the company’s Oak Creek, Wis., manufacturing facility; Cliff Recklein was promoted to Plant Manager with overall responsibility for the company’s Elk Grove Village, Ill., manufacturing site. • Erik E. Matheson joined The Falk Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., as Sales Engineer in the company’s St. Louis, Mo., sales office and will be located at the St. Louis sub-office in Memphis, Tenn. Timothy “Marty” Rykard joined Falk’s New Orleans sales office as a sales engineer.
• At Stein, a business of FMC FoodTech, Sandusky, Ohio, Mark Phillips was promoted to Director of Sales; Eric Johnston to North American Sales Manager, succeeding Phillips; David Pfanstiel from Senior Process Engineering to Regional Manager, Northeast; and Stephen Lovass to Business Development Manager
• Richard L. Wambold was named President of Tenneco Packaging, Greenwich, Conn. • Pierre Dufour was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Air Liquide America Corporation, Houston, Tex. • Gary A. Miller was named Vice President of the ADM Nutraceuticals Division of Archer Daniels Midland Company, Decatur, Ill. • Ronald D. Harris was named Executive Vice President, Research, of Nabisco, Inc., Parsippany, N.J. • Charles W. Pountney was appointed to the newly created position of Executive Vice President, Sales, for Luigino’s, Inc., Sanford, Fla. • Kimberly Driggs was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing for The Well Fed Baby, Inc., San Diego, Calif.
• At On-Line Instrumentation, Inc., Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Spencer M. Lovette was appointed Vice President of Operations, and Dan Quinlan was appointed Vice President of Sales. • Eileen Bielenberg was appointed Senior Food Technologist, Tara A. Brunetti Chef and Food Technologist, and Martin Ongteco Food Technologist at Haarmann & Reimer’s Flavor Division, Teterboro, N.J. • Bruce Ferree joined the Atlanta-based TFIS–The Food Safety Company (Technical Food Information Spectrum, Inc.) in the position of Senior Project Manager. He will be based in Lodi, Calif.
• Jeffrey P. Schmitz was named Commercial Manager for the Bunge Foods Oil Division of Bunge Foods Group, Rolling Meadows, Ill. • In a planned program of international expansion, Collamat Stralfors AG, based in Aesch, Basel, Switzerland, appointed Paul Walker to the newly created position of Export Manager. • Joseph A. Zente was promoted to General Manager of Epsilon Industrial, A Thermo Instrument Systems Company, Austin, Tex. • Keith Brilhart was appointed Applications Specialist of Lucas Meyer, Inc., Decatur, Ill. • Dan Cahill joined RQA, Inc., Darien, Ill., as Director, Business Development. He will work out of the company’s Phoenix, Ariz., office.
• Britta Campton has become Technical Sales Manager of Grande Custom Ingredients Group, Lomira, Wis. • Tampa Maid Foods, Incorporated, Lakeland, Fla., named David Coppinger Florida District Sales Manager. • Anthony DeFilippo joined the Flavor Division of J. Manheimer, Inc., Teterboro, N.J., as Account Manager, responsible for the East Coast region and selected accounts in the Midwest; Cheryl Grob was hired as a Marketing Assistant. • Russell Baker joined the sales team of Flavors of North America, Inc., Carol Stream, Ill. • Steve Martin was appointed Regional Manager, Southeast Region for National Seal Company, Aurora, Ill.
NEWS OF SOCIETIES & ASSOCIATIONS
ASTM offers Standards via the Web
ASTM (the American Society for Testing and Materials) has inaugurated on-line access to its flagship product—technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. This is the first such Web-accessed system to be developed.
The new availability of ASTM standards on-line will ease the work of professionals in many fields and help to ensure quality work. Users of ASTM standards include engineers, architects, laboratory technicians, researchers, industry consultants, and others. The organization’s array of Web-based products is known as ASTM Standards Source ONLINE™. Through this system, users may purchase as many or as few ASTM standards as they need.
Products available from ASTM are WebDoxx (a “log-on, quick search, and download” service with free E-mail alert notification whenever a purchased standard changes); Standards Tracker (tracks customer-selected ASTM standards and sends customers an E-mail “heads up” notice whenever standards have changed); Standards Subscriptions (customers savings of up to 50% when a 12-month standards subscription is purchased; there are three money-saving plans—50 Standard Subset, 200 Standard Subset, and Unlimited Service); and Specialized Collections (building codes, DOD-adopted, geoenvironmental, geotechnical; metals; paints, related coating and aromatics; petroleum, plastics/plastics piping systems; rubber; and textiles).
For more information, or to download eight sample preselected ASTM standards, visit ASTM’s demonstration site at http://demo.astm.org/connect.
FPA expands use of source reduction logo
The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has made available a license for the use of the trademark Source Reduction™. Under the terms of the licensing agreement, this new logo may be printed on flexible packages or other printed materials as a way to heighten awareness of waste reduction.
The logo is similar to FPA’s registered trademark, Source Reduction, less waste in the first place®. FPA originally created the source reduction logo because, unlike recycling, source reduction had no graphic symbol or design to help communicate its meaning to consumers. Source reduction is listed as number one on the Environmental Protection Agency’s hierarchy of solid waste management in the United States.
Interested parties may obtain a copy of the unexecuted trademark license agreement for review and completion, and Source Reduction camera-ready logo sheets by contacting FPA’s Public Relations and Marketing Division at 202-842-3880, or via E-mail at [email protected].
IAFIS and DREF award scholarships
The Foundation of the International Association of Food Industry Suppliers (IAFIS) has awarded food engineering scholarships to two students. Steven M. Van Scoyoc, a sophomore at Purdue University, received the Gordon A. Houran Scholarship, and Todd W. Hill, a junior at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, received the Paul K. Girton Food Engineering Scholarship. Each will receive $2,500 and a travel grant of $500 to attend Worldwide Food Expo ’99 in Chicago this fall.
Ten university students each received $3,000 scholarships from the M.E. Franks Scholarship Program, administered by the Dairy Recognition and Education Foundation (DREF), for which IAFIS acts as secretariat. Winners are Kimberly Bitz, a junior at North Dakota State, majoring in food science; Devry Boughner, a graduate student in agricultural economics at Cornell; John Koontz, a junior in food science and technology at Virginia Tech; Stephen McIngvale, a senior in food science and technology at Mississippi State; Elizabeth Panko, a graduate student in food science at Pennsylvania State; Devin Peterson, a graduate student in food science at the University of Minnesota; Brent Ross, a senior in agricultural business at the University of Guelph; Kimberly Seefeldt, a graduate student in food science at Utah State; Eric Suloff, a graduate student in food science and technology at Virginia Tech; and Amanda Thompson, a senior in food science and technology at Mississippi State.
IAMFES recognizes excellence in food safety
The International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians (IAMFES) has announced recipients of the 1999 IAMFES Awards recognizing excellence in food safety for individuals and organizations.
The Black Pearl Award was presented to Caravelle Foods in recognition of commitment to and achievement in excellence in food safety and quality.
Fellows awards were presented to A. Richard Brazis, Bellevue, Neb.; Michael H. Brodsky, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada; James M. Jay, Las Vegas, Nev.; Robert T. Marshall, Columbia, Mo.; Lawrence A. Roth, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and Earl O. Wright, Bella Vista, Ark. Recipients are chosen for their distinguished service to IAMFES.
Honorary Life Memberships went to Sidney E. Barnard, State College, Pa.; Michael H. Brodsky; Charlie Felix, Leesburg, Va.; and James L. Smith, North Wales, Pa. for their devotion to the associations’ high ideals and objectives and their service to the organization.
John C. Bruhn, University of California at Davis, received the Harry Haverland Clifton Award for his accomplishments in the field of food safety. The Harold Barnum Award went to Russell S. Flowers, Silliker Labs, Homewood, Ill., for his service to the public, IAMFES, and the food industry. The Educator Award was presented to Eric A. Johnson, University of Wisconsin, Madison, in recognition of his achievements in the field of food safety education; and the Sanitarian Award went to Gloria I. Swick, Perry County Health Dept., New Lexington, Ohio, for her service to the profession of the Sanitarian and her dedication to IAMFES.
Jay, Marshall, Bruhn, and Flowers are all Professional Members of IFT, Johnson is an IFT Member, and Smith is an Emeritus Member.
ADS presents technical awards to Campbell and Borwankar
The Association for Dressings and Sauces (ADS) presented its 1999 Technical Service Award to Ed Campbell, Technical Director of Refined Oils for the Archer Daniels Midland Company. Raju Borwankar, Section Manager of Kraft Foods, received the ADS 1999 Technical Achievement Award. Campbell has given long years of service to ADS and is now Chair Emeritus of the association’s Executive Board. Borwankar, who has worked for more than ten years on food-grade microemulsions, water-in-oil emulsions, fat substitutes, rheology and texture, and low-fat and fat-free products, won his award for his achievements in emulsion research and in furthering the knowledge of emulsions in the dressing and sauces industry.
Elections and Appointments
• The Snack Food Association has promoted James A. McCarthy to President and Chief Executive Officer. Elizabeth H.A. Seiler was appointed Vice President of Government and Technical Affairs. In this position, she will be responsible for all public policy activities of the association, including legislative, regulatory, grassroots, and political action committee activities. She will also oversee all technical affairs of the association, including corn and potato research and seminars.
• Steven C. Anderson has been selected President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association (NRA), Washington, D.C. He succeeds Herman Cain, who resigned June 30 to pursue other interests.
Anderson came to NRA from the American Frozen Food Association (AFFI), which he had served as President and CEO since 1989. Prior to that, he was AFFI’s Executive Vice President for Government and Trade Relations. He has a B.A. from Cornell College of Iowa and has done postgraduate work at the George Washington University. He is a certified association executive and a member of the American Society of Association Executives.
• Leslie G. Sarasin was selected President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Frozen Food Institute, succeeding Steven C. Anderson. Sarasin has most recently served as the Institute’s Executive Vice President and Staff Counsel, a position she has held since 1994. Prior to joining AFFI in 1989, Sarasin was Director of Government Relations and Legal Counsel for the National Food Brokers Association and Legal Counsel and Assistant to the President of Crest International Corporation in San Diego, Calif. She has a B.A. in economics from Smith College, Northhampton, Mass., and a law degree from the University of San Diego.
• Katherine T. Moulthrop joined the California Raisin Marketing Board staff as a Communications Administrator. In this position, she will manage media and community information/relations programs and handle communications with raisin growers. She also will direct the development and maintenance of the Raisin Board’s Web site.
Previously, Moulthrop was Public Information Director for Valley Public Television in Fresno, Calif., and a freelance writer and editor for Fresno City College.
• Susan L. Abbott, the first woman to be elected president of the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) , has been reelected to a second term as ASTA President. Abbott is Vice President, Regulatory and Environmental Affairs of McCormick and Company, Sparks, Md. Also re-elected to second one-year terms as officers of ASTA are Thomas Overby, Malagasy Agencies, Inc., Oakland, N.J., as Vice President and Secretary; and Charles Ehemann, Wixon Fontarome, St. Francis, Wis., as Treasurer.
• Lee Ellen Fox was promoted to Senior Vice President of Industry Relations, and Ellen Moore to Senior Vice President of Business Development at the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Chicago, Ill. Fox, formerly Vice President of Industry Relations, will handle fundraising responsibilities for the foundation’s Hospitality Business Alliance, the International Food Safety Council, and the NRA Foundation and its scholarships program. Moore, formerly Vice President of Business Development, will be responsible for business development, which includes sales, marketing, customer relations, technical education, product development, and research.
• The American Dietetic Association has named the following 1999–2000 officers: Chairman—Polly A. Fitz, Health Training Resources, Branford Conn.; President—Ann Gallagher, F.A. Gallagher and Associates, Fort Wayne, Ind.; President-Elect— Jane V. White, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Knoxville and Memphis; Secretary/Treasurer—Margaret H. Tate, Div. of Chronic Disease Prevention and Nutrition, Virginia Dept. of Health, Richmond; and Secretary/Treasurer-elect—Molly Gee, Inst. for Preventive Medicine, Methodist Hospital, Houston, Tex.
• The International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians (IAMFES) elected the following Board officers for 1999–2000: President—Jack Guzewich, FDA, Washington, D.C.; President-Elect—Jenny Scott, National Food Processors Assn., Washington, D.C.; Vice President—Jim Dickson, Iowa State University, Ames; Secretary—Anna Lammerding, Health Canada, Guelph, Ont., Canada; and Past President—Robert Brackett, University of Georgia, Griffin.
• The National Institute of Oilseed Products has elected the following officers for 1999: President (re-elected for a second term)—Frank Cashio Jr., Thionville Laboratories, Inc., New Orleans, La..; First Vice President—Harry W. True, Frito-Lay, Inc., Dallas, Tex.; Second Vice President—Heinz Fochem, Henkel KgaA, Dusseldorf, Germany; and Secretary/Treasurer—William H. Fraser, Pasternak, Baum & Co., Inc., Greenwich, Conn.
Company News in Brief
• Ashland Specialty Chemical Company, Dublin, Ohio, a division of Ashland Inc., has purchased the remaining 50% ownership in its Austrian joint venture company, Donau Drew, from Donau Chemie, Vienna, Austria. The original joint venture was organized in 1990. The company will operate as a wholly owned affiliate company of Ashland Inc. within Ashland Specialty Company’s Drew Industrial Division. It will service markets in Austria and the former East European region.
• Atalanta Corporation, Elizabeth, N.J., has purchased Camerican International, an importing company which specializes in importing processed seafood, meats, fruits, and vegetables, from ConAgra, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Camerican will continue to operate independently under the name and leadership of its current management.
• Brookside International Incorporated, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Geneva Flavorings, Inc., has acquired Gilette Foods and Gilette Food Flavorings of Union, N.J. Gilette’s current management team will remain in place.
• As it expands its blow molding and injection molding operations, CNC Containers Corporation, Tumwater, Wash., has added 120,000 sq ft to its facility in Commerce, Calif., 100,000 sq ft in Lathrop, Calif., and 66,000 sq ft in Tumwater. The additional space will be used for increased warehouse storage as a result of the installation of four new PET blow molding lines in its plants, with another four on order for installation later this year.
• Dean Foods Company, Franklin Park, Ill., has consolidated production from its Maplehurst Farms dairy operations, Indianapolis, Ind., into other Dean facilities in Indiana and Ohio. The closure will affect approximately 200 jobs at the Indianapolis facility.
• Krupp Werner & Pfleiderer, Ramsey, N.J., has opened a satellite office near Cleveland, Ohio, to better serve its Midwest customers. Michael Kohn will serve as Regional Sales Manager, with a territory encompassing Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, northeast Kentucky, southeastern Michigan, and the area surrounding Sarnia and Windsor, Canada. The address of the new office is 28958 Beechwood Drive, Willowick, OH 44095 (phone 440-585-9142; fax 440-585-9143; e-mail [email protected]; Web site www.kwpc.com).
• McCormick & Company, Inc., Sparks, Md., has announced several actions to streamline operations, primarily in Europe. These include consolidation of certain manufacturing operations in the United Kingdom, improvement of efficiencies within previously consolidated sites, and realignment of operations between the U.K. and other European facilities. Charges associated with these actions and workforce reductions, building and equipment disposals, goodwill write-down, and other related expenses are expected to result in an after-tax amount of $25 million and the elimination of 300 positions.
• On-Line Instrumentation, Inc. has expanded its operations and moved to more spacious premises at 11 Industry St., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (phone 914-452-1500; fax 914-454-4676).
• The Springfield, Ill., manufacturing facility of Perten Instruments, Inc., is being expanded to 11,250 sq ft. The new addition, planned for completion in November 1999, will house new production areas, business offices, applications laboratory, and a state-of-the-art facility for customer training. Perten, based in Stockholm, Sweden, manufactures and sells instruments used for quality control of grain, flour, and food.
• Robertet Flavors, Inc. is opening a new U.S. flavor headquarters in Piscataway, N.J., at 10 Colonial Drive, Piscataway NJ 08854. The $25 million capital investment is HACCP compliant and incorporates the latest techniques in production workflow and logistics, while a state-of-the-art liquid compounding facility and the company’s flavor creation and applications laboratories have been significantly expanded.
• SupHerb Farms, Turlock, Calif., has increased the capacity of its 70,000-sq-ft processing facility in Turlock. The expansion is expected to increase the company’s IQF freezing capacity of leafy herbs, such as basil, oregano, and parsley, by more than 60%.
• Tree Top, Inc., Selah, Wash., has purchased Watermill Foods, Inc., Milton-Freewater, Ore. The acquisition gives Tree Top six plants in Washington State and one in California, as well as an increased capacity for fresh and frozen apple ingredients and frozen cherries and prune-plums.
• Two manufacturers of industrial ovens and food processing equipment, Wolverine, Merrimac, Mass., and Proctor & Schwartz, Horsham, Pa., have merged to become one operating division of Wolverine Corporation. The new division, Wolverine Proctor & Schwartz, will maintain sales offices and manufacturing facilities in Merrimac, with an additional sales office in Horsham and a manufacturing plant in Lexington, N.C.
by BETSY BAIRD
Assistant Editor
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