NEWS & ANALYSIS

INDUSTRY NEWS
Odwalla to use Flow’s Fresher Under Pressure®
Odwalla Inc. has committed to large-scale production use of Flow International Corp.’s Fresher Under Pressure technology.

The system uses ultrahigh pressure to destroy foodborne bacteria and organisms that cause health hazards and spoilage in fresh foods, without compromising their taste, texture, or nutritional value. Odwalla had been using the technology on a small-scale basis for several months. It now plans to expand its installation of the Flow technology for high-volume production, which will include a large portion of its production of “super-premium” fruit and vegetable juice products.

The new system will replace Odwalla’s current use of thermal treatment and will provide the company with the ability to minimally process its products while exceeding government safety standards. It is the latest in a series of companies that have adopted the technology on a full-scale basis, including Hormel Foods Corp., Perdue Farms Inc., and Motivatit Seafoods, Inc. Odwalla, headquartered in Half Moon Bay, Calif., produces lines of all-natural juices, smoothies, dairy-free regular and chocolate milk, dairy-free shakes, spring water, and natural food bars. Based in Kent, Wash., Flow International manufactures ultrahigh-pressure waterjet technology for cutting, cleaning, and food safety applications.

Food spending remains constant
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service has released information showing that food spending in American urban households has remained the same.

The average yearly expenditures on food in urban households remained constant between 1997 and 1998. In 1998, the typical household spent $1,773 per person vs $1,767 the previous year. Of this amount, $1,094 was spent on food consumed at home and $679 on food consumed away from home. In 1997, slightly more ($1,126) was spent on food at home and slightly less ($641) on food consumed away from home.

Detailed tabulations were presented for 133 food categories and 10 household socioeconomic characteristics for 1997 and 1998. The data is from the Consumer Expenditure Diary Surveys prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

ADM to buy U.S. and Caribbean operations of Consolidated Nutrition
Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) plans to acquire the U.S. and Caribbean operations of Consolidated Nutrition, L.C. from Ag Processing Inc. (AGP).

Consolidated Nutrition, which manufactures animal feed, had been operating as a partnership owned 50% each by AGP and ADM since its formation. It is based at AGP headquarters in Omaha, Neb. An additional part of the agreement allows AGP to acquire ADM’s 50% interest in AGP, which markets under the brand name Masterfeeds in Canada.

The agreement will strengthen ADM’s feed business and provide the potential for cost savings within the company’s feed operations, said G. Allen Andreas, ADM Chairman and Chief Executive.

Based in Decatur, Ill., ADM is involved in agricultural processing worldwide. AGP is a cooperative soybean processor and vegetable oil refiner.

Good nutrition may prevent viral infections
A new report shows a possible link between good nutrition and preventing viral infections.

Researchers with the University of North Carolina, the Nestlé Research Center in Switzerland, and the Agricultural Research Service released the report, which will appear online in The FASEB Journal Express.

The discovery, according to the researchers, demonstrates a unique mechanism by which viruses can mutate and points to the importance of antioxidant protection against viral diseases. The selenium level in the study’s deficient diet was one-sixtieth that of the adequate diet.

COMPANY NEWS
American Italian Pasta Co. acquired seven pasta brands from Borden Foods. The purchase price for the trademarks and related businesses is estimated at $67.5 million, plus inventory. The brands include the registered Anthony’s, Globe/A-1, Luxury, Mrs. Grass, Pennsylvania Dutch, R&F, and Ronco. Based in Kansas City, Mo., AIPC produces and markets dry pasta in North America. Borden is based in Columbus, Ohio.

The Fine Ingredients Division (FID) of Ashland Distribution Co. has signed an agreement with Vyse Gelatin Co. to distribute Vyse’s complete line of gelatin products in North America. The products are marketed under a variety of names, including Superclear, Viscomix, Seeclear, Superwhip, Stabilo, Centura, and Vee Gee. Vyse is based in Schiller Park, Ill., and Ashland is based in Dublin, Ohio.

Bunge Corp. has changed its name to Bunge North America, Inc. The company also debuted a new logo bearing the new name. The change highlights the important role the company’s North American operations are to the parent company, Bunge Limited. Headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., Bunge North America is a vertically integrated food and feed ingredient company that supplies raw and processed agricultural commodities and specialized food ingredients to a wide range of customers in the livestock, poultry, food processing, foodservice, and bakery industries.

DuPont entered into an agreement to acquire the Hubei Longyun Protein Food Group’s soy protein facility in Wuhan, China. The estimated total investment is $20 million. The new food and nutrition venture, known as DuPont Yun Meng Protein Company, Ltd., will allow DuPont to expand its soy protein business in Asia. The facility will manufacture high- quality soy protein isolate, with a minimum of 90% protein. DuPont is based in Wilmington, Del.

Environ International Corp. opened a new office in Baton Rouge, La. The new office will enhance the firm’s ability to meet the environmental compliance and management issues of its Gulf Coast clients. Based in Arlington, Va., Environ provides scientific, engineering, and strategic risk management services to clients addressing a wide variety of public health and environmental risks worldwide.

On-line gourmet retailer Gourmay.com (Gourmay, LLC) purchased Southern bakery Willingham Manor to form Southernfood Specialties, which will serve the needs of gourmet specialty food shops throughout the U.S. The acquisition will allow Gourmay, based in Atlanta, Ga., to offer newer and more innovative gourmet food products. Willingham Manor will produce all of the Southernfood Specialties product lines in addition to performing contract baking for other businesses that sell gourmet specialty foods.

Pharmore Ingredients opened a new Sales and Technical Support office in Riverton, Utah. The office will support the company’s national sales and technical efforts. Pharmore supplies high-potency chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, creatine, vitamin B-12 (USP), and other products related to the dietary supplement and functional foods categories.

by SARA LANGEN
Assistant Editor