Food Processing (U.S.)

By Dr. Heather Fowler, director of producer and public health for the National Pork Board Dr. Heather Fowler is the director of producer and public health for the National Pork Board. In this role, she oversees education, outreach and research for public health and worker safety and health in the swine industry.

Nestle SA over the weekend said a truck transporting 413,793 KitKat bars – that’s 12 tonnes of chocolate candy – went missing and apparently has been stolen during transit in Europe. The shipment disappeared last week en route between production in central Italy and distribution locations throughout Europe, an 800-mile route eventually terminating in Poland.

Charles Sewell, who as co-founder of Sewell Plastics produced the first 2-liter plastic soda bottle, died March 23 in Marietta, Ga., at the age of 93. In 1976, Sewell Plastics produced the prototype polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle for Coca-Cola.

Natural Products Expo West, the huge natural and organic trade show held annually in Anaheim, Calif., just closed its 45th show. Many of the 3,000+ exhibitors at the show entered their new products in the annual Nexty Awards, which honor the most outstanding products in 37 natural products categories (not all of them food or beverage products).

Soft Pretzel Gets a Protein Upgrade The soft pretzel that generations of Americans grew up loving is getting a timely update. J&J Snack Foods Corp. is introducing two new protein-forward frozen Superpretzel products designed to meet evolving snack habits while maintaining the classic taste and texture. Superpretzel Protein Soft Pretzels are Bavarian-style twisted soft pretzels with 10g of plant-based protein per serving. Each box includes four 2.5-oz. pretzels that are vegan and low in fat.

This episode is brought to you by Control Concepts Inc. Food and beverage processing engineers have much to balance when designing and optimizing facilities and production lines — including maintaining optimum food safety and process performance.

J.M. Smucker Co. added two new directors to its board today (Feb. 26), apparently in response to pressure from Elliot Investment Management, which holds a significant stake in the company. Woo-Sung (Bruce) Chung and David Singer will join the board of directors on April 15. “The appointments follow constructive engagement with Elliott Investment Management LP,” the Smucker announcement said.

With the new year come new regulations and trends impacting food safety, as well as some of the same old challenges. This eHandbook will address the prioritization food safety gets in our annual Manufacturing Outlook Survey and a former FDA commissioner's look back at the food safety and regulatory changes from a very chaotic 2025 and what processors can expect in 2026. Sponsored by AQUA-AEROBIC SYSTEMS, INC., Fortress Technology Inc., LJ Star, Pick Heaters, Inc., US Chemical Storage and VEGA

The Global Forum for Plant-Based and Alternative Proteins (GF-PBAP), a nonprofit best known for its webinars, hosted its first in-person event in December at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park, Durham, N.C. Tours, workshops and a robust program covered topics ranging from the protein investment landscape and sustainable food systems to industry trade and innovation, including how to conduct quantitative financial evaluations of DEI benefits.

The Love Language of Breakfast Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Belgian Boys, the women-led company known for its European-inspired refrigerated breakfast foods, brought back Love Bites, its fan-favorite heart-shaped mini pancakes. After debuting in 2025 and selling out quickly, Love Bites is now in expanded availability but for a limited time at Target, HEB, Hy-Vee and online at Misfits Market.