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      Posted by Bronwyn Foster-Jones on in Food Processing Technology
      food processing industry trends

      5 Food Processing Industry Trends to Change the Future

      Every year, the wants and needs of the public rapidly shift. For food manufacturers and processors in Australia and New Zealand, it’s crucial to stay in the loop. As the landscape constantly evolves, the risk of not keeping pace with important changes could mean the difference between success and failure. 

      Staying on top of leading food processing industry trends can be an all-consuming task, so we’ve listed some of the key ones to help you remain at the forefront. Keep reading to learn about the rise of plant-based food, the demand for sustainable food processing, and the latest technological advancements in food processing equipment.

       Overview:

      Top 5 food processing trends to watch out for in 2021

      1. Food safety and transparency

      In the food processing industry, success is dependent on far more than just the equipment and machinery. Now more than ever, consumers are passing a critical eye over the food they’re consuming. 

      With a heightened awareness of possible safety risks and/or dietary restrictions, it’s fast becoming the expectation from consumers that nothing should be hidden in their food. Where possible, people want convenience and clean eating. By being as transparent as possible with clear labeling, you’re building a trust base with your audience who are savvier than ever. 

      2. Technological advancements

      There are currently 7.5 billion people in the world and as the population surges, so does the demand for low-cost food. To meet this demand whilst remaining profitable, many companies are turning to automation to reduce costs and increase output. By using high-quality, technologically advanced machinery, like the world-class systems FPE provides, you can significantly improve your production output whilst maintaining safe practices. 

      For example, the patented CLO operator safety system from Grasselli ensures their fast, high-yielding machinery is completely safe for your skilled operators. These high-tech investments promise your business greater revenue and less worry.

      Find out more: How To Improve Food Safety Culture In Your Processing Plant

      3. Sustainability

      Sustainability is taking every business by storm and the food processing industry isn’t exempt.  From packaging and distribution to the food product itself, consumers are paying attention to: 

      • Water conservation
      • Natural pest control
      • Distribution
      • Local production

      What is sustainable food processing?

      At its core, sustainable food processing is the practice of moving to production methods with a more environmentally conscious approach. More than ever, consumers are looking at production practices to inform their decision-making process. Changing production, distribution and/or packaging methods (or anything in between) will help ensure the food industry stays ahead of environmental and consumer demands. 

      Find out more: Sustainable Food Manufacturing: Working to a Greener Future

      4. Plant-based foods

      One of the biggest food processing industry trends to arrive in recent years is the shift to plant-based foods. In 2019, one of the biggest alternative meat providers, Beyond Meat, made the business public to the valuation of US1.5B. And in 2020, the world’s largest meat company, JBS, launched meatless protein. 

      Is plant-based a passing trend?

      It’s without a doubt that even those who have their business model based around real meat consumption need to consider bringing on meat-free alternatives. More and more consumers are demanding a plant-based option and in a fast-moving industry it’s best to be ahead of the curve. 

      5. MDX technology

      As far as food processing industry trends go, this one might be the most crucial. MDX (Material Discrimination X-Ray) technology is a high-end inspection technology that can recognise food contaminants based on their chemical composition and density. In the food processing industry, it’s critical that manufacturers can easily detect foreign bodies, like metals, glass and calcified bone, in the product. 

      Single energy X-Ray technology has been the go-to standard for industrial food inspection for many years. As technology has progressed, a gap has been noted in X-Ray’s ability to pick up foreign objects such as:  flat glass, glass shards smaller than 2mm in diameter, rocks and low-density rubbers and plastics. 

      At FPE we supply top of the range MDX machines, which are the next step in X-Ray technology from leading food processing equipment manufacturer, Eagle PI. These dual-energy Eagle X-Ray machines can discriminate materials by their chemical composition (atomic number). This state-of-the-art feature enables food manufacturers to detect historically undetectable inorganic food contaminants, such as:

      • Stones
      • Flat glass
      • Bone
      • Rubber
      • Some plastics

      The food processing industry is forever changing as we continue to better ourselves and meet customer demands. We at FPE, see ourselves as much more than just an equipment supplier. As new trends and technological advancements gather momentum, we adapt what we offer and how we support our food business customers so that you’re at the top of your game. We pride ourselves on our extensive customer support, food processing equipment parts supply, training and maintenance. Contact us today to discuss how we can help your food company turn important food processing industry trends like these into major opportunities. 

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