Researchers at Michigan State University, with support from the Center for Produce Safety, are working on a tool to help leafy greens growers assess the risk of Escherichia coli REPEXH02, a strain linked to multiple outbreaks. The project, led by Teresa Bergholz, involves genetic and environmental analysis to understand the persistence of REPEXH02. The tool will use AI and machine learning to provide risk assessments based on field data.

Category management is evolving as food retailers and manufacturers adapt to rapidly changing shopping trends and the use of AI. Hormel is enhancing its category management by intensifying collaboration across teams and leveraging advanced data analysis, using AI and synthetic consumer panels to convert large volumes of data into meaningful insights that guide category decisions. Kellanova is leveraging demographic data to personalize assortments and is exploring the potential of data cleanrooms for predictive modeling.

M&M Quality Solutions has opened a new cold storage facility within SubTropolis, Kansas City's underground business complex. The underground setting offers a naturally climate-controlled and secure environment, which is particularly well-suited for storing temperature-sensitive products, helping to maintain product integrity and enhance supply chain reliability, says M&M Quality Solutions CEO Brian McMaster.

Voice-picking technology is gaining momentum in warehouses as a user-friendly, rapidly deployable alternative to paper-based picking. The technology, valued at $2.5 billion globally in 2023 and projected to grow by 15% by 2030, leverages AI-powered speech recognition to enable workers to operate hands-free and screen-free. Key benefits include faster onboarding, reduced errors, and adaptability to noisy environments, making it especially attractive for sectors like food and beverage distribution.

Nitrite provides critical antimicrobial protection in meat products by inhibiting the growth of dangerous pathogens like Clostridium botulinum, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus, write researchers and scientists from the Danish Meat Research Institute. Its effectiveness depends on factors such as salt concentration, pH and storage conditions. While nitrite alone offers substantial safety against these microorganisms, combining it with other preservatives like lactate or acetate can further enhance antimicrobial effects, especially when nitrite levels are reduced. It is particularly valuable in preventing the germination and growth of spore-forming pathogens, the researchers argue, supporting both food safety and product shelf life.

A growing number of breweries, including Guinness and New Belgium Brewing, are turning to heat pump technology to help meet their net-zero goals, by adopting heat pumps to either supplement or replace traditional gas boilers -- a move that reduces emissions and operational costs. Heineken's Manchester facility and Diageo's St. James's Gate Guinness site are also implementing heat pump systems as part of their decarbonization strategies.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are set to stop as soon as Saturday amid the government shutdown -- a move that could negatively impact the nation's most vulnerable families as well as food retailers. FMI -- The Food Industry Association and other industry groups have urged Congress to reopen the government to ensure continuous SNAP funding. "We urge Congress to move forward now on a path that reopens the government and ensures families relying on SNAP can access their November benefits without interruption or delay," said FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher.