Frozen Food & Category Moves
E. coli outbreak tied to frozen berries sold at Walmart and Publix has ended
An E. coli outbreak linked to frozen blueberries from Chile sold at Walmart and Publix has ended after 17 cases in Florida and Georgia, with the supplier added to an FDA import alert.
The incident highlights traceability and supplier verification needs in frozen food supply chains, directly impacting safety protocols and import compliance for retailers and processors.
This outbreak reinforces the necessity of rigorous pathogen testing and supplier oversight in frozen berry production, particularly for international imports handled by retail and foodservice operators.
Survey Says McDonald’s Fries Rank #1 Among USA Fast Food Restaurants
A survey ranks McDonald’s fries as the top fast food fries in the USA, with 99.7% of respondents having tried them and an average rating of 7.3 out of 10.
McDonald’s fry dominance highlights consumer preference trends that may influence frozen potato processors and foodservice operators in product development and sourcing strategies.
The survey underscores the importance of fry quality and consumer preference, which may guide frozen potato suppliers and foodservice chains in product development and sourcing strategies.
Cold Chain, Refrigeration & Logistics
Subzero Logistics More Than Doubles Cold Storage Capacity
Subzero Logistics expanded cold storage capacity by over 100% in St. Louis using high-density racking, VNA lift trucks and lithium-ion power within existing facility constraints.
The approach demonstrates scalable storage optimization for cold-chain operators facing land-use limitations, leveraging automation and battery tech to boost density without site expansion.
This project shows how vertical space and modern equipment can address capacity pressures in established cold storage sites, offering a model for frozen food logistics providers with similar constraints.
Packaging, Materials & Sustainability
Precision meets vision: Laser Micro Perforation with camera control in food packaging
Laser micro-perforation with camera control in food packaging offers precise gas exchange for fresh produce, improving shelf life and reducing waste through modified atmosphere packaging.
This technology enhances packaging precision for gas exchange, which is critical for maintaining quality in frozen and fresh produce, reducing spoilage and improving supply chain efficiency.
The integration of real-time vision systems in laser perforation ensures consistent packaging quality, which is essential for frozen food and fresh produce operators aiming to reduce waste and optimize shelf life.
UK and EU recyclability rules risk widening packaging compliance gap
UK and EU packaging recyclability rules differ significantly, creating compliance challenges for global brands and cross-border trade in packaging materials.
The operational link is the potential for frozen food packaging suppliers to face increased costs and compliance complexity due to divergent UK and EU recyclability standards.
Frozen food packaging suppliers may need to adapt to multiple recyclability frameworks, increasing costs and complicating cross-border trade in the frozen food sector.
Alpla builds its Türkiye footprint
Alpla expands its production footprint in Türkiye with new facilities in İzmir and Adana, increasing its annual processing capacity from 90,000 to 120,000 tonnes.
The expansion enhances Alpla’s ability to supply packaging solutions closer to customers in Türkiye, which may influence frozen food and cold-chain operators sourcing packaging in the region.
The new facilities could improve supply chain efficiency for frozen food manufacturers and cold-chain logistics providers operating in Türkiye and surrounding regions.
California governor vetoes updates to SB 54’s plastic pollution fund
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 1180, a bill that would have updated the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund, citing potential complications with implementing SB 54.
The veto affects the structure and distribution of funds aimed at reducing plastic pollution, which may influence packaging sustainability strategies for frozen food and cold-chain operators in California.
The decision impacts how funds are allocated for environmental initiatives, potentially affecting packaging material choices and compliance strategies for frozen food companies in the state.
Food Safety & Regulation
Cleaning and Sanitation: Organize and Record your data with the Right Tools
Cleaning and sanitation data management is critical for food safety compliance, with software tools helping manufacturers organize and analyze operational data for inspections and risk mitigation.
Effective sanitation data tracking ensures compliance with food safety regulations and helps frozen food manufacturers identify risks early through integrated operational insights.
The integration of sanitation data with AI and machine learning offers frozen food processors a proactive approach to compliance and quality assurance, reducing inspection risks and improving process efficiency.
Pet industry launches shared platform for food contact safety data
PETCORE EUROPE and KÖR have launched GeNi, a shared platform to consolidate interlaboratory testing data on food contact substances across the PET value chain.
The platform addresses fragmented testing methods for food contact substances, improving comparability and supporting food safety compliance across the packaging supply chain.
For frozen food operators, the relevance is in packaging material safety and regulatory compliance, as the platform may help identify risks in recycled content used in frozen food packaging.
How Ferrero is strengthening sustainability from farm to factory
Ferrero's Sustainability Report highlights progress in traceability, emissions reduction, and sustainable packaging, emphasizing its commitment to environmental and social responsibility across its supply chain.
The operational link is the focus on sustainable packaging and traceability, which are critical for frozen food manufacturers aiming to meet evolving consumer and regulatory expectations around sustainability and transparency.
Ferrero's emphasis on sustainable packaging and traceability offers a model for frozen food companies seeking to align with global sustainability standards while maintaining supply chain integrity.
Corrective Actions as Preventive Intelligence: Embedding Root Cause Analysis Into Everyday Food Safety Management
A Food Safety Magazine article highlights integrating root cause analysis into routine food safety practices to prevent recurring contamination issues through systematic identification of underlying vulnerabilities.
Root cause analysis in food safety management helps frozen food operators identify systemic issues in sanitation, equipment, and training before they lead to contamination outbreaks or regulatory non-compliance.
Embedding root cause analysis into daily operations shifts food safety from reactive compliance to proactive prevention, reducing long-term risks for frozen food manufacturers and cold-chain logistics.
Analysis of EU RASFF Data Finds Aflatoxins, Imported Foods Lead Mycotoxin-Related Notifications
Analysis of EU RASFF data from 2020 to 2024 shows aflatoxins and ochratoxins account for 84% and 15% of mycotoxin notifications, with 90% involving imported foods from Türkiye and the U.S.
The dominance of aflatoxins in imported products signals heightened risk for frozen food processors and cold-chain operators sourcing raw materials and finished goods globally.
This trend reinforces the need for rigorous supplier testing and verification protocols for ingredients from Türkiye and the U.S. to prevent mycotoxin contamination in frozen food production.
Across the Nutraverse: Andrographis in Australia, botanical adulteration, perimenopause in focus
Australia's TGA has removed Andrographis paniculata from its list of permitted ingredients for new listed medicines due to severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, reported after its use in supplements and traditional medicine.
The removal of Andrographis highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny of botanical ingredients, which may influence safety protocols and supplier verification processes for food and supplement manufacturers relying on herbal components.
This regulatory action underscores the growing emphasis on safety and traceability in botanical ingredients, which could impact frozen food and supplement manufacturers using such components in their formulations.
Ep. 226: Jules Shepard: From Celiac Disease Advocacy to Gluten-Free Food Manufacturing
Jules Shepard, founder of gfJules, discusses gluten-free food manufacturing, labeling challenges, and food safety practices in a Food Safety Magazine podcast episode.
The discussion highlights allergen control and labeling accuracy for frozen food producers handling gluten-free and allergen-sensitive products.
This episode offers insights into gluten-free manufacturing standards and labeling practices relevant to frozen food producers with allergen-free product lines.
Site Selection Shift: Cost Is Out, Resilience Is In
Manufacturers are prioritizing resilience over cost in site selection, focusing on energy stability, labor availability, logistics efficiency, and geopolitical risks when choosing facility locations.
Frozen food producers must evaluate energy reliability, labor access, and geopolitical factors in site decisions to ensure supply chain stability and operational continuity.
The shift underscores growing pressure on frozen food manufacturers to balance cost with resilience, requiring strategic reassessment of facility locations to mitigate risks from energy volatility and supply chain disruptions.
Manufacturing, Automation & Operations
Kikkoman Opens Third U.S. Production Facility
Kikkoman has opened a third U.S. production facility in Jefferson, Wisconsin, expanding capacity to meet growing demand for soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, and other seasonings across retail, foodservice, and food manufacturing channels.
The expansion supports scalable production of diverse packaging formats and sustainability initiatives, offering insights into flexible manufacturing strategies for other food processors.
The facility's design emphasizes adaptability and digital integration, providing a blueprint for producers aiming to balance traceability, sustainability, and multi-channel distribution needs.