Frozen Food & Category Moves
Nomad Publishes Major Frozen Food Storage Study in Scientific Journal
Nomad Foods published a peer-reviewed study showing frozen foods can be safely stored at -15°C instead of the traditional -18°C, reducing energy use by 7% while maintaining quality and safety.
This research provides scientific validation for adjusting storage temperatures in frozen food supply chains, which could lead to significant energy savings and sustainability improvements across cold storage operations.
The study challenges the long-standing -18°C standard and offers a data-backed pathway for reducing energy consumption in frozen food storage without compromising product integrity or safety.
Finding Value in Food Left Behind
AFFI's new food waste guide encourages frozen food processors to identify and reduce waste by rethinking how they handle discarded ingredients during production.
Frozen food processors can improve yield, reduce costs and create value by examining waste streams and identifying opportunities for reuse or repurposing of discarded ingredients.
This guide provides actionable strategies for frozen food manufacturers to optimize production efficiency and sustainability by re-evaluating waste management practices.
J.M. Smucker and Golden West Team Up in Frozen Fruit Crumb Pie Launch
J.M. Smucker and Golden West have launched a new line of frozen fruit crumb pies, including peach, apple, cherry, and mixed berry flavors, available for direct baking from the freezer without thawing.
The launch of ready-to-bake frozen fruit crumb pies introduces a new product category in the frozen food aisle, offering convenience and variety for retail and foodservice operators.
This product launch highlights a growing trend in frozen desserts and baked goods, with a focus on convenience and natural ingredients, which could influence frozen food manufacturers and retailers.
Cold Chain, Refrigeration & Logistics
10 Blind Spots in Cold Chain Risk Management You Might Not Know You Have
A new article highlights 10 blind spots in cold chain risk management, emphasizing gaps in visibility, data fragmentation, and alert fatigue that can lead to costly failures in temperature-sensitive freight.
The article identifies critical vulnerabilities in cold chain operations that can affect frozen food shipments, including fragmented data, delayed alerts, and insufficient condition monitoring beyond GPS tracking.
This analysis underscores the need for integrated cold chain systems that provide real-time condition monitoring and centralized data access to prevent spoilage and ensure compliance for frozen food and food shipments.
Packaging, Materials & Sustainability
Packaging industry turns to digital tools to tackle supply chain hurdles
Packaging firms are deploying RFID, NFC, QR codes, and IoT sensors to boost supply chain visibility, reduce waste, and enhance traceability, with Avery Dennison, Polytag, and BoxWay leading the effort.
Digital packaging solutions improve traceability and inventory control in frozen food supply chains, enabling operators to track products, minimize waste, and comply with regulations more efficiently.
The adoption of digital packaging tools offers a direct upgrade for frozen food operators aiming to enhance transparency and efficiency in cold-chain logistics and compliance.
Food Safety & Regulation
Is Your Manufacturing Facility Prepared for Future Food Safety Risks?
Food manufacturers must reassess their facilities for future food safety risks as pathogens evolve and operations change over time, requiring updated hygiene and design practices.
The evolving nature of food safety risks demands that frozen food manufacturers continuously evaluate their facilities to prevent contamination from emerging pathogens and operational changes.
This article emphasizes the need for frozen food manufacturers to proactively update their food safety plans as production changes, ensuring facilities remain resilient to new contamination risks.
From Farm to Threat: Integrating Biosurveillance, Biointelligence, and Biosecurity (B3) into the Food Safety Enterprise—Part 1
Auburn University has developed the AU-BISR system, a biosurveillance framework designed to detect biological threats in food systems weeks before clinical cases or recalls occur.
The system provides early detection capabilities that could enhance safety protocols in frozen food processing and cold-chain logistics by identifying threats before contamination spreads.
This technology aligns with operational needs for proactive threat detection in food manufacturing, offering a potential tool for integrating biosurveillance into existing safety frameworks.
Pathogens Found on Brazilian Citrus Fruit Present Emerging Food Safety Concerns
Pathogens Escherichia albertii and Kosakonia cowaniii were found on Brazilian Rangpur limes, raising concerns about food safety and One Health implications due to their resistance and virulence traits.
The discovery of emerging pathogens on citrus fruit highlights potential risks for food safety across the supply chain, including frozen food operations that may use such produce in raw or minimally processed forms.
The presence of these pathogens on citrus fruit suggests a need for enhanced microbial monitoring in frozen food supply chains, especially where raw fruits are used in products without final kill-steps.
After Upside Foods: Implications for State Cultivated Meat Bans, Federal Preemption, and Industry Compliance
A Florida court ruled that state cultivated meat bans can coexist with federal regulations, creating regulatory conflicts for food industry operators.
This decision complicates compliance for companies distributing cultivated meat across states, requiring tailored strategies to navigate varying state laws and federal preemption issues.
The ruling increases operational complexity for food firms, necessitating careful legal and regulatory planning to manage product availability and distribution across jurisdictions.
California Natural Color Names Amy Rapier Quality Director
California Natural Color has appointed Amy Rapier as quality director, overseeing food safety, ingredient sourcing, product development and regulatory compliance.
The appointment strengthens oversight of ingredient sourcing and compliance, critical for frozen food manufacturers relying on natural colorants and safe supply chains.
Rapier's background in quality program development adds credibility to California Natural Color's role as a supplier to frozen food industries requiring consistent, safe ingredients.
Brazil expects EU poultry exports to resume after audit
Brazil expects to resume EU poultry exports after a successful audit following its removal from the approved supplier list earlier this year.
The resumption of EU poultry exports from Brazil could influence global supply chains, including frozen food processors reliant on poultry imports and cold-chain logistics operators handling international shipments.
This development may ease supply constraints for frozen food manufacturers sourcing poultry and could impact cold-chain logistics planning for international trade routes.
Hain Celestial wins extension to regain Nasdaq listing compliance
Hain Celestial has received an extension until March 2027 to regain Nasdaq listing compliance after its shares fell below the $1 minimum trading threshold.
The company's financial instability may limit its ability to fund food safety initiatives, quality control, and supply chain operations, affecting its frozen food and retail capabilities.
Hain Celestial’s compliance challenges and financial pressures could constrain investment in operational resilience and food safety infrastructure.
Potato, Bakery, Seafood & Ingredients
Elea: What we learned at PEF Advantage Day and where PEF is heading next
Elea Technology showcased advancements in pulsed electric field (PEF) technology at PEF Advantage Day, emphasizing process monitoring and industrial applications, including a potato PEF treatment line demonstration.
The integration of PEF technology with real-time process monitoring offers frozen potato processors a way to enhance product quality and production efficiency through precise treatment control.
PEF technology's ability to monitor and adjust processing conditions in real time could improve consistency and reduce waste in frozen potato processing operations.
Tiefkühlkost: McCain stoppt Bau von Fabrik in Deutschland
McCain has canceled its planned frozen potato factory in Germany after reassessing the project's competitiveness, though alternative options remain under consideration.
The decision affects frozen potato manufacturing capacity in Europe and reflects shifting investment priorities within the frozen food industry.
McCain's cancellation underscores ongoing economic challenges in frozen potato production and may reshape regional expansion strategies.
Manufacturing, Automation & Operations
How to Accelerate Water and Energy Pilot Projects with Data Context Tools
Food manufacturing plants are facing rising energy and water costs, prompting a shift toward AI and data context tools to improve efficiency and reduce operational expenses.
Rising energy and water costs are a critical concern for frozen food manufacturers, making AI-driven data context tools essential for optimizing plant operations and reducing overhead.
This article highlights how data context tools can help frozen food processors manage energy and water costs more effectively by enabling scalable AI analytics across diverse plant operations.
Market Data & Strategic Signals
Diesel Hits Record High, Driver Pay Up 50%
Diesel prices have reached a record high of $6.53 per gallon, increasing operating costs for trucking companies by 40-50% since 2019, with driver pay rising sharply and fuel surcharge recovery remaining incomplete.
The rising cost of diesel and increasing driver pay are directly impacting cold-chain logistics expenses, potentially affecting frozen food transportation costs and pricing strategies across the supply chain.
The operational link is clear for cold-chain operators, as higher fuel and labor costs may pressure margins and necessitate rate adjustments or route optimization in frozen food transport.