Food For Thought

Seeking Top End Durability, Maintenance, Efficiency Through Drive Technology

The unsung heroes of a processing plant’s operation, drives and motors keep operations running effectively and efficiently — and often aren’t noticed unless they’re not performing up to standards for throughput, efficiency and food safety. Tony Pariseau, key market specialist for food and beverage at Nord Drivesystems, joined us recently to share what the team at Nord views as pushing the envelope of innovation in drive technology in the food & beverage industry today. This episode is sponsored by Nord Drivesystems.

How and Why Processors Should Bolster Their Cyber Defense Efforts Now

Kristin Demoranville is the founder and CEO of AnzenSage, a cybersecurity firm focused on the food sector. In this episode of the Food For Thought podcast, Kristin offers her thoughts on where the food and beverage industry stands on cybersecurity and what processors should be doing to bolster their defenses and champion the cause within their organizations. Read more on our Web page.

Putting IIoT to Work in Food & Beverage Plants

Today's episode is sponsored by Motion.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has taken hold of much of the manufacturing world, and food and beverage processors who haven’t yet implemented the technology will soon fall behind.
In this episode, we spoke with James Howe, executive vice president - chief commercial officer/chief technology officer for Motion, to learn where the food and beverage industry stands on IIoT implementation, what processors can do now to begin their journey down the path to IIoT success, and how to overcome the hesitance that might hinder more traditional operations.
Learn more about Motion
Read the transcript of this episode on the Food Processing website
 

The Issues and Challenges Driving Food Safety Strategy and Policies at USDA-FSIS

Sandra Eskin, deputy under secretary for Food Safety with USDA-FSIS, joins us to discuss a variety of topics, from worker and food safety impacts of increased poultry and pork line speeds to the data revolution and how it could affect the agency's efforts, as well as FSIS' proposal to declare Salmonella an adulterant in breaded, stuffed, raw chicken products. Read more about other challenges and issues in food safety at Food Processing's Web site.

Introducing A New Voice on the Food For Thought Podcast Channel

Erin Hallstrom officially hands over the microphone for the Food For Thought Podcast to Food Processing senior editor Andy Hanacek, as Hallstrom moves to a greater role within FP's parent company.

The World’s First Flavor Enhancing Sweetener

Today’s episode is sponsored by Silky Smooth MicroCreamery, the creators of SilkySweet
Necessity is the mother of invention; or at least that’s how the saying goes. For Chuck Nix, the need to create the perfect sweetener for ice cream led him to create SilkySweet, a flavor-enhancing, all-natural, sugar-free and ketogenic certified sweetener blend for a multitude of products.
Nix, who founded Silky Smooth MicroCreamery, transformed his life his few years ago by adopting the ketogenic lifestyle (aka, the Keto Diet).
After losing 100 pounds “and saving my life,” he says, he recognized the need for a sweetener that was not only healthy, but also enhanced the flavor of the products it was used with. 
Nix sat down with Food Processing recently to talk about the SilkySweet product, how it got its start and how it can used in formulations to both enhance taste and enable category leadership. 
Learn more about Silky Sweet and order your samples today 
Read the transcript of this episode on the Food Processing website

Combining High-Shear Mixing with Trusted Partnership

This episode is sponsored by EnSight Solutions. 
How well do you know high shear mixing? Here to talk more about it is Don Wolfe, Product Line Manager for EnSight Solutions.
We talk why and how high shear mixing is used as well as how to get the most out of your mixer. We cap the episode off talking about what it means to be a trusted partner with EnSight Solutions. 
Learn more about EnSight SolutionsRead the transcript of this episode on the Food Processing website

Keeping Products Safe with Food-Safe Robotics

In this episode, sponsored by EnSight Solutions, we’re talking with Heath Clifton, Director of Automation and Controls about food-safe robotics.
We talk about what food-safe robotics are as well as the difference between hygienic and sanitary robotics before turning our attention toward the key features processors should they look for when evaluating robotics. 
Read the full transcript on the Food Processing website

Finding and Retaining Talent in the Food & Beverage Industry

We’re capping off our conversation about food and beverage workforce issues with return guest Jennifer D’Angelo. 
Jennifer, who is a vice president at Catena Solutions, was on back in March talking about the correlation between the supply chain and workforce issues in the food and beverage industry. On today’s episode, we dig a little bit deeper about those issues and about the future of work for food manufacturers. 
From interpreting job-fulfillment data to rethinking and retooling job descriptions, onboarding, and mentorship, you won’t want to miss this tip-filled episode. 
Visit our website for the timestamps of this week's episode

Staying Up To Speed With Freezer Door Solutions

Many in the production industry don’t realize the importance of high-quality doors to a facility’s success. In fact, high-performance doors can help your company save money and manpower — and increase productivity. This is especially true for those in the cold storage and food industries.
To explore the ins and outs of the high-performance door market and what doors might be best for your company, Food Processing sat down with Whitney Hopper, Director of Sales Cold Storage North America at Hörmann, to discuss.
Today's Episode is Sponsored by Hörmann
Learn more about Hörmann High-Performance Doors on their website
Read the transcript of this episode on the Food Processing website