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The great carbon dioxide crisis in the UK
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingThe majority of my recent dispatches have concerned the problems of supply and demand with certain high-GWP HFCs caused by the onward march of the F-Gas regulations. With everyone continuing to worry about the price of the likes of R404A and R410A, it came us quite a shock for the industry to find itself suddenly in the grip of a full-blown carbon dioxide crisis. In the space of a few days, excitable headlines about a "national CO2 shortage" appeared to have created a self-fulfilling prophecy, and the U.K. quickly found itself in short supply of many forms of the gas.
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Is the future of food in the chemical makeup of dishes?
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageYour future pantry may sport glucose, tartaric acid, piperine and other compounds instead of spice racks. French scientist Hervé This, known for his pioneering technique called note-by-note cuisine, believes the future of food lies in cooking with chemical compounds. More than style and convenience, the method has the potential to increase and improve global food security. Note-by-note cuisine is a style of cooking that employs chemical constituents of traditional ingredients like meat and vegetables instead of the foods themselves.
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5 benefits to plastic food service packaging
Tracy Szwec Food & BeverageToday, it seems that there is a push to move to other products for food service packaging besides plastic. While there is understandably an abundance of plastic being mishandled from the waste standpoint, the reality is that there is no better product to use for packaging of food products, both from a retail and restaurant sales standpoint. Consider these five benefits to choosing plastic.
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Hospital hiring makes big jump, but overall healthcare numbers still lower…
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareHealthcare saw another increase in the number of jobs added in June, and hospitals in particular experienced a plethora of new blood joining their ranks, up 71 percent from the previous month. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' newest jobs report, healthcare has added 309,000 jobs in the last 12 months. Hospitals hired 10,600 new professionals last month. Overall, the U.S. healthcare sector added 25,200 jobs in June, which was actually lower than the 28,900 jobs it added in May.
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Restaurant predictions: More positive for QSRs than casual dining chains?
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThis year, a new record of 46.9 million Americans were predicted to travel 50 miles or farther from home during the July 4th holiday, the highest number since AAA began tracking the statistics in 2000. When more Americans are on the road, more patrons can be expected in hotels and restaurants. For the restaurant industry, then, is the record-breaking number of travelers during the July 4th holiday a good indication of a prosperous second half of 2018?
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What does the European CO2 shortage mean for food and beverage?
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageIt’s horrible timing for Europe. The entire continent is running low on beer supplies due to a carbon dioxide (CO2) shortage. In the U.K., where the problem is the worst, it comes just as millions flock to pubs to watch England’s World Cup run. Food-grade CO2 is often a byproduct of ammonia from fertilizer plants. The closure of European fertilizer plants that produce ammonia has led to the lack of CO2 in the U.K. and Europe. If the crisis deepens, the CO2 shortage could affect other industries beyond food and beverage.
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How food choices impact the environment
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageThere is a growing, worldwide consensus focused on reducing the use of nonrecyclable materials for environmental purposes. A new study conducted by a Swiss research institute and Oxford University says that our food choices can help, too. The researchers calculated the impacts of foods around the globe, and studied the food production chain from the farm to the fork. This extensive study found that switching to a plant-based diet will not only have positive health impacts, but could have a significant impact on the climate as well.
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Automated robotic device draws blood, performs analysis
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareResearchers from Rutgers have developed an automated blood drawing and testing device that promises quick results. Speeding up blood testing could potentially improve hospital workflow and allow practitioners to spend more time treating patients. The research team published a description of their fully automated device online in the journal TECHNOLOGY. "This device represents the holy grail in blood testing technology," said Martin L. Yarmush, senior author of the study, in a press release.
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Ikea to ditch single-use plastics by 2020 as part of sustainability push
Tracy Szwec Waste Management & EnvironmentalIkea announced on June 7 that it would phase out all one-time use plastic products from both stores and restaurants by 2020. Not only does this include the products used in the cafe and store, but it means they will not be selling those products on their shelves. You won’t find freezer bags, garbage bags and the like at Ikea anymore. This big announcement is part of a much broader sustainability plan for the Swedish company.
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McDonald’s opens new HQ; plans to add more self-service kiosks
Linchi Kwok Food & BeverageMcDonald's has moved back to Chicago’s West Loop after 47 years' of operations in the suburb of Oak Brook, Illinois. Now, the company’s brand-new $250 million headquarters is strategically located in an up-and-coming neighborhood known for its trendy restaurants. The move of the company’s headquarters is expected to help McDonald’s cultivate top talent and tap into emerging food crazes and tech trends, according to CEO Steve Easterbrook.
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