Frozen food sales are thriving, and with their growth comes an increase in energy used to freeze food products.
But that could soon change.
In a study published earlier this month, researchers at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and UC Berkeley revealed that switching from isobaric to isochoric freezing would significantly reduce energy use and the associated carbon emissions by a significant amount. In a press release, Cristina Bilbao-Sainz from ARS said that the shift would be “the equivalent of removing roughly one million cars from roads.”
In isobaric freezing (the traditional method), food is frozen at a constant atmospheric pressure. In isochoric freezing, food is frozen at a constant volume. The food is sealed into a rigid container that’s completely filled with water, and the freezing process happens without turning the food into a solid block of ice.
There are several benefits of isochoric freezing:
But perhaps the biggest benefit of the technology is that it will not require a major investment in equipment — the technology can be used everywhere from a home freezer to a manufacturing plant. The researchers are currently working on scaling the technology for industrial use.
By Krista Garver
Source: foodindustryexecutive.com
Carlsberg has announced the departure of its chief financial officer (CFO), Heine Dalsgaard, after six years in the position. In a statement, Carlsberg said that Dalsgaard was resigning from the post to take up the role of CFO at a private equity-backed company in a different industry.
Kellogg will split into three independent companies to focus on the snack business, Reuters reported Tuesday. The snacking portfolio will comprise the main business, while the North America cereal unit and the plant-based business will be spun off. The company is also considering a sale of the plant-based business.
The snacks giant says the acquisition will help build on its commitment to “lead the future of snacking” in key geographies worldwide. Once the transaction is completed, Mondelēz will continue to operate the Clif Bar business from its headquarters in Emeryville, California. The snack giant will also continue to manufacture Clif Bars’ products, which include Clif Bar, Luna and Clif Kid, at its facilities in Idaho and Indiana.