FoodPAC Technical Committees to Select FY 2009 Research Program

FoodPAC’s FY 2009 Call for Program Proposals received 32 submissions. The submitted proposals were divided among FoodPAC’s three research focus areas as follows: 14 Process and Product Improvement, 11 Food Safety and Health, and 7 Environmental. These proposals request funding totaling more than $3.4 million. FoodPAC’s leadership hopes to receive $1.3 million in state funds for project funding in FY 2009. (As of this writing, the General Assembly had yet to approve the FY 2009 budget.)

 

Annual Report Changes to Four-Color Format

FoodPAC’s 2007 Annual Report was released this past December. The new report now boasts a four-color format and an added Program Highlights/Financial Summary section. In addition, the report gives an overview of the Traditional Industries Program for Food Processing, provides the FoodPAC committee leadership listing, and highlights the research results of projects conducted during FY 2007 as well as activity plans for FY 2008.

The report is available to all members of Georgia’s food processing industry. If you did not receive a copy or would like an additional copy, contact Kristi Spivey at (404) 894-3412 or email kristi.spivey@gtri.gatech.edu. The report can also be viewed electronically on the FoodPAC website at here.

 

Website Gets New Look

Have you noticed our recently redesigned website? Log onto www.foodpac.gatech.edu to see a return to FoodPAC’s traditional blue and white color scheme. And as always, you can access previous issues of The Food Chain, FoodPAC Annual Reports, as well as learn more about FoodPAC and Georgia ’s food industry.

Kudos to Steven Thomas for creating the new look.

 

Project Spotlight

Imaging and Oven Control Development for Bottom Color of Baked Goods

The baking industry is the third largest segment of Georgia’s food processing industry (13% by sales volume) with operations located throughout the state. One of the largest segments of the market is buns and rolls for food service and fast food customers. A growing number of these customers are placing increasing demands on quality control for bun size, shape, color, and topping coverage (sesame seeds, etc.). Accurate control of the quality is challenging considering the high-volume production, with rates of up to 1,000 buns per minute on a line. The high volume also indicates the need for automated control (correcting a drifting color before it goes out of specification would save thousands of buns). The standard inspection process is for workers to remove a few samples of the product periodically and to inspect both the top and bottom manually against customer specifications. Interest is building for a more accurate and uniform assessment process, and a means to actively control this product.

Researchers with Georgia Tech’s Food Processing Technology Division along with industrial partners Baking Technology, Inc. and Flowers Foods are developing an imaging system to inspect the bottom color and characteristics of baked buns for automated feedback to an oven control system. The team has designed a conveyor system that enables a view of the bottom of the product.

 

Researcher Profile

Jinru Chen

Principal Investigator of FY 2008 Project:
“Use of a Multiphase Antimicrobial/Modified Atmosphere Packaging Material/Technology to Control the Safety and Quality of Processed, Ready-to-Eat Meats”

Job title: Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia.

 

Industrial Partners: A Closer Look

As a part of Georgia’s Traditional Industries Program, FoodPAC was designed to bring industry leaders and university-based researchers together to develop and implement practical solutions to improve industrial competitiveness. FoodPAC’s industrial partners represent companies across the food manufacturing sector, ranging from fruits and vegetables to beef and poultry. In each issue, The Food Chain will take a closer look at one of these partners.

 

Check the Publications page for archived issues of our newsletter, The Food Chain, and FoodPAC's Reports to Industry (annual reports), which give an overview of the research being performed within the Traditional Industries Program.

Also available are the Operational Guidelines for FoodPAC.

 

Help Us Update Our Mailing List

If you know of someone who would like to receive The Food Chain, please email their name, company, and address to angela.colar@gtri.gatech.edu.