inStorebuyer - May 2011 - 28

foodsafety
EXPERT ADVICE ON HANDLING FOOD

lids for hot, cold, and fresh prepared food applications. These containers withstand temperatures up to 230ºF and are available in combo packs, and bulk lid or bulk cup pack. Another innovative line is Anchor’s MicroRaves, which are microwave-safe polypropylene takeout containers with black bases and clear lids that withstand temperatures up to 230ºF under heat lamps and in warming units.

Instore Developments
In 2010, the Giant Eagle supermarket chain recycled more than 67,000 tons of cardboard, 1,372 tons of plastic film, 820 tons of mixed paper and more than 2,239 tons of cooking oil, fat and bones. The company is also involved in various U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiatives, including the Green Power Partnership, the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, the SmartWay Transport Partnership and the ENERGY STAR Partnership. On the packaging front, Giant Eagle features sustainability-driven innovations like the 100% recyclable Eco-Light Bottle, with a contoured shape to offer a perfect combination of function, design and environmental consideration. Since the bottle is lighter, it also requires less energy to produce, so the end result is a reduced carbon footprint. Continuing its role as a leading grocery retailer in the area of environmental sustainability, Albertsons,

part of the nationwide Supervalu family of grocery stores, announced late last year that two of its Santa Barbara stores have reached “zero waste” classification in their daily operations. Through a combination of innovative recycling programs, a food donation program and a joint organic composting program with the City of Santa Barbara, the two stores now divert all non-contaminated waste from landfills and incinerators. In total, over 95% of all waste products from both stores are recycled, reused or composted – exceeding the 90% threshold commonly recognized as zero waste. “Albertsons, and Supervalu as a whole, is committed to leading the way on environmental sustainability and diverting all possible waste from our Santa Barbara stores is a major accomplishment in this effort,” said Rick Crandall, Director of Sustainability at Albertsons. “In addition to keeping waste out of our landfills, we are charting a course for the future of our stores– one that will not only help our environment and the communities we serve, but also the overall success of our business.”

Government Standards
The food industry is facing tighter standards on food safety, making the need for safe and effective takeout food packaging all the more important. On May 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced two

new regulations that will help ensure the safety and security of foods in the United States. The rules are the first to be issued by the FDA under the new authorities granted the agency by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law by President Obama in January. Both rules will take effect July 3, 2011. The first rule strengthens FDA’s ability to prevent potentially unsafe food from entering commerce. It allows the FDA to administratively detain food the agency believes has been produced under insanitary or unsafe conditions. Previously, the FDA’s ability to detain food products applied only when the agency had credible evidence that a food product presented was contaminated or mislabeled in a way that presented a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans. Beginning in July, the FDA will be able to detain food products that it has reason to believe are adulterated or misbranded for up to 30 days, if needed, to ensure they are kept out of the marketplace. The products will be kept out of the marketplace while the agency determines whether an enforcement action such as seizure or federal injunction against distribution of the product in commerce is necessary. “This authority strengthens significantly the FDA’s ability to keep potentially harmful food from reaching U.S. consumers,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods Mike Taylor. JOHN UNREIN

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inStorebuyer - May 2011

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