Top Food & Bev Industry Posts You Missed in February

The food and beverage industry started to make a turn in the COVID-19 crisis in February as protein companies started to vaccinate their workers at facilities across the country. During the month, several major capital projects were announced, including a new compound animal feed “super-mill,” and some major fires captured headlines. Powder & Bulk Solids editors selected these posts to provide our audience with an overview of some of the most interesting food and beverage-related news that was reported in the last month.

How the Meat Industry is Vaccinating Its Workforce
Powder & Bulk Solids provides a look at how some of the biggest meat processing companies are implementing their COVID-19 vaccination programs and the role that industry organizations and lawmakers are playing in distributing the drugs and prioritizing access.

15 Fire Crews Respond to Conveyor Fire at Sugar Plant
A fire broke out in a piece of conveying equipment at the British Sugar plant in Bury St. Edmonds, UK last month, prompting a response from 15 area fire crews. The company has initiated an investigation into the incident.

Report: Zero Fatalities from Grain Dust Explosions in 2020
Nine injuries and zero fatalities were logged during the eight grain dust explosions that were recorded in the US during 2020, according to the latest edition of Purdue University’s annual report on grain dust explosions.

Kraft Heinz Selling Nuts Business to Hormel Foods
The Kraft Heinz Co. has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its nuts business to Hormel Foods Corp. in a cash transaction for $3.35 billion. The proposed transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to regulatory review and approval.

Firm to Build “Super-Mill” for Compound Animal Feed
Animal feed company ABN revealed plans in late February for a new “super mill” for compound animal feed in the UK that will have a capacity of 1 million tn/yr of pig and poultry feed.

Kellogg Company to Cut 250 Jobs at Crackers and Cookies Plant
American food manufacturer Kellogg Company is planning to reduce the workforce of its cracker plant in Mariemont, OH by about 250 workers after it shuts down two production lines at the site and a major contract expires.

Cargill Introduces New Seaweed Powder Food Ingredient
American agribusiness Cargill debuted a new seaweed powder food ingredient for food manufacturers last month, expanding its portfolio of label-friendly products. The company said it is the first to provide commercial scale amounts of the ingredient in the European market.

Large Dryer Fire Breaks out at Perdue Grain Facility
Firefighters were called to the Perdue Grain facility in Chesapeake, VA after a large blaze ignited in a four-story grain drying tower at the site. Workers evacuated the facility during the incident and the fire was brought under control after several hours.

John Oliver Calls Out Worker Conditions in Meat Plants
The host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, John Oliver, used the pandemic’s impact on meat plant workers as a springboard to criticize companies like JBS, Tyson, and Cargill for what he describes as long-standing occupational safety issues in meatpacking operations.

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