Food Technology Updates

• Pioneer Hi-Bred’s genetically engineered soybean may make an oil that has no trans fats. The high-oleic oil may last 3x-5x longer in commercial fryers than most zero-trans-fat oils.

• Frito-Lay’s Sun Chips will be in compostable packages by next year that use layers of plant-based film instead of conventional packaging.

• In the race to “who’s is bigger,” sustainability is now a major buzz word. New CPG (consumer package goods) launches for 2009 to date claiming to be “sustainable,” “environmentally friendly” or “eco-friendly” topped 450, a pace that will triple those carrying these vague and most-useless monikers from last year’s total which was double the number in 2007. Does this mean a Department of Sustainability will be formed by the Obama administration to promulgate rules on what exactly “sustainable” and “eco-friendly” mean?

• While semanticists struggle with marketing-speak, Whole Foods is putting its money where it’s PR is by adding solar power to 20 stores. Wags and skeptics will point out this is less than 10% of the company’s 275 locations, but plans are in place to offset all of the company’s non-renewable electricity with wind power, along with retro-fitting existing stores with more efficient lighting and equipment to reduce overall energy consumption.

• In other “green” news, Mars, Incorporated is directing its 5 divisions (Chocolate, Pet Care, Wrigley, Food, and Drinks) to work with the recycling company TerraCycle to convert waste into products. Of course, “upcycling” sounds better than “recycling,” and the new buzz word for upcycled waste is “repurposed.” Plans are to convert package waste into cell phone covers, laptop sleeves and messenger bags, among other product ideas. The partnership is part of Mars’ efforts to reduce landfill shipments by 3%. Skeptics will point out that recycling centers are choked with unsalable materials already that are looking for “re-purposing.”

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