How Canadian Technology Is Tackling The Food Waste Crisis

Nanotechnology

Jay Subramanian, a plant agriculture professor at the University of Guelph, and his team of biotech scientists have devised a food spray that the CBC reports "uses a nanotechnology-based application of hexanal, a natural plant extract that prevents fruit spoilage."

This enzyme-inhibiting hexanal slows ripening by preserving a fruit's cellular walls, extending shelf life by as much as 50 per cent. Mangoes keep fresh up to 23 days, bananas up to 40 days and peaches and nectarines last another 10 days beyond their current single week. It also increases farmer revenues 15 per cent.

Fruit is one of food waste's biggest culprits -- 30 percent of fruits and veggies don't even get on store shelves -- making this invention a potentially huge player in addressing the issue.

Hyperspectral Chemical Imaging

About 18 per cent of food waste happens at the manufacturing level, according to a report by Ontario's Provision Coalition, "the food and beverage manufacturers' one-stop source for sustainability."

One solution to reducing that waste may be "hyperspectral chemical imaging technology for production line grading and sorting of leafy greens, carrots and potatoes," reports Food in Canada, a food and beverage processing industry publication.

The initiative is a collaboration between Ippolito Fruit & Produce, Riga Farms, EarthFresh Foods and Amazing Grains working with Ontario chemical imaging company P&P Optica and industrial equipment company Axiom Millwrighting & Fabrication. The University of Guelph and Conestoga College will be in charge of testing the technology's effectiveness.

"Currently, many produce manufacturers in Canada are using aging technology for sorting and grading. At Ippolito, we connected with our industry peers to explore and then implement new technology – technology that has broader food industry application and will be shared with companies across the country," CEO Joel Ippolito told Food in Canada.

Apps: Ubifood

Inspired by a friend's sushi shop tossing out unsold food at day's end, despite being sold at a discount, Ubifood founder Caroline Pellegrini decided that an app would be the best way to connect consumers and retailers.

Currently exclusive to Montreal, Ubifood gives geolocation-based real-time push notifications to inform users of discounted food in their area.

The sales pitch is that it makes money for cafes, bakeries and restaurants while saving money for customers and, most importantly, reducing food waste.

"Everybody benefits. The consumers, retailers, and the planet – all at once," Pellegrini told CBC.

GMOs

Despite continuing if unfounded public skepticism over GMOs, B.C.-based Okanagan Specialty Fruits has received approval by Canadian and American authorities to sell their signature non-browning Arctic Apple.

Developed in Granny Smith and Golden Delicious varieties, this first approved biotech apple resists browning when sliced or bruised because the genes that trigger the oxidization process have been replaced with non-browning ones.

According to CP, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Arctic Apples "are as safe and nutritious as traditional apple varieties" while Health Canada concluded the GMO apple "is safe for consumption, still has all its nutritional value and therefore does not differ from other apples available on the market."

They're scheduled to start arriving in the U.S. later this year and will be available for sale in Canada by fall 2017.

Irradiation

While not invented here, this summer Health Canada is launching a public consultation on a plan to irradiate ground beef to kill bacterial microorganisms like E. coli and salmonella in the wake of outbreaks like Alberta's XL Foods in 2012.

CBC reports that a recent government review has "determined that ground beef treated with irradiation is safe to eat and retains its nutritional value, taste, texture and appearance."

Irradiation, which involves exposing food to ionizing radiation like gamma rays or X-rays, is already used in Canada for potatoes, onions, wheat, flour and spices.

As well as increasing food safety, irradiation also prevents premature spoilage to increase shelf life and reduce food waste.

Tim Sly, a professor in the School of Public Health at Toronto's Ryerson University, told CBC that by preventing massive recalls, irradiation could avoid the wastage of millions of pounds of food.

Hilary Benn, the former environment minister, said people should ignore "best before" labels and decide for themselves if food is still good.Benn said in 2009 that "best before" dates served little useful purpose and could be cheerfully ignored - they just mean when the food is at its freshest.He said: "There's 'use by' and that's very important because that's food safety; but when it comes to 'sell by' or 'best before', I think we as consumers [need to] understand better what those labels mean.|

The Mail commissioned the West Yorkshire-based FoodTest Laboratories to compare batches of Lion eggs, bought at Tesco.The company kept two batches of eggs for a fortnight, one at room temperature, the other at a typical fridge temperature of 6c. Samples from both batches were regularly tested eg. for E.coli, salmonella, listeria. There was no difference whatsoever between the two batches. Both remained bacteria-free and good to eat.

The US Department of Agriculture says as long as you scrub the mould off, then it's totally fine."It is normal for products like this to acquire surface mould," the Safe Food Handling fact sheet says.Don't eat any mouldy cooked meat though, for god's sake.

For cheeses where mould isn’t part of the processing, mold generally can’t get deep into the product. For hard cheeses, such as Asiago, Pecorino, Parmesan and Cheddar, lop off at least 1 inch around and below the mold spot (to avoid cross-contamination, be careful not to touch the mold with the knife).Source: USDA

So think, cabbage, peppers, carrots. Like the cheeses, dense fruits and vegetables are not easily penetrated by mould. The same rule of thumb applies to firm produce: cut off at least an inch around and below the mould spot (again, not touching the mold with your knife) before using.Source USDA

As long as it smells OK and looks OK when you open it.There have been cases where canned food survived almost 100 years with no microbial growth whatsoever.

According to the experts at Still Tasty, butter lasts about 2 weeks after its expiration date. Frozen butter lasts up to 9 months longer.

Open jars of pickles stay good for a whole year in the refrigerator. The same goes for olives and capers, according to Still Tasty.

There's absolutely no need to throw them out before then, according to EatByDate.com

Why buy bag salads? OK, they are way more convenient, but more expensive and they spoil much quicker.Tesco found that two-thirds of produce grown for bagged salad is thrown out.

Get the Grilled Flank Steak with Sichuan Peppercorns recipeWine needed: a couple of sips of a dry white.If you have just a tiny bit left in that bottle of white, save it and use it to enhance your flank steak. The flank steaks are seasoned with a simple but potent blend of peppercorns and black bean garlic paste (which you can find at any Chinese grocer).

Get the Southwest Seafood Chowder recipeWine needed: One glass of a dry white.Do you love clam chowder, but refrain from making it knowing that it has a serious affect on your waistline? This southwest version of the New England classic is lighter and healthier, and still just as comforting as the original.

Get the Lentils with Red Wine and Herbs recipeWine needed: quarter glass of a dry red.With herbs and a scattering of mâche (a sweet and tender green), this stewy lentil dish becomes a perfect combination of a soup and salad. French green lentils work best here because they hold their shape when cooked. If you can't get your hands on mache, arugula or spinach make fine substitutes.

Get the Braised Chicken all'Arrabbiata recipeWine needed: a glass of a dry white.In chef Robert Holt's recipe, he braises the chicken with five kinds of peppers in a wood-fired oven. If you want to opt for an easier option, you can spice your chicken with poblano and chile flakes, then braise it. For extra kick, toss in some hot pickled cherry peppers.

Get the Chopped Lamb Steak with Garlicky Spinach recipeWine needed: couple of sips of dry red wine.A chopped steak is really just a glorified hamburger. But substituting ground lamb for the traditional beef takes this diner out of the realm of just another burger and makes it a gourmet meal.

Get the Mahimahi with Herbed White-Wine Sauce recipeWine needed: quarter glass of a dry white.This is an easy, yet elegant dish. Perfect for a weekend dinner when you would rather spend more time at the table with others than in the kitchen preparing your meal. The natural flavors of the fresh thyme and marjoram herbs really shine through when paired with this meaty fish.

Get the Orecchiette with Veal, Capers and White Wine recipeWine Needed: half a glass of a dry white.The tender veal ragu is perfectly paired with the shape of the orecchiette -- the sauce just hangs onto the pasta. With each bite, you will be thankful that you had that half a glass of wine left over to help make this dish.

Get the Wild Mushroom-and-Red Wine Risotto recipeWine needed: half a glass of a dry red.Risotto is the perfect comforting dish for a cold winter night. And regardless of what you may have heard, it is an easy dish to put together. Yes, there might be quite a bit of stirring, but that is as hard as it gets. This risotto dish stands out from others in that it uses red wine rather than white to give it that extra kick.

Get the Chicken Breasts with Potatoes and Mashed Peas recipeWine needed: a little more than half a glass of a dry white.The classic chicken breast with a side of greens and potatoes gets a slight makeover with a few new tricks. While we all like the healthiness of chicken breast, let's be honest, sometimes it is lacking in flavor. A nice remedy for that is to quickly brown the breast in a bit of butter, and then finishing off in the oven.

Get the Penne Rigate with Spicy Braised Swordfish recipeWine needed: half a glass of a dry white.Swordfish is a meatier white fish and holds up nicely in pasta dishes. Paired alongside tomato sauce makes this a warming, hearty dish; and the addition of jalapeño gives it a nice, fiery kick. Feel free to adjust the amount of jalapeño according to your spicy-food tolerance.

Get the Carrot Osso Buco recipeWine needed: a glass of a dry red.Looking for a light winter meal? Carrot osso buco might just be it. A vegan take on the beloved veal shanks recipe, braised carrots take the place of the meat in this dish. Ground dried porcini mushrooms give the dish a rich, meaty flavor.

Get the Butcher's Ragù with Fusilli recipeWine needed: a glass of a dry white.This ever-so-slightly creamy ragù made with ground beef, pancetta and ham, is flavored with tomato paste instead of canned tomatoes. A nice variation from you traditional tomato-based pasta sauce.

Get the Velvet Corn Soup with Crab and Ham recipeWine needed: quarter of a glass of a dry white.A rich and hearty soup, this unusual recipe will warm your soul. Crab and ham make an unlikely pair, but their flavors complement each other harmoniously.

Get the Baked Potatoes with Wild Mushroom Ragù recipeWine needed: a glass of a dry white.A simple dish of baked potatoes can easily become a vegetarian dinner with the topping of wild mushroom ragu. The recipe calls for a mix of wild mushrooms, so chose your favorites here, or whichever look the best at the store.

Get the Salmon with Shiitake and Red Wine Sauce recipeWine needed: two glasses of a dry red.Did you open a new bottle of red wine that you just didn't love? Well, whatever you do, don't dump it down the drain. Get your money's worth and turn that not-so-great bottle of red into a luxurious sauce for this salmon dish.

Ever open a fresh bag of cereal and notice something a little... off about it? That is likely not just your imagination. According to the FDA's Defect Levels Handbook, a number of foods can legally contain up to "maximum levels of natural or unavoidable defects in foods for human use," including "insect filth," "rot" and "Mammalian excreta."

According to the Organic Consumers Association, the United States is the only developed country that does not require testing for safety of GE foods.

Ammonia, a main ingredient in fertilizer and household cleaners, is apparently an appropriate way to kill bacteria in meat. Sure, it may be corrosive and can cause severe injury, but according to a USDA official, “it eliminates E. coli to the same degree as if you cooked the product."

Michael R. Taylor, pictured, has had quite the colorful career path. Bouncing between the FDA and Monsanto, Taylor is the poster boy for the government's controversial "revolving door" issue. The FDA's current Deputy Commissioner of Food is responsible for the substantial equivalence policy, which is used as a weapon against the "right to know" argument for GMO labeling.

This past September, the FDA ordered a number of arsenic-based drugs to be withdrawn from farm animal feed, an ingredient that had been used since the 1940s. While it might seem like a step in the right direction, consider this: The FDA only passed down the decision after food groups threatened to sue the agency. Before the ban, about 70 percent of U.S. poultry were being fed arsenic-based drugs, and even with the new legislation, one of the 4 banned drugs can still be fed to turkeys.

Red #40, the most widely-used food dye, and Yellow #6, the third most widely-used food dye, are linked to hyperactivity, migraines and possibly cancer. Although some of these colorings have already been banned in Europe, the FDA is still refusing to take them off the U.S. market.

You might think that "whole grain" foods are exactly that -- completely untouched, full-fledged grains. However, the FDA says that as long as the naturally occurring nutrients and parts are added BACK into the food at the end, you can take them out along the way and add in a number of other additives and flavorings. So a processed breakfast cereal with tons of sugar can bear the "whole grain" mark as long as the same nutrients have (artificially) ended up back in the product.

Think those chips are free of harmful trans fats? Think again. If a food contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fats per serving, the label can claim it has "0 grams of trans fats." Although the FDA recently began a campaign to claim that partially hydrogenated oils are no longer GRAS (generally recognized as safe), legislation has yet to be made against them. If you consume a number of these foods per day, you could be racking up dangerous fats without even knowing.

In 2010, the FDA agreed to crack down on misdemeanor crimes after a governmental report found the agency to be too soft on corporations that break the rules. Congress found that the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations fell short in comparison to similar agencies, in response to which the FDA admitted they were working on “developing meaningful performance measures.”

rBGH is a hormone that has been banned in a number of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and the European Union. Although the FDA has found that rBGH (also known as rBST) is both safe and effective, a 2009 USDA study found that less than 17 percent of cows were being injected with the hormone. Even WITHOUT an FDA ban, people know synthetic hormones are best kept out of the food system.