Food News, October 2018

• The Directory has been developed for use by the business community, government agencies, and other interested parties in Alberta, Canada, and internationally.
• We continue to strive to ensure that the information provided is accurate and that the directory only lists active players in Alberta’s processing industry. To ensure your company’s entry is current, please go to the online directory, check your company posting, and contact Lindsay.Rodriguez@gov.ab.ca to confirm.

• The catalogue profiles Alberta products available for export. Companies can apply to be listed along with a product photo and company logo. Recruitment is starting for the 2019 Catalogue. Companies currently listed can fill out a renewal form. Companies applying for a new listing can fill out the application package and send a product image and company logo.

• Services for Agri-Processors and Producers Directory. This directory provides Alberta's agricultural processors with a comprehensive database of food distribution channels and other service providers. Requests for inclusion in this database or correction of your company information may be directed to Lindsay.Rodriguez@gov.ab.ca.
• Inclusion in these directories is free of charge.

• This free workshop hosted by Alberta Innovates with planning support from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and Alberta Food Processors Association is designed to help advance growth in Alberta’s food manufacturing industry. Alberta’s food processing industry, researchers, and stakeholders that support the growth of Alberta's ingredient, food, beverage, and natural health product manufacturing industry are invited to attend. This event is an ideal networking opportunity to make connections, build relationships, and develop new partnerships, obtain current information that can support innovation in your company and find out about funding programs. There are a limited number of spots available. To attend, please contact Elizabeth.Muir@albertainnovates.ca who will provide you with the agenda, Eventbrite link and password to register.

• This one-day workshop is for producers who are new to selling food through farmers’ markets or other direct to consumer methods. You will learn about the regulations that apply to your business, available services and market options for selling food direct to consumers. Hear first hand from an Alberta producer that has provided good quality and safe products that consumers enjoy and seek out to purchase.
• Cost is $23.75 plus GST. Register by October 30 at reach.program.alberta@gmail.com. For more information, call Rodger Cole at 403-446-0446.

• This one-day workshop is for people interested in learning more about selling products direct to consumers and potentially transitioning into retail sales. Join us to understand pricing options, labelling requirements, how to assess your fit in the retail market and discover customer engagement tactics. Cost is $10 plus GST. Register by October 31 at jwaring@flagstaff.ab.ca. For more information call Jenalee Waring at 780-384-4152 or visit Eventbrite webpage.

• Three months until your food business may need a CFIA Licence!
• In three months food businesses may need a license to import, export or send food across provincial and territorial borders. They may also need a preventive control plan and traceability records.
• Find out what requirements will apply to your business when the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations come into force on January 15, 2019. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has interactive tools and timelines to help you.
• Sign up for My CFIA now so you can apply for the license when it becomes available: inspection.gc.ca/MyCFIA. To learn more about the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, visit inspection.gc.ca/SafeFood.

• Health Canada’s ban on partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) came into effect on September 17, 2018. It is now illegal for manufacturers to add PHOs to foods sold in Canada. This includes both Canadian and imported foods, as well as those prepared in all food service establishments. Announced last year to give industry time to adapt, the ban came into effect with the addition of PHOs to Part 1 of Health Canada’s List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances in Foods.
• Further information on this decision, including a summary of comments received during the April 2017 public consultation, is available in the Notice of Modification: Prohibiting the Use of Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) in Foods (Ref. No. ADM-C-2017-3)

• Plant-based foods are making their mark on the global food industry with a 20 percent increase in sales over the past year, equating to more than $3.3 billion1. Within the plant-based food category, those high in protein drove the highest dollar growth value2. The Food Processing Development Centre (FPDC) in Leduc has the expertise, equipment and technology to extract, fractionate and spray dry plant proteins. Scientists from the FPDC have recently developed meat analogues, snack bars, protein drinks and puffed snacks using a variety of plant proteins. For more information on this technology please contact us at 780-986-4793 or email ken.fahner@gov.ab.ca.
• 1 Bloomberg. 2018, July 30. Plant-based foods are finding an omnivorous customer base. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-30/plant-based- foods-are-finding-an-omnivorous-customer-base
• 2 Nielsen. 2017, September 22. Plant-based proteins are gaining dollar share among North America. Retrieved from https://www.nielsen.com/ca/en/insights/news/2017/plant-based-proteins-are-gaining-dollar-share-among-north-americans.html