News on Health and Nutrition from Canada

German Machine manufacturer Gillenkirch installed a high quality & hygienic plant for handling potatoes at Rollo Bay Holdings on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

The softening Canadian dollar has in many cases driven up the cost of imported produce and this is being reflected in grocery store prices. However, one staple vegetable that has not experienced the same jump in prices is Prince Edward Island Potatoes.

Renaissance Ingredients Inc. shows the results of its in-house, laboratory-scale analysis of the efficacy of its non-GMO acrylamide-reducing baker’s yeast for applications in the potato industry.

Researchers of the University of Alberta offer a green alternative to petroleum-based plastics used in food packaging by turning potato byproducts into eco-friendly plastic films

The potato harvest on Prince Edward Island is now underway and many farmers have installed security cameras in their fields and around machinery due to potato tampering concerns.

The discovery of needles and nails in potatoes in a suspected case of food tampering earlier this year in Atlantic Canada have heightened the awareness of consumers and media alike. The latest case, reported by CBC Nova Scotia, is the finding of metal object in mashed potatoes in a Halifax restaurant.

The Prince Edward Island Potato Industry '... hasn't focused on the belly aching, financial or emotional challenges...' resulting from the potato tampering incidents, that are still unresolved. 'Instead food safety has continued to be the highest priority ...' says Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. potato board.

The most recent report of a metal object found in a bag of potatoes appears to be of a different nature than previous incidents, say RCMP and the P.E.I. Potato Board.potato bag in which watch strap pin was found

Equipment manufacturer GIllenkirch offers an innovative solution to the Prince Edward Island potato industry after the recent scare involving needles inserted in potatoes

The potato industry in Prince Edward Island has opted to increase the value of the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the iindividual(s) responsible for the deliberate insertion of metal objects into potatoes up to $500,000 until August 15th, 2015.

The Province of Prince Edward Island is providing additional funding support of $500,000 to the Prince Edward Island potato industry, while the federal government also offers $1.5 million additional financial assistance for the purchase and installation of foreign material detection equipment.

Loblaw Companies Limited and Strang's Produce Inc. are voluntarily recalling certain Farmer's Market and Strang's Produce brands of Russet Potatoes from the marketplace due to possible food tampering with nails and needles.

Prince Edward Island RCMP Major Crime Unit responded to a potential food tampering incident on May 18, 2015, following a complaint that a metal object was found in a potato.

The investigation into a food tampering case involving sewing needles inserted into potatoes is still active, reports Prince Edward Island RCMP spokesperson, Sgt. Leanne Butler.

According to the Canadian Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report, consumers place an increasingly high priority on health, and more are seeking healthy options away-from-home, but their behaviour and attitudes towards healthy eating are evolving.

Late December, Potato Processor Cavendish Farms detected again sewing needles stuck in potatoes processed at its New Annan plant on Prince Edward Island.

Linkletter Farms is finally back up and running after two months of being at the centre of a large-scale food tampering incident that reached across Atlantic Canada.

The reward being offered for information leading to the arrest of anyone who put sewing needles in Prince Edward Island potatoes has doubled to CAD 100.000