The goal for Nofima Mat’s vision of the future is to provide the conditions for a value-adding food industry by 2015.
Finished product. Semi-finished product. You might not think this is the most attractive way of describing your food, but the fact is that almost everything we buy in the supermarket has been processed and is thus a finished or semi-finished product. Without giving any cause for concern.
New types of oils will be coming onto the market over the next few years. Researchers and the industry are sniffing out new sources of Omega 3. They are also worried that most people don’t know enough about fat.
The humble earthworm gets far too little attention in relation to the benefits it brings to us humans. It could give us some important knowledge about the interaction between molecules and bacteria in the human intestine, according to Knut Rudi, Research Scientist at Nofima Mat.
A great deal of research is being done into getting rid of the smell of the male pig - or boar taint as it is known. The latest idea is to use wasps to sort out the meat that smells too bad.
Consumers, animal welfare organisations and supermarket chains are all demanding that fish should not be subjected to unnecessary pain and stress during slaughtering.
The EU has decided to permit the use of the additive Thrombin, and Norway must now follow suit.
Small, ambitious food producers got together in Ås in January. There they received some advice and tips for successfully getting their products out to the market.
Why does the fast food market mainly consist of hot dogs, hamburgers and buns? According to the industry itself, it is because they are easy to prepare and quick to serve. But there are indications that the trend is turning.
You need to look hard to find much seafood in the Norwegian fast food industry. You might find a little prawn salad for your hot dog or salmon in a wrap, but that’s about all. Now the industry has been creating a number of new business ideas for getting more seafood onto the fast food market. The seafood industry has been invited to help themselves to their ideas.
At Nofima Mat’s fruit and vegetables day, the fruit and vegetable sector’s market opportunities, challenges, trends and latest research news were duly presented. The theme for the day was getting across the immediate benefits of ‘5 a Day’.
“It is entirely possible to produce more tender beef than we do today, and I believe that Norwegian consumers aren’t getting the best meat quality,” says Rune Rødbotten, post doc. researcher at Nofima Mat and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
Mould can be a problem with some food products, such as bread, cheese, cured meats and jam. In companies that produce such foods, questions about how mould should be handled and about potential health risks for the consumer are raised in the HACCP plan.
Mould in the production of cured meats can be the cause of production loss through poor quality and increased production costs. Mould fungi can also be the cause of health problems among consumers. How should cured meat producers meet these challenges?
People in the food industry believe research and development efforts should be put into nutrition, climate, understanding the consumer, innovation and food safety in the years to come. That is the advice they are giving the Research Council and the EU.
There is a lot of demand for fresh reindeer meat, but it is almost only possible to buy it frozen. Researchers from Nofima Mat have been finding out what packaging and storage methods are best for keeping reindeer meat in top condition.
We may have a long tradition of salting smoked salmon, but we can accept as much as 33% reduction in the salt content. That’s good to know, because too much salt is not good for your health.
Loin is a popular muscle that is preferred by many consumers, but it is not especially tender. New studies at Nofima Mat show that topside, rump and silverside are all of similar tenderness. The most tender muscle of all comes from the shoulder of the animal.
Research provides a better selection for us consumers and more earnings for producers and the food industry. Trends over the last few years in the tomato and potato markets provide an example.
This year's Anuga trade fair in Cologne had many surprising and positive experiences to offer those who attended. New packaging solutions, focus on design and a coming together of food and cosmetics summarise the impressions.