Packaging on the menu at Food Expo sessions: the Worldwide Food Expo will offer education on health claims, labeling, distribution and more - Worldwide Food Expo Show Preview

Food & Drug Packaging, Oct, 2003

Packaging will be an important part of the many workshops, seminars and educational sessions at this year's Worldwide Food Expo, to be held Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

Held every other year, the Worldwide Food Expo comprises two main events: the International Meat, Poultry and Seafood Industry Exposition, which will be held in the North Hall and part of the South Hall at McCormick Place, and the Food, Dairy and Beverage Exposition, which will be held in the South Hall. Sponsors of the exhibition include the American Meat Institute (AMI), the International Association of Food Industry Suppliers (IAFIS), the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI). More than 30,000 visitors from at least 150 countries and regions are expected to view the innovative products and services of more than 1,200 exhibitors in more than a million square feet of floor space.

As always, a highlight of the Worldwide Food Expo will be the educational sessions. Many of these will be related, peripherally or directly, to packaging. These include (all locations McCormick Place unless otherwise noted):

Tuesday, Oct. 28

* 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: A Healthy Pitch: Compelling Health Claims for Your Dairy Products, at Chicago Hilton & Towers hotel. New research may allow dairy companies to make stronger statements about the health benefits of their products. This Intense, one-day workshop, presented by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), will review what the latest research says about the effects of dairy calcium on weight gain, hypertension and more. Speaker: Cary Frye, vice president for regulatory affairs, International Dairy Foods Association.

Wednesday, Oct. 29

* 8:00-9:15 a.m.: The U.N. of Labeling: A Country of Origin Update for Meat and Poultry. Country-of-origin labeling regulations become mandatory in September 2004. Experts say this regulation stands to be one of the most costly and logistically challenging initiatives ever put in place. Speakers: Mark Dopp, American Meat Institute; Steve Kay, editor, Cattle Buyer's Weekly.

* 8:00-9:15 a.m.: Beverage Trends I: Market Intelligence. The latest data and trends on the entire range of beverages will be explored in this information-packed session. It will delve into what's moving beer, soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, dairy drinks and other drink categories, providing valuable insight into the latest volume data and brand, packaging and market trends. Speaker: Gary Hemphill, senior vice president, Beverage Marketing Corp.

* 8:00-9:15 a.m.: High-Tech Ice Cream Plants. A virtual tour of some of the most technically progressive ice cream and frozen-dessert operations around the world will incude the latest packaging and storage technology. Speaker: Herb Fish, sales engineer, Gram Equipment of America.

* 8:00-9:15 a.m.: The Global Consumer: What's Hot Around the World? Experts in international marketing offer snapshots of consumer trends and consumer attitudes to food around the world. Topics will include: what consumers are eating, and not eating, from "humane foods" to foods produced using biotechnology; how to market more effectively based on consumer attitudes and preferences; what products are succeeding and failing; how effective communication approaches can help address consumers' concerns and interests. Speakers: Andy Benson, senior director for international relations, international Food Information Council; Lynn Heinze, vice president for information services, U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Thursday, Oct. 30

* 8:00-9:15 a.m.: New Research in Milk Vending. This session will present the results from the latest multi-channel milk vending study conducted in business and industries, colleges and universities, malls, and other public venues, with details about emerging opportunities in milk vending. Speaker: Brad Bachtelle, Bachtelle & Associates.

* 8:15-9:15 a.m.: What's on Your Label? This session will answer questions including: Ever wonder why there are so many different labels for bottled water? What do you need to include on the label to comply with FDA regulations? How far can you go to separate your bottled water products from others? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in this session. In addition, the floor will be open for discussion of important labeling issues and questions. Speaker: Robert Hirst, International Bottled Water Association.

* 9:30-10:30 a.m.: Supermarket Trends: Irradiated and Case-Ready Fresh Meats. What's in today's American meat case? What are consumers purchasing and why? What are the penetration numbers? What growth should we expect in the next few years? What is on the horizon? These questions and more are answered in this worksbop with specific studies of case-ready fresh beef and pork products and irradiated ground beef as the major areas of interest. Speakers: Randy Irion, National Cattleman's Beef Association; Jeanne Colleluori, Wegmans Food Markets.