Author name: John Mullinder

The University of Guelph study we highlighted in an earlier blog (Loblaw and IFCO need to clean up their act) is causing quite a few ripples in food safety, industry, and government circles throughout North America and Europe. Dr. Keith Warriner’s study claimed that using reusable plastic crates to ship food in Canada was a

A just-released University of Guelph study has raised serious health concerns about reusable plastic containers (RPCs) being used to ship fresh fruit and vegetables in Canada. Crates pose significant risks of microbiological contamination, claims the author, Director of Food Safety and Quality, Dr. Keith Warriner. Human pathogens such as salmonella, norovirus and cyclospora could be

To most of us, “cardboard” generally means a brown box that’s used to deliver stuff to our homes or workplaces. This word image is reinforced by recycling bins parked at strip malls with the word “cardboard” painted in big letters on the side, and by municipalities reminding their residents not to forget to put their

During the recent plastic bag debate in Toronto, one individual stood up and said all you need to know about the alternative (paper bags) was deforestation. The word conjures up images of wanton and needless destruction. And if you happen to be selling or defending plastic bags, it’s a potent barb to throw at your

Comparative life cycle analyses (LCAs) are generally used for one purpose: to demonstrate a preferred option, if possible, from an environmental point of view. They do not consider the other “legs” of the sustainability stool (social desirability and economic viability) so are limited in that sense. And because they are comparative, and have potential commercial