Industry addresses food waste, works to defeat hunger at PROCESS EXPO 2015

Two special events—SAVE FOOD and DEFEAT HUNGER—will take once again at PROCESS EXPO 2015, scheduled for September 15-18 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. 

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) is partnering with the Greater Chicago Food Depository on its Defeat Hunger campaign, a food drive that collects donations and food from the food manufacturing industry to feed Chicago’s hungry. Earlier this year, the campaign was launched with a $75,000 donation by the FPSA Foundation, which includes FPSA members, local food processors, PROCESS EXPO exhibitors and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

In 2013, the program raised enough donations to provide more than 240,000 meals. The 2015 program aims to surpass 300,000 meals and continue raising awareness of this issue.

PROCESS EXPO will be running an on-site food drive at McCormick Place during the show and attendees should come prepared to donate food or money. For more information on the Defeat Hunger campaign, visit www.fpsa.org and click on the Defeat Hunger button, or call Alaina Herrera at 703-663-1212 or email aherrera@fpsa.org.

FPSA is also working with Messe Dusseldorf (producer of Interpack), that initiated SAVE FOOD, a program that fights global food loss. The group’s goals are to limit food waste globally and use that excess to defeat hunger worldwide. SAVE FOOD works in partnership with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. FPSA became the first US-based sponsor at PROCESS EXPO 2011.

US food processing and packaging companies can play influential roles by identifying and improving efficiencies in the food supply chain and communicating the value of saving food to the consumer. Through SAVE FOOD’s outreach, processing equipment manufacturers can raise awareness of the sanitary processing standards their equipment provides. Sanitation features in processing equipment ensure a product is in compliance before it goes into the package, extending its shelf life and reducing food waste, according to the SAVE FOOD program.

The SAVE FOOD exhibit will be located at the entrance to the East Hall during PROCESS EXPO. For more information, stop by the exhibit or visit www.save-food.org.