The meat industry is facing widespread challenges. People are being advised to eat less of it for health reasons. Plus safety questions about antibiotics, hormones, e-coli and now cloning have consumers a bit on edge.

Last month we discussed the problems that U.S. companies faced during 2007 with respect to products imported from China that posed serious health and safety concerns and subsequently had to be recalled.

If you think training is expensive, consider the alternative. One way to classify training is task specific and general. An example of task specific training is teaching operators how to run a particular machine. An example of general training is teaching mechanics effective troubleshooting skills to be used throughout the plant. Both are essential to ensure smooth running lines.

Surveys and statements by industry leaders show that sustainability is continuing to pick up momentum with consumers and retailers.

One of the things we’ll remember from 2007 is the many recalls of product imported from China. Almost every month, the public was hit with another health scare or product safety concern that resulted in recalls: pet food that contained melamine, toothpaste with diethylene glycol, toys with lead-based paints.

Going green is turning into a growth industry. Both consumers and suppliers are talking about it. Expectations are changing. Being kinder and gentler to our planet has become part of who, and what, many of us want to be. Buying green products or using green packages helps to satisfy the “virtue quota,” the amount of goodness people need to contribute to the world to feel like good people.

It is human nature that we are much more likely to respond to a single large event than a number of small events. This is true even though the cumulative effect the small events may exceed the single large event.

“Home grown” is taking on a whole new meaning these days. It’s all about health and wellness, sustainability and community.

Like everything else these days, “green” claims have hit packaging in a big way. The emergence of new claims, such as “renewable” and “sustainable,” and claims about carbon offsets and renewable energy are all the rage now. They’re being pushed by product manufacturers, as well as by major retailers.

Cutting back on bottled water is becoming a way to do your part to save the planet. Even though the category was created by packaging technology and marketing, bottled water is an integral part of consumer lifestyles.