Unilever joins Food Manufacture’s Food Safety Conference

René Crevel, science leader, allergy and immunology with Unilever, will focus on how food and drink manufacturers should respond to the growing incidence of food allergies and the rising number of product recalls associated with the presence of allergens – many due to mislabelled products.

Crevel will consider whether action levels for different allergens that manufacturers can work to will ever become a reality and what controls would help them avoid putting consumers and themselves in jeopardy.

Consumer trust​

Other topics under consideration at Food Manufacture’s​ Food Safety Conference will be re-gaining consumer trust in the wake of the horsemeat crisis; how to ensure your products are safe and legal; managing risk; and regulatory responsibilities in a changing world.

The conference will also answer the questions: where now for third-party audits; how best to handle a product recall; and how to improve your firm’s food safety culture.

Institute of Food Science & Technology​

The conference will be chaired by Professor Colin Dennis, former president of the Institute of Food Science & Technology and a former director general of Campden BRI.

In addition to Crevel, other speakers will include:

Sue Davies​, chief policy adviser for consumer watchdog Which? who will discuss what damage to consumer trust has been caused by horsegate and how this can be regained.

Mark Woolfe​, a former authenticity expert at the Food Standards Agency, who will explain why the testing regime fell down in the case of horsemeat and suggest how similar attempts to pass off inferior ingredients can be avoided in future.

David Brackston​, British Retail Consortium technical director, will explain how third-party food safety audits can provide reassurance about the integrity of the food supply chain.

Professor Tony Hines​, head of food security and crisis management at Leatherhead Food Research, will describe the latest thinking on crisis management: identifying where problems are likely to occur and mitigating their impact when they do.

Dominic Watson​, legal expert from DWF, will highlight real cases where product recalls have been handled well – and where they haven’t.

Patrik Sjöberg​, product director from computer systems specialist Infor, will discuss the use of computer-based traceability systems.

John Searle​, from Intertek, will speak about the implications of being able to test for lower and lower levels of contaminants.

More information about the conference – including details of an Early Bird ticket price – is available here.

Alternatively, telephone Ellie Ray on 01293 610279 or email ellie.ray@wrbm.com