Food Safety

Numerous items of food were covered in mould at the bakery. Image from Stroud District Council's Twitter page

Mouldy food leads to £6k bakery fine

By Gwen Ridler

Mouldy food found in a bakery in Stroud, Gloucestershire has landed the producer with fines and costs of more than £6,000.

Nestlé has defended its use of palm oil however, confirming that it was working with GAR to ensure sustainable and ethical methods were adopted.

Nestlé refutes palm oil accusations

By Dan Colombini

Food manufacturing multi-national Nestlé has refuted allegations from an environmental group that illegally-sourced palm oil had made its way into the supply chains of major consumer brands.

Bio-based food contact materials are generally biodegradable or compostable

FSA: study green food contact materials

By Rod Addy

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has called for more research into bio-based food contact materials (BBFCMs) in order to rule out concerns they could pose allergen risks.

Manufacturers will receive their first audit under new BRC standards in February 2020

Opinion

How risk plays a greater role in new BRC standard

By Richard Leathers

As the first audit against the new BRC Global Standards for Packaging and Packaging Materials Issue 6 approaches, food safety management systems lead at Campden BRI Richard Leathers runs though what manufacturers can expect to be audited on.

The webinar, which is free to attend, will exclusively reveal the results of Food Manufacture’s annual food safety survey

Food Safety Briefing to explore allergen issues

By Rod Addy

Food Manufacture’s Food Safety Briefing will cover emerging allergen issues in the wake of Natasha’s Law coming into force earlier this month, alongside a range of other essential topics.

The FSA has issued two unrelated product alerts on listeria and hygiene issues

Food Standards Agency issues listeria and hygiene warnings

By Rod Addy

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued two alerts warning of potential listeria contamination and a processor supplying products “that have not been produced in accordance with food hygiene and legislative requirements".

Chlorine washing is used to disinfect chicken in the US

Academics raise post-Brexit chlorinated chicken fears

By Noli Dinkovski

The Government has been accused of trying to “soften up” the public for lower food standards post-Brexit after one of its chief scientific advisers claimed imports of chlorinated chicken and beef reared with artificial hormones should be decided by “consumer...

The factory makes Hula Hoops and own-label Hula Hoop-style products

Hygiene allegations spark KP Snacks Ashby probe

By Rod Addy

KP Snacks has launched an investigation into its Ashby-de-la-Zouch factory, which makes Hula Hoops and Hula-Hoops-style own-label products for major retailers, following anonymous hygiene allegations raised against it.

What are the emerging threats? How can the industry manage them effectively? The Food Safety Briefing will address these questions

Food Safety Briefing takes place on 15 October

By Rod Addy

Food Manufacture's Food Safety Briefing, chaired by chief executive of Campden BRI Steven Walker and sponsored by RSSL, will take place online on 15 October at 3pm.

The latest in food safety news, including senior appointments as RSSL and poultry recall figures

Food safety news round-up

By Gwen Ridler

From using food microstructure in product development to new handheld testing systems developed by Hygiena, we run down some of the latest developments in food safety.

Meat cutting firm Bowland Foods Ltd  has had its fine for public health failures increased

Meat firm fine increased by £25k

By Gwen Ridler

A meat firm convicted of public health failures has had its fine raised by £25,000, following a failed appeal against its sentence.

Antimicrobial resistance can be fought with good hygienic practices and cleaning procedures

Opinion

Antimicrobial resistance in the cleaning process

By Rob Limburn

Campden BRI microbiologist and specialist in heat resistance and decontamination Rob Limburn breaks down the threat of antimicrobial resistant organisms in food production and the steps producers can take to limit their impact.

Speechlys: ‘Full ingredient labelling regulations should not be seen as a singular solution’

Allergy rules: devil in detail

By Rod Addy

Updated allergy labelling rules have highlighted areas for further consideration, according to Jamie Cartwright, partner at legal firm Charles Russell Speechlys.

Birds Eye’s Hull factory is able to produce up to 61t of peas an hour

Birds Eye factory urination incident ‘a hoax’

By Noli Dinkovski

Birds Eye has allayed fears that thousands of tonnes of peas might have to be destroyed at its Hull site, claiming the video of a man appearing to urinate on a production line was a hoax.

Vigilance is food manufacturers’ best weapon against listeria

Opinion

Vigilance is the best weapon against listeria

By Phil Voysey

Diligence, vigilance and understanding risk are key components in the fight against listeria contamination in food and drink products, according to Campden BRI microbiology department section manager Dr Phil Voysey.

Manufacturers have been urged to prepare for Natasha’s Law

Opinion

Minimise allergen risk ahead of Natasha’s Law

By Simon Flanagan

Simon Flanagan, head of speciality analysis and food allergen services at Reading Scientific Services (RSSL), discusses the steps manufacturers can take to prepare for the implementation of Natasha’s Law.

AI inspection systems have boomed in recent years

AI inspection system boom

By Noli Dinkovski

Next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) inspection systems that include the likes of thermal, 3D, and hyperspectral imaging are playing an ever more critical role in helping manufacturers reduce product recalls, a supplier to the industry has claimed.

African swine fever poses no threat to human health but is fatal for pigs

Pig body warns of African swine fever ‘catastrophe’

By Noli Dinkovski

More resources should be allocated to surveillance at ports and airports to help keep illegally imported meat and African swine fever (ASF) out of the UK and prevent a “potentially massive catastrophe” for the pig industry, the National Pig Association...

Use of behavioural psychology can help bread a better food safety culture

A nudge in the right direction

By Gwen Ridler

The use of nudge theory – positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions – can help influence the behaviour and decision-making of workers to reinforce food safety culture and compliance, according to Shield Safety Group strategic advisor Sterling Crew.

Better technology and reporting techniques have led to a recall rise in the UK

In-depth: food safety

Rise of the recall

By Nick Hughes

While opinions are divided on the reason for the recent surge in food recalls, businesses are advised to have a clear system to mitigate the impact of such incidents.

The Food Standards Agency has appointed Emily Miles as the new chief executive

Food Standards Agency appoints new chief exec

By Gwen Ridler

Emily Miles – current acting director general for the EU exit delivery group at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) – has been appointed the next chief executive of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The Cowhouse Dairy pasteurised raw milk from a nearby farm and then processed it into ice cream

Ice cream boss fined £20k for hygiene offences

By Noli Dinkovski

The director of an ice cream-making business that supplied to schools in Derbyshire faces a bill of more than £20,000 after admitting serious hygiene offences.

Local authorities are struggling to meet their legal responsibilities to ensure business compliance, the report found

Food safety inspection funding drops

By David Challis

Funding for delivering food controls has dropped by £24m over the past six years, calling local authorities’ ability to meet their legal responsibilities into question, a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has found.

Adopting practices in the health sector can prevent safety-related product recalls

Avoid recall risk through ‘Never Events’

By Noli Dinkovski

Food firms can avoid serious safety-related product recalls by applying the ‘Never Event’ principle used in the health sector, a leading consultant in the field has argued.

 Hancock: ‘I am as ambitious as ever to deliver a modern regulatory system’

New regulatory system will ‘need to be paid for’: FSA

By Noli Dinkovski

Food and drink manufacturers will have to bear the “cost of regulation” to ensure they comply with the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) new sustainable funding model, its chair Heather Hancock has reiterated.

Poultry processing employs extensive use of water, from the defeathering stage through to evisceration and dressing

OPINION

Chlorinated chicken fears unfounded: ex-food safety boss

By Noli Dinkovski

Malcolm Kane, former head of food safety, supplier selection and audit at Sainsbury’s, believes current UK concerns about chlorinated chicken from the US need a far more nuanced and informed debate than received so far.

An estimated 1.8 million tonnes of food waste annually comes from food manufacture

FOOD WASTE

Government pledges £4m to fight food waste

By Noli Dinkovski

Four food redistribution firms have received a combined £4.2m in Government funds to take more surplus food from manufacturers and retailers and prevent it going to waste.

Food safety in China, hygienic wheels and air filters feature in this round-up

Food safety news round-up

By Noli Dinkovski

From a specialist sharing his globally recognised model with a Chinese food body to the future president of the Institute of Food Science & Technology, we round-up the latest developments in food safety.

A new test can identify the validity of buffalo mozzarella

Mozzarella fraud laid bare by test

By Noli Dinkovski

Two-thirds of supermarket pizzas, restaurant pizzas and other restaurant dishes labelled as containing buffalo mozzarella have been shown to contain mozzarella made wholly or partially from cows’ milk, after a test was developed to distinguish between...

An allergic reaction to the unlabelled egg found in Nevis Bakery's biscuits cost the firm more than £6k

Food safety breach costs baker £6k

By Gwen Ridler

Scotland-based Nevis Bakery has been fined £6,000 for food safety breaches, after a boy in Northern Ireland nearly died from an allergic reaction after consuming one of its products.

The FSA and FSS held a review of meat cutting plants and cold stores following a spate of non-compliance issues

Cutting plant review update pending

By Aidan Fortune

An update on the progress made on the recommendations set out in the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) and Food Standards Scotland’s (FSS’) meat cutting plant and cold store review is expected imminently.

Dunbia was handed a record fine for non-compliance of TSE regulations at its Preston site (stock image)

Dunbia given £266,000 fine by FSA

By Aidan Fortune

Red meat processor Dunbia has been fined more than £266,000 by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for the failure to remove parts of the animal designated specified risk materials.

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