Legal

Smith: 'There are significant costs involved in sponsoring employees and complex rules'

Legal opinion

Brexit and UK immigration and employment law

By Charlotte Smith

After the UK Immigration Act received Royal Assent, what are the upcoming changes to the UK’s immigration system and employment laws?

A sweeping ban on junk food ads online could threaten takeaway sector

'Junk food' ad ban 'could not come at worse time'

By Gwen Ridler

Food and drink firms have not been given enough time to prepare for the Government ban on online ads for foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), according to one trade body.

Cuerden: 'It’s important that you establish your risk of food fraud'

Legal Opinion

How to guard against food fraud post-COVID-19

By Simon Cuerden

Food fraud costs the UK food and drinks industry £12bn every year through overpayments for lesser ingredients, unfair competition and reputational damage.

Food firms could be forced to adapt to the Government's new childhood obesity strategy by their stakeholders

Manufacturers to adapt to obesity policy or be forced to

By Gwen Ridler

Food manufacturers must quickly adapt to the Government’s plans to curb childhood obesity or risk being forced to by their investors and stakeholders, according to a report from investment charity Share Action.

The GLAA was alerted by a tip off from a food processing company

Food firm flags potential labour abuse

By Michelle Perrett

A tip-off by a food processing company has safeguarded 17 people believed to be potential victims of modern slavery and labour exploitation, according to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).

Any legal case against a food manufacturer surrounding the coronavirus could set a precedent for the future

Coronavirus legal action threatens to set precedent

By Gwen Ridler

Legal action against food manufacturers blamed for letting their employees get sick from the coronavirus would be difficult to prove, but could lead to serious legal ramifications if upheld in court for the entire industry, law firm Walker Morris has...

Suppliers can use the Kitemark to assure shoppers about product attributes such as authenticity or provenance

BSI launches Food Assurance Kitemark

By Rod Addy

The British Standards Institute (BSI) has launched a Food Assurance Kitemark to help tackle food fraud and provide a way to communicate product credentials including food authenticity and provenance to consumers.

Tchibo's claims on DNA integrity have been thrown out by EFSA

EFSA rejects Tchibo DNA coffee claim

By Michelle Perrett

Attempts to prove that regular consumption of a coffee could contribute to the maintenance of DNA integrity have been rejected by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The ASA has slammed an ad for Burger King's Rebel Whopper for being misleading

Burger King ad slammed for false vegan claims

By Gwen Ridler

Online ads for Burger King’s Rebel Whopper have been pulled for making misleading vegan- and vegetarian-friendly claims, according to the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA).

Manufacturers have been urged to report the illegal importation of HFC gases

European body tackles illegal HFCs

By Helen Gilbert

Food manufacturers are among businesses being urged to report the illegal importation of HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) gases.

British food standards need to be held as a benchmark for the UK's negotiations post Brexit, said Batters

Industry presses for standards retention post-Brexit

By Gwen Ridler

Pressure on Government to safeguard the UK food and drink supply chain post-Brexit continues to increase, as industry bodies urged negotiators not to sacrifice jobs and standards in pursuit of trade deals outside the EU.

CBD products could prove difficult for local authorities to enforce

CBD ruling major blow to industry

By Gwen Ridler

The novel foods status of cannabidiol (CBD) has been a major blow for the industry, but one that is not so easily enforced, experts have claimed.

Hancock: ‘The FSA already has a statutory duty to provide advice to public bodies, and others, on the wider consumer interest in relation to food’

FSA commitments to trade, strategy and allergens

By Gwen Ridler

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has reiterated its commitment to putting consumer interests at the forefront of any future discussions on trade, the National Food Strategy and work on allergies and intolerances.

A new ruling on balsamic vinegar eschews need for designation of origin

ECJ decision on balsamic vinegar

By Rod Addy

Balsamic vinegar does not have to originate from Modena, according to a 4 December ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

New research from Campden BRI suggests consumer fridges are running at too high temperatures

New shelf-life guidance from Campden BRI

By Rod Addy

Campden BRI is researching the shelf-life of meal kits and home-delivered chilled foods, plus how opening products at different times in the run-up to use-by dates can impact shelf-life.

Ringleader Alexander Goran recruited the workers from Romania with the promise of employment and accommodation

Two jailed for Manchester gangmaster offences

By Dan Colombini

An illegal gangmaster and his wife have been jailed for exploiting at least 41 workers at a catering butchers in the Merseyside area, following an investigation by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).

Beechdean Farm has been fined for an accident that left a worker blind

Beechdean Farm fined after worker blinded

By Gwen Ridler

Beechdean Farm Limited, part of the Beechdean Group, has been ordered to pay more than £19,000 for health and safety failings, after a worker was left permanently blinded by an accident.

Food manufacturers are having to gamble on their insurance, but could there be a better way?

IN-DEPTH

Insurance: roll the dice and take cover

By Rod Addy

Food manufacturers are having to decide increasingly where to place the focus when it comes to insurance – and the decision can be a real gamble.

Perez questioned whether taxes could really curb obesity in the UK

Opinion

Putting a lid on health taxes

By Steve Perez

Global Brands founder and chairman Steve Perez questions the effectiveness of taxes to combat the rise of obesity in the UK.

Placing higher tariffs on food that doesn't meet UK standards will help deter them from entering the country

Government to use tariffs to maintain food standards

By Gwen Ridler

The UK will have systems in place to prevent food that does not meet high standards from entering the country in the event of a no-deal Brexit, according to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Use of unapproved scales can land breweries with hefty fines

Breweries found lacking on scales

By Rod Addy

A quarter of breweries are not using Trade Approved scales, despite potentially risking fines of more than £1,000 and even imprisonment for not doing so, according to a survey by the Marsden Weighing Group.

Foods high in fat, sugar or salt are being targeted by the Scottish Government

HFSS promotions in Scotland to be restricted

By Noli Dinkovski

Sales of confectionery, cakes, crisps and sugary drinks north of the border are to be curbed after the Scottish Government announced plans to restricting the promotion of food high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS).

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.

Catton: ‘Asbestos is still a major issue. It is still present in hundreds of thousands of buildings in Britain, many of them in the food and drink manufacturing industry’

Opinion

Managing asbestos in food and drink businesses

By Neil Catton

Neil Catton, committee member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH’s) Food and Drink Industries Group, discusses the challenges posed by asbestos in food businesses and how to manage the risk associated with the material.

The FSA praised the steps taken for policing and managing food standards

FSA bullish on food sector overview

By Rod Addy

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has hailed a significant stride forward in the management and policing of food standards, creating “a single, unified view of the food and feed sector”, according to FSA chair Heather Hancock (pictured).

Amirahmadi: 'Trade policy is key to the success of the sector'

Dairy industry tackles cheese tariffs and environment

By Rod Addy

Dairy UK has called for Government to rethink proposed tariffs for cheese post-Brexit, claiming they were inadequate to prevent price volatility or a loss of productivity and so would damage the dairy industry.

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