Meat, fish and savoury ingredients

The Farmer’s Son has recalled packs of haggis over food poisoning fears

News in brief

Haggis recalled over food poisoning fears

By Gwen Ridler

Scottish meat processor The Farmer’s Son has recalled packs of haggis and black pudding, due to concerns over the company’s procedures to prevent food poisoning.

Naked Bacon will be available in UK supermarkets from January 10

Nitrite-free bacon set for UK launch

By Noli Dinkovski

A bacon product free of cancer-causing nitrites is to launch in the UK following a £14M investment by Northern Irish meat processor Finnebrogue.

UK wants a Brexit transition deal that protects fishermen and fish processors

Brexit

Michael Gove bullish on transition deal for UK fisheries

By Rick Pendrous

The UK is seeking a reduced post-Brexit transition period of nine to 10 months for fisheries ending in January 2020 when it hopes to adopt the status of Independent Coastal State in law to protect the UK fishing industry.

Food safety problems could arise from relying on old, paper-based data capture systems

Food safety needs a boost from more robust data capture

By Rick Pendrous

Many UK food and drink manufacturers are putting themselves and their customers at risk by relying on outdated paper-based systems to capture data and monitor their operational performance and product quality, warn several suppliers of software to the...

The food manufacturing year in news stories: click through the timeline to revisit some of the most memorable moments of 2017

Food manufacturing milestones: key events that shaped 2017

By Amy Langley

As another busy food and drink manufacturing year draws to a close, we look back at some of the key events that have shaped the fortunes of Britain’s biggest businesses, as reported over the past 12 months on this website.

New Zealand’s sheep exports have flourished since subsidies were lifted, claims the former New Zealand high commissioner

UK should ‘learn lesson’ from New Zealand over subsidies

By Noli Dinkovski

Removing subsidies and opening up markets post-Brexit is likely to result in increased domestic food and farming productivity while boosting food security, the former New Zealand high commissioner to the UK has argued.

Food and drink manufacturers have the opportunity to measure changes in their products

New Suffolk lab aims to improve shelf-life

By Noli Dinkovski

A new laboratory dedicated to improving the shelf-life of products through the use of natural herb, spice, vegetable and hop ingredients has opened in Mildenhall, Suffolk.

Premium sausage manufacturer Heck! Food was placed 21st in the list

Food manufacturers feature in Fast Track 100 list

By Mike Stones

Food and drink firms, including snack manufacturer All Good, gourmet sausage maker Heck! Food and BrewDog are featured on the latest The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 list.

Inside Maelor's new chicken processing plant in Wrexham

Maelor Foods opens Wrexham chicken factory

By Rick Pendrous

Maelor Foods’s new £20M poultry processing plant in Wrexham will be officially opened by ministers from the Welsh Assembly and the Mayor of Wrexham tomorrow (November 23).

First of two Oscars: Jeremy Faulkner, md SK Chilled Foods (centre right) and NPD manager Emma Bell, receive the first trophies from category sponsor Kevin Haynes (right) and awards host Matt Dawson

FMEAS 2017

SK Chilled Foods team will be ‘thrilled to bits’ at Oscar win

By Mike Stones

Ethnic snacks manufacturer SK Chilled Foods md Jeremy Faulkner said his workforce would be “thrilled to bits” to win the Food Manufacture Company of the Year trophy in the industry’s Oscars – the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards (FMEAs).

Original Recipes’ pâtés and terrines are based on traditional family recipes

Pâté maker wins regional funding for expansion

By Rick Pendrous

Chesterfield-based food specialist Original Recipes, which makes a range of pâtés and terrines, is aiming to treble its production capacity after securing a £25,000 investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) to fund its expansion.

Be among the first to learn who won what award by booking your place at the London Hilton on Wednesday November 1

FMEAs 2017

Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2017 shortlist

By Michael Stones

Welcome to the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards 2017 shortlist, showcasing the achievements of the 60-plus food and drink manufacturers and individuals, some of whom will win one or more manufacturing Oscars at our gala awards evening at the London...

Food and drink manufacturers’ competitveness is being stifled by unaddressed policy challenges: FoodDrinkEurope

Euro food firms warn on ‘renationalising food policy’

By Michael Stones

The European Commission (EC) should resist the renationalisation of food policies, such as country of origin labelling measures, urges euro food and drink manufacturers’ representative FoodDrinkEurope.

Tulip has agreed to buy pig producer Easey Holdings

Tulip agrees deal to buy pig producer

By Matt Atherton

Meat processor Tulip has agreed a deal to buy pig producer Easey Holdings, after this website exclusively revealed the firm’s plans to invest up to £70M in acquisitions, equipment and product innovation.

Beef, Pork and Lamb exports grew in the first half of this year

UK meat exports break £500M in value

By Gwen Ridler

Exports of UK beef, lamb and pork were worth more than £500M in the first half of this year, up 18% year-on-year, according to the Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Thousands of Britons a year could be infected with hepatitis E from imported pork products, a report found

Imported pork ‘infecting thousands’ with hepatitis E

By Matt Atherton

Food manufacturers and processors must shift to locally-sourced foods to minimise the risk of hepatitis E to consumers, says supply chain firm Vendigital, after a Public Health England (PHE) report revealed thousands of Britons a year could be infected...

Poultry and chicken recalls in Europe are at there highest since 2002

Poultry recalls hit a 15-year high across Europe

By Gwen Ridler

Recalls of chicken and poultry meat products across Europe are at a 15-year high, according to a report from business consultancy Stericycle Expert Solutions, with bacterial contamination accounting for more than 90% of food alerts.

An animal rights activist's investigation alleged

Faccenda approves supplier after ‘cruelty’ claims

By Matt Atherton

Meat processor Faccenda has approved one of its suppliers to continue activities, after an animal rights activist body’s investigation alleged “extreme suffering and cruelty” of birds at the site.

Producers should decide which food hygiene practices to use, based on their target buyers, Policy Exchange said

FSA ‘should gain power to assess chlorinated chicken after Brexit’

By Matt Atherton

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) should be given new powers after Brexit to review scientific evidence on alternative food safety practices, including chlorinated-chicken, hormone-treated beef and genetically modified (GM) foods, says think-tank Policy...