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Food Issue Surveys
Food Solutions may be asked for members views and experiences, by the UK or European authorities looking for feedback and guidance when framing the rules and regulations.
The authorities place great value on input that comes directly from the owners and operators of affected businesses.
Watch this space for information requests.
Scores on Doors latest June 2010
The FSA has just published the consultation report on descriptors and symbols for the national Scores on Doors Scheme. See Scores page for more.
Scores on Doors
The Scores on Doors Steering Group Meeting agendas and minutes that are available can be seen here.
Scores on Doors Guidance
Various Guidance documents have been produced.
Supply contracts to the public sector
Producers of vegetables, fruit and meat can access details of contracts from local and central government (under £100,000) to supply the public sector on the website supply2.gov.uk
FSA Enforcement Policy
This report summarises FSA plans for consumer protection and enforcement of food hygiene. Costs to business may result and more pressure to comply with good practice.
Dogs in B and B kitchens
B and B owners cook breakfasts for their guests in their family kitchen. EU regulations imply that animals should not be allowed in food preparation areas.
Some EHO's choose to take issue with pets being allowed in a kitchen even when cooking is not taking place.
Food Solutions addressed this point for one of our members some months ago, with the FSA.
Online Food Allergy training
An online food allergy training scheme for enforcement officers and managers and staff in manufacturing and catering businesses has been launched. The training highlights allergen labelling issues and users can find out all they need to know about allergens. See food allergy training for details.
Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008
Coming into force on 16th January 2009, this Act imposes new and higher penalties on directors, employers and employees, for Health and Safety offences. By altering the penalty system, this act opens the way for powers to imprison offenders where previously they could only be fined. The maximum financial penalty will also be increased to £20,000.
FSA publishes final new guidance on Food Safety Act 1990
The final version of the new guidance for businesses on the Food Safety Act has been published. The act covers enforcement of food hygiene and safety legislation in the UK. It can be viewed here.
FSA produces new labelling guidance
New guidance on clear labelling has just been issued by the FSA. This seems rather strange when all the labeling rules are currently under review.
Food and drinks waste training tool
A new training tool has been produced for the food and drinks industry. It can be found on the netregs website. It helps highlight your responsibilities under current legislation. There is also a tool for farming and various other industries. www.netregs.gov.uk for more details.
Online Food Incident reporting
A new section on FSA website brings together information and guidance on reporting, responding to and preventing food or animal feed incidents. It also contains the FSA incident prevent strategy plan. The dedicated section aims to help enforcement authorities and the food industry find key incidents guidance and services quickly. An online incident reporting form allows businesses to notify the FSA in the event of withdrawal or recall of product. See www.food.gov.uk/food industry/incidents/
Business rate increase held in check?
The Chancellor intervened at the eleventh hour to hold the Business Rate increase to 2% for this year. It was set to rise by 5.2% which had business owners up in arms. The extra 3% will be charged over the next 2 years.
Business Rate deferral fact sheet
Local Authorities will be sending a fact sheet to business rate payers over the next few days. You can see it here. It gives a useful explanation and questions and answers about the scheme.
Bogus FSA letter scam
A scam is reported on the FSA website - see here.The letter claiming to come from the FSA (example on the FSA site - see above) outlines false accusations of food safety issues with your products and demands payment of a fine or threatens further action.
The FSA states it is Local Authorities responsible for food law enforcement, not the FSA. You should not send any money, but report the letter to your local police.
Keep up to date with Food Solutions.
Food News
We will be posting various news items that might affect the food sector or Industry.
If you have anything you that you think could be of interest to others, or comments about any of the items please let us know.
For more news items use the link on the left.
COOL labelling vote
MEPs voted to extend Country of Origin labelling to other single-ingredient products. See labelling page for more.
Egg recall
The Americans must be having visions of Edwina Currie at the moment. 380 million in-shell eggs have been recalled by Wright County Egg as salmonella has been found. Commercial food manufacturers are not affected because egg must be pasteurised before commercial use.
It is said there have been hundreds of cases of salmonella enteriditis - there were 2000 reported cases between May and July, 1300 more than usual, but it is not known if the increase is attributable to infected eggs.
If eggs are handled and cooked correctly there is no risk to consumers even from infected eggs. In UK we have the Lion Egg standard requiring hens to be vaccinated against salmonella and then tested throughout their laying cycle.
Paper Tax Returns
Those with less than five employees can still do a paper tax return for this year.
HMRC are stopping short of actually telling people this. There may also be an issue with getting hold of paper forms (you may have to go to your local tax office).
There is no exemption as such, just lack of a penalty.
Next year penalties start at £100, so be aware, you will be forced to go online to avoid charges. Unless things change.....
New Listeria Guidance
Guidance for businesses on determining shelf-life of ready to eat products has been produced. Alongside worked examples in technical and simple styles, the guidance produced by BRC and the Chilled Food Association demonstrates how to set shelf-life.
Bob Salmon of Food Solutions is credited with leading the development of the simplified worked examples.
See the guidance here.
Worked example of sandwich- technical
Worked example of sandwich- simplified
Worked example of Brie- technical
Worked example of Brie- simplified
Online advice for caterers on eggs
The FSA has published online advice on handling and using eggs, aimed at caterers. It lists the risks and advises on safe methods to minimise them. Advice for caterers - eggs.
EFSA announces first opinion on claims
EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority has published press release on its findings regarding Health and Nutrition Claims for foods. It has had over 4000 claims submitted. See EFSA for details. Any claims made must not mislead consumers. Those making claims have to submit the claim and supporting evidence for approval. So far about a third of claims received have been provisionally accepted.
Labelling Regulation draft
The new draft of the labelling regulation has been published. It is not good news, most of our amendments have been removed. See labelling page for more detail.
Results of Cheese Awards
Long Clawson Dairy, Lincolnshire Poacher and Quenby Hall are among the winners of the Great British Cheese Awards held in Cardiff on 26/27th September. www.thecheeseweb.com for full list of winners.
Results of investigation of Fat Duck
The report on the food poisoning incident that occurred at the Fat Duck restaurant has been published. The lessons to be learned are that staff must be fit and you should have a robust traceability system. Constant vigilance is needed.
HSE starts 2009 ladder exchange scheme
The 2009 HSE (Health and Safety Executive) ladder exchange scheme is due to run from 1st September to 31st December. They are making it an annual initiative to help reduce injuries from falling from heights.
Flu - Panic or Pandemic?
This article appeared in our update over a year ago. Did you take any steps to plan for a staff shortage?
War on Waste
Hilary Benn has announced his measures to reduce food waste going to landfill.
He is offering money for setting up 5 bio-digesters to recycle food waste.
He is also keen to outlaw the use of "display until" and "sell by" dates as they confuse consumers and lead to useable food being thrown away. "Use by" dates are legally required on foods that could pose a health hazard after that date. "Best Before" dates are a legal requirement on many other foods, but it is quality not safety that could be reduced after that date. The display until and sell by dates are merely used by supermarkets for stock rotation and management. There must also be a best before or use by date on perishable foods.
FSA issues new guidance on fitness to work
New guidance for food business operators on deciding if their staff is fit to work has been published. It covers food borne illness, personal hygiene and what the law says about food handlers and illness. It includes good practice as well as compliance with the law. Guidance pdf here.
Download listeria factsheet
A factsheet outlining how to reduce risks from Listeria is available from the FSA website.
ECOFIN Council approves reduced VAT rates
Council Directive 2006/112/EC is to be amended. it will allow member states to apply reduced VAT rates to labour intensive services including restaurant and catering services. The new rules have been adopted and are likely to come into force in August 2009. The amendments can be seen here.
Meat Hygiene Service inspection charges increase.
The FSA Board approved an increase of 4% in inspection charges at their April meeting. Although the increase is less than half of the original proposed, it can only put more pressure on small businesses. Comments that because TESCO announced a large profit there must be alot of money in the food industry show a lack of understanding of the food chain. When supermarket prices fall and yet the supermarkets still make record profits suppliers are the ones that are squeezed.
FSA approve as more companies label meals
Wimpy, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut and M & S and Sainsbury cafes are amongst those to start putting calorie content on their menus. The FSA is delighted as it seems to think putting nutrition information on meals will help combat obesity. The big boys may do it but there will be few that use local fresh ingredients that could afford to. Will it be read and if it is, will people take any notice????
Labelling
The Conservatives have recently tabled a Bill to amend the Food Labelling Regulations 1996. In the wake of the pork dioxin scare they are suggesting measures which far outstrip those currently proposed in European legislation. The Bill proposes "particularsof the place of origin of the meat components of any meat product" are indicated on the label. For small producers using meat from more than one origin this could prove costly and very difficult to achieve.
It also indicates when British country of origin could be used - only if meat/products come from animals born reared and slaughtered in UK. This would mean day old chicks or young animals imported and reared and slaughtered in UK could not be called British. Current legislation states place of origin or provenance must be indicated if not to do so would mislead the consumer.
News Items
animal_welfare.pdf