Interest in the irradiation of salad products has been raised again in light of the recent E.coli outbreaks in Germany, France and now possibly Sweden. I have placed a link to the article in Food Production Daily below.
Irradiation has its problems not only with consumer perception and who would want to take the first lead but also with the technology.
Posted in Uncategorized
There seems to be a huge row developing over the introduction of ‘Pig Super Farms’ the one highlighted at the moment is at Foston in Derbyshire which will ,if permitted, house 25,000 pigs.
It would seem that amongst the opponents are the Soil Association in a recent article (http://www.foodbev.com/news/salmonella-superbug-threat-from-intensiv) on FoodBev.com they are suggesting that there could be an increased risk to human health from a new ‘superbug’ a ‘new’ form of Salmonella. The ‘new’ form has enhanced antibiotic resistance and a high ‘attack’ rate on children and older people. There is evidence apparently that suggests this new strain can pass from pigs directly to humans and not involve the food chain.
Read more at the above link.
Posted in Uncategorized
The Daily Mail reported yesterday that unlabeled meat from cloned animals has been approved for sale. This should generate quite an argument with both for and against views already being aired. This seems like a quick change of mind as the last reports seemed to suggest further research to make sure that there were no food safety issues.
Posted in Uncategorized
The FSA have just published their factsheet for caterers on how to provide information to customers on the new 2010 regulations for people intolerant to gluten.
The fact sheet will help train staff to understand the new descriptions in the regulations and provide customers who need to avoid gluten with the appropriate information. I have added a link to the FSA website and the factsheet.
Posted in Uncategorized
Right then here’s one for all you Footie Fans out there, I bet you didn’t realise that there was a competition for the best Football Ground Pie!
And the table looks quite different from the current premiership table with Ipswich and Blackburn chomping it out for top spot.
The competition is run through Hospitality and Catering News and you can see the full table from the link below.
Posted in Uncategorized
If you see this logo 
Bin the paperwork and do not sign anything!
I am not sure if any of you will have come across this scam. If you are not involved with your company exhibitions then probably not, but forwarded this to those in your company who are.
I fell foul of this scam in December 2008 when I received a letter with an attached form which on the surface looked like a free entry into an exhibition guide brochure and it has been ongoing since then. In this case it was it was a Food and Drink Expo in Birmingham.
The letter asked for some details to be entered for the Exhibitors Directory for Fairs and Exhibitions, it even included the exhibitors organisers address. It was a fairly innocuous form, I have attached one below, which at first glance seemed just a formality from the organisers, but the T&C’s at the bottom in very small print do indicate that a payment was required……………this just goes to prove that you should read even the smallest T&C’s.
I should have read closer, especially when the print states that you can pay in Euro’s or Mexican Peso’s….stupid really but I am one of thousands that has been caught.
There is even a website dedicated to the problem I have provided a link below and William Reed Publications have issued warnings about the fake listing scam.
http://stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm
The next step is that you receive a letter with an invoice, in my case for Euro 1,181.00 payable to a credit bank in Hungary with an account holder’s address in Mexico If you do not pay, which I did not, you then start to receive threatening letters about final payment and legal action. At one point allegedly my costs went as high as Euro 2,362.00 and the bank account was now in Slovakia.
I then searched on the internet and found I was one of thousands, which was a little more reassuring and that there was a campaign on the website above to help you with advice. Basically the company is not selling a directory listing and that’s why it is scam, even if you have signed a document. As far as I can ascertain from the Stop It website no one has yet been prosecuted.
I have received further letters to complete other directory listings for MEDTEC UK, ICSE and also the recent NCS Show in Birmingham http://www.nationalconvenienceshow.co.uk/page.cfm/Link=21/t=m/goSection=4
But its not only the food and pharmaceutical industry so pass this one to as many people as possible.
http://www.railtex.co.uk/exhibiting/warning
So please if you recognise the logo, report it to the organisers of the exhibition and let them deal with it but do not sign………..also always read the T&C’s
Posted in Uncategorized
Going back to an earlier blog in January about nutritional information on restaurant food in the USA it would now appear that 73% of pub goers want similar facts and figures for pub grub. This could be good news for those of us in the contract testing laboratories, but not for those requiring the data. The accuracy of facts and figures from plate to plate would be very variable. There would also be the difficulties of enforcement and monitoring of the nutritional claims made.
Personally when I eat out I don’t want to know the facts and figures about what I am eating I just want to enjoy it………obviously I am in a minority!
Full article in The Publican
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=69092
Posted in Uncategorized
Many of you will have heard of Food & Drink International but you may not know that they have recently added an online version of the magazine. If you follow the link through the image above, it will take you to the Food and Drink International website. At the top right hand corner of the page you will see the link to the online version of the magazine. You will also see and link for subscription to the news letter which you may find interesting.
Posted in Uncategorized
Hi there,
This is not really got anything to do with food or pharmaceutical testing but I have found this website useful and it has saved me quite a few pennies. With UK fuel prices continuing to rise it may help you too. You will have to create an account but check it out.
Posted in Uncategorized
For any of you wanting to find out which food testing laboratories have been authorised under the TLAS use this link.
ILS is of course one of those laboratories!
Posted in Uncategorized
