CMi

6/9/2010 -

Food Manufacturing E-bulletin - October 2009

October 2009

In this edition

UK consultation launched on new BSE regulations
Decision on banding for UK ‘Scores on the Doors’ national scheme
UK Council of Food Policy Advisors publishes first report
ACMSF report examines increase in listeriosis in UK
FSA fish advice updated to take account of sustainability
UK FSA Chief Scientist’s Annual Report published
UK FSA guidance on labelling margarine, butter and fat spreads
EC Guidance on the Setting of Tolerances for Nutrient Values (pre-packed foods)
UK FSA Food and Allergy Alerts (September ’09)

If you have any queries or comments about the articles below please email manufacturingmaillist@nsf-cmi.com, or get in touch with your NSF-CMi contact.

1. UK CONSULTATION LAUNCHED ON NEW BSE REGULATIONS

The FSA has launched a joint consultation with Defra, until 2 December, on proposed new BSE regulations, which will replace the 2008 Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (England) Regulations (as amended). (A separate, parallel consultation on equivalent legislation will be undertaken in Scotland, Wales and NI).

At the moment, abattoirs wishing to slaughter cattle aged over 30 months (OTM) must successfully undertake a trial beforehand and set out procedures in a formal ‘Required method of operation’ (RMOP) document, approved by the Meat Hygiene Service. These procedures include the batching of cattle before slaughter and specific measures relating to OTM carcasses.

The trial and RMOP procedures were originally designed to ensure that all OTM cattle were identified and tested negative for BSE before being allowed into the food supply. However, in January 2009 the BSE test age increased from 30 to 48 months.

It is proposed to remove the RMOP requirement for abattoirs slaughtering cattle that do not require BSE testing. In addition, the RMOP requirements for abattoirs slaughtering cattle that do require BSE testing are being amended to remove the specific requirements relating to OTM vertebral column removal, as these are covered elsewhere in the legislation.

Full consultation available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/tse-regs09/index.htm

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2. DECISION ON BANDING FOR UK ‘SCORES ON THE DOORS’ NATIONAL SCHEME

The FSA has announced further progress on the development of the national 'Scores on the Doors' scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Following discussions with the UK-wide Steering Group that was set up to advise on the scheme, the FSA has decided to opt for a broad top band for the new six-tier rating scheme. This is designed to avoid ‘gold-plating’ barriers to businesses reaching the threshold of the highest rating of the scheme and negates any need to amend the Enforcement Code of Practice for the sole purpose of accommodating SotD.

This approach should also reduce the potential for inconsistent scoring and is thought likely to result in fewer requests for re-inspections/re-visits thereby reducing the potential impact on the sustainability of the scheme. It provides consistency with better regulation and Hampton principles and the findings of the Pennington Review by allowing local authorities to focus resources on high-risk establishments at the lower end of the scale.
In the longer term, in order to provide incentives for better performing businesses to improve even further, consideration could be given to 'reward' options that might work in parallel with the SotD scheme.

More information at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/banding.pdf

The latest meeting of the SotD Steering Group was held on 30th September – all papers discussed at the meeting can be found at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2009/sep/sotdupdate090925

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3. UK COUNCIL OF FOOD POLICY ADVISORS PUBLISHES FIRST REPORT

Following the launch of the Government’s draft food strategy, the newly established Council of Food Policy Advisors has published its first report in helping to define what a sustainable healthy diet is for consumers.

The Council has identified three priority areas to focus on:

Defining an environmentally sustainable healthy diet;
Government setting an example via public procurement; and
A UK fruit and vegetable strategy.

For more information, and to download the report go to:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/policy/council/index.htm
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4. ACMSF REPORT EXAMINES INCREASE IN LISTERIOSIS IN UK

The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) has, after public consultation, published a report on increased incidence of listeriosis in the UK.

Following reports of an increase in cases of listeria, predominantly in the over-60s age group, the FSA sought advice from the ACMSF. Similar increases have also been reported in other European countries, including France and Germany.

The recommendations in the report include:

pan-European surveillance, epidemiological and microbiological investigations
maintaining targeted active surveillance for listeria spp. in foods is important to inform control of this organism
communicating general food safety advice to the over 60s, as well as to those involved in their care and preparation of their food
any future advice to industry and enforcement authorities should reiterate the importance of temperature and shelf life control, hygiene/cleaning and formulation of food in preventing contamination or limiting the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in foods

Full report at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/committee/acmsflisteria.pdf

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5. FSA FISH ADVICE UPDATED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF SUSTAINABILITY

FSA advice about the health benefits of fish consumption remains unchanged, including that people should be eating at least two portions of fish a week, one of which should be an oily fish.

However, updated advice has been set more firmly in the wider sustainability context and consumers are now being asked to think about the choices they make when they choose which fish to eat.

Consumers are, for example, now being encouraged to:

try to choose fish that has been produced sustainably or responsibly managed
look for assurance scheme logos e.g. Marine Stewardship Council, Seafish
be adventurous and eat a wider variety of fish species

The updates to the fish and shellfish advice appear on the FSA ‘eatwell’ consumer website: http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/fishandshellfish

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6. UK FSA CHIEF SCIENTIST’S ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED

The latest report (covering the period Apr ’08 – Mar ’09) highlights progress in all aspects of food safety. The report highlights work done by ACMSF looking at the possible causes of the increase in cases of listeriosis. (see item 4).

Also covered in this year's report are:

work to reduce intakes of saturated fat, including the evidence behind FSA advice and the results of research on consumer understanding of saturated fat.
the main scientific activities behind FSA advice, such as caffeine consumption and peanut consumption during pregnancy.

The report can be found at the link below:
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/publication/annualscientist0909.pdf

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7. UK FSA GUIDANCE ON LABELLING MARGARINE, BUTTER AND FAT SPREADS

The FSA is seeking views on draft Guidance Notes detailing the rules on the labelling and marketing of dairy produce and fat spreads set down in EC Regulation No. 1234/2007. The Notes can be found at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/consultations/consulteng/2009/labellingonspreads

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8. EC GUIDANCE ON THE SETTING OF TOLERANCES FOR NUTRIENT VALUES (PRE-PACKED FOODS)

EC Directive 90/496/EEC on the nutrition labelling of foodstuffs made provision for the production of guidance notes on the setting of tolerance levels for nutrient values declared on food labels.

To date no tolerances have been set at EU level and there are variable approaches across the Member states. The EC have recently circulated to Member states a ‘working document’ that identifies the numerous technical issues that need to be addressed in advance of establishing guidelines. Where they exist, the document highlights tolerances currently recognised in individual Member states (e.g. UK LACORS advice).

UK FSA have written to interested stakeholders seeking feedback on the issues raised in order to respond to the EC.

Whilst the paper focuses on pre-packed foods guidance the FSA have taken the view that any future guidance will also apply to ‘voluntary labelling’, such as those foreseen in the FSA’s work on calorie labelling in catering.

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9. UK FSA FOOD AND ALLERGY ALERTS (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER ’09)

Food Alerts:
22/09: Mars Food UK recalls 2 date codes of Dolmio Express Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce due to possible contamination with small pieces of hard plastic

Allergy Alerts:
07/10: Wm Morrison Supermarkets withdraws Morrisons Very Berry Oaties due to milk and soya not being declared on the label.
Allergens: Milk and soya
01/10: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd recalls its Chicken and Creamy Basil Pasta due to incorrect allergen labelling information.
Allergen: Shellfish (prawns)
29/09: Blakemans withdraws its own brand Thin Natural Pork Sausages and Thin Pork Collagen Sausages due to the presence of undeclared wheat gluten and sulphites.
Allergens: Wheat (gluten) and sulphites
24/09: Farmfoods Ltd and WM Morrison Supermarkets withdraw certain batches of Bernard Matthews Ltd Chunky Tikka Turkey due to incorrect gluten free labelling and the presence of wheat.
Allergens: Wheat (gluten)
18/09: Asda withdraws its own brand Chocolate Delights due to the presence of undeclared soya.
Allergen: Soya
09/09: Whittard of Chelsea withdraw three tea products containing nuts that are not declared on the label.
Allergens: Tree nuts (macadamia and almond)
01/09: Asda withdraws its own brand Extra Special Wiltshire Style Ham due to the presence of undeclared wheat / gluten. Allergens: Wheat / gluten

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