Posts Tagged ‘food’

Fat tax could be crippling

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

The European Heart Network (EHN) is today calling on the UK to introduce a tax on fatty and sugary foods, as well as greater controls on the advertising of unhealthy foods aimed at children.

The ECN believes the UK needs to introduce decisive policies in light of growing evidence of the impact of diet and physical activity on coronary heart disease.

The introduction of a fat tax in the UK would be very difficult for the Government to suggest right now and for the industry to stomach. The impending Food Information Regulations are already making waves and the force of the Nutrition and Health Regulations is only just being felt.

Introducing a tax on foods which would be sure to cripple certain producers would not be a sensible move. The Nutrition and Health Regulations should have a significant impact on the way certain foods are marketed so it would be wise for Government to let regulators try this weapon first before introducing a new one.

Posted by Nina Best, who specialises in regulatory matters; entertainment licensing; advertising and marketing law; advice and representation on infringement of Food Safety Manufacturing Product Regulations.

Nina Best

Nina Best
0115 976 6529
nbest@brownejacobson.com

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Don’t always believe water you read

Friday, November 18th, 2011

A media frenzy has broken out over claims that bureaucrats in Europe have delivered a ruling which states that water sold in the EU can not claim to protect against dehydration!

But “Don’t always believe what you read”! The decision made by the European Food Standards Agency is in relation to an application made that claimed water reduces risk of the disease that is dehydration. There are specific regulations that govern what must be proved before a reduction in disease claim may be made. Water did not meet these criteria. However, Europe has confirmed that water may claim that it is important for the maintenance of normal physical and mental performance.

The Nutrition and Health Regulations have been around for some years now, but the impact of them is only just starting to be seen as European scientists have been busying themselves for many years testing the efficacy of over 40,000 nutrition and health claims. It is so important that business take the time to understand the ramifications of often complex decisions, as they don’t always necessarily say what you thought they first said.

Posted by Nina Best, who specialises in regulatory matters; entertainment licensing; advertising and marketing law; advice and representation on infringement of Food Safety Manufacturing Product Regulations.

Nina Best

Nina Best
0115 976 6529
nbest@brownejacobson.com

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Government issues labelling guidance to tackle growing food waste mountain

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

The Government has issued new guidance for the food industry on the use of food label dates amid growing concerns at the amount of food that is wasted each year by UK households.

According to the Local Government Association UK consumers threw away £14bn worth of food in 2010.

The guidance places greater emphasis on ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ dates and discourages the use of “sell by” and “display until” labels which are primarily used for stock control purposes.

The guidance reflects draft EU food regulations which provide only for mandatory use-by dates and omits the requirement for a best before date to be displayed. UK food labelling laws could be much simpler. This guidance is long overdue and over time it will be reflected in UK law. Any measure that reduces red tape for manufacturers and retailers will be welcomed by the industry but companies will have to continue to ensure customers are provided with any relevant details to ensure that the food they consume is safe.

Posted by Nina Best, who specialises in regulatory matters; entertainment licensing; advertising and marketing law; advice and representation on infringement of Food Safety Manufacturing Product Regulations.

Nina Best

Nina Best
0115 976 6529
nbest@brownejacobson.com

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How clean is your local?

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Thousands of food businesses will have their hygiene ratings made public from 1 October.

Hygiene ratings will be shown on a numeric scale. A rating of five indicates very good food hygiene standards. There is then a sliding scale to a zero rating which indicates that urgent improvement is necessary.

The FSA today published the newly designed branding that intends to make it easy for consumers to understand and use food hygiene ratings. The design is big and bold.

Although the small print provides that the guide is not a guide to food quality, who would want to dine in an establishment where “URGENT IMPROVEMENT IS NECESSARY”? With hygiene ratings often being the subject of intense debate between the local authority and establishment, and the huge potential for the food business to lose considerable business following receipt of a low rating, is it really fair to force this businesses to display this label?

Posted by Nina Best, who specialises in regulatory matters; entertainment licensing; advertising and marketing law; advice and representation on infringement of Food Safety Manufacturing Product Regulations.

Nina Best

Nina Best
0115 976 6529
nbest@brownejacobson.com

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Can you say (Cumberland) sausages?

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

This week Walls have admitted to the Sunday Telegraph that at least half its meat is sourced from pig farms outside the UK. This other meat comes from Denmark, Holland and Germany. However, the labels on its “Lincolnshire ” and “Cumberland” sausages do not set out the foreign origin of the meat.

In their defence, Walls say that the use of the term “Lincolnshire” sausages refers to a traditional recipe, rather than the place from where the meat is sourced. They say that they source as much meat as they can from the UK, and merely complement that with supplies from audited producers in Europe.

Walls sausages are marketed as a distinctly British brand. However, meat from abroad can be significantly cheaper to produce than meat from the UK, and legally, Walls are not required to label their products to indicate that some of its meat content comes from abroad. Indeed, so long as the product is actually manufactured in the UK, it can at present bear the wording “British Made.”

Do you think this is good enough or should manufacturers and retailers  be required to explain EXACTLY where the ingredients of products come from – or maybe it’s all a load of old Hogwash?

Fiona Carter

Posted by Fiona Carter
0115 976 6224
fcarter@brownejacobson.com

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Like water off a fat duck’s back?

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Celebrity chef, Heston Blumenthal has escaped a food safety prosecution due to there being insufficient evidence to show a clear breach of food safety legislation.

Avoiding a prosecution is clearly a good thing. However, following the investigation into the allegations that Blumenthal’s food had sickened 529, a report was produced by the Health Protection Agency (“HPA”). The report criticised the Michelin star restaurant and has been circulating in the public domain for some time now.

The report primarily concluded that oysters tainted with sewage led to guests contracting the norovirus after eating at the restaurant.

However, the report did not absolve Blumenthal’s restaurant from responsibility. It identified failings in the management system. In particular, it said that the restaurant had failed to respond to the incident appropriately.

As well as the negative image that the incident has already created, Blumenthal’s handling of the outbreak, and in particular his hostile response to the HPA’s findings has upset some of its customers, and it is reported that some customers intend to sue the celebrity chef.

Does this story give you the confidence that you have the protection from Food Safety Legislation that you expect when you dine out ?

Fiona Carter

Posted by Fiona Carter
0115 976 6224
fcarter@brownejacobson.com

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