8/9/2010 -

Food Manufacturing E-bulletin June 2010

Food Safety News
A spotlight on the hottest topics for the food manufacturing sector

JUNE 2010


In This Month’s Edition…
1. UK/EU risk-assessment of Asian FMD outbreaks
2. FSA asks the EU to legalise “Smokies”
3. Update on investigation into increase in Salmonella
4. EFSA issues advice on the evaluation of health claims
5. EFSA statement on nitrite levels in meat products
6. EFSA gives all-clear to edible cheese rind dye
7. Amended EU novel foods regulations: cloned animals excluded and nanotechnology safety checks
8. UK FSA Draft Foodborne Disease Strategy 2010-2015
9. UK Coalition publishes partnership programme
10. UK FSA 'Annual Report of Incidents 2009' published UK survey reveals support for packaged alcohol health
11. UK survey reveals support for packaged alcohol health warnings
12. UK guidance on labelling of added ingredients (Meat Products Regulations)
13. UK FSA Food and Allergy Alerts (May/June '10)

If you have any queries or comments about these articles please contact Jon Adams, Business Development Manager - Manufacturing on 07801 039 026, email jonathan.adams@nsf-cmi.com

1. UK/EU risk-assessment of Asian FMD outbreaks

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has urged heightened international surveillance against FMD following recent outbreaks in Japan, China and South Korea. In its warning, the FAO reminded the international community that the 2001 epidemic was thought to have originated from outbreaks in these same countries.
In its preliminary outbreak assessment DEFRA and the EU have emphasised that imports of livestock and livestock products are already banned from these countries but the UK (and EU) still feels that illegal imports may still pose a continual low risk of importing the disease.
At the same time, they have emphasised the need for keepers of FMD-susceptible animals to maintain vigilance and promptly report any suspected case, and uphold biosecurity measures, including strict observance of the swill-feed ban.
Full assessment at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/monitoring/documents/fmd-asia100423.pdf


2. FSA asks the EU to legalise “Smokies
The Food Standards Agency has written to the European Commission seeking a change in European Union (EU) law to permit production of smoked skin-on sheep meat for human consumption. This follows the Board’s earlier discussion, on 26 January, at which agreement was given for the Agency to push for this change in EU law, subject to the clearance of Ministers across the UK to this course of action.
Smoked 'skin-on' sheep carcasses, known as smokies, are eaten by some minority ethnic communities in the UK. However, they are banned from being produced legally in the EU because hygiene legislation requires all parts of the body of sheep intended for human consumption (except the head and feet) to be skinned. Investigations by the Agency and representatives of the UK meat industry have shown that it is possible to produce such meat safely and hygienically in slaughterhouses.
Full details at: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/may/smokie0510


3. Update on investigation into increase in Salmonella
The Food Standards Agency has issued a further update on the investigation into last year's increase in England and Wales in the number of cases of a certain type of salmonella. An outbreak in mid-August 2009 of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type (PT) 14b was possibly linked to an egg production premises in Spain.
The UK and Spanish authorities have been working in close cooperation to investigate this case and the Agency has received information from Spanish officials that a full investigation and sampling at the egg production premises, Granja Avícola ‘El Angel’, has been carried out. The authorities are content that appropriate action has been taken and this means that eggs can be sold directly from most of the premises direct to the consumer.
However, there is one particular flock at the Spanish plant whose eggs can only be placed on the market if they are used to manufacture egg products. This is because such products are heat treated, which ensures that any salmonella that may be present is destroyed. UK local authorities and the Egg Marketing Inspectorate at Defra have been made aware of this.
For full details: http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2010/news0610.htm


4. EFSA issues advice on the evaluation of health claims
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued further advice that updates its approach to health claim assessment.
The document seeks to clarify which articles (13.1, 13.5 or 14) of the nutrition and health claim regulations are most appropriate for various types of claims and how stakeholders should progress applications.
(Reference: (EC) No 353/2008 establishing implementing rules for applications for authorisation of health claims as provided for in Article 15 of (EC) No 1924/2006).
The guidance can be found at: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/ndameetings/docs/nda100601-ax01.pdf


5. EFSA statement on nitrite levels in meat products
EFSA’s Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources (ANS) have recently reviewed the scientific evidence for a revision of the maximum limits on nitrites in food as specified in EC Directive 2006/52/EC.
The key conclusions of the Panel can be summarised as:

1) The current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0.07mg/kg bw/day should be retained.
2) The review identifies several European countries where ‘high consumers’ could exceed the recommended ADI.
3) The Panel re-emphasised the EC Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) 1995 recommendations that exposure to pre-formed nitrosamines in food should be minimised by e.g. lowering the levels of nitrate and nitrite added to foods to the minimum required to achieve the necessary preservative effect and to ensure microbiological safety.
NB The Panel did not evaluate the technological need for the maximum use levels for nitrite as specified in EC Directive 2006/52/EC highlighting that this issue has been adequately assessed by others and that the technological need is product specific.
Full statement available at: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/doc/1538.pdf
 

 

6. EFSA gives all-clear to edible cheese rind dye
Litholrubine BK (e180) is a red mono-azo dye authorised as a food additive in the EU but currently only permitted for use in edible cheese rinds.
Delivering a scientific opinion on its safety as a food additive, ANS have stated that there is unlikely to be a significant safety concern for humans from this approved use.
Detailed opinion at: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/doc/1586.pdf


7. Food from cloned animals excluded and nanotechnology safety checks for amended EU novel foods regulations
MEPs have voted to exclude food derived from cloned animals and their offspring from draft updated legislation on the authorisation of "novel foods". (The EC’s initial proposal would have included food derived from cloned animals but not their offspring)
Foods produced by nanotechnology processes will also have to undergo a specific risk assessment before they can be approved for use (via the Community list) and labelled. The draft legislation defines engineered nano-materials as having one or more dimensions less than 100 nm. All ingredients present in the form of nano-materials will need to be clearly indicated in the list of ingredients.
Only novel foods which are included on the Community list (after assessment by the European Food Safety Authority), may be placed on the market.
In addition, before a novel food is included in the approved Community list, the opinion of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies on the ethical and environmental implications must be sought.
Novel foods are defined as those which have not been consumed to any significant degree in the EU before May 1997, when the first legislation on novel foods was introduced. They include foods that are newly-developed, such as foods produced by new production processes like nanotechnology, but also foods traditionally consumed only outside the EU.
The Press Release is at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdfs/news/expert/infopress/20100503IPR74029/20100503IPR74029_en.pdf
The latest edition of the FSA’s quarterly “Bites” magazine provides a general overview of nanotechnology and can be downloaded at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/publication/bitesummer10.pdf

8. UK FSA Draft Foodborne Disease Strategy 2010-2015
The FSA have issued a draft document for public consultation that details its renewed strategy for the reduction of UK foodborne illness for the next 5 years. Key pathogens for reduction have been identified (Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes) and the strategy details the targeted approach that will be adopted, focussed on UK produced foodstuffs. The strategy also recognises the continued importance of other pathogens such as Salmonella, E.coli O157 and Clostridium perfringens as well as signalling the need to conduct further research on Noroviruses.
The draft strategy paper can be found at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/board/fsa100504v2.pdf


9. UK Coalition publishes partnership programme
The Liberal-Conservative coalition government has published its initial programme and says it will cut regulation for small businesses and farmers, but increase regulatory oversight of the grocery sector and appoint an ombudsman to enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.
Among other food policy pledges, included in Sections 5 (Consumer Protection) and 11 (Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), the coalition document said the government intends to “introduce honesty in food labelling so that consumers can be confident about where their food comes from and its environmental impact” and promises to promote high standards of farm animal welfare and “work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research.”
The full document is accessible at:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_187876.pdf
 

10. UK FSA ‘Annual Report of Incidents 2009’ published
The latest annual report of incidents, published by the FSA is available on-line:
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/incidents09.pdf
There were 1,208 incidents last year, a slight decrease from 1,298 in 2008, although the total figures have remained relatively constant for the past four years.
Incidents included the high profile case of Salmonella associated with imported eggs from Spain and a successful prosecution of owners of an unapproved meat plant in West Yorkshire.
The report gives a breakdown of incidents by category, with the major categories being: microbiological (18%), environmental contamination (17%), natural chemical contamination (12%) and on-farm incidents (12%).
The report also highlights the work the Agency did in 2009 to review and improve its handling of incidents.


11. UK survey reveals support for packaged alcohol health warnings
A new YouGov report into the alcohol sector reveals that attitudes towards drinking have changed in accordance with a new societal emphasis on health and fitness. 60% of UK adults thought that alcohol packaging should contain health warnings to warn people about the detrimental effects of alcohol use.
The full report on alcoholic drinks is available to buy from YouGov SixthSense at:
http://www.yougov.co.uk/corporate/pdf/press-healthWarningsAlcoholPackaging.pdf


12. UK guidance on labelling of added ingredients (Meat Products Regulations)
A new guide has been issued with regard to regulatory compliance incorporating guidance on best practice relating to labelling of added ingredients (added water, added animal ingredients etc.) in meat products which have the appearance of a cut, joint, slice, portion or carcass of meat or of cured meat, whether cooked or uncooked. In this guidance such meat products are referred to as appearing like 'whole meats'.
It also clarifies the legal requirements concerning labelling of added starch and/or protein in regulation 5 meat products following changes to EC rules and consequent amendment of the Meat Products Regulations (MPR).
Guidance at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/meatlabellingguidemprreg5.pdf
Flow diagram at:
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/flowdiagramguidanceannex5.pdf  

 
13. UK FSA Food and Allergy Alerts (May/June ‘10)

Food Alerts:
16.06 Hovis recalls its Hovis Hearty Oats Loaf due to potential glass contamination. Recalled from customers

08.06 The Co-operative Group recalls four wines due to possible contamination with small pieces of glass. Recalled from customers

26.05 The Co-operative group recalls four Truly Irresistible pasta sauces due to possible contamination with small pieces of glass Wednesday. Food Alert: for Information

20.05 Nestlé recalls Nescafé Collections range coffee 100g jar due to possible contamination with small pieces of glass. Food Alert: for Information


Allergy Alerts:
17.06 Asda withdraws its own brand Indian Chicken Korma and Jalfrezi Meal for 2 due to a packaging error resulting in incorrect allergen information. Allergens: Mustard


17.06 Asda withdraws its own brand Indian Tikka Masala and Jalfrezi Meal for 2 due to a packaging error resulting in incorrect allergen information Allergens: Cashew nuts


16.06 The Sandwich Factory Holdings Ltd recalls its Good to Go brand All Day Breakfast Sandwich due to the presence of undeclared celery and mustard. Allergens: Celery and mustard


11.06 Wm Morrison Supermarkets recalls its own brand Chicken Chow Mein due to the presence of undeclared egg and milk. Allergens: Egg and milk

08.06 Undeclared sulphur dioxide in Tree of Life Dried Apricots. Allergens: sulphur dioxide


28.05 Undeclared sulphur dioxide in Lundys Fine Foods' sausages (Northern Ireland). Allergens: Sulphur dioxide

13.05 Asda withdraws two of its Chicken Chow Mein meals due to undeclared allergen labelling information. Allergen: Molluscs (shellfish)
 

TSI Advice

Click here to read advice from the Trading Standards Institute

BOOK AN SFBB
COACHING SESSION

Sign up for the SOFHT mock trial 29.09.2010!