The management systems community
– 16th Mar 2010 by Alex Briggs
China has vowed to clampdown on food safety issues across the supply chain. In this Food Quality News article, China’s Vice Minister of Agriculture Wei Chao’an said,
Our agricultural products overall are safe and of high quality, but we must also recognize that while we transition from traditional to modern farming, many of our operations remain scattered, production methods are still backward and our supervision lags behind.
Event: 9th Apr 2010 – 14th Apr 2010
The Conference for Food Protection promotes food safety and consumer protection.
– 11th Mar 2010
An article on QSRweb looks at the food safety concerns and also delves into a recent survey which found that 40 percent of respondents were at least as concerned about food safety as they were a few years ago.
– 10th Mar 2010
Washington-based Make Our Food Safe sites a CBS News series poll that found only one in three Americans feels the food they buy is safe.
– 26th Feb 2010 by Alex Briggs
On the final day of February, LRQA’s Food Month, we bring you an interview with Catherine Francois, Director Food Safety Programmes, Consumer Goods Forum. Catherine is one of the most influential figures in the world of food safety. This podcast features her thoughts on certification, the GFSI’s role in harmonising global food safety standards and the Global Food Safety Conference.
– 18th Feb 2010
ISO 22000, PAS 220 and FSSC 22000 are changing the world of Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) assessments.
– 18th Feb 2010
The 60 minute webinar delivered by a leading Food safety expert, featured over 175 delegates. Find out more and view the recorded webinar.
– 12th Feb 2010
“A deliberate typo in relation to last week’s Global Food Safety Conference. Yet a relevant typo, as the issue is ‘who do you trust?’ I will explain later.”
Day Ten’s blogger is Ronald de Kok, LRQA.
– 8th Feb 2010 by Alex Briggs
Cor Groenveld, LRQA’s global food safety expert, delivered a presentation at the Washington D.C. Global Food Safety Conference. His presentation on the Food Supply Chain was one of the highlights of the world’s largest food safety conference.
Cor is also the chairman of the Foundation for Food Safety Certification, the owners of FSSC 22000.
– 4th Feb 2010 by Alex Briggs
On day two of the Global Food Safety Conference in Washington, D.C., we talked to Vel Pillay, LRQA’s food safety expert for the Americas. Vel talked about the road that LRQA has taken to FSSC 22000 and what lies ahead. Visit our food blog throughout the month of February for more information from the event.
– 3rd Feb 2010 by Alex Briggs
The Global Food Safety Conference is the world’s leading global food sector event. With over 700 delegates attending the Washington D.C. event, food safety issues are being addressed at the highest levels.
We are live at the event, with daily blogs, podcasts and news stories.
On day one, we interviewed Cor Groenveld, LRQA’s leading global food sector expert, Andrew Smith, LRQA’s Senior Vice-President, Americas and Martin Brown, LRQA’s Vice-President for the Americas.. Visit our blog throughout February 2010 for daily blogs on issues affecting the food sector.
– 3rd Feb 2010 by Alex Briggs
LRQA’s Food Assurance Blog is now live!
Managing Director Mike James started it off on day one, with Senior Vice-President of the Americas, Andrew Smith blogging on day two.
Day three featured a series of live blogs from the Global Food Safety Conference in Washington, D.C.
– 12th Jan 2010
Read the latest Blog By Bob Ferrari on Supply Chain Business Process and Technology.
– 11th Jan 2010
Hilary Benn is the Environment Secretary and Leeds Central MP. This is an edited extract of a speech that he delivered last week at the Oxford Farming Conference.
– 9th Jan 2010
Fresh questions have been raised about China’s food safety policy after it emerged that officials waited almost a year before going public with its latest probe into alleged melamine contamination in milk.
– 8th Jan 2010
The food industry has been criticised for being ‘too secretive’ by an influential committee in the House of Lords.
– 2nd Dec 2009 by Alex Briggs
Episode 2 in the LRQA Food Safety Video Podcast Series also features Cor Groenveld. Cor is one of the world’s leading experts on Food Safety. He is currently the chairman for the FSSC Foundation and was instrumental in the development of ISO 22000 and PAS 220. In this episode, Cor talks about PAS 220, the FSSC Foundation and the unique issues facing today’s global, complex food supply chains.
– 27th Nov 2009 by Alex Briggs
In this FoodNavigator.com article, Dr Lea Borkenhagen, head of Oxfam’s Sustainable Livelihoods Strategy, said, “The food and beverage industry is at the forefront of change due to their reliance on agricultural goods at the top of the supply chain.”
– 20th Nov 2009 by Alex Briggs
The US Senate approved the Food Safety Bill yesterday, bringing the bill to its final hurdle. The House of Representatives is not likely to being debating the bill until next year, with their approval meaning the bill would effectively pass into law, as President Obama is a vocal proponent of the bill.
– 19th Nov 2009 by Alex Briggs
This page contains all 10 episodes of the LRQA Trust and Transparency Podcast Series, which included 5 audio and 5 video episodes, as well as the “What Assures Consumers in an Economic Report.” The report was launched in April, 2009 and this podcast series is a result of that report and a series of interviews that were conducted during the launch of the report.
– 17th Nov 2009 by Alex Briggs
Episode 1 in the LRQA Food Safety Video Podcast Series is an interview with Cor Groenveld, one of the world’s leading food safety experts. Cor is currently the Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Food Safety Certification. The foundation are the owners of FSSC 22000, which combines ISO 22000 and PAS 220 to offer a comprehensive food safety solution for food organisations and their suppliers. In episode 1, Cor about his role as with the FSSC, as well as the importance of food safety to organisations and their stakeholders.
– 6th Nov 2009 by Alex Briggs
In Episode 10, the final one in the LRQA Business Assurance Trust and Transparency Podcast Series, Harriet Lamb, Fairtrade Foundation, Kate Ives, AccountAbility, Helen McTaggart, the Co-operative and Solitaire Townsend, Futerra Communications talk about the key findings from the “What Assures Consumers” research.
– 19th Oct 2009 by Alex Briggs
In Episode 9 of the 10-part LRQA Business Assurance Trust and Transparency Podcast Series, Helen McTaggart rom the Co-operative talks about the What Assures Consumers in an Economic Downturn Report. She also talks about some of the key issues that the Co-operative is dealing with regarding CSR and climate change.
– 7th Oct 2009
IFSQN has released a comprehensive documentation package for companies seeking to implement a Technical Management System to meet the requirements of the BRC / IOP Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials.
– 15th Sep 2009 by Alex Briggs
ALcontrol is one of Europe’s leading environmental and food testing organisations. David Doherty, ALcontrol’s Health & Safety and Environmental Manager talked to us about their ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems implementation and certification. Listen in as David talks about tangible benefits, internal and external, financial and non-financial, short and long-term, that ALcontrol’s LRQA certified ISO 14001 EMS has delivered.
– 18th Aug 2009 by Alex Briggs
Last year the world had a wake-up call with the sudden oil and food price rises. While we know the price of our food, the full environmental costs and the costs to our health are significant and hidden. We need a radical rethink of how we produce and consume our food.
UK Environment minister, Hilary Benn
– 17th Aug 2009 by Alex Briggs
The latest part of the LRQA Food Safety Webinar to be uploaded is PART 11. Part 11 is also from Cor Groenveld’s PAS 220:2008 technical presentation. In this 3 minute segment, Cor talks about section 4 and 5 of the specification, including construction and premises outlay issues.
– 30th Jul 2009 by Alex Briggs
Part 10 is the second part of Cor Groenveld’s technical update webinar on PAS 220.
– 20th Jul 2009 by Alex Briggs
This Food Navigator article highlights the seriousness of health and safety for food manufacturers. With 3 deaths in the UK over the past few months, many firms in the Food sector are looking at OHSAS 18001 certification as a way to help them manage their risk and reduce health and safety incidents.
– 13th Jul 2009 by Alex Briggs
The recent LRQA Food Safety Webinar is now available in smaller segments, starting with the opening session, “Food Safety Issue and Standards” being broken down into 8 individual video files. This post contains 5-8. Click on any of the images below to view that section of the webinar. Here is also the link to sections 1-4 .
– 9th Jul 2009 by Alex Briggs
The recent LRQA Food Safety Webinar is now available in smaller segments, starting with the opening session, “Food Safety Issue and Standards” being broken down into 8 individual video files. This post contains 1-4. Click on any
– 8th Jul 2009 by Alex Briggs
The July 1st Food Safety Webinar from LRQA is now available for listening, viewing and downloading.
The entire session is available as a recorded Webex here.
You can also view the webinar in parts with each of the sections being uploaded individually. The first sections will be uploaded tomorrow, covering all of the opening session, “Food Safety Issues and Standards.”
– 3rd Jul 2009
The second LRQA Food Safety Webinar, “FSSC 22000 Certification” brought some of the world’s largest global brands and LRQA together, with LRQA’s Global Food Expert, Cor Groenveld, delivering two interactive 90 minute web-based seminars.
– 2nd Jul 2009 by Alex Briggs
In Episode 3 of the 10-part LRQA Business Assurance Trust and Transparency Podcast Series, Solitaire Townsend, co-founder and Chief Executive of Futerra Communications, offers insight into what businesses need to do to rebuild consumer trust, as well as the role that 3rd parties have in consumer decision making. Solitaire is one of the UK’s leading experts on environmental communications. In recognition of her work on environmental and sustainability issues, Solitaire was named as one of the original 15 “London Leaders” by then Mayor Ken Livingstone.
– 30th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
This Guardian article highlights the pressures that new food safety regulations and standards are putting on smaller organisations.
The three main findings of the article are:
New food safety rules could encourage mergers
Added standards benefit big producers, hurt small players
Smaller processors, exporters, handlers under pressure
– 28th Jun 2009
Last few days to register onto the Free Food Safety Webinar hosted by LRQA.
– 26th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
According to this FoodNavigator.com article, Danisco’s new sustainability chief, Jeffrey Hogue, will look to build more value from company policies and seeing results on the bottom line – as well as for the environment and local communities.
– 22nd Jun 2009
LRQA launch the second FREE Food Safety Webinar which will cover, the new Global Food Safety Scheme for Food and Food Ingredient Manufacturing, FSSC 22000
– 19th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
http://www.tenby-today.co.uk/tn/news.cfm?id=24475&headline=Food%20safety%20warning%20for%20over%2060s
– 19th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
Episode 2 of the 10 part LRQA Business Assurance “Trust and Transparency” Podcast Series. This episode focuses on the “Accountability Gap” that was highlighted in the What Assures Consumers in an Economic Downturn Report. The research for the report was conducted in the UK by YouGov, commissioned by AccountAbility , sponsored by the Co-operative and supported by LRQA. The “AccountAbility Gap” refers to the difference between what consumers think an organisation’s responsibility is and how well they are at living up to that responsibility.
– 9th Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
The 10 part “Trust and Transparency” podcast series is here! Harriet Lamb of The Fairtrade Foundation starts the series with her insight on what it takes for organisations to rebuild consumer trust. She also talks about Fairtrade and how they have done during the current economic downturn. She also shares her thoughts on the What Assures Consumers in an Economic Downturn report, the latest in a series from AccountAbility, sponsored by the Co-operative and supported by LRQA.
– 2nd Jun 2009 by Alex Briggs
The current BPA debate that is raging around the world is an example of how quickly consumer trust can be destroyed, and how difficult it can be to regain it.
Currently, both sides of the debate (the critics who believe the evidence clearly shows that BPA leads to significant health problems and the regulators around the [...]
– 20th May 2009 by Alex Briggs
This CalorieLab story takes a look at the most dangerous and common 9 foodborne illness. The story takes a look at each illness, where it comes from and even which groups are the most susceptible.
– 12th May 2009
Many Chinese food companies lag behind foreign firms in ensuring food safety, partly because consumers do not trust safety certification, said experts yesterday.
– 5th May 2009 by Alex Briggs
We now have 9 sections in total, with the Asia specific section joining Climate Change, Food, Supply Chain, CSR, Product Conformity, Risk, Management Systems and Business Continuity.
– 27th Apr 2009
This FREE LRQA webinar features one of the world’s leading food safety experts, Cor Groenveld. Cor is the chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Food Safety Certification, the organisation that is currently developing FSSC 22000, the certification scheme covering ISO 22000, the global food safety standard and PAS 220, the recently published document [...]
– 20th Apr 2009 by Alex Briggs
Chocolatiers are set to look beyond the Easter period in their efforts to meet the demands of their stakeholders to reduce waste.
In devising new industry measures for retail chains and manufacturers, Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP), a UK government backed programme, says it has begun to look at wider issues of food and material waste across the supply chain.
– 17th Apr 2009 by Alex Briggs
With Food Safety at the top of the agenda for governments, organisations and individuals, the risk to brands that get it wrong has never been greater. The costs of assuring the food supply chain have been seen by some as “too high” or “not necessary.” The example of the Plainview Peanut Company’s $14.6 million fine highlights once again the true costs of “getting it wrong.”
– 14th Apr 2009 by Alex Briggs
Kraft, one of the world’s largest food brands, has spoken out on the importance of an effective, customised food safety management system. A company spokesman said,
To be effective, food safety plans must be tailored to each particular product and manufacturing condition.
He also added that Kraft was committed to continious improvement, stating
There is no [...]
– 31st Mar 2009 by Alex Briggs
Todays thought and link of the day both refer to a new report, Keeping America’s Food Safe.
Only one percent of imported foods are currently inspected, even though approximately 60 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables and 75 percent of seafood Americans consume is imported.
– 2nd Mar 2009 by Alex Briggs
Consumer confidence in the safety of the US food supply has dropped sharply in the wake of the current salmonella outbreak, with fewer than one in five now saying that they feel the supply is safer now than a year ago.
With only 22.5 percent saying that the nation’s food supply has become safer, confidence in American food is the lowest it has been.
– 9th Feb 2009
Breaking news at the event was the submission of the ISO 22000 / PAS 220 certification scheme for GFSI (retailer) approval.
– 11th Jan 2009 by Alex Briggs
For 2009, Bill Marler, food safety advocate and managing partner of law firm Marler Clark, asked the food safety community to weigh in on the most pressing food safety challenges.
Top of the list was globalization, including the possibility of “economic or chemical terrorism”, which may not directly intend to scare people but is the intentional adulteration of the food supply motivated by profit, as in the case of the recent melamine scare in China.
– 8th Dec 2008 by Alex Briggs
This Food and Drink Europe article talks about the new set of criteria and standards for sustainable fruit and veg production that BASF Corporation is developing for German supermarket chain Rewe. Named Crop Protection, the new standards aim to give sustainability assurances throughout the food chain, right through to consumers.
– 18th Nov 2008 by Alex Briggs
72% of Americans want the federal government to establish new safety standards for the growing, harvesting, processing and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables even if they increase costs, according to a national survey commissioned by the Produce Safety Project (PSP).
“Consumers don’t want the produce section of their grocery stores to be casinos where they roll the dice on their family’s health and safety,” said Jim O’Hara, PSP director.
– 6th Nov 2008
World Food Day 2008 addresses what has been categorised by many as one of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change and its impact on food security.
– 14th Oct 2008 by Alex Briggs
This New York Times Media Group article raises the question “Is there more tainted food out there?”
The melamine scandal has heightened fears that the food business is racing ahead of the ability of governments to detect health-threatening contamination, whether accidental or deliberate.
– 4th Oct 2008
Most UK consumers are aware of guidance daily amounts (GDA) and traffic light labelling, but only one-in-four actually looks for nutritional information.
– 3rd Oct 2008
As the contamination of Chinese milk sends ripples through the global food industry, Eversheds lawyers Richard Matthews and Elizabeth Hyde lay out the due diligence procedures that food companies must go through when sourcing from outside the EU
– 29th Sep 2008 by Alex Briggs
Food manufacturers have begun a massive repackaging effort to address the environmental concerns of consumers. This article takes a look at the way that some global brands are addressing the issue, as well as how they are attempting to balance environmental concerns with consumer health concerns.
“Good for you” will increasingly be faced off with “good for the environment,” and food companies will find themselves redefining how their food products will retain appeal, according to Mintel International in Chicago.
– 22nd Sep 2008 by Alex Briggs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a proposed rule to reduce the practice called “port shopping,” or trying to gain entry at different ports when a potential import has already been rejected. The F.D.A. requires such foods must be exported or destroyed.
The rule would require denied imports to bear a label that would read, “United States: Refused Entry.” The rule would also implement a provision of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002.
– 16th Sep 2008 by Alex Briggs
This link is to a flash movie on the key issues surrounding food safety and supply chain security.
The presentation is from O. Keith Helferich, Ph.D. -Professor, Supply Chain Management at Central Michigan University and
Instructor, Supply Chain Management, Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, and John Spink, MS., Director
Packaging for Food and Product Protection Initiative.
– 15th Sep 2008 by Alex Briggs
The Gallagher Review, commissioned by the UK government and released in July, concluded the EU’s biofuels target of 10% of all fuels by 2020 could not be met sustainably and advised that targets be scaled back.
The report concluded that, while the current targets are not realistic under the existing regulations,
if robust, comprehensive and mandatory sustainability standards are implemented now, a genuinely sustainable industry could evolve.
This ClimateChangeCorp.com article goes on to discuss existing standards, as well as introducing the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels “Version Zero” proposed standard.
– 8th Sep 2008
In this episode, we hear from Katherine Symonds, Tesco’s Sustainability Manager, about Tesco’s carbon labelling pilot project.
– 31st Aug 2008 by Alex Briggs
Japan is the latest country to commit to carbon labelling retail products. According to this Guardian article, about 30 companies will display their labeled items at an eco-products fair in Tokyo in December, and the first batches are expected to appear in shops at the beginning of April 2009.
– 8th Aug 2008 by Alex Briggs
This Food Navigator article highlights the continued problems in global food supply chains.
– 7th Aug 2008 by Alex Briggs
This Food Business Daily article looks at the ever increasing amount of labels on food products. Are consumers paying attention to these claims and understanding what the claims mean? Or are there better ways to reach consumers?
– 1st Aug 2008
Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE:CCE), the world’s largest marketer, distributor, and producer of Coca-Cola products, has published its third company-wide Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CRS) Report, Shape Tomorrow…Today.
– 11th Jul 2008
Thirty-five new international food standards were adopted during last week’s 31st session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, including guidelines on the use of flavourings and gluten-free products.
– 11th Jul 2008 by Alex Briggs
UK’s Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) have invited food manufacturers to take part in a project aimed at waste reduction through innovation in food packaging technology.
– 10th Jul 2008 by Alex Briggs
The US Department of Health and Human Services announced a two part pilot project to help improve food safety. The first step involves closer cooperation with European and Australian trading partners. The focus here is on improving quality throughout a product’s life cycle, while simultaneously minimising risk.
The second initiative is a third-party certification pilot program involving aquacultured (farm-raised) shrimp. The project is designed to help HHS/FDA learn how to evaluate third-party certification programs and implement them in the field — a key part of leveraging the additional resources of the private sector and other regulators.
– 8th Jul 2008 by Alex Briggs
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will be set up by the end of July, 2008 while the first set of food safety norms may come out within the next two months, according an Indian Government official.
– 3rd Jul 2008
A report this week from Danisco on its waste and energy saving initiatives and a US dairy industry-wide action plan on carbon emissions.
– 3rd Jul 2008
Check-out Carbon, published by sustainable development charity Forum for the Future, also reveals that 77 per cent of consumers want the government to set higher environmental product standards.
– 2nd Jul 2008
Forum for the Future’s new report, sponsored by Lloyd’s Register, entitled Check-out Carbon, released.
– 2nd Jul 2008
Fraudulent activity has been discovered in the UK which could be leading to the sale of unsafe food.
– 2nd Jul 2008
The Codex Alimentarius Commission in Geneva will discuss over 30 texts concerning international food standards.
– 27th Jun 2008
The global sourcing of ingredients and products along with recent factory recalls has led to increased calls from consumers for more rigorous safety programmes and close monitoring of suppliers
– 23rd Jun 2008 by Alex Briggs
The latest edition of the ISO Magazine is dedicated to ISO 22000, the food safety management system standard. Case studies from Kraft, Danone, Arla Foods and the Van Drie Group highlight the issue.
– 9th May 2008
Sweeteners and colourings in food aimed at children should be banned, while additives ought to be used in other products only if they provide an advantage to the consumer, said the EU Environment Committee.
– 9th May 2008
Unilever has pledged to use only palm oil certified as sustainable by 2015, while also supporting calls for a moratorium on further deforestation for palm oil in Indonesia.
– 9th May 2008
Products are increasingly being designed, manufactured and packaged with a new focus on the end of their life cycle – and beyond
– 6th May 2008
Scientists also warned that there will be other effects of global warming that could also have a serious impact on tropical regions, particularly on food crops.
– 30th Apr 2008 by Alex Briggs
This Associated Press exclusive report states that two of the US’ largest beef slaughterhouses have been cited by the Food Safety and Inspection Service for their treatment of cattle, which resulted in “noncompliances” being issued.
– 24th Apr 2008 by Alex Briggs
This article highlights the important role that standards and schemes are playing in assuring consumer trust in UK food companies. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) carried out research that is the basis of the article’s conclusions.
– 15th Apr 2008 by Alex Briggs
With the new Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) coming into force today, oil companies are required oil companies to ensure all petrol and diesel they sell in the UK contains a minimum level of biofuel. This article in the Independent takes a closer look at the debate over the use of farm land as a transportation fuel source.
– 8th Apr 2008
The Minister will discuss how the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the new mandatory carbon cap-and-trade scheme, will impact businesses operating in the UK.
– 1st Apr 2008
Quality digest talks about ISO 22000, the global food saftey standard, and how it impacts on food processing and food-ingredient supply chains.
– 17th Mar 2008
The Maine lobster industry is seeking to have its lobster certified as sustainable by the London-based Marine Stewardship Council.
– 17th Mar 2008
Consultation on an addition to a draft EU-wide regulation relating to the use of plastic and other food contact materials has started in Northern Ireland.
– 13th Mar 2008
The IFOAM Trade Congress 2008 was held on the day before BioFach opened in Nuremberg and addressed important issues of worldwide product sourcing, transparency in trade and potential opportunities for fraud. In their contributions, several speakers from USA, Germany and the Netherlands examined the problems from different angles.
– 10th Mar 2008
Millions more of the world’s most vulnerable people are facing starvation as food shortages loom and crop prices spiral ever upwards.
– 5th Mar 2008
After a year of food scares, China tries to assure the world that food for Olympians will be safe. John Vause reports. See the video on CNN.
Event: 12th Mar 2008 – 13th Mar 2008
LRQA will be present at the event with a stand and Cor Groenveld will deliver a presentation on the subject “Food Standards: current situation and future developments”. This presentation will not only cover food safety and quality, but also sustainability, security and supply chain assurance.
– 27th Feb 2008
The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has begun consultation with food and beverage manufacturers over their progress in bringing plastic packaging contact materials in line with health and safety rules.
– 27th Feb 2008
Businessassurance.com subscribers are encouraged to take advantage of a 15% discount off Corporate Climate Response - London, which takes place May 20-21st at the CBI Conference Centre.
Event: 20th May 2008 – 21st May 2008
This event will cover the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the UK’s new mandatory carbon trading scheme and Climate Change and the Food Industry, by looking at the climate impact across the food supply chain from agriculture through to waste.
– 15th Feb 2008 by Alex Briggs
The UK FSA is set to discuss a report on food safety issues at their next meeting.
The report includes progress made in certain areas of food safety, while raising a red flag concerning foodbourne illnesses.
– 11th Feb 2008 by Alex Briggs
The Co-operative Group, have announced transparent, detailed plans on addressing stakeholder concerns. They will ban the sale of eggs from caged hens, convert its entire own-brand hot beverage range to Fairtrade, reduce the weight of its wine packaging and add a further 66 pesticides to its prohibited list.
– 6th Feb 2008 by Alex Briggs
Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, said GFSI standards provide real-time details on where suppliers fall short in food safety on a plant-by-plant basis, and go beyond the current audit process required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or U.S. Department of Agriculture.
– 29th Jan 2008
Food and Drink manufacturers, who currently account for 10% of global industrial water usage, have signed up to a voluntary agreement to slash their water usage by up to 20%.
Cadbury Schweppes, Premier Foods, Tate & Lyle and Nestlé UK, among others, have signed up to a Food and Drink Federation initiative to reduce their impact on the environment.
– 25th Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
CHR Hanson has published their environmental report, with the focus being around sustainable business.
We need to improve our monitoring capacity further to ensure that our baseline measurements are correct and comparable,” the company stated.
– 25th Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
The UK government is announing plans on simplifying food labelling. This article examines the plans to tackle obesity through a new labelling system.
– 21st Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
A Food and Drink Europe article states that simple front-of-pack nutritional labelling and endorsement by health organisations are most efficient in informing consumers, according to a new Unilever study.
The article concluded:
It says: “The current challenge is therefore to come up with a harmonised European or even global front-of-pack labelling format across all foods.”
– 18th Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
Alcoa is the latest organisation to sign up for the California Climate Registry (CCR), making their carbon emissions available to the public.
The CCR is awarding founding reporter status to companies that sign up to the scheme before May 2008, as an incentive for early membership.
Companies that sign up commit to voluntarily measure, independently verify and publicly report their industrial gas emissions.
The CCR’s Gary Gero is interviewed in this Voluntary Carbon Standard podcast.
– 15th Jan 2008
Britain’s latest “Metric Martyr” - under EU directives compelling Britain to use only the metric system of weights and measures.
– 14th Jan 2008
Product recalls in the UK hit a new high as problems with goods from China increased, new research says.
– 14th Jan 2008 by Alex Briggs
Organic or fairtrade? Sustainable or certified? With so many labels on food, clothes and white goods, it’s a miracle that we make it to the checkout before closing time. This article in the Observer takes a look at some of the labels out there. Which ones live up to their eco credentials?
– 9th Jan 2008
Aurora Organic Dairy will join forces with the University of Michigan to measure and reduce its carbon footprint across the lifecycle of its product line.
– 21st Dec 2007
Significant lessons have been learned from recent food scares like foot and mouth this year, but more works needs to be done on communication, says the British Frozen Foods Federation (BFFF).
– 20th Dec 2007
Brazilian cattle ranchers seeking to export beef to the European Union will face tighter rules from next month, the European Commission said on Wednesday, responding to the concerns of European farmers, a Reuters article reports.
– 19th Dec 2007
The Soil Association’s organic fish farming standards scored 90% and took top place in a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) study of 24 international aquaculture certification schemes.
– 17th Dec 2007
Last autumn, Sainsbury’s announced it was trying something new with the way it sourced its milk.
– 7th Dec 2007
Environmental campaigners urged the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) to improve its emergency system at yesterday’s review meeting on the unauthorised GM rice incident, reveals a recent article on foodnavigator.com.
– 3rd Dec 2007
GC Hahn has opened the doors to its modernised production site in Lubeck, which aims to cater to the increasing demand for the very highest standards in food safety and traceability, so a recent artcile on Foodqualitynews.com reports.
– 3rd Dec 2007
East Anglian grain co-op Camgrain has signed a multi-million pound deal with Sainsbury’s to become the sole supplier of wheat used in the supermarket group’s bread.
– 26th Nov 2007 by Alex Briggs
The GRI announced today that several high profile global food processors have joined their sustainability reporting programme.
Nestlé, Bunge, Danisco, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and Tyson Foods are the first food processors to join a programme to develop global reporting standards on sustainability projects in the sector.
– 30th Oct 2007 by Alex Briggs
Anheuser Busch has denied serious allegations by Greenpeace that their Budweiser beer contains traces of a genetically engineered strain of rice known as “Liberty Link”.
Liberty Link is a series of strains of GM rice from Bayer CropScience. Some of the strains are banned in a number of markets around the world for human consumption, but not in the US.
Due to Anheuser Busch’s position as the largest single purchaser of American rice, Greenpeace claims that the group had a responsibility to ensure it was fully aware of how it is sourcing ingredients.
– 2nd Oct 2007 by Cor Groenveld
An article in the Sydney Morning Herald addresses the food safety concerns in China. The Chinese Government revoked the production licenses of hundreds of companies. It is known that food safety is very high on the agenda of China’s government. Reasons for that are the coming Olympics and the negative publicity from several food scandals. [...]
– 2nd Oct 2007 by Cor Groenveld
Small and medium food companies often struggle with food safety requirements. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has created a website to help small and medium size firms better manage their food safety.
– 2nd Oct 2007
A CNN article has taken a holistic look at the causes and effects of global food waste:
According to the UN Food Programme, US food waste could:
satisfy “every empty stomach” in Africa
Some other key facts from the article:
The US and Japan waste up to 50% of all their food
the entire food supply chain in the [...]
– 24th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
This Times article has raised a difficult topic for organic farmers.
The article reveals that Helen Browning, the director of food and farming at the Soil Association, sends pig shoulders from Wiltshire, England to Germany for processing into sausages and imports pork loins from Sweden to make bacon.
– 24th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
The Vegetarian Society has launched a new ad campaign on climate change. The ads are aimed at educating the public as to the carbon emitted by livestock.
This often overlooked issue was addressed by Rowland Hill, the Sustainability Manager at Marks and Spencer, in one of our podcasts as he talked about measuring the carbon footprint of their top selling ready meal, Beef Lasagne:
– 20th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
Successful consumer led campaigns against companies using cheap labour may be the blueprint for upcoming campaigns aimed at brands not paying enough attention to the “greenness” of their global supply chain.
This Supply Chain Digest article once again shows that brands cannot afford to get their supply chain wrong.
It is no longer enough for a brand [...]
– 18th Sep 2007
The food safety dispute between the US and China has now taken on a further political dimension, with Chinese authorities inspecting all incoming food from the US.
– 17th Sep 2007
Sainsbury’s announced they are withdrawing certain packs of breakfast cereals due to small insects in the packages.
– 14th Sep 2007 by Alex Briggs
The Arizona Republic ran a story on a recent Associated Press study indicating that the anticipated wave of government and industry regulation following last year’s E Coli outbreak has not materialised.
AP’s review of data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act found that federal officials inspect companies growing and processing salad greens an average of just once [...]
– 11th Sep 2007
A Food-Navigator.com article explains the results of a US government panel that was set up by President Bush to evaluate the current US food import policy.
– 4th Sep 2007
New label regulation is under way in the US which requires all beef, lamb, pork, produce and peanuts to be labeled indicating what country of origin the products were grown or produced in, starting in September 2008.
– 3rd Sep 2007
According to an article from Associated Press 90 brands were caught up in the recent recall of canned chili, stew, spinach, petfood and frozen meat.
– 30th Aug 2007
An article in the Sunday Telegraph, Britain’s supermarkets are keeping prices low and suppliers are suffering.
– 30th Jul 2007
Authors of a new study in an NewScientist Environment article have said, switching to organic farming would not reduce the world’s food supply and could also increase food security in developing countries.
– 12th Jul 2007
Ethical Corporation seems to think so. In the editorial for the July issue, Tobias Webb argues that the combination of cost savings and product differentiation will benefit Walkers considerably.
– 3rd Apr 2007
Under current legislation in the UK, producers of compostable waste may need to apply for a license before they can spread it on land.
According to an article on the IEMA website, he new Quality Protocol proposed by the Environment Agency in England and Wales will mean that compostable products will be easier to dispose.
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