Dinnerladies get the boot in Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway Council have faced harsh criticism over their controversial decision to sack around 20 food jobs in local schools. Run by Tory/Lib Dem Administration, the Education Committee is inevitably facing further condemnation from Labour councillors as well as outraged dinnerladies over the food job cuts.
The Education Committee announced that they will be changing the way children in the area 'do lunch', introducing a new deli-style service rather than the traditional hot meals served up by dinnerladies. Pupils will have a more limited choice of food for their lunch, which they will have to pre-order in the morning.
These changes will mean the loss of around twenty jobs and reduced hours for existing staff in schools such as Dalry High, Dalbeattie High, Kirkcudbright Academy, Stranraer Academy and many others.
Interestingly, the subject of the food job cuts was not included in the official report presented by the Education Committee. It was only once grilled by Labour Education Spokesman Jeff Leaver that the real future of the region's food job workers was revealed.
MP Russell Brown condemned the changes, saying:
The Education Committee announced that they will be changing the way children in the area 'do lunch', introducing a new deli-style service rather than the traditional hot meals served up by dinnerladies. Pupils will have a more limited choice of food for their lunch, which they will have to pre-order in the morning.
These changes will mean the loss of around twenty jobs and reduced hours for existing staff in schools such as Dalry High, Dalbeattie High, Kirkcudbright Academy, Stranraer Academy and many others.
Interestingly, the subject of the food job cuts was not included in the official report presented by the Education Committee. It was only once grilled by Labour Education Spokesman Jeff Leaver that the real future of the region's food job workers was revealed.
MP Russell Brown condemned the changes, saying:
"I am bitterly disappointed that the Tories and Lib Dems have voted to scrap these jobs. The Council's approach to this has been completely backward. Rather than cutting jobs they should be looking at how to increase school meal uptake."
EU says no to 'meat glue' in food manufacturing
Following extensive discussion, the European Parliament has voted against the use of new product 'meat glue' in food manufacturing. The decision to block EU approval of meat glue additives came down to a lack of benefits and misleading information for consumers.
What is meat glue?
The revolting sounding name of this new additive is fairly apt for what it is. Made of fibrogen and thrombin found in the blood plasma of cows and pigs, this meat glue additive is designed to bond separate pieces of meat from different sources together. It can be used on anything from meat and poultry to fish and seafood, creating new products such as salmon wrapped in bacon etc.
The additive has been approved by top food job officials at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for use in food manufacturing, but it is not the health aspect of meat glue that is the problem. Member of the European Parliament Arlene McCarthy has explained how meat glue may be used to mislead consumers into paying more for lower quality products. She also said:
What is meat glue?
The revolting sounding name of this new additive is fairly apt for what it is. Made of fibrogen and thrombin found in the blood plasma of cows and pigs, this meat glue additive is designed to bond separate pieces of meat from different sources together. It can be used on anything from meat and poultry to fish and seafood, creating new products such as salmon wrapped in bacon etc.
The additive has been approved by top food job officials at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for use in food manufacturing, but it is not the health aspect of meat glue that is the problem. Member of the European Parliament Arlene McCarthy has explained how meat glue may be used to mislead consumers into paying more for lower quality products. She also said:
"At a time when consumers are increasingly demanding more detailed information about where the food products they buy are from and how they are processed it is not right that most people remain unaware of 'tricks of the trade' such as this."
Will the new government raise VAT on food?
There is much panic amongst consumers and food job workers at present over predictions that the government will raise the UK's value added tax (VAT) rates on consumer items from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent. It is true that the new coalition government is aiming to take drastic action to cut the UK's massive budget deficit, but raising the VAT on food items could be disastrous.
Although the UK as a whole seems to be bracing itself for an inevitable raise in taxes on everyday products, a higher rate on essential, non-discretionary items such as food could be extremely damaging to consumer finances. This would make life particularly difficult for low-income families, not to mention seriously knocking newly-rebuilt consumer confidence.
That the government will impose a VAT increase on food is far from certain, but people are worried because of a recent report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggesting that such a measure would be good for the UK economy. IMF claims that removing exemptions (i.e. food) from VAT could raise around £50 billion in extra cash for the government (if the number of VAT exemptions was halved).
Justin King, CEO of Sainsburys, completely disagrees, saying:
Consumers and the food industry will have to wait for the government to announce new tax measures in their emergency budget - due anytime in the next 50 days.
Although the UK as a whole seems to be bracing itself for an inevitable raise in taxes on everyday products, a higher rate on essential, non-discretionary items such as food could be extremely damaging to consumer finances. This would make life particularly difficult for low-income families, not to mention seriously knocking newly-rebuilt consumer confidence.
That the government will impose a VAT increase on food is far from certain, but people are worried because of a recent report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggesting that such a measure would be good for the UK economy. IMF claims that removing exemptions (i.e. food) from VAT could raise around £50 billion in extra cash for the government (if the number of VAT exemptions was halved).
Justin King, CEO of Sainsburys, completely disagrees, saying:
"The coalition have announced they will raise the tax band for lowest earners but if they put VAT on food they take all that benefit back. It is the poorest in our society that spend the most of their weekly money on food so that would be counter-intuitive,"
Consumers and the food industry will have to wait for the government to announce new tax measures in their emergency budget - due anytime in the next 50 days.
Horrifying revelations about the British horse meat industry
It seems that in the UK, there is no such thing as 'horsey heaven' as it is revealed that many of the once-beloved pets are now being sent off to slaughter for human consumption in foreign countries.
The Express newspaper have been investigating the British horse meat industry and what they have found is truly alarming.
They have used the example of a seven-year-old girl and her family who were forced to sell their pony as they couldn't afford its upkeep. The little girl believed the horse was going to a new home as another girl's birthday present, but it was actually being taken to slaughter.
The Express reports that around 5,000 horses are slaughtered in this way in the UK every year, the meat being shipped to Europe and particularly France to be eaten, where around 70,000 horses are consumed annually. Some reports have even emerged about inhumane slaughtering, from pet horses to thoroughbred racehorses.
There is growing concern that horse meat could become a delicacy in the UK, especially after celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay urged the public to try the meat, saying it was tender, gamey and low-fat.
Opinion is seriously divided over the horse meat issue, with animal lovers on one side claiming it is barbaric to eat companion pets and those in culinary food jobs claiming the meat is delicious and there is no reason we shouldn't eat it.
Would you ever eat horse meat? Do you consider horses to be pets or food? Feel free to comment on this issue.
The Express newspaper have been investigating the British horse meat industry and what they have found is truly alarming.
They have used the example of a seven-year-old girl and her family who were forced to sell their pony as they couldn't afford its upkeep. The little girl believed the horse was going to a new home as another girl's birthday present, but it was actually being taken to slaughter.
The Express reports that around 5,000 horses are slaughtered in this way in the UK every year, the meat being shipped to Europe and particularly France to be eaten, where around 70,000 horses are consumed annually. Some reports have even emerged about inhumane slaughtering, from pet horses to thoroughbred racehorses.
There is growing concern that horse meat could become a delicacy in the UK, especially after celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay urged the public to try the meat, saying it was tender, gamey and low-fat.
Opinion is seriously divided over the horse meat issue, with animal lovers on one side claiming it is barbaric to eat companion pets and those in culinary food jobs claiming the meat is delicious and there is no reason we shouldn't eat it.
Would you ever eat horse meat? Do you consider horses to be pets or food? Feel free to comment on this issue.
Glorious! Soup takes off; TSC Foods creates 50 new food jobs
TSC Foods have announced that they are to launch a £2 million expansion and create 50 new food jobs in their Scunthorpe company, following the unprecedented success of their Glorious! Soups product line.
Glorious! Soups have been a big hit with shoppers in the supermarkets it is sold in, including Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury's.
Following a management buy-out last year, a £24 million investment and the appointment of Jonathan Skofic as Managing Director, TSC Foods is planning to maintain their successful momentum with some new investments.
The £2 million expansion project is set to begin as soon as possible, with the company aiming to significantly increase their capacity in time to capitalise in the soup-friendly winter market. This of course means the creation of new food jobs, 50 at their Scunthorpe plant and an additional 15 as the result of a new contract with Wetherspoon's to supply porridge.
New MD Jonathan Skofic - winner of a recent Northern Lincolnshire Business Award- has spoken of the company's investment plans, saying:
Glorious! Soups have been a big hit with shoppers in the supermarkets it is sold in, including Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury's.
Following a management buy-out last year, a £24 million investment and the appointment of Jonathan Skofic as Managing Director, TSC Foods is planning to maintain their successful momentum with some new investments.
The £2 million expansion project is set to begin as soon as possible, with the company aiming to significantly increase their capacity in time to capitalise in the soup-friendly winter market. This of course means the creation of new food jobs, 50 at their Scunthorpe plant and an additional 15 as the result of a new contract with Wetherspoon's to supply porridge.
New MD Jonathan Skofic - winner of a recent Northern Lincolnshire Business Award- has spoken of the company's investment plans, saying:
"... this will give us the ability to take production to another level and hopefully get the soup into even broader distribution and create more business and more jobs down the line."
Michelle Obama delivers urgent obesity message to US food industry
Michelle Obama is taking on the US food and drink industry and their role in the nation's obesity crisis, demanding that food job bosses start to sell healthier products.
The First Lady is focusing on childhood obesity in her new campaign, backed by President Obama who appointed her the position of head of an obesity task force. The interagency panel have produced a report detailing their 70-point plan for tackling the obesity problem in America, and the finger of blame has been pointed firmly in the direction of the food industry.
Although it does not mention regulatory or taxation reform for the food sector, the report has nonetheless been described as an unmistakable warning to food manufacturers and retailers. Director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Kelly Brownell, explains:
She also went on to say that Michelle Obama's report says in no uncertain terms, 'clean up your act or we'll take action".
As a result, many food manufacturers including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kraft Foods Inc and Campbell soup have taken action to reduce sugar, salt and the calorie count in their products. More importantly, the First Lady has managed to convince the food industry to pledge to cut 1.5 trillion calories in their products by 2015.
The First Lady is focusing on childhood obesity in her new campaign, backed by President Obama who appointed her the position of head of an obesity task force. The interagency panel have produced a report detailing their 70-point plan for tackling the obesity problem in America, and the finger of blame has been pointed firmly in the direction of the food industry.
Although it does not mention regulatory or taxation reform for the food sector, the report has nonetheless been described as an unmistakable warning to food manufacturers and retailers. Director of Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Kelly Brownell, explains:
"It's sending a polite but clear warning shot across the bow of industry, especially with regard to marketing to children,"
She also went on to say that Michelle Obama's report says in no uncertain terms, 'clean up your act or we'll take action".
As a result, many food manufacturers including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kraft Foods Inc and Campbell soup have taken action to reduce sugar, salt and the calorie count in their products. More importantly, the First Lady has managed to convince the food industry to pledge to cut 1.5 trillion calories in their products by 2015.
Sunderland's unemployed youth should get food jobs, say council
After Hull, the city of Sunderland is reportedly the worst place in the UK for jobless young people not in work, training or education. In response to recent statistics suggesting that around 9.45 per cent of young people under 25 in the city are on unemployment benefits, councillors have suggested to Sunderland City Council that young people be trained up in food jobs.
Labour councillor for Houghton, Kath Rolph, suggested to the committee that unemployed and otherwise unoccupied young people in Wearside should become more involved in the local food industry, becoming specialist butchers, bakers and cheese makers.
Councillor Rolph claims there is a growing market in the area for artisan food products and the council should be using this to their advantage, to boost employment and the local economy in Wearside. She also said that not only are people becoming more interested in where their food comes from, but a new artisan food college has been set up recently in the area.
Councillor Micahel Arnott - chair of the committee meeting - agreed with Councillor Rolph's views, saying:
Do you think this is the right way for the council to deal with Sunderland's unemployment problems or should other measures be implemented? Please feel free to leave your comments.
Labour councillor for Houghton, Kath Rolph, suggested to the committee that unemployed and otherwise unoccupied young people in Wearside should become more involved in the local food industry, becoming specialist butchers, bakers and cheese makers.
Councillor Rolph claims there is a growing market in the area for artisan food products and the council should be using this to their advantage, to boost employment and the local economy in Wearside. She also said that not only are people becoming more interested in where their food comes from, but a new artisan food college has been set up recently in the area.
Councillor Micahel Arnott - chair of the committee meeting - agreed with Councillor Rolph's views, saying:
"I think we need some fresh thinking on employment opportunities. We do seem to get channelled down a particular route,"
Do you think this is the right way for the council to deal with Sunderland's unemployment problems or should other measures be implemented? Please feel free to leave your comments.
Report finds that 'healthy' snacks are sugar-stuffed
A new report by the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) has found that some of Britain's so-called 'healthy' snack products are actually packed with excessive amounts of sugar. The main offenders have been named and shamed, including:
• Fruit Bowl Strawberry Fruit Flakes - 60 per cent sugar
• Kellogg's Special K 'Fruits of the Forest' breakfast bars - 39 per cent sugar
• Tesco Healthy Living forest fruit and raisin breakfast bars - 50 per cent sugar (two teaspoons of sugar per bar!)
Other culprits included Yeo Valley natural yoghurt, Walker's baked low-fat crisps and Kellogg's Winders. According to the study, a lot of these foods are actually unhealthier than indulgent Häagen Dazs chocolate ice cream containing only 20 per cent sugar.
Some of these options are advertised as low-fat snacks designed to help you lose weight, but health experts say that the excessive amounts of sugar in these products can actually make you put on weight, as well as giving you tooth decay and potentially fatal heart disease.
They claim that the food processing sector is too heavily reliant on sugar, demanding that those in top manufacturing food jobs take steps to address this problem.
Do you think Britain's food processors have a serious sugar problem? Are they misleading consumers by advertising snacks as 'healthy' and 'low-fat'? Feel free to leave your comments.
• Fruit Bowl Strawberry Fruit Flakes - 60 per cent sugar
• Kellogg's Special K 'Fruits of the Forest' breakfast bars - 39 per cent sugar
• Tesco Healthy Living forest fruit and raisin breakfast bars - 50 per cent sugar (two teaspoons of sugar per bar!)
Other culprits included Yeo Valley natural yoghurt, Walker's baked low-fat crisps and Kellogg's Winders. According to the study, a lot of these foods are actually unhealthier than indulgent Häagen Dazs chocolate ice cream containing only 20 per cent sugar.
Some of these options are advertised as low-fat snacks designed to help you lose weight, but health experts say that the excessive amounts of sugar in these products can actually make you put on weight, as well as giving you tooth decay and potentially fatal heart disease.
They claim that the food processing sector is too heavily reliant on sugar, demanding that those in top manufacturing food jobs take steps to address this problem.
Do you think Britain's food processors have a serious sugar problem? Are they misleading consumers by advertising snacks as 'healthy' and 'low-fat'? Feel free to leave your comments.
Kraft shift Cadbury operations to Birmingham - what does this mean for food jobs?
American food company Kraft have caused nothing but controversy since they entered the UK market with a hostile takeover of the iconic British brand Cadbury. It now looks as if Kraft will face a new wave of criticism in the coming months, after they revealed plans to shift their UK headquarters from Cheltenham to Birmingham.
There are two perspectives on this breaking news. On one side, business leaders in Birmingham are welcoming the plans, as they believe that being home to an internationally recognised centre for confectionary excellence such as the Cadbury headquarters will boost their local economy and create a large number of new food jobs. The CEO of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jeff Blackett, has said:
The negative side of this story, however, is that workers in Cheltenham will suffer as a result of the office closure. Insiders are predicting that around 600 food jobs will be axed in total, 450 in Cheltenham and a further 150 customer service positions in Sheffield and Banbury.
What do you think about Kraft as a company -promise breakers or good for the UK food industry? Feel free to leave your comments.
There are two perspectives on this breaking news. On one side, business leaders in Birmingham are welcoming the plans, as they believe that being home to an internationally recognised centre for confectionary excellence such as the Cadbury headquarters will boost their local economy and create a large number of new food jobs. The CEO of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jeff Blackett, has said:
"This is also good news on the jobs front with the announcement that Kraft's combined office network team will be co-located in Bourneville and Uxbridge, the site of the previous Cadbury head office."
The negative side of this story, however, is that workers in Cheltenham will suffer as a result of the office closure. Insiders are predicting that around 600 food jobs will be axed in total, 450 in Cheltenham and a further 150 customer service positions in Sheffield and Banbury.
What do you think about Kraft as a company -promise breakers or good for the UK food industry? Feel free to leave your comments.
Are food manufacturers catering enough for people with allergies?
Independent charity Coeliac UK has criticised the British food industry for not doing enough to cater for consumers with serious food allergies, claiming more needs to be done on the issue.
Coeliac UK works on behalf of people with celiac disease, which is an acute intolerance to products containing gluten. There has apparently been a significant increase in the number of people being diagnosed with celiac disease, the total number in the UK now being estimated at 600,000.
The charity believes that this number of people should be catered for when it comes to food manufacturing. The ambassador for Coeliac UK, celebrity chef Phil Vickery, has spoken out on the issue, saying that the British food industry needs to bear allergy sufferers in mind when manufacturing food products.
The charity wants those in decision-making manufacturing food jobs to change the way their companies operate, offering more gluten-free alternatives to consumers. In addition, they want food job workers involved in the processing industry to be more aware of safe handling practices and the need to prevent cross-contamination of food products.
Overall, the charity senses great potential for the UK to become a world leader on allergy-sensitive foods, which they believe could boost the economy as well as the food industry.
Are you allergy-sensitive and feel the food industry needs to work harder to cater for you? Or could your food manufacturing company do better? Feel free to leave your comments.
Coeliac UK works on behalf of people with celiac disease, which is an acute intolerance to products containing gluten. There has apparently been a significant increase in the number of people being diagnosed with celiac disease, the total number in the UK now being estimated at 600,000.
The charity believes that this number of people should be catered for when it comes to food manufacturing. The ambassador for Coeliac UK, celebrity chef Phil Vickery, has spoken out on the issue, saying that the British food industry needs to bear allergy sufferers in mind when manufacturing food products.
The charity wants those in decision-making manufacturing food jobs to change the way their companies operate, offering more gluten-free alternatives to consumers. In addition, they want food job workers involved in the processing industry to be more aware of safe handling practices and the need to prevent cross-contamination of food products.
Overall, the charity senses great potential for the UK to become a world leader on allergy-sensitive foods, which they believe could boost the economy as well as the food industry.
Are you allergy-sensitive and feel the food industry needs to work harder to cater for you? Or could your food manufacturing company do better? Feel free to leave your comments.
Controversy in the US over KFC bunless burger
The brand new KFC chicken sandwich released in the US is whipping up a great deal of controversy, especially after it was revealed that the 'Double Down' burger is exceedingly high in salt and fat.
The basic concept of the Double Down chicken sandwich is that it contains no bread; instead, the cheese, bacon and sauce filling is sandwiched between two deep-fried chicken burgers. A nightmare to eat and even more of a nightmare for your health, the Double Down burger has been found to contain a massive 32 grams of fat and a person's whole daily requirement in sodium.
At around 540 calories, dieticians have said it isn't the unhealthiest kind of fast food available, as McDonald's Big Mac and Whopper are worse. However, the Double Down - on a limited run of six weeks - has received vehemently negative criticism on nearly all quarters. It has been called a 'salt bomb' by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, 'alarming' by the Los Angeles Tomes and worst of all from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Despite this barrage of criticism, staff in KFC food jobs have reported that the Double Down seems to be selling well with most customers mainly buying it out of curiosity.
The sandwich isn't available in the UK, but KFC can expect a new wave of controversy if it is ever released over here. This would be more bad press for the company, who have recently been fined around £19,000 after cockroaches and mice were found at their flagship Leicester Square outlet in London.
The basic concept of the Double Down chicken sandwich is that it contains no bread; instead, the cheese, bacon and sauce filling is sandwiched between two deep-fried chicken burgers. A nightmare to eat and even more of a nightmare for your health, the Double Down burger has been found to contain a massive 32 grams of fat and a person's whole daily requirement in sodium.
At around 540 calories, dieticians have said it isn't the unhealthiest kind of fast food available, as McDonald's Big Mac and Whopper are worse. However, the Double Down - on a limited run of six weeks - has received vehemently negative criticism on nearly all quarters. It has been called a 'salt bomb' by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, 'alarming' by the Los Angeles Tomes and worst of all from the San Francisco Chronicle:
"a vile meatwich crammed like a grenade with sodium, sugar, fat and chemicals."
Despite this barrage of criticism, staff in KFC food jobs have reported that the Double Down seems to be selling well with most customers mainly buying it out of curiosity.
The sandwich isn't available in the UK, but KFC can expect a new wave of controversy if it is ever released over here. This would be more bad press for the company, who have recently been fined around £19,000 after cockroaches and mice were found at their flagship Leicester Square outlet in London.
Bernard Matthews to finally go free-range
Turkey products manufacturer Bernard Matthews has often been in the news, but for all the wrong reasons. The company has been involved in all sorts of scandals, from a high-profile court case over animal cruelty to an outbreak of bird flu, massive financial losses and a public dressing-down from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
However, the first tentative signs of a positive change in the Bernard Matthews ethos are now starting to emerge, as the brand is moving away from high-processed Turkey Twizzlers and Golden Drummers - often labelled 'everything that is wrong with the food manufacturing industry' in the past - to a more free-range approach.
Even though morally-dubious figurehead has stepped down from the chief food job position within the company, Bernard Matthews as a brand is launching a reinvention - meeting customer demands for free-range turkey products. But is it all just a money-making front? Apparently, only 7.5 percent of turkeys will actually be free-range, with just one percent more adhering to the most basic RSPCA standards.
This has led to demands from the Compassion in World Farming campaign group to force poultry companies like Bernard Matthews to tell customers about the living conditions of their birds.
What do you think? Are Bernard Matthews a food company you can trust? Feel free to leave your thoughts.
However, the first tentative signs of a positive change in the Bernard Matthews ethos are now starting to emerge, as the brand is moving away from high-processed Turkey Twizzlers and Golden Drummers - often labelled 'everything that is wrong with the food manufacturing industry' in the past - to a more free-range approach.
Even though morally-dubious figurehead has stepped down from the chief food job position within the company, Bernard Matthews as a brand is launching a reinvention - meeting customer demands for free-range turkey products. But is it all just a money-making front? Apparently, only 7.5 percent of turkeys will actually be free-range, with just one percent more adhering to the most basic RSPCA standards.
This has led to demands from the Compassion in World Farming campaign group to force poultry companies like Bernard Matthews to tell customers about the living conditions of their birds.
What do you think? Are Bernard Matthews a food company you can trust? Feel free to leave your thoughts.
Should junk food have a 'fat tax'?
The Food Standards Agency is reportedly considering proposals to put a tax on junk foods, to encourage or force people to make healthier food choices. This new 'fat tax', as it is being called, would work in the same way as the tax currently on tobacco and alcohol and could be up to 17.5 per cent.
Foods likely to be targeted include:
• Processed food
• High fat food (i.e. cheese, butter)
• Food containing high levels of saturated fats
Understandably, the idea has led to much controversy and debate, with many consumer groups and those in manufacturing food jobs forcefully opposing it. No VAT is currently paid on food products, and many think it should stay that way. The Food and Drink Federation has said:
Research from the Institute of Fiscal Studies has supported this, demonstrating how a 'fat tax' may negatively affect poorer families, even if it does make them healthier.
However, the Food Standards Agency believes that heart disease and clogged arteries are caused by the UK's excessive consumption of high-fat junk food. They think that by introducing the new 'fat tax' they can turn people away from junk food and save around 3,000 lives a year.
Do you think a 'fat tax' is a good idea or a bad one? Feel free to leave your comments.
Foods likely to be targeted include:
• Processed food
• High fat food (i.e. cheese, butter)
• Food containing high levels of saturated fats
Understandably, the idea has led to much controversy and debate, with many consumer groups and those in manufacturing food jobs forcefully opposing it. No VAT is currently paid on food products, and many think it should stay that way. The Food and Drink Federation has said:
"It may be a perfectly sensible issue to debate but such a regressive policy would do nothing more than create lighter wallets for consumers."
Research from the Institute of Fiscal Studies has supported this, demonstrating how a 'fat tax' may negatively affect poorer families, even if it does make them healthier.
However, the Food Standards Agency believes that heart disease and clogged arteries are caused by the UK's excessive consumption of high-fat junk food. They think that by introducing the new 'fat tax' they can turn people away from junk food and save around 3,000 lives a year.
Do you think a 'fat tax' is a good idea or a bad one? Feel free to leave your comments.
Shortlist for Observer Ethical Awards announced
The list of contenders for the 2010 Observer Ethical Awards have been announced and it seem as if the food and drink industry has done extremely well, featuring a number of retailers and people in sustainable food jobs on the shortlist. Key nominations for the food industry include:
Best Local Retailer
• Local Roots and Wellie Boots - An Eastbourne-based local grocery company selling locally sourced fruit, vegetables and preserves
• Infinity Foods Shop & Bakery - As a food job workers co-operative, this Brighton company sells an impressive range of locally produced vegan and vegetarian food and baked goods
• Growing Communities - A social enterprise set up in Hackney to run a veg box scheme, weekly organic farmers market and an Urban Market Gardens initiative
Best Online Retailer
• Abel & Cole Ltd- This company has been selling organic fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry and bread for more than twenty years
• Riverford Organic - One of last year's winners, this company works with regional farms to supply organic, seasonal produce throughout the UK
Campaigner of the Year
• Jamie Oliver - As a celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver has used his influence to promote healthy eating and provide opportunities for underprivileged young people to flourish in hospitality and food jobs
• Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - nominated for his work supporting ethical living, the Landshare initiative and chicken welfare.
The event will be held in June, hosted by Colin Firth and Lucy Siegle.
Which ethical food retailers or producers get your vote? Have any been missed off the shortlist? Feel free to leave your comments.
Best Local Retailer
• Local Roots and Wellie Boots - An Eastbourne-based local grocery company selling locally sourced fruit, vegetables and preserves
• Infinity Foods Shop & Bakery - As a food job workers co-operative, this Brighton company sells an impressive range of locally produced vegan and vegetarian food and baked goods
• Growing Communities - A social enterprise set up in Hackney to run a veg box scheme, weekly organic farmers market and an Urban Market Gardens initiative
Best Online Retailer
• Abel & Cole Ltd- This company has been selling organic fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry and bread for more than twenty years
• Riverford Organic - One of last year's winners, this company works with regional farms to supply organic, seasonal produce throughout the UK
Campaigner of the Year
• Jamie Oliver - As a celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver has used his influence to promote healthy eating and provide opportunities for underprivileged young people to flourish in hospitality and food jobs
• Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - nominated for his work supporting ethical living, the Landshare initiative and chicken welfare.
The event will be held in June, hosted by Colin Firth and Lucy Siegle.
Which ethical food retailers or producers get your vote? Have any been missed off the shortlist? Feel free to leave your comments.
Catering butcher Aubrey Allen invites UK chefs to their Coventry plant
Aubrey Allen's Coventry plant officially opened its doors to the industry recently, inviting some of the UK's top chefs inside in an effort to inspire some new recipes. The catering butcher extended an invitation to prominent food job holders such as Francesco Dibenetto (Sous Chef at Le Gavroche), Calcot Manor's chef director Michael Croft and Jeff Galvin from La Chapelle.
The guests were invited to the Aubrey Allen plant to demonstrate the company's new, technologically advanced facilities and brand new cuts of beef and lamb. The event was designed to inspire chefs and show them how to work with the new cuts, as well as giving them an opportunity to catch up and share ideas.
The managing director of Aubrey Allen, Peter Allen, has said:
The chefs received a full tour of the facility, a presentation on quality, the food chain and 'meat awareness' and a seam butchery demonstration. Jeff Galvin was particularly impressed with the event, saying:
The guests were invited to the Aubrey Allen plant to demonstrate the company's new, technologically advanced facilities and brand new cuts of beef and lamb. The event was designed to inspire chefs and show them how to work with the new cuts, as well as giving them an opportunity to catch up and share ideas.
The managing director of Aubrey Allen, Peter Allen, has said:
"Chefs need to lead the way and that's where we can help - not just by delivering quality products, but continually working hard to develop new ideas to help them impress their customers and run a profitable kitchen."
The chefs received a full tour of the facility, a presentation on quality, the food chain and 'meat awareness' and a seam butchery demonstration. Jeff Galvin was particularly impressed with the event, saying:
"There is not enough butchery knowledge in kitchens, so good supplier relationships are key. For younger chefs coming through, butchery experiences will give them better respect for products and how they are sourced."
New study questions whether organic farming is worth the effort
New research conducted by the University of Leeds has investigated the myths surrounding organic food and poses the question: is organic farming really worth the effort in terms of health and environmental benefits?
The answer to this will not please organic food fans and those in organic food jobs, as the study contradicts claims that organic agriculture is beneficial for local wildlife. It found that the benefits of avoiding pesticides and chemical fertilisers to certain species of animals and birds are minimal and not justified compared to the need to produce enough food for a rapidly rising population. In conclusion, researchers found that standard farms produce more than double the amount of food per hectare than organic farms.
Other results included:
• Organic farmers may cause surrounding farmers extra costs due to the weeds they allow to flourish by not using herbicides
• On average, organic farms had 12 per cent more biodiversity than standard farms
• Yield from organic farms was more than 50 per cent lower than normal farms (both types growing similar crops)
The study also supports research conducted by the Food Standards Agency, who claimed that consuming organic food had no significant health benefits. Author of the study, Tim Benson, explains what the results may mean for organic farming in the UK:
Do you think organic farming is worth it? Feel free to leave your comments.
The answer to this will not please organic food fans and those in organic food jobs, as the study contradicts claims that organic agriculture is beneficial for local wildlife. It found that the benefits of avoiding pesticides and chemical fertilisers to certain species of animals and birds are minimal and not justified compared to the need to produce enough food for a rapidly rising population. In conclusion, researchers found that standard farms produce more than double the amount of food per hectare than organic farms.
Other results included:
• Organic farmers may cause surrounding farmers extra costs due to the weeds they allow to flourish by not using herbicides
• On average, organic farms had 12 per cent more biodiversity than standard farms
• Yield from organic farms was more than 50 per cent lower than normal farms (both types growing similar crops)
The study also supports research conducted by the Food Standards Agency, who claimed that consuming organic food had no significant health benefits. Author of the study, Tim Benson, explains what the results may mean for organic farming in the UK:
"As the biodiversity benefits of organic farming are small, the lower yield may be a luxury we can't afford, particularly in the more productive areas of the UK."
Do you think organic farming is worth it? Feel free to leave your comments.
Are food jobs more dangerous than construction work?
According to a new survey by insurance company Aviva, working in the food industry could be more dangerous than undertaking construction work. Great for those adrenaline seekers, but not so great for the rest of those currently working in UK food jobs.
Facts and figures
The Aviva report uses figures from the Health and Safety Executive, who found that those in food jobs are over one and a half times more likely to sustain an injury at work than those working in construction. Although the fatality rate is higher in the construction industry, food job workers are more likely to sustain minor or more serious injuries. The most common causes of these injuries include:
• Slips, trips and falls
• Manual handling
• Machinery accidents
• Workplace transport
Improving safety
It isn't all bad news for the food industry, in fact, these findings have actually highlighted the need for better safety measures to be put in place and and more health and safety staff to be employed within the industry.
Aviva have launched a new safety campaign, entitled 'Safety on the Menu', which offers advice and support on health and safety to food manufacturers free of charge.
Is your food or drink workplace safe? What do you think the industry could do to improve safety standards? Feel free to leave your comments.
Facts and figures
The Aviva report uses figures from the Health and Safety Executive, who found that those in food jobs are over one and a half times more likely to sustain an injury at work than those working in construction. Although the fatality rate is higher in the construction industry, food job workers are more likely to sustain minor or more serious injuries. The most common causes of these injuries include:
• Slips, trips and falls
• Manual handling
• Machinery accidents
• Workplace transport
Improving safety
It isn't all bad news for the food industry, in fact, these findings have actually highlighted the need for better safety measures to be put in place and and more health and safety staff to be employed within the industry.
Aviva have launched a new safety campaign, entitled 'Safety on the Menu', which offers advice and support on health and safety to food manufacturers free of charge.
Is your food or drink workplace safe? What do you think the industry could do to improve safety standards? Feel free to leave your comments.
2 Sisters food firm to takeover Netherlands poultry company
World-class company 2 Sisters Food Group is planning the takeover a Holland-based poultry company, an acquisition that will make them a £1 billion-a-year firm.
Based in West Bromwich, 2 Sisters is a family-run business established by entrepreneur Ranjit Singh Boparan back in 1993. The company has gone from strength to strength since then, expanding their operations from the UK into Europe and the US, and now The Netherlands. The firm employs more than 5,500 people in food jobs, reporting annual sales of over £750 million.
The latest acquisition news comes after another successful takeover bid, as 2 Sisters assumed ownership of iconic brand Harry Ramsdens as well as Fishworks in recent months. The company also bought failing fish company Five Star Fish earlier this month, just as it was going into administration, in a move that saved around 330 food jobs.
The company 2 Sisters now plan to purchase, Storteboom, has six factories and employs more than 1,000 people in food jobs in Poland as well as Holland.
The deal will only be finalised, and the cost of purchase revealed, when it has been cleared with the Dutch regulation authorities.
Based in West Bromwich, 2 Sisters is a family-run business established by entrepreneur Ranjit Singh Boparan back in 1993. The company has gone from strength to strength since then, expanding their operations from the UK into Europe and the US, and now The Netherlands. The firm employs more than 5,500 people in food jobs, reporting annual sales of over £750 million.
The latest acquisition news comes after another successful takeover bid, as 2 Sisters assumed ownership of iconic brand Harry Ramsdens as well as Fishworks in recent months. The company also bought failing fish company Five Star Fish earlier this month, just as it was going into administration, in a move that saved around 330 food jobs.
The company 2 Sisters now plan to purchase, Storteboom, has six factories and employs more than 1,000 people in food jobs in Poland as well as Holland.
The deal will only be finalised, and the cost of purchase revealed, when it has been cleared with the Dutch regulation authorities.
