Food safety news round-up
UK food safety specialist visits China to ‘enlighten’ firms
A north-east academic has presented the findings of his globally recognised food safety business model to some of China’s biggest food manufacturers.
The University of Sunderland’s Dr Derek Watson was invited by The Food Federation of Inner Mongolia to demonstrate how his Enlighten industry-based model could foster a positive food safety culture for manufacturers.
The model, which puts business practices under the microscope and lays the foundations for them to run more efficiently, is already used in places as far afield as Greece and Central America.
FDF’s chief scientist to take the helm at IFST
Helen Munday is the new president-elect of the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST). Currently chief scientific officer at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), Munday has worked in the food industry for more than 25 years.
She was formerly head of research at the Mars Petcare Global Research Centre in the US, and director of scientific and regulatory affairs at The Coca-Cola Company. Munday will be president-elect for a year before taking over as president from David Gregory for two years.
Hygienic wheel covers praised as ‘game-changer’
A new castor-wheel cover has been described as a food safety “game-changer” by a local authority food hygiene inspector.
Removable and washable, Silicone Hygiene’s Castor Wheel Cover overcame the common problem of keeping wheels on mobile equipment clean, said Kevin Gosling, environmental health manager at Winchester City Council. “They can be put through the dishwasher and placed back on the wheel in a matter of minutes,” Gosling said.
Air filtration firm assists in new guide on air quality
New air quality guidance for food manufacturers has been launched by BRC Global Standards, with the help of air filtration company Camfil.
BRC Global Standard for Food Safety F813 aims to assist managers during an air quality and filter specification risk assessment process.
“Until now, there has been no real guidance to food production facilities about the levels of air quality required to ensure food is safe or the quality is up to standard,” said James Draycott, UK segment manager for food and beverage at Camfil.
