Experts who have extensive experience in senior roles at top retailers, including Tesco, Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Coca-Cola gave presentations for 'Product recalls: prevention and cost management'. The free, one-hour webinar, which was sponsored by Columbus Group, concluded with a live question and answer session to allow registrants to quiz the speakers.
The event featured three presenters. First up wase Sterling Crew, chairman of the Food Authenticity Network. He addressed the topic 'When is a recall not a recall', looking at when recalls are necessary and when they aren't, with reference to real case studies.
Webinar programme
Moderator: Rod Addy, Editor, Food Manufacture
1400: Introduction: Rod Addy, Editor, Food Manufacture
Topic 1: When is a recall not a recall? Speaker: Sterling Crew, Shield Safety Group strategic adviser and food safety consultant
Topic 2: Pack up your troubles: Labelling gaffes and how to avoid them: Speaker: Steve Spice, regulatory manager, Ashbury Labelling
Topic 3: In the middle of a chain reaction: Speaker: Simon Noakes, small and medium business director, Columbus Group
Q&A
Next on the programme was Steve Spice, regulatory manager at Ashbury, whose subject was 'Pack up your troubles: labelling gaffes and how to avoid them'. Spice conducted an in-depth breakdown of the latest Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed data on the major causes of recalls and focus on avoiding and dealing with issues on packs.
Finally, Simon Noakes, small and medium business director at Columbus Group took on the theme 'In the middle of a chain reaction'. He scrutinised the use of software to aid aspects such as traceability and recipe management, with particular reference to allergens.
All presentations are available to download for free by anyone registering to listen to the webinar.
The latest recalls
Recent recalls and comments have highlighted the challenge of ensuring the absence of allergens in vegetarian and vegan products.
On the 12 March, the Food Standards Agency announced that Miami Burgers was recalling certain batches of Classic Miami Burgers and True Veg Burgers due to the possible presence of undeclared milk.
Miami Burgers recall details
Food For Progress also recalled a small number of packs of its Oumph! The Burger as a result of the potential presence of milk, which had not been flagged on labels.
Julia Pepler, director of Food Integrity Consulting, addressed the problems allergens pose for plant-based products at 'Building an allergen-free culture', a Society of Food Hygiene & Technology conference held at High Wycombe on 27 February.
