meat
Lab Innovations 2013 programme of talks includes new test for horsemeat DNA
A new safe DNA electrophoresis to test for food production problems, such as horsemeat in burgers and food borne pathogens, is just one of the innovations which will be shared at Lab Innovations taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 6 & 7 November 2013. Lab Innovations is the UK’s only event dedicated to laboratory […]
Salmonella detection kit receives AFNOR validation
Neogen’s ANSR for Salmonella – a procedure for the detection of Salmonella in meat, poultry, dairy, seafood and vegetables – has been validated and approved in accordance with the current and stringent criteria of a NF Validation study carried out according to the EN ISO 16140 standard. The new validation follows the kit’s initial approval […]
Waitrose vows to halve packaging by 2016
UK retailer Waitrose has announced plans to cut its packaging in half by 2016. It has also revealed three major changes to its product ranges that it says will save nearly 100 tonnes of packaging each year. The Menu from Waitrose range of prepared meals has been relaunched with a full redesign and packaging update […]
Patterson named IFST president
The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) has elected Professor Margaret Patterson as its new president. Professor Patterson is a food microbiologist at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Belfast, and serves on the scientific advisory committee of Safefood – a body that promotes food safety throughout North and south Ireland. She has […]
FSA reports back on beef products survey
Following a European Commission call for member states to carry out a survey of beef products, in the wake of the horsemeat scandal, the UK has now submitted its results. The Food Standards Agency reported that none of the UK samples was found to contain horse DNA at or above the one per cent threshold […]
Campylobacter cases on the up, says EFSA report
Campylobacteriosis remains the most reported zoonotic disease in humans, with a continuous increase in reported cases over the last five years. However, Salmonella cases in humans have continued to fall, marking a decrease for the seventh consecutive year. Those are the main findings of the annual report on zoonoses and foodborne outbreaks in the European […]
April 2013
Plasma brings preservation progress Labelling the future Vitafoods Europe turns sweet sixteen Making the most of meat
Lab Innovations 2013
Lab Innovations, which takes place on 6-7 November 2013 at the NEC Birmingham, is a unique opportunity for those involved in chemical, microbiological, physical or sensory analysis to see the latest kits and equipment on offer, and for those supplying the kits to exhibit. Campden BRI will also be organising a theatre programme over the […]
Authenticity spotlight on fish, oils and rice
Demand for authenticity tests have soared in the wake of the horsemeat scandal, with the spotlight now on fish, speciality oils and basmati rice, according to laboratory RSSL. “Any food ingredient that has a price premium, and similar-looking ingredients that are cheaper, is potentially vulnerable to adulteration,” says Jane Staniforth, of RSSL. “When fish has […]
March 2013
Meat & poultry
Process technology
Scale-up
Equipment news
Wastewater management
EU agencies to advise on bute risk
The European Commission has asked EFSA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to carry out a joint assessment of the risks to human health from residues of the anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone in horsemeat. The request comes in the wake of the horsemeat scandal and the discovery of phenylbutazone – also known as ‘bute’ – in […]
Food security label breakthrough
Shrink management solutions firm Checkpoint Systems has unveiled a new anti-theft EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) food label for supermarkets that is certified microwave-safe. The 4010 EP Food Label was designed specifically to protect fresh and frozen supermarket food, says the manufacturer, and has been certified as microwave safe and non-flammable. “Protecting supermarket food items from […]
Waitrose sets up own frozen meat facility
UK supermarket chain Waitrose has announced that it is to build its own facility to produce a range of frozen meat products. The new unit is planned to be operational within the next three months and will be based at Dovecote Park’s facility in Yorkshire. Dovecote Park has been exclusively supplying Waitrose with fresh beef […]
FSA orders tests on UK beef products
Food retailers are to carry out tests on all processed beef products after some Findus lasagnes were found to contain 100% horsemeat. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) ordered the UK tests, saying it was ‘highly likely’ criminal activity was to blame for the contamination. It said there was no evidence of a health risk, but […]