GM Packaging (UK) LTD

Bulletin - July 2010

Ingredient Price Rises Inevitable

There are continuing concerns across the ingredient market that food costs will rise later this year, probably by around 4%. UK farm gate milk prices have now stopped falling for the first time since October 2008, with increases in prices already announced for May and June. The slow start to Spring may also result in feed shortages next Autumn and Winter if the summer remains dry which could impact in meat prices later this year.

Use-by Date Clarity

The definition of 'Use by' date and the need for greater clarity on its application is due to be discussed by the EC as part of the Commission's proposal for a Food Information Regulation. There is also growing support for the concept of providing nutition information as a meaningful per portion/consumption unit in addition to the information provided per 100g in the mandatory nutrition declaration.

WRAP Project Moves Forward

A study to benchmark how waste could be reduced in sandwich manufacturing is being carried out by the Government sponsored Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) with the support of the British Sandwich Association. Over the coming months consultants will be studying the sandwich manufacturing process with a view to seeking ways to cut waste and the results will be published in the form of a benchmark study that can be followed by other businesses. Several BSA accredited manufacturers are taking part in the project.

Salmonella in Poultry

The EC is consulting member states over proposals to establish a rule to require absence of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium only rather than requiring the absence of all Salmonella serovers under Regulation 2160/2003. This Regulation, which is due to come into effect at the end of this year, requires absence of Salmonella in 25g poultry meat. The Commission is also seeking views on whether this should be combined with a tolerance (n=19, c=1)

BSA Dinner Raises £5346 for Help for Heroes

The Association managed to raise a total of £5,346 for the Help for Heroes charity at the Sammies dinner in May. This was raised through a raffle, draw and auction. We would like to thank all those who contributed prizes for these for their kind support.

BSA AGM

Minutes and the Director's report from the recent BSA AGM can be found on the Asscociation's web site information centre

New Committee

Nigel Hunter, who has recently stepped down as Managing Director of Buckingham Foods, is the new Chairman of the Association. He took over the role from Andy Valentine (Ginsters) who stepped down at the AGM this month. The new Vice-chair is Felicity Aylward from Marks & Spencer.

New committee members are Alex Dower (Pret a Manger), Camilla Deane (Bel UK) and Catherine Moroz (Bagelmania). They replace Mark Reeve (Deans Deli) and Tony Hacker (AFT) who have stepped down from the Committee.

The full list of Management Committee members can be found on the BSA web site

Lunch! Show takes shape

Plans are now well forward for this year's Lunch! Show, which takes place at Old Billingsgate Market, London on 30th September and 1st October. The BSA is currently working with the organisers to put together a programme of seminars relevant to the industry, which will this year include an international design element with the winner of a sandwich design competition in Australia talking about their market compared to the UK. Guest speakers will also include Rod McKie from Welcome Break and Nigel Hunter who has recently retired as Managing Director of Buckingham Foods. More information about the show can be found at www.lunchshow.co.uk

Total Power

The Association has reached agreement with Total Gas & Power which will offer free membership of the Association to sandwich businesses taking out a term contract for their power supplies through Total. The offer is limited to members meeting certain criteria but for those qualifying total will pay their membership for so long as they remain customers with them. Further details can be obtained from lee@sandwich.org.uk

Can micro-organanisms of significance grow in your product and affect shelf-life?

Campden BRI has recently published Guidelines for microbiological challenge testing (Guideline 63) setting out the necessary information for companies wishing to follow a standardised protocol for challenge testing their products. Microbiological challenge testing is the laboratory simulation of what can happen microbiologically to a product during distribution and subsequent handling if it were to be contaminated with a micro-organism. BSA is a member of Campden and members can access information via the association.

The British Sandwich Association - www.sandwcih.org.uk - 01291 636333