Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has recommended improved allergen information on pre-packed foods for direct sale, for example foods such as sandwiches and salads which are made and packaged on the same premises where they are sold. The move follows the recommendations of the coroner’s report following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse and the outcome of a UK-wide public consu ...
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New IDDSI Descriptors
On Monday 1st April the new IDDSI descriptors were adopted and implemented around the world. Australia is currently in the PREPARE stage and it is anticipated that by May 2019 the new descriptors will be implemented. Thailand is reviewing the IDDSI framework and translation is underway. In Ireland the implementation discussions are currently underway and IDDSI framework and d ...
Allergies and Intolerances
What's the difference between an allergy and an intolerance? A food allergy occurs when an allergen is absorbed into the blood and causes a reaction from the immune system and the response is fairly rapid. A food intolerance is a term used to describe a less severe reaction to food, which often has a delayed response. Food allergens can be life threatening and the only way p ...
The Importance of Training & Development within the Workplace
Training has many benefits for your staff. They acquire new skills and increase their contribution to the business whilst building their own self-esteem. The training they embark on can lead them into other positions within the organisation and add value to their employers. Typical benefits from implementing an employee training and development programme are: Increased jo ...
Raising Awareness of Allergens
We’re coming to the end of delivering our RSPH public nutrition courses for 2018 and we are delighted to report that we maintained our 100% pass rate! We had candidates attend from all sectors including care, education, custodial and commercial, some of whom were looking to add a nutrition qualification to their CV or ‘rubber stamp’ their existing knowledge with a formal qualif ...
A healthier future: Scotland's Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan
The Scottish Government is consulting with the public, food and retail industries on restricting the in-store marketing and promotion of foods high in fat, sugar or salt, with little or no nutritional benefit. The consultation is part of the Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan and will inform assessments of impact and possible legislation. The consultation is open until 9 Ja ...
International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)
A global initiative to improve the lives of 590 million people worldwide living with dysphagia. IDDSI have published international standardised terminology and definitions for texture modified foods and thickened liquids for people with dysphagia. The framework consists of a continuum of eight levels (0-7) and includes descriptors, testing methods and evidence for both liquid ...
Bans on gluten-free prescribing save the NHS money
Full or partial bans on GPs prescribing gluten-free (GF) foods to people with coeliac disease save the NHS money in the short-term but the impact on patients especially those from deprived areas is unknown, NIHR-funded researchers at the University of Bristol have warned. The study which looked at prescribing data across 94 per cent of GP practices in England between 2012-201 ...
Goodbye to Sweets At The Checkouts
Selling sweets near supermarket checkouts and offering two-for-one deals on junk food will be banned under a government campaign against childhood obesity. Ministers are also considering barring cartoons from promoting junk food and are consulting on making it illegal to sell energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16. It is understood that the health minister will introduce ...
Which? calls on government to fix food labelling 'chaos'
It is not easy to eat healthily but doing so is being made even harder by "misleading" food labels, according to Which?. The consumer group is calling on the government to fix the "chaos" of food labelling standards when the UK leaves the EU. Which? says "traffic light" labelling - indicating that are foods high in salt, sugar or fat - should be mandatory. Under EU rules it ...