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    Lytham Foods has recalled Taylors of Lytham Chicken Tikka Sandwiches due to the potential threat of salmonella. 

    The possible presence is in the tikka powder ingredient, supplied my Catermix which, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), was manufactured in unhygienic conditions and failed to comply with the food hygiene regulations. 

    “Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores selling these products,” said a statement published on the FSA’s website. 

    “These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.”  

    The FSA advised consumers who have bought the product not to eat it, but to instead return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. 

    Taylors of Lytham’s website claimed that its sandwiches were made using only high-quality ingredients. Lytham Foods’ products are supplied to a number of UK retailers and airlines, as well as foodservice and catering establishments. 

    This recall follows Easy Eats UK withdrawing chicken tikka products due to similar concerns. 

    Chicken tikka sandwiches recalled

    Workers in the fast food industry are expected to be joined this afternoon by members of union GMB in a protest over wages. 

    The demonstration is due to take place outside McDonald’s in Whitehall, Central London at 5pm. The campaign is fighting to secure a £10 an hour living wage, trade union rights for fast food workers and an end to zero-hours contracts.  

    Following this, a forum will take place at 6.30pm in Room 8, House of Commons, Westminster. Fast food workers across the UK and US will be joined by speakers John McDonnell, Shadow Chancellor, Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) president Ian Hodson, and Kevin Rowan of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). 

    “Fast food workers are organising and fighting back,” said Kamaljeet Jandu, GMB national officer. “In the UK and America, fast food workers are forced to live in poverty by multinational and hugely profitable companies like McDonald’s. 

    “While McDonald’s has raked in profit at the expense of its workers, it has been exposed as not paying its tax. McDonald’s is in the dock. GMB is inviting the public to join fast food workers in the fight for higher wages, union rights and respect at work.” 

    Today’s events follows a series of protests across the UK last November, outside fast food outlets and Marks & Spencer, to stand alongside workers in New York City campaigning for a real living wage of $15 per hour.

    Fast food workers protest for higher pay

    AHDB Beef & Lamb has unveiled the Meat Education Programme. 

    Developed by the levy board after it identified a lack of accessible training in the meat industry, the Meat Education Programme aims to help both individuals and businesses enhance their knowledge and understanding of the sector. 

    Targeted at the whole of the meat supply chain, including: butchers and processors; chefs, foodservice sales and new product development staff; meat buyers and traders; meat counter staff, and marketing professionals and press, there are 16 theory and practical modules in the Meat Education Programme, each is supported by must-read study materials that are free to download at www.qsmbeefandlamb.co.uk/mep. 

    The Programme comprises theory and practical modules covering: understanding beef and lamb breeds, production and meat quality; identifying beef carcases for classification, quality, age and the sex of the animal; understanding and recognising different beef and lamb cuts; ideal cooking methods used for different muscles; understanding cooking with red meat; customer service for serve-over counters; telephone skills for meat sales staff; and three beef and lamb practical modules for learners to demonstrate their skills by cutting a carcase into primal cuts and producing retail and foodservice cuts. 

    Online assessment and certification are available free-of-charge for the theory modules and there are three practical beef and lamb modules will be assessed at the learner’s place of work by experienced butchery professionals.  

    Dick van Leeuwen, business development manager for AHDB Beef & Lamb and project leader of the Meat Education Programme, said: “It gives me great pleasure to launch the Meat Education Programme – an extensive and wide-reaching resource developed to add genuine value to the industry. We know that it will prove to be a hugely beneficial tool to individuals and businesses – from butchers to chefs – operating within the meat industry, boosting knowledge and skills. 

    “Not only will the Meat Education Programme enhance industry knowledge but it will also make it more appealing to newcomers by providing easy access to training and development, with demonstrable accreditation.  

    “We cannot wait for people to try the programme out and would welcome the opportunity to talk to any business that would like to discuss trialling the programme as an in-house educational resource for staff.” 

    AHDB Beef & Lamb launches Meat Education Programme

    Our client is one of the largest suppliers to UK retail of food manufacturing. The role of the Materials Buyer is to primarily support internal departments in particular production and the materials warehouse, ensuring day to day stock levels are adequate to meet production orders.

    The food industry is expected to benefit from a move to promote professional standards in pest control. 

    This week, two companies that focus on pest control services became the first in the UK to be accredited against a benchmark of quality recognised across Europe. 

    Both companies are associated with the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). The trade body is now encouraging its 450-plus servicing members to follow suit. 

    “The European Standard for Pest Management Services, EN16636, was developed by the pest control industry to act as a demonstration of professional credentials,” said Simon Forrester, chief executive for BPCA. 

    “We know of many pest controllers who are untrained and do not stay up-to-date with the latest products, techniques and legislation – and that can create big problems. 

    “But this will demonstrate our members are on a level playing field with the best pest management companies in the world and will mean that, by employing members of the BPCA, food professionals can be totally confident of a professional service.” 

    West Yorkshire’s Premier Pest Control was named as the first company in the UK to be measured against the standard earlier this week, whilst Ecolab Pest Elimination was awarded with the first certificate. 

    The Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA) launched the initiative earlier this year. Its purpose is to identify the best practices and assures customers that BPCA’s member companies are fully qualified to deal with pesticide issues. 

    It aims to portray a positive image of the pest management industry regarding public health, food safety and environmental significance. 

    As of January, all member companies will be working towards the standard, with all expecting to pass the audit by the deadline of June 2017.  

    “It’s important to recognise that this is not just a box-ticking exercise,” added Forrester.  

    “Our members will each be independently assessed by Bureau Veritas, a global certification body – we are the only UK organisation that does this.”  

    However, Forrester recognised that there could be challenges facing the scheme: “The danger is that internal audits by trade bodies are potentially weakened by pressure to allow companies to pass, which we know happens in other associations. By using a third-party verification, clients can be sure our audits are legitimate and every BPCA member company is held to the same high standard.”  

    The complete structure of the company will have to ensure that everything from its working practices and training to its ethos and values are aligned to the correct standards. 

    “Those who don’t meet the criteria at the moment will be offered all the help and support they need to get there,” Forrester added. 

    “This is a move which sends out a strong message that when people use BPCA members, they can have peace of mind that the job will be done properly. We want the BPCA to remain the mark of professionalism in UK pest management, and for clients to know to look for our logo every time they select a pest management company.”  

    Food companies encouraged to make the most of pest control services

    With Christmas around the corner, Scottish butchers are bracing for their busiest time of the year.

    Getting into the spirit of giving, a number of butchers’ shops across the UK are helping to raise money for two children’s charities. 

    “There is always such an excitement in the shop at this time of year as we help people get ready for Christmas – and we thrive on it,” said Mike Forsyth of Forsyths Butchers and Bakers in Peebles. 

    Customers have the option of buying the ‘Round the Table’ charity cookbook, produced by Quality Meat Scotland. 

    All the proceeds of sales go to Children 1st and CHAS [Children’s Hospice Association Scotland]. 

    Forsyths is one of approximately 300 butchers’ shops that are members of the Scotch Butchers Club. The club aims to promote meat provenance, encompassing Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork 

    “Our team is also ready and willing to help with advice and ideas for customers seeking some inspiration about what to cook and we can also help with some tips on how to make delicious meals with leftover meat – helping to make their Christmas spend go further.” 

    Topping the Christmas favourite at Forsyths is Scotch Beef sirloin roasts and Scotch Lamb meatballs.  

    Scotch Butchers Club embraces the Christmas spirit

    Fresh meat and poultry sales have seen another decline in value sales. According to Kantar Worldpanel’s Meat, Fish & Poultry Market update for the 3 months to 8 November 2015, value sales dropped 0.7% while volume sales saw modest growth at 1.5%.  

    Lamb had a strong performance in the last 12 weeks compared to 2014, attributed to a strong performance from leg roasting joints. Pork saw continued decline in both value and volume, with 560,000 fewer households buying compared to last year. 

    Kantar Worldpanel added that British Sausage Week failed to drive sales, with the sausage category seeing a -4.7% and -6.8% decline in value and volume sales respectively. However, burgers and grills grew over the same period, experiencing a 7.3% increase in value sales and a 10.8% jump in volume sales. 

    While the Kantar Worldpanel data doesn’t take into account the impact of the recent World Health Organisation study into red and processed meat, IRI Retail Advantage, which measures sales across the major retail multiples, showed that since the week of the report (w/e 31 October) and the following week (w/e 7 November), losses in sales of sausages and bacon were estimated to be £3 million. 

    IRI reported that value sales of pre-packed sausages saw a decrease of -15.7% for w/e 31 October compared to the same week of last year while pre-packed bacon saw a steeper decline, with sales down -17%. The product has fallen -6.5% in the past quarter, and -5.6% in the last year, which is equal to a 10% fall in sales as a result of the WHO report. 

    Meat value sales drop once again

    Retailers not supporting Britain’s high-welfare pig farmers this Christmas season can expect to be named and shamed by the National Pig Association (NPA).  

    Those that put in a bulk Christmas order from countries with lower animal welfare standards, or provide misleadingly labelled gammons, will be made known to the public. 

    “In addition to carrying out our own checks, we are asking shoppers to check gammon labels carefully this Christmas to ensure the product they buy is made from cured British leg of pork, and not from imported pork that has only been cured in Britain,” said NPA chairman Richard Lister. 

    NPA’s Christmas “GammonWatch” campaign is conducting surveys across the country, with their findings being reportedly published in weekly bulletins until Christmas 

    “If our prices fall any further we will see more pig farmers freezing all investment in new buildings next year and others quitting altogether, and either route will be a serious blow to an industry that is known the world over for its high-welfare, high-quality product.” 

    According to NPA, only 30% of gammon currently available on the market during the festive season is British, this is despite there being plentiful supply from producers. 

    Dr Zoe Davies, NPA chief executive, believes the British public will be willing to pay extra for high-quality products: “We know from successive surveys that customers prefer to buy British pork and pork products even if it costs a penny or two more for the extra quality we offer,” she said. “This is especially true since horsegate in 2013 when most retailers sought to reassure customers by promising to stock more British meat.” 

    NPA’s Christmas GammonWatch will also include a special PorkWatch survey in December. PorkWatch is the industry’s bi-monthly survey of British pork, bacon, ham, sausage and, as of next month, gammon facings in supermarkets. 

    Misleading gammon labelling to be “named and shamed” this Christmas

    A new campaign to relaunch the Specially Selected Pork brand is to be developed.  

    Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is to work closely with the Marketing Strategy Group, made up of industry representatives, to put together a unique promotional plan for the brand, which represents the product from QMS’ assurance scheme.  

    Laurent Vernet, head of marketing with QMS, said: “The QMS marketing team is looking forward to working with the industry to consider the options for relaunching the Specially Selected Pork brand, as levy income to support promotional in 2016/17 become available.” 

    He also said that despite the fact that QMS has not been able to undertake any major promotional activity behind the brand since late 2012, it is well recognised by consumers. 

    “Forty-two per cent of Scottish shoppers recognise and trust the Specially Selected Pork brand,” he said.  “Specially Selected Pork branded products are available in three Scottish retailers, representing a third of the fresh pork Scottish market retail share.”

    He pointed out that QMS’ partnership with the Scottish SPCA, the animal welfare charity, has also played an important role in communicating the message of higher pig welfare and well-being to consumers. 

    However, he said there were also real challenges in the marketplace, with the volume sales of fresh pork down 8.5% year-on-year in Scotland and average retail prices down by 3.7%.  

    “There is no doubt that there are some challenges to be tackled, but our Scottish pig industry has many strong messages, such as the priority given to health and welfare, and I believe there are real opportunities to grow the Specially Selected Pork brand in the months and years ahead,” he said.  

    Specially Selected Pork to get new campaign

    Aldi and Lidl have a combined 10% share of the grocery market for the first time, the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel (12 weeks ending November the 8th 2015) have revealed. 

    This has been driven by Lidl as its market share reached a record high of 4.4%, up 0.7% points on last year due to a sales growth of 19%. Aldi grew sales by 16.5%, keeping its market share at 5.6% for the fifth consecutive month.

    “If you look back as recently as 2012, Aldi and Lidl only held a 5% share of the market, and it had previously taken them nine years to double their combined share from 2.5%,” said Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel. 

    “In the last 12 weeks the two retailers have attracted another additional million shoppers compared with last year, while average spend per trip has increased by 4% to £18.85, which is 78p ahead of the total retailer average. The discounters show no sign of stopping and with plans to open hundreds of stores between them they’ll noticeably widen their reach to the British population.”  

    The grocery market overall saw sales slow by 0.5%, held back by falling prices, which remained down by 1.7% on a like-for-like basis. 

    However, Sainsbury’s is bucking the trend, seeing its fourth consecutive period of growth with an increase of 1.5% sales to increase its share by 0.2% points. “Sainsbury’s performance means it has once again regained its position as Britain’s second-largest supermarket, pushing ahead of Asda in the latest 12 weeks,” said McKevitt. 

    Sales fell at the rest of the major retailers with Tesco down -2.5%; Morrisons by -1.7% and Asda by -3.5%.

    Waitrose and The Co-operative saw sales rise by 2.7% and 1.5% respectively.

    Kantar Worldpanel

    Discounters take 10% share of UK grocery sector
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