Page 79 — British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)

COURTAULD COMMITMENT 2030 BECOMES UK FOOD AND DRINK PACT

Posted on March 27, 2025November 25, 2025 by Denise Rion

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) recently announced that the Courtauld Commitment has become the UK Food and Drink Pact.

The Courtauld Commitment has been the driving force behind industry-wide action transforming the sector for twenty years. Bringing businesses, government and sector leaders together to tackle food waste, greenhouse gas emissions and water stewardship for food and drink production.

The UK Food and Drink Pact, builds on this legacy to reinforce WRAP’s collaborative ambition for a more sustainable food and drink system both nationally and around the world.

The fundamental details of the original commitment remain unchanged, but the rebranded UK Food and Drink Pact gives fresh clarity to this ambition in a direct statement of intent, helping to build trust and recognition in the sector.

The new name brings a consistent and cohesive identity alongside WRAP’s other key voluntary agreement, the UK Plastics Pact while aligning with WRAP’s expanding international focus and the growing global Food Pact Network.

FSA PUBLISH FINAL PATH-SAFE PROGRAMME NEWSLETTER

Posted on March 27, 2025November 25, 2025 by Denise Rion

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have recently issued the very last newsletter from the Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and the Environment (PATH-SAFE) programme  

PATH-SAFE is a 4-year, UK wide, cross government programme, led by the FSA and supported by £24m funding from the HMT Shared Outcomes Fund (SOF) and match funding from a range of government and academic delivery partners. 

The programme is working to develop a pilot national surveillance network, using the latest DNA-sequencing technology and environmental sampling, to improve the detection, and tracking of foodborne human pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the whole agri-food system from farm-to-fork.   

As the programme draws to a close at the end of March 2025, this final March 2025 newsletter reflects on the successes of the programme and looks to the future. 

Through over 30 different projects, spanning four thematic areas (Data Sharing and Analysis, Foodborne Disease, Antimicrobial Resistance and On-Site Diagnostics), the programme has broken new ground scientifically and has challenged the status quo.  It has generated new knowledge (pillar 1), brought data together (pillar 2) and developed new methodologies, approaches and tools (pillar 3).

You can read the newsletter in full here

UKRI COMMISSIONS PROJECT ON ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS

Posted on March 27, 2025November 25, 2025 by Denise Rion

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), supported by Sciencewise, has commissioned a project to explore the public opinion on Ultra Processed Foods (UPF’s).

The project which will run for a year, is the first in-depth deliberative dialogue to focus specifically UPF’s.

It will explore some of the complexities around how people view UPFs, look at their place in our food system and at their governance and regulation. It will also explore where people get their information from and who they trust.

The findings will be brought together with existing evidence about the public’s perceptions of UPFs to help UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) identify and address gaps in existing knowledge and develop future research priorities.

The UK population ranks among the worst in Europe for levels of obesity and is one of the biggest consumers of UPFs. Tackling obesity and related poor health is a challenging issue, and understanding the role of UPFs in dietary choices and ill health is a major part of this.

The results of the project will also be made available to government and wider stakeholders and feed into work underway to create a new National Food Strategy.

More information on the project can be found here

OPSS ISSUE UPDATED PRIMARY AUTHORITY STATUTORY GUIDANCE

Posted on March 27, 2025November 25, 2025 by Denise Rion

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) have published updated Primary Authority statutory guidance.

This guidance is the framework for the operation of Primary Authority which sets out essential detail to assist those participating in the scheme. It is split into seven main sections, one general and relevant to all, and the others specific to direct partnerships, co-ordinated partnerships, primary authorities, enforcing authorities, co-ordinators, and supporting regulators. It will also be useful for businesses participating in the scheme.

The guidance has been updated to take account of legislative changes post EU Exit, and the enhanced role of national regulators. It also reflects the development and maturation of the scheme.

You can access the updated guidance here

NEW CONTENT ADDED TO BRCGS PARTICIPATE PLATFORM

Posted on March 27, 2025November 25, 2025 by Denise Rion

BRCGS sites certificated to one of four BRCGS Standards – Agents and Brokers, Food Safety, Packaging Materials or Storage and Distribution have exclusive access to the Participate platform.

Participate provides you with access to a wealth of free technical information and guidance, and is a great resource to help you get the full value from the Standards and further improve your business.

New content added to Participate in the last month:

Beyond Celiac Trademark

Following the launch of an updated Beyond Celiac trademark in January 2025 this document answers questions about the use and implementation of the mark.

Free-From Trademark Guideline

This guide is for brand and marketing managers, graphic designers, agencies and printers who are responsible for the application of the Global Standard Gluten-Free and/or the Plant-Based Global Standard trademark(s) on packaging, signage, marketing materials and digital media.

Who can access Participate?

To access Participate content, you must be one of the following BRCGS customers or delivery partners:

BRCGS site certificated to any of the following BRCGS Standards; Food, Packaging, Storage and Distribution or Agents and Brokers

BRCGS auditor

BRCGS certification body,

BRCGS Approved Training Partner (ATP)

BRCGS consultant

Find out more about the steps to access participate here

FSA UPDATE GUIDANCE ON PROVIDING ALLERGEN INFO IN OUT-OF-HOME SECTOR

Posted on March 27, 2025November 25, 2025 by Denise Rion

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued best practice industry guidance on providing allergen information to consumers with food hypersensitivities, encouraging information on food allergens to be available in writing in the out of home sector, for example restaurants, cafes, delis, market stalls and takeaways.

The guidance aims to support food businesses when providing information on the 14 food allergens to their customers, whilst helping to keep consumers safe. It applies to food businesses providing non-prepacked or ‘loose’ food in person or via online sales.  

It follows a consultation on the guidance, as well as FSA research and engagement with consumers and food businesses to better understand how food businesses could improve written information for consumers with food hypersensitivities.    

The updated guidance includes:  

 written allergen information should always be available for non-prepacked food alongside a conversation between servers and customers about their allergen requirements

 examples of how to provide written allergen information

 free tools to support businesses with implementation, such as allergy icons, an allergen matrix and a new allergy poster which food businesses can download and use on their own assets (e.g. menus and websites)

This updated guidance applies to businesses operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

The publication of the guidance is the latest development since the FSA Board agreed in December 2023 to strengthen allergy information for consumers.  

A few reasons to become a member of BFFF

To find out more about becoming a member call 01400 283 095 or email the team

Join BFFF

Member profile on BFFF website

Free BFFF Member List

Free listing in the annual Member Directory

Access to latest industry news and information

Weekly newsletter, press and media opportunities

Press and media opportunities

Marketing, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities

Networking via opportunities at BFFF events

Free market data provided by Circana and World Panel

Access to industry specialists

Expert guidance from Technical and Health & Safety teams

Access to Primary Authority schemes and assured advice

H&S Audit Service/Advice

Free access to HR and legal guidance and advice line

Training and Education

Member Benefits

Exclusive Partnership deals on key products and services:

BFFF energy deals and rates
Vypr member deals and introduction
Defib Plus deals
Company Shop – membership
Mentor – MHE training health check

Exclusive access to networking opportunities and events:

Meet the Buyer events (retail & foodservice)
Annual Business Conference with networking dinner
Specialist H&S and Technical Conferences
Special interest groups (packaging, frozen food temperatures)
Annual Lunch
Awards Night

Become a member

Sponsorship Packages

We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities to BFFF members across our events throughout the year, with flexible packages that can be tailored to suit your business objectives.

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Wakefield Council

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Sysco

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Darta

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Kantar Worldpanel

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Lakeside Food Group Ltd

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Meadow Vale Foods Limited

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Newberry International Produce Ltd

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Place UK Ltd

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Roswel Spedition GMBH

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Seara

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