Brigg, North Lincolnshire – Blended Products is proud to announce that its Anaerobic Digestion Carbon Dioxide – VeCO₂, has been officially certified as vegan by the Vegetarian Society. This milestone marks VeCO₂ as the first-ever carbon dioxide product to receive the prestigious Vegan accreditation from the Vegetarian Society.

Partnering with a UK-based AD plant, Blended Products VeCO₂ is made from plant-based matter. This sustainable technology is not only an eco-friendly alternative to traditional carbon dioxide sources, but it is also the first-ever carbon dioxide product to be recognised by the Vegetarian Society as fully vegan certified.

VeCO₂ enables businesses to operate more sustainably by providing an ethical, plant-based CO₂ alternative that supports both environmental and operational goals.”

In collaboration with a dedicated working group of leading experts from the biogas and carbon capture sectors, Blended Products has been actively driving progress in these fields. Partnering with a UK-based AD plant, the company has developed this innovative product.  “VeCO2 enables businesses to operate more sustainability by providing an ethical, plant-based CO2 alternative that supports both environmental and operational goals” said Caroline Hunter, Head of Commercial at Blended Products Ltd. “By opting for VeCO₂, businesses can lessen their dependence on fossil fuel-derived CO₂ and support a more sustainable future.”

The Vegetarian Society’s vegan certification guarantees that VeCO₂ is produced without any animal-derived inputs, making it an ideal choice for industries and consumers prioritising ethical and sustainable solutions. This certification provides additional reassurance to businesses seeking to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on their vegan and cruelty-free standards.

VeCO₂ offers a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable alternative to traditional CO2 sources, and its certification sets a new benchmark for eco-conscious innovation in the industry. As a versatile and highly effective product, VeCO₂ is suitable for a wide range of applications, particularly food and beverage processing. VeCO2 supports businesses aiming to reduce their Scope 3 emissions, offering a certified sustainable CO2 alternative for various industries.

For more information about VeCO₂ and its Vegan Certification, please visit www.Blendedproducts.com contact Blended Products at 01652 680555

About Blended Products.
Blended Products is an established supplier of specialty gases and liquids across the UK to a range of industries. Sustainability Todays “Chemical and Gases Company of the Year 2025”.

About the Vegetarian Society
The Vegetarian Society is a UK-based charity that has been promoting vegetarian and vegan living for over 170 years. Its Vegan Certification mark guarantees that products meet strict vegan criteria, offering consumers an assurance of quality and ethical production.

Media Contact:

Charley Christopher

Marketing Manager

Blended Products

07538025030

Charlotte.christopher@Blendedproducts.com

www.blendedproducts.com

END

Total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International has registered as a Disability Confident employer through the Disability Confident Scheme.

The Disability Confident Scheme is a voluntary, government-backed initiative designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain individuals with disabilities and health conditions.

The scheme acknowledges businesses that have taken action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people.

Employers participating in the scheme commit to providing equal opportunities for career development and ensure an accessible working environment as well as supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to remain in work, with the initiative developed in collaboration with employers and representatives of disabled individuals.

Oakland International Head of Talent Development Kate Hewitt commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to be part of this scheme. It’s rewarding to be able to attract those who have additional needs and face challenges in gaining access to meaningful employment.

“Being able to support them to overcome potential barriers in accessing meaningful work is humbling. We’re excited to work on the next stage in becoming a disability confident employer alongside other meaningful and value adding initiatives with our local communities.”

A sustainable business with an environmental and social conscience, Oakland International is a Certified B Corporation and an equal opportunities employer, a total supply chain solutions specialist, and a leader in direct to consumer, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering and brand development support for all types of food, servicing diverse markets across the UK and Ireland.

Oakland International is also an expert in saving food and non-food products from going to waste via their distress load management service and aim to be the first business within their sector to reach net zero.

<Ends>

 

Image L to R: Oakland International Head of Talent Development Kate Hewitt, Group HR Director Nicola Harris and Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.

 

Company details:    Oakland International Limited

UK: +44 (0) 1527 596 222 e: sales@oakland-international.com

www.oakland-international.com

For all enquiries please contact Kathryn Watts 07970 547469 e: k.watts@evopr.com – If you do not wish to continue to receive press releases in the future, please let me know and I will remove your address from my distribution group.

Pukka, a brand leader in the UK pie industry, is taking a major step to enhance its production capabilities by investing in a third Starfrost Helix spiral freezer at its Syston bakery in Leicestershire. This investment is part of the company’s ongoing strategy to integrate cutting-edge technology, meet rising demand, improve quality and consistency, and boost overall manufacturing efficiency.

Scheduled for installation later this year, the new spiral freezer follows the successful addition of two Starfrost systems in 2021, underscoring Pukka’s commitment to long-term growth and innovation.

The new Starfrost Helix spiral freezer will replace an older, less efficient freezing system, safeguarding continuity of supply. The state-of-the-art technology offers several benefits, including reduced downtime and lower maintenance requirements, resulting in smoother and more reliable operations.

With the Helix freezer’s precision performance, Pukka can ensure consistent quality across every batch, preserving the taste and freshness that has built the brand’s reputation.

Peter Gull, Engineering Manager at Pukka, commented on the importance of this equipment upgrade: “The new system will provide an automated and dependable freezing process, just like our other Starfrost equipment. This latest spiral freezer will enable us to increase production throughput while maintaining the high standards our customers expect.”

As Pukka continues to scale its operations, this new freezing system will play a vital role in meeting increasing consumer demand, all while maintaining both efficiency and product quality.

-ENDS-

 

Notes for Editors:

Starfrost: Starfrost is a leading provider of cooling solutions for the global food processing industry. Since 1984, Starfrost has been pioneering cooling technology and delivering industrial freezing and chilling equipment to more than 60 countries, across 6 continents of the world.

Starfrost’s aim is to create reliable, sustainable freezing and chilling solutions with innovative, intelligent technology. Increasing productivity, reducing energy consumption and improving efficiency are at the centre of the services and equipment Starfrost deliver.

Contact details:
Lauren Stephenson – PR & Marketing

T: 01502 562206
E: laurenstephenson@starfrost.com
W: www.starfrost.com
Starfrost (UK) Ltd, Unit 11-12 Craftsman’s Way, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 3FB

Say hello to Yorisa, the latest addition to the FBI Food Group family! A fully cooked, high-quality Korean range with a unique twist, crafted exclusively for chefs and restaurants seeking fresh, exciting options for their menus—delivered hassle-free. Simply cook in the fryer or oven, and you’re ready to impress.

Available Now!

The Yorisa Range Includes:
• Breaded Chunk Skewers in BBQ Sauce: Whole muscle chicken breast chunks on a skewer, coated and glazed in rich BBQ sauce. (12 skewers per bag, 1.02kg)
• Plain Chunk Skewers: Coated whole muscle chicken breast chunks on a skewer, perfect for your creative culinary touch. (12 skewers per bag, 1.02kg)
• Breaded Chunks in Sweet & Sour Sauce: Crispy, coated chicken breast chunks glazed in a vibrant, tangy sauce. (1.05kg per bag)
• Yakatori Skewers in Korean Chili Sauce: Charcoal-cooked chicken leg meat skewers, glazed in bold, spicy Korean-style sauce. (12 skewers per bag)

Yorisa delivers premium quality with ultimate convenience—perfectly designed to inspire chefs and elevate your menu.

Want to try it for yourself? Contact FBI Food Group today to arrange samples on 01708 373663 or orders@fbifoodgroup.co.uk

Join Europastry at the UK Food & Drink Expo in Birmingham and explore the wide range of high-quality proudcts: Cristallino and Brioche breads, American Bakery, sweet and savoury pastries, and more exciting and innovative options.

RECOGNITION OF REGIONALISATION IN GERMANY

Great Britain has now recognised regionalisation for the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in Germany that was confirmed on 10 January 2025.

The relevant lists and safeguard declarations published at Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues – GOV.UK have been amended accordingly and include details of the extent of the containment zone from which exports to Great Britain remain restricted.

Trade of affected commodities can now resume from the areas outside of the containment zone, provided that all other import conditions are met. For the purposes of certification, the UK considers the area outside the containment zone to be free of FMD for at least 24 months.

Please note that import restrictions in place for other diseases remain, including for Bluetongue and African Swine Fever.

Defra have also issued a press notice, which can be found here.

For certificates of bovine, ovine and caprine semen, ova and embryos, the appropriate ISO code as described in column 1 of the following lists: bovine semen, ovine and caprine semen, bovine embryos, and ovine and caprine ova and embryos should be added to Box I.8 of the relevant certificate and to the first paragraph of the animal health attestations.

This provides the relevant assurance that the products originate from animals outside of the containment zone

Supporting documentation:

Certain animal by-products (ABP), from FMD susceptible animals, require supporting documentation to provide assurance that the products have either undergone acceptable risk mitigation treatments or where applicable, originate from animals outside of the restricted zones in Germany.

‘FMD-susceptible animals’ means a cow, bull, sheep, goat, deer, camel, llama, alpaca, guanaco, vicuna, any other ruminant, any swine (that is, a member of the suborder Suina of the order Artiodactyla) or elephant.

Types of supporting documentation

Type A (processing/treatment)

• copies of manufacturing records showing relevant parameters of the production process that relate to the specific goods in the consignment

or

• commercial document or statement signed by a person with knowledge of and responsibility for the relevant parts of the production process on company letter headed paper, that specifies the production parameters that relate to the specific goods in the consignment.

Type B (origin of material)

• commercial document or statement signed by a person with knowledge of and responsibility for the relevant parts of the production process on company letter headed paper, that declares the product does not contain ABP originating from animals inside FMD restricted zone

ABPs requiring supporting documentation

Only the listed ABPs require supporting documentation.

The following ABPs originating from inside the restricted zones require Type A supporting documentation:

• fat derivatives
• pig bristles (in addition to health certificate)
• processed petfood (other than canned or extruded dry petfood)
• rendered fats for use outside the feed chain
• treated wool and hair
• treated game trophies or other preparations of susceptible animals, being solely comprised of bones, horns, hooves, claws, antlers or teeth, except those referred to in Section 5, point 1 of Annex XIV to Regulation 142/2011.

The following ABPs originating from outside the restricted zones require Type A or Type B supporting documentation:

• bones and bone products, horns and horn products and hooves and hoof products intended for use other than as feed material organic fertilisers or soil improvers
• fat derivatives – low risk only (for use other than in animal feed)
• processed pet food (other than canned and extruded dry petfood)
• rendered fats for uses outside the feed chain
• treated game trophies or other preparations being solely comprised of bones, horns, hooves, claws, antlers or teeth, except those referred to in paragraph (1) of Section 5 of Chapter II of Annex 14 to Regulation 142/2011
• treated hair and wool
• treated pig bristles

The following ABPs originating from outside the restricted zones require Type B supporting documentation:

• colostrum, colostrum products – low risk only (not for use in animal feed)
• milk, milk-based products and milk-derived products – low risk only (not for use in animal feed)
• processed manure
• treated game trophies comprised of hides and skins except those referred to in paragraph (1) of Section 5 of Chapter II of Annex 14 to Regulation 142/2011
• treated hides and skins of ungulates except:

1.   hides and skins having undergone the complete process of tanning
2.   wet blue
3.   pickled pelts
4.   limed hides which have been treated with lime and in brine at a pH of 12 to 13 for at least eight hours

Submitting the documents

The documents must be uploaded and attached to the CHED import notification the trader creates in IPAFFS, in the ‘Additional Documentation’ section before they submit it unless the goods are already detained at the BCP. This does not apply to treated wool and hair which is not subject to official controls at a BCP.

 

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) RESTRICTIONS: AUSTRIA

A case of FMD has been reported in Levél, Győr-Moson-Sopron County, near the Austrian border. Given the proximity of the outbreak to Austria, a decision has been taken to extend the FMD restrictions already in place for Hungary and Slovakia, to Austria.

This means that from 27 March 2025, there are restrictions in place on the import of the following commodities from Austria:

• live (including non-domestic) ruminant and porcine animals, including wild game, and their germplasm
• fresh meat from ruminant and porcine animals (including chilled and frozen)
• meat products from ruminant and porcine animals that have not been subject to specific treatment D1, D, C or B (including wild game)
• milk, colostrum and their products, unless subjected to treatment as defined in Article 4 of Regulation 2010/605
• certain animal by-products
• hay and straw

Please also note that personal import restrictions due to FMD additionally apply to Austria from 28 March 2025: Bringing food into Great Britain: Meat, dairy, fish and animal products – GOV.UK