The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have today issued updated guidance and Q&As regarding the peanut contamination of mustard incident: Mustard ingredients and peanut contamination – guidance for businesses | Food Standards Agency

The guidance addresses queries around businesses affected, actions to be taken and where exemptions apply. We would like to draw your attention to those exemptions:

Exceptions

• If the impacted product(s) already has peanut listed as an ingredient with the appropriate allergen labelling or a ‘may contain’ statement on the label, these will not need to be withdrawn or recalled.
• Products can be relabelled if the business is able to do so (more information on this is provided in the document)

Should members have any questions please do not hesitate to email deniserion@bfff.co.uk and we will happily direct these to the FSA on your behalf.

For those members who have already submitted questions, this latest guidance may now offer some answers, but rest assured we continue to press for clarity and will keep you updated.

Rupert Ashby, the BFFF’s CEO has been representing member views at a meeting of a global coalition in Paris this week. The BFFF joined the Move to -15°C Coalition earlier this year to ensure that members voices, evidence, experience and concerns are heard by participants across the world as the exciting prospect of a review of frozen food storage temperatures takes centre stage in sustainability talks and plans.

As ever though, depending on your product, and due to varying legislation across the world, these things are not always that simple.

Rupert Ashby has written an article covering all aspects of the issue and the BFFFs stance which can be read here https://flickread.com/edition/html/671123767c63d#33

Following recent meetings with 11 retailers, many producers and manufacturing BFFF members, he attended the meeting in Paris to put forward your views, and heard presentations about approaches in other Countries, data on frozen food transport in shipping containers, a report on the Morrisons freezer temperature trial and updates on work with Codex, funding for research and evidence that is needed. There is a long way to go, but even if any move is possible, or research just identifies key efficiencies, it could be a very exciting result for our great industry.

The meeting was attending by a number of companies including BFFF members DP World, Morrisons, Lineage, Nomad Foods, Sunswap Ltd and Constellation Cold Logistics.

Details of the Coalition can be found at The Move To Minus 15°C | Cold Chain Sustainability

 Once again named Materials Handling Equipment Provider of the Year

For the fifth time in eight years, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks has walked away with a prestigious Temperature Controlled Storage & Distribution (TCS&D) Award, winning Materials Handling Equipment Provider of the Year.

The annual event recognises the outstanding achievements of individuals and companies within the cold chain sector.  This year’s winners were announced at the glamorous TCS&D Awards Dinner on Wednesday, 9th October at the National Motorcycle Museum.

This isn’t the first time Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks has stood out at the awards. The company previously won Materials Handling Equipment Provider of the Year in 2017, 2018, and 2020, as well as the Customer Service Excellence Award in 2019. This repeated success reflects its dedication to innovation and strong customer support.

As a long-standing partner to the cold storage industry, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks has earned a reputation for delivering practical, reliable solutions that meet the tough demands of temperature-controlled environments. The judging panel was impressed by its forward-thinking approach and its ability to continually adapt to the evolving needs of the industry.

“This award belongs to our entire team,” said Lee Longbottom, Sales Director for the Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks Distributor, “It’s their dedication that make achievements like this possible. Everyone — from engineers to customer support — has played a part, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

After expanding the national network in 2023, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks has continued to develop its product offerings and services, creating even better solutions for the cold storage sector.

Lee adds: “It’s not just about the awards, though — it’s about making a real difference for the people who rely on our solutions every day. The trust our customers put in us, and the feedback we get helps us improve year upon year. We already have one eye on the next award.”

For more information on Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks and the award-winning support they offer, visit https://www.mitsubishi-forklift.co.uk/ or call 0845 3713048

The team behind “Women in Cold Chain” are thrilled that Oakland International has become a long-term sponsor and supporter.

Officially launched in September 2023 in Manchester, the ‘Women in Cold Chain’ initiative’s purpose is to encourage female school leavers and University Graduates, as well as Women from other sectors, to consider exploring a career in the temperature-controlled storage and distribution industry and support.

Oakland International Founder Dean Attwell stated: “We are pleased to see this initiative growing and delighted to confirm our intention to be a committed long-term partner of the Women in Cold Chain Initiative.”

Martyn Cogan, one of the co-founders of the initiative comments: “We are delighted to have the support of Oakland International for the next 3 years.

“This amazing 3-year sponsorship deal will help the initiative develop much faster and with Dean’s encouragement, I cannot wait to see where we go.”

Cogan continues: “The initiative is still relatively new, and we are striking up collaborations with a number of trade organisations and companies across the cold chain sector. We are hugely grateful for the support we have gained so far from our others sponsors.”

Sunswap, a leader in sustainable transportation solutions, showcased its zero-emission Endurance transport refrigeration unit at the Cold Chain Hub 2024, part of the TCS&D Show in Birmingham 9-10th October. This debut marks the culmination of five years of intensive research and development, resulting in a zero-emission solution poised to transform the cold chain industry.

The Endurance unit, on display, represents a significant milestone for Sunswap, as it transitions from 30 successful trials to full-scale production and units on the road. Delivered shortly to DFDS, one of Europe’s leading shipping and logistics companies, this production model is expected to be operational on roads within weeks.

Endurance combines advanced battery technology and trailer-top solar power that can provide power to extend the range of the electric fridge and reduce grid charging. These innovations enable significant reductions in operating costs and environmental impact without compromising on performance or reliability.

In a testament to its innovative technology and industry impact, Sunswap was named Refrigerated Transport Manufacturer of the Year 2024 at the TCS&D Awards. This recognition comes at a pivotal moment as the company launches its first production units, further validating the team’s approach to sustainable refrigerated transport.

Sunswap was also the first-ever Headline Sponsor of the TCS&D Awards. Now in their 11th year, the awards celebrate innovation and excellence in the cold supply chain across a number of categories.

“We’re thrilled to be named Refrigerated Transport Manufacturer of the Year 2024,” says Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap. “This award is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication. As we launch Endurance, our zero-emission transport refrigeration solution, this recognition validates our mission to provide a viable alternative to diesel and drive sustainability in the cold chain industry.”

Safefood 360° is proud to have joined the British Frozen Food Federation as a new member for the coming year.

Recently, we hosted a webinar that provided valuable insights into how our comprehensive, market-validated software solution can support Food Safety, Supplier Quality, Environmental, and Occupational Health & Safety Management and Compliance.

Many of the world’s leading food manufacturers already trust Safefood to manage these critical processes and empower their teams to take charge of critical quality and compliance while maintaining real time oversight at both operational and corporate levels.

With more than 35+ modules designed for all GFSI standards the system is fully compliant with BRCGS, FSSC, ISO22000 and more, as well as all major UK and European Retail Technical Standards.

Dedicated modules include HACCP, Hazard Library, Auditing, Corrective Actions, Non Conformances, Monitoring, Recalls, Cleaning, Calibration, Maintenance, Traceability, Supplier Management and much more.

Learn more about us here

Or visit our website: Safefood 360°