Food Safe For Olympics

Food Safe For Olympics

China has reassured prospective visitors and athletes to next year's Olympics, that the food is safe and that they should not be concerned by recent Chinese food scandals; as many safety measures are being put in place for the Games.

China's food inspectors announced last week that a six-month crackdown had uncovered industrial oils, acid, cancer-causing chemicals and other dangerous ingredients in thousands of everyday foods sold domestically.

Beijing State Administration for Industry and Commerce said that dangers do exist, but it is taking extensive measures to ensure quality and safety in 2008.

Round-the-clock guards will be on duty in Olympic kitchens, food storage areas will be under video surveillance and food transport vehicles will be fitted with global positioning systems.

White mice will also be used to test food to be consumed by the athletes.

Chinese Food Scare

Chinese Food Scare

Another food scare has hit the already badly dented reputation of Chinese food companies.

China's quality control watchdog found excessive amounts of preservatives in 13% of 46 chili products tested across the country recently.

The products came from 38 companies in 12 provinces and municipalities, including Beijing and Shanghai.

The administration also found that 8% of dried vegetables and dried fruits had failed safety tests, due mainly to excessive colour additives and the presence of sulphur dioxide.

China last month said it would tighten up inspections nationwide after a number of dangerous food products was found in domestic and export markets.

In one of the highest-profile cases, pet food contaminated by additives originating in China is suspected of killing thousands of dogs and cats in the United States.

Death Sentence

Death Sentence

China has sentenced the former head of its food and drugs agency to death for corruption, as the government sought to contain a wave of scandals over health safety.

Zheng Xiaoyu, former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, was convicted on charges of taking bribes and dereliction of duty.

The sentence reflects the importance that China's leaders are giving to the issues of corruption and food safety, as they grapple with a series of safety breaches involving toxins in food and other products.

Lucky for the management of some of our supermarkets, and food companies (recently tainted by food scandals) that they are not based in China!

The Organic Con Trick

The Organic Con Trick

I have always been a tad skeptical about the organic food industry, the fact that so many products in supermarkets and restaurants are now labeled "organic" makes me wonder quite where these products are being farmed; given that the majority of farming in Britain relies on chemical fertilisers and pest control.

It should not be ignored that those organisations that sell "organic" produce claim a very hefty mark up for them.

Therefore I was none too surprised to read the following in The Telegraph:

"One of London's most fashionable restaurants, used by film stars and members of the Royal family, has become the first in the country to be fined for falsely claiming that meat used in a number of its dishes was organically farmed.

Julie's Restaurant and Bar was fined £7,500 after its managing director, Johnny Ekperigin, admitted three offences under the Food Safety Act 1990."

Suffice to say, this story coupled with the recent Spanish egg scandal, has not changed my mind about "organic" produce. I continue to buy conventionally farmed produce.

British Beef Back in Europe

British Beef Back in Europe

British beef can finally return to Europe's shops and restaurants, after the 10 year ban imposed on it as a result of BSE.

EU food safety experts agreed yesterday to lift the export ban, that was imposed during the mad cow crisis.

British beef exports to the European Union were halted in 1996, as brain-wasting Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) spread across the country.

I regularly ate beef on the bone at that time, which I purchased "illegally" from a trusted butcher.

Restaurant Strike

Restaurant Strike

Restaurants and bakeries in Dahka have begun a 2 day strike in the Bangladeshi capital, they are protesting at a government drive against sub-standard food.

The government campaign is targeting the vendors of unsafe food who are breaching safety standards.

However, the restaurants, fast food chains and bakeries say that the drive was punishing honest traders.

The campaign began two weeks ago, and has led to the jailing of some shop owners and fining of nearly 100 shops.

The campaign has been welcomed by consumer rights groups in Dhaka, who say that the restaurants often use unauthorised chemicals and colours in their food which are harmful and unsafe for human consumption.

Chinese Beer Recalled

Chinese Beer Recalled

The Korea Food and Drug Administration has ordered a recall of all beer imported from China, amid recent reports that it contains formaldehyde.

The order follows recent Chinese media reports that formaldehyde, a harmful chemical that can cause cancer, was used by Chinese beer producers to remove deposited material in the alcoholic beverage.

The report alleged that 95% of all Chinese beer contains formaldehyde, at levels as high as six times the 0.2 milligram per litre recommendation in China's food safety law.

The recalled beer will be tested, as well as of all Chinese beer brought into the country in the future.

Northern Ireland May Ban Smoking In Restaurants

Northern Ireland May Ban Smoking In Restaurants

Northern Ireland may ban smoking in workplaces including bars and restaurants.

The Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety will decide, after the summer, whether to prohibit smoking in all enclosed workplaces or to implement a partial ban that would allow smoking in some bars.

Italian PM Insults Finnish Cuisine

Italian PM Insults Finnish Cuisine

Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, managed to upset the Finns on Tuesday by insulting the cuisine of Finland; which Italy beat to host the new European Food Safety Authority.

Berlusconi told local dignitaries, ahead of the inauguration of the EFSA in the northern Italian town of Parma:

"I've been to Finland and I had to endure the Finnish diet so I am in a position to make a comparison,"

At the opening ceremony European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, would have the chance to sample Parma's famous smoked ham, Berlusconi said; and see for himself that it was better than traditional Finnish food.

Quote:

"Barroso today will be able to taste our 'culatello' as opposed to smoked herrings from Finland,".

Berlusconi reportedly told a summit of European leaders in December 2001:

"Parma is synonymous with good cuisine. The Finns don't even know what prosciutto is."

I would advise the PM not to make so free with his insults. I have worked in Finland, and can tell him that the Finns are not to be messed with.

Waiter There's A Tongue Piercing In My Soup!

Waiter There's A Tongue Piercing In My Soup!

It seems that the diners in Cheyenne, Wyoming USA, have more than just hairs in their soup to contend with.

It is reported that a city health inspector has said there had been "several cases" of tongue rings, and other facial jewelry, found in the food in the city's restaurants.

This has caused a minor panic in the Governor's Food Safety Council, as such they have recommending banning facial jewelry for restaurant workers who prepare food.

This may be a culinary first!

Jon Cecil, of Cheyenne Health Department, reportedly told the Food Safety Council in January:

"We've had several cases of old ladies finding tongue rings and rings and whatnot in their food..We actually had a lady at one of our finer restaurants in town and ... she found a tongue ring."

Seemingly nose rings could transmit staph bacteria. However, the nose ring would have to sit in a plate of food for hours before a sufficient population of bacteria built up to spread the disease.

It may be more important to concentrate on the basics of hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly.

Edinburgh's Dirty Restaurants

Edinburgh's Dirty Restaurants

It is reported that a number of Edinburgh’s top restaurants have at one time failed to meet hygiene standards set by health and safety inspectors.

Reports have been obtained under the Freedom of Information Act which show that some of Edinburgh's leading restaurants have served food that is not fit for human consumption.

Named and shamed include Café St Honoré in the New Town. Its kitchen was described as "filthy and in need of a thorough clean". Inspectors recommended that the owners hired an industrial cleaning firm.

Haldanes had 13 separate contraventions of food safety laws, including mouse droppings, in the year that it was named Edinburgh’s best restaurant in the Taste of Scotland awards.

The Balmoral Hotel, on Princes Street, was reportedly served with a statutory notice after inspectors recorded 24 breaches of food hygiene rules.

Fishers Bistro in Leith, whose customers have included the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and his wife Cherie, was told in 2003 that the kitchen floor was dirty.

Oloroso, whose guests have included Prince William and the actor Jude Law, was warned in 2003 to replace seals on refrigerators and throw out scored chopping boards that were difficult to clean.

All the restaurants now claim that they have addressed the complaints made against them, and that there are no problems.