More EU protected food names - Clamp down on rare beef burgers - EU Member States end of year report - Season's greetings and a round up ...

Newsletter No. 9   December 2012


EU protected food names on the up

Isle of Man Queenies, the name given to queen scallops caught in Isle of Man waters, have become the 50th EU protected food name in the UK following successful Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) registration - full details here.

Manx Queenie fishing started around the middle of the nineteenth century when they were used as bait in long line fishing for cod. The queenie beds provided a prolific feeding ground for the shoals of cod but, as cod stocks fell in the 1960s, Manx fishermen began to explore fishing for queenies. In 1969 the first commercially caught queenies were landed in Peel and quickly became recognised as a delicacy. Queenies are noted for their particularly succulent meat.

Queenies are trawled using a light gauge net from beds which are believed to be self-sustaining. The Isle of Man Queenie Festival has been held every summer since 2009.

Meanwhile, Stornoway Black Pudding could secure EU PGI protected name status in a matter of weeks. Success would mean only black pudding made in the Western Isles could be labelled ‘Stornoway’. The inclusion of 16-20% Scottish oatmeal is responsible for its good, rough texture and the use of real blood, not dried, is preferred. Unlike other regional black puddings, beef suet is a major constituent in the Stornoway version.

The final six month period for comments and objections from outside the UK on the route to registration has recently passed so some good news may be just around the corner.
 

Westminster City Council gets tough on rare burgers

Westminster City Council has come in for much criticism for a reported crack down by environmental health officers on sales of medium rare and rare burgers. The Evening Standard was first to report on Westminster’s health and safety madness and the story was picked up by other newspapers. The Daily Telegraph posed the question: Is this the end of the rare burger? While The Independent focused on the anger and confusion surrounding the issue.

Westminster issued a press statement stating that it was not, as reported, “banning the sale of rare burgers” but making sure businesses “do not put their customers at risk from bacteria in un(der)cooked meat”. In doing so it emphasised:

“In the case of rare burgers … food handling controls involve cooking the burger to achieve pasteurisation – this involves a time/temperature combination. One such time/temperature is (core) 70oC for a full 2mins.”

The idea of a rare burger cooked at a core temperature of 70oC for two minutes may appear to some as a contradiction in terms. Clearly Davy’s, the London wine bar chain, seem to think so and they have decided to challenge Westminster in the courts. The outcome will be keenly awaited sometime in the New Year.
 

EU Member States’ demonstrate range of enthusiasm for implementing EU law

EU Member States' performance in applying EU law in 2011 reveals fewer infringements in 2011 but number of cases remains high.

At the end of 2011 the number of open infringement procedures was 1,775 compared to 2,100 in 2010. Italy (135), Greece (123) and Belgium (117) were the worst offenders. The UK ranked equal 8th (out of 27) with Germany. However, the UK’s performance (along with that of Germany) was the best in its reference group comprising Member States with equal or close to equal voting weights in the Council (Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland). There were no UK failings in relation to food law highlighted.


Finally …

Festive greetings to all and remember … a butcher is for life not just for Christmas! There are only 6,500 left so use them or lose them! This Christmas make sure to ...
 
 
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Meanwhile …

The Department of Health appear to be re-thinking traffic light food labelling and ‘tweaking’ the Food Standard's Agency's guidelines so foods are compared within their respective categories and there are fewer red lights. Making it even more confusing?
 
Portsmouth baker fined £5,000 and banned from running a food business. A case study in how not to run a bakery!

Thoughtful and well written reflections from a Sustainable Food Trust vegetarian intern who spent a weekend at Trealy Farm on The Meat Course.

A day in the life of Cropwell Bishop Creamery and Stilton cheese at its finest.

Processed cows’ milk may contribute to Type I diabetes. Strong evidence indicates that the body's reaction to A1 beta-casein is the cause.

Farmers in New Zealand will be able to continue selling raw milk. A recent review also revealed a strong demand for a relaxation in the rules governing the sale of raw milk.

Bread zapped in a microwave that lasts for 60 days. The answer to cutting food waste? How about the real bread alternative – a long-fermented sourdough instead?

Non-melting chocolate invented by Cadbury's. Sorry, real chocolate melts! End of!

Garlic smuggler flees conviction for £2m ginger fraud. Garlic, which is subject to EU import tax, was passed off as ginger which carries no tax. Fraud spotted when HMRC noticed fresh ginger imports had risen five-fold!

Woman dies after eating Deathcap mushrooms found in garden. The most deadly of fungi with no antidote so be sure, be safe.

Morrisons has abandoned commitment to sourcing 100% British poultry. What’s to be next?
Copyright © 2012 Artisan Food Law Limited
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