It appears the powers and remit of the agency are being somewhat diluted with supposedly non food safety issues being transferred away from them to minister controlled departments putting some things back into the political arena.

Nutrition and front of pack labelling matters in England are transferring to Department of Health; country of origin labelling and compositional matters are transferring to DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs).

How will these changes affect you?

In hospitality, catering and small retail businesses probably not very much as your interface will still be with your local EHO or Trading Standards officer. One topic which will be reviewed which does affect caterers is the proposal for nutritional information to be added to menus. For those of you in manufacturing and major retail you will be faced with dealing with legislation from a variety of sources and greater confusion. Looks like joined-up thinking on food matters is a thing of the past.

The cynical amongst us may ask why do this now?

Cost saving is clearly one government priority but could it be that the Food Standards Agency has been too successful and active in food composition and labelling? Bigger businesses have not always been happy at the direction taken on compositional matters, e.g. reductions in salt content and ‘traffic light’ labelling proposals, and will no doubt have been lobbying the new government to ease the potential burden on businesses.

Whatever the reason however in its press release the government is assuring the public they can have confidence in food safety.

For the full press release please visit:
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/jul/fsachanges/

Dalepak is a leading UK manufacturer of branded and private label frozen grillsteaks, burgers, crispbakes and vegetable-based meat free products based at Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire.

IFP, owners of Anglo-Irish Beef Processors, is one of Europe’s leading meat processing companies and supplies major retailers and food service companies in the Republic of Ireland, the UK and across Europe.

IFP said “The Dalepak product range is an excellent fit for our growing convenience food operations in the UK.”

Julian Wild commented: “I have worked with Northern Foods for many years. I am very pleased to have helped Northern secure a sale of a non-core business and the transfer of 143 staff to a major supplier in the frozen sector.”

The Thirsk based, family-run business is supplying its multi-award winning Yorkshire Blue cheese into more than 400 stores from the end of August 2010.

Traditionally handcrafted at the company’s North Yorkshire dairy, Yorkshire Blue, made from 100% cow’s milk, will be available as a 180g ‘buy me whole’ portion on the Market Street deli. The cheese is based on a continental style recipe and has a mellow, creamy and buttery flavour.

Commenting on the deal Katie Bell, sales and marketing director, said: “We have worked with Morrisons regionally for many years and have featured as one of the supermarket’s Local Heroes, so we are delighted to introduce our handmade Yorkshire Blue cheese nationwide to customers. We are sure that blue cheese lovers will enjoy the mild flavour of Yorkshire Blue and non blue cheese eaters will be converted once they’ve tried it!”

Danny Clee, buyer at Morrisons, said: “Yorkshire Blue is a world class cheese and great news for our customers who not only expect excellent quality and value when they shop at Morrisons, they also enjoy buying products with a real story to tell.”

deliciouslyorkshire has put increased resources in place to help deliver the service; including the appointment of Kate Baumber as International Trade Development Manager to manage the team and the delivery of the new service. Kate has an agricultural background and has worked in food and drink marketing for the past 15 years, including International Marketing at Food from Britain, London. Kate has worked with deliciouslyorkshire on several projects and is well known to the team and many Yorkshire companies.

The International Trade Development team will research opportunities, advise companies which markets are best suited to their products, make trade development visits and represent the region at several international events, including Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) in April, and one of the world’s largest food exhibitions, SIAL, held in Paris in November.

deliciouslyorkshire Chief Executive Jonathan Knight says: “We have expanded our export team to reflect our work in this area and in-house specialist knowledge.”

“Yorkshire and Humber’s food and drink industry is in a unique position to supply large quantities of a vast array of products, meeting international demands.”

“We are very pleased to be working with closely with the UKTI to ensure that companies in our region receive the best possible advice and knowledge.”

Graham Percival from UKTI says: “Nearly every economically successful nation is involved in an intricate trade network and there are many opportunities for companies in the UK, and Yorkshire and Humber, to grow links within overseas markets.”

“Research has shown that companies who increase overseas trade networks are likely to be more competitive, have higher levels of productivity and enjoy higher than average growth rates. Through the Regional Food Group, Yorkshire’s food and drink SMEs will hopefully start to see these benefits.”

Both members of deliciouslyorkshire and non-members will be able to access this service.

For more information please contact Kate Baumber, International Trade Manager on 01937 830354 or her mobile, 07831 805111 or email kate.baumber@regionalfoodgroup.co.uk

Located just metres away from the factory in West Yorkshire, the newly erected purpose-built cold room stands at 30,000, and now holds some of the company’s stock.

Not only has the new store provided them with extra space, but it has also enabled Zeina Foods to benefit from extended shelf-lives, and benefit the environment by reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

Clelland, who took up the position on 1 September 2010, was appointed following an extensive search across the region to find an appropriate successor to Patrick Farnsworth who has been chairman of the organisation since 2005. She will be responsible for guiding the organisation through the next phase of development, with a focus on commercial activity.

Comments chief executive Jonathan Knight; “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Patrick for all his support and hard work in creating a solid foundation on which to build a strong commercial future. At this time of change, it is reassuring that deliciouslyorkshire is still able to offer its expertise and services to this vibrant and growing sector.”

Clelland has a strong commercial track record, having previously worked as Financial and Commercial Director at Leeds Bradford International Airport and Finance Director for programme production at Yorkshire TV. She also chairs the board at North West Homes Ltd, a social housing organisation looking after 22,000 houses in Leeds, and is a non-executive director of Bradford and Airedale PCT.

Clelland comments: “deliciouslyorkshire’s role in promoting and providing assistance to businesses is crucial in supporting a thriving regional food economy. The next phase of deliciouslyorkshire’s development will focus on further commercial development as its public funding is reduced in keeping with our contract with Yorkshire Forward.

“It is a real privilege to be assuming the role of Chair from Patrick who has been such a passionate champion of deliciouslyorkshire. I am now looking forward to working with the team with the ultimate aim of becoming self-sufficient in the future. This will be achieved by offering a larger range of services to our members and also the food and drink industry as a whole.

“It’s an exciting challenge as deliciouslyorkshire goes through this transition period, and we will continue to promote and protect the best interests of the region’s great food producers.”

SALSA is an approval scheme designed to help local and regional food and drink producers meet the safe, legal and quality standards required by national and regional buyers.

The increasing popularity of local and regionally sourced products among consumers has led to a number of new suppliers, however, if suppliers do not have the necessary food safety and quality management certificates they may find themselves unable to supply certain markets, thus restricting their growth and development.

RFG’s technologists provided Yummy Yorkshire with the necessary mentoring and direction to ensure a speedy passage through the SALSA process.

Louise Holmes of Yummy Yorkshire said: “With the help of the RFG we developed a structured and bespoke food safety management system – and all in just four months.

“Operations have now improved and it has been fantastic to see our company continue to go from strength to strength. As a result of the support we have been listed by ASDA, enabling us to share our delicious products with a much wider consumer base.”

Catherine Riley, RFG Food Technologist said: “The RFG is dedicated to supporting local businesses and supporting suppliers to achieve the SALSA accreditation industry standard is part of our role.”

“RFG worked with Yummy Yorkshire to review systems, create a SALSA compliant food safety manual, implement the new procedures and systems, and carry out a pre-audit.”

“Yummy Yorkshire is a fantastic example of a young, energetic company which has engaged with some of the many services RFG has to offer. From doing so the company has gone on to secure a deal with ASDA which will ensure the business continues to grow into the near future.”

The UK’s first specially-blended aphrodisiac COFFEE, which combines a rare Indian coffee bean with essence of oyster, went on sale today – and shoppers are limited to just one cup due to the blend’s amorous intonations.

The new super seduction blend – De’Longhi’s Amore del Caffé – has been created for De’Longhi by Huddersfield coffee connoisseur David Cooper and is being offered to shoppers at luxury lingerie store Rigby & Peller in central London. Makers De’Longhi are taking no chances that it will have an immediate affect by enforcing a one-cup-only rule.

Coffee, especially in espresso form, is a powerful aphrodisiac and more commonly used in the UK for a morning pick me up than a date night treat. Cooper, who is the founder and managing director of Cooper’s Coffee, joined forces with De’Longhi, the Italian coffee experts in 2008 to create Caffe Raro – the world’s most expensive coffee. He has now teamed up with De’Longhi again to launch De’Longhi’s Amore del Caffé – the first specially blended aphrodisiac coffee.

De’Longhi’s Amore del Caffé infuses a rare and unique coffee bean, Indian Monsooned Malabar, with luxurious oyster essence from the seas of South East Asia. Monsooned beans are very rare – left out during the monsoon season the beans benefit from the moist rain soaked air which circulates through the beans giving them a smooth unique flavour with a rich body and long toffee finish.

To create the amorous blend the beans are carefully roasted to a rich dark mahogany then – while still warm – the oyster essence is infused into the beans creating a seductive blend unlike any that have been created before.

Kate Rolton De’Longhi UK said, “With our Italian heritage we pride ourselves on being experts in coffee and felt with this unique blend we are able to bring some tips on Italian romance and passion to UK shores. De’Longhi’s Amore del Caffé is a rich and dark coffee with the slightest hint of exquisiteness with each sip – it would be impossible not to fall in love with it.”

David Cooper said: “This is one of the most difficult blends I have ever worked on but also one of the most interesting. The difficulty arose from trying to infuse the coffee beans without the taste of oysters dominating the overall taste. Our quest to find a suitable oyster extract took us around the globe.”

Thirty ASDA stores throughout Yorkshire will stock ‘Yorkshire’s Own Kitchen’, the ultimate recipe book and guide to food and drink in the region, showcasing deliciouslyorkshire members and their delicious offerings.

This year’s guide features an introduction from gardener and TV personality Alan Titchmarsh in which he highlights the importance of seasonal local produce, and recalls childhood memories of delicious homemade grub!

The guide also features a bumper recipe section, with recipes supplied by some of the region’s most respected and renowned chefs, allowing readers to re-create a little taste of Yorkshire at home. Rosemary Shrager and James Martin are among the high profile celebrity chefs providing great recipes.

All deliciouslyorkshire members are listed in the guide’s directory, pointing consumers to the variety and quality of the region’s food and drink, whether cooking at home or eating out. The guide also recommends some fantastic days out and places to stay, from the lower dales to the Yorkshire coast.

deliciouslyorkshire communications manager Jane Chamberlain says: “We are delighted to have ‘Yorkshire’s Own Kitchen’ listed in ASDA’s across Yorkshire.

“Provenance, seasonality and supporting small producers, as well as great taste, are all key concerns for consumers and this book is a great addition to any foodie’s kitchen, bookshelf or glove compartment.”

The guide also features a special section on uniquelyorkshire products – those which have been awarded Protected Food Name status such as Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb, Swaledale Cheese and Grimsby Traditional Smoked Haddock.

‘Yorkshire’s Own Kitchen’, put together with the support of Welcome to Yorkshire, is also available in farm shops, cafes and tearooms, hotels and B&Bs, delis and independent retailers, regional bookshops and Yorkshire branches of national bookshops, as well as via the RFG Shop – You can also view a sample of the guide here.

Ampleforth Abbey – orchard@ampleforth.org.uk