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Cartoon 5 | Oops, sales forget to tell technical about the launch and still no mention of the supply chain risk
Published Date : 2015-09-04 10:15:14
Oops, sales forget to tell technical about the launch and still no mention of the supply chain risk
The business development manager is so busy with holidays and a team bonding session at the golf resort that he forgets to tell technical about the launch for two weeks, there are now 10 weeks to launch and not a chance of getting everything done including the finished product specification.
As expected, NPD or sales have not mentioned the potential supply chain risks from the new ingredient.
About These Cartoons
QADEX understand the continual pressure that food safety teams are under.
Sometimes what happens is surreal and would be funny, except you are up to your neck and it is hard to see the funny side.
This cartoon is Number 5 in a series of 19 cartoons charting some of the crazy things that happen in the process of launching a fictional hot potato range into a supermarket.Please make sure to reference the cartoon numberwhich is highlighted in bold above.
We hope you find some of these cartoons amusing, if you do please share the smiles by clicking the share button on LinkedIn.
Previous cartoons in this series are available on the QADEX LinkedIn page
You can see the full series on the QADEX website at http://qadex.com/cartoons-npd
Will COOL Labelling Restore Consumer Confidence in Meat?
Published Date : 2015-08-28 15:37:28
While the horse meat scandal of 2013 may be in the past, consumers haven’t forgotten the breach of trust. The shockwaves are still well and truly present, with many Brits and Europeans still reluctant to purchase meat or products containing meat from the supermarket. The industry knows that confidence has to be restored and a new venture from the European Commission (EC) could be the answer.
This year, mandatory country of origin labelling (COOL) could become compulsory if the European Commission gets its way. Members of the European Parliament advocate that the introduction of COOL laws is the key to restoring consumer confidence in meat products and avoiding future food fraud incidents.
Consumers back the new bill
Consumer group Which? has revealed that consumers are largely behind COOL, with a recent survey indicating that 87% of respondents backed the movement. “Our survey shows that one of the main reasons people want to know about the origin of produce, including meat, is because they want to buy British,” says Which? Chief Policy Advisor Sue Davies. As well as supporting the British economy, home-grown produce also gives consumers the peace of mind that they’re purchasing premium quality food that’s 100% safe for consumption.
Opposition from manufacturers
While the concept does have enormous benefits for consumers, manufacturers aren’t as enthusiastic. There is a large contingent that argues the cost of introducing COOL legislations would be prohibitive. According to the EC impact study it would cost manufacturers an extra 20 – 30% to comply while governments would incur costs of 10 – 25% in regulation.
Could voluntary compliance be the answer?
Provision Trade Federation takes a more lenient line, maintaining that COOL should be voluntary. This way, consumers can choose whether or not they value the inclusion of origin labelling, and purchase accordingly. PTF Director General Terry Jones understands the concern, explaining that “Although PTF supports the requirements of the Food Information for Consumers Regulation, which ensures that misleading statements of origin are not made, we consider any extension of the legislation to require origin labelling of meat as an ingredient would be burdensome to achieve, increase costs and further complicate the label.”
While no final decisions have yet been made, food manufacturers are being urged to engage as much as possible in order to make their voices heard in the lead up to the ultimate verdict. Stay on top of labelling laws and procedures with the Allergen Management and Labelling module from QADEX.
Cartoon 4 | Business Development & NPD - "Technical and Production are always failing to deliver"
Published Date : 2015-08-26 10:20:50
Smug Business Development & NPD bemoan fact that in their opinion technical and production are always failing to deliver.
Racing back from their meeting with the supermarket our smug business development and NPD friends chat about how the business would be stuffed without them and project that the new hot potato range is going to be massive.
Have they considered the food safety risk from this new ingredient?
About These Cartoons
QADEX understand the continual pressure that food safety teams are under.
Sometimes what happens is surreal and would be funny, except you are up to your neck and it is hard to see the funny side.
This cartoon is Number 4 in a series of 19 cartoons charting some of the crazy things that happen in the process of launching a fictional hot potato range into a supermarket.
We hope you find some of these cartoons amusing, if you do please share the smiles by clicking the share button on LinkedIn.
Previous cartoons in this series are available on the QADEX LinkedIn page
You can see the full series on the QADEX website at http://qadex.com/cartoons-npd
Fines for Food Fraud Set to Rise
Published Date : 2015-08-21 13:58:12
Food fraud has become a serious issue over the past few years, thrown into the spotlight by high profile cases such as the horse meat scandal and dangerous counterfeit spirits. Today, it’s become such a lucrative business that many hard-line criminals are choosing the sky-high profits and laxer penalties over more conventional crimes such as drug smuggling and stolen goods. So what’s the solution? Across the EU, courts are starting to hand out heftier fines and harsher penalties in a bid to stop food fraud from escalating into a continental crisis. With multi-million pound fines and even imprisonment on the cards, the EU hopes that criminals will think twice before trying to fool consumers.
Crippling fines and lengthy jail terms
In January pub chain Mitchells & Butler was slapped with a £1.5 million fine for a food poisoning incident that occurred in 2012. The non-compliance led to the death of one woman, as well as the serious illness of several other diners. As well as being handed the fine, both the chef and the manager were both sent to jail for irresponsible service of food.
Dominic Watkins, a partner at DWF law firm maintains that “the game has changed as far as the food industry is concerned.” Unlike other similar incidents that have occurred in the past, he says that “the fine is way, way higher than anything we have ever seen before” and asserts that “this is the direction of travel” that industry penalties are heading in.
Another high profile case saw fish retailer Michael Redhead fined £50,000 and issued with a six month imprisonment notice for passing off one fish as another when selling produce to Iceland supermarket chain. The days of leniency are definitely over, with Food Standard Agency representative John Barnes backing the “swingeing fines” that are being introduced across Europe. “This has to put people off,” he explains, referring to the fines and jail penalties that can quite literally ruin a person’s life and career.
Safety and standing of key importance
At the end of the day, food fraud is not simply about making money by fooling manufacturers, duping the supply chain and deceiving consumers. The health risks are severe and can cause serious illness, and even death. For those with allergies food fraud and mislabelling can be lethal. For the food industry as a whole, food crimes also shake consumer confidence and put profits at risk. The EU is well aware of this and has made it crystal clear that from now on, a hard line will be taken against anyone risking the health of consumers and the reputation of the industry as a whole.
Protect your business against food fraud by tightening supplier controls with QADEX.
Cartoon 3 | Unusual and unapproved ingredient sneaks into samples
Published Date : 2015-08-19 10:11:44
Our NPD person has returned from their exotic travels and are now busy in the kitchen making up product samples.
Have they:
· Got a raw material specification for this new ingredient
· Ensured that your supplier approval procedure has been followed
· Checked impact on allergen labelling
· Checked that the product specifications will comply with the retailer brand standards
Fat chance, but that’s not likely to stop them heading off with the business development manager and presenting the samples to the retailer.
The retailer asks if the product can be launched in 12 weeks, the business development manager hasn’t a clue but says “No problemo”
About These Cartoons
QADEX understand the continual pressure that food safety teams are under.
Sometimes what happens is surreal and would be funny, except you are up to your neck and it is hard to see the funny side.
This cartoon is Number 3 in a series of 19 cartoons charting some of the crazy things that happen in the process of launching a fictional hot potato range into a supermarket.
We hope you find some of these cartoons amusing, if you do please share the smiles by clicking the share button on LinkedIn.
Previous cartoons in this series are available on the QADEX LinkedIn page
You can see the full series on the QADEX website at http://qadex.com/cartoons-npd
Revoking EU Membership Identified As Major Threat For British Manufacturing Industry
Published Date : 2015-08-14 13:00:03
According to the EEF, quitting the EU is the single biggest threat faced by British manufacturers. With Britain’s membership to the European Union hardly watertight, the manufacturing organisation has warned that continental alliance is the key to enduring economic success. “The biggest threat to our long-term economic wellbeing remains the prospect of leaving the EU,” explains EEF boss Terry Scuoler.
EU membership up in the air
The focus on retaining EU membership comes in the wake of a Conservative party pledge that promised to hold an in-out referendum on whether or not the UK should remain a member state. Cameron has confirmed that the vote will be held by 2017, which gives manufacturers a tight deadline to convince the public that membership is fundamental to the nation’s economic prosperity. While some people believe EU membership is holding Britain back, Scuoler stresses that “any drift or dithering on this issue will mean uncertainty for British businesses, which would be very unhelpful for the long-term prospects of the economy.”
As well as jeopardising the profitability of existing manufacturers, analysts also warn that leaving the EU will deter foreign investment and hinder wealth creation. In turn this will terminate jobs, limit expansion opportunities and seriously slow the UK’s progress at emerging from the economic recession.
The EEF backs EU membership so strongly that last year it even released an official manifesto that pleaded its case. The organisation maintained that membership to the EU “best served” the nation’s interests.
The EU has not always been well received however the EEF is highlighting the fact that a newly reformed politico-economic union would represent huge benefits for the UK. With trade, expansion of the free market and a commitment to improving economic growth and employment opportunities across all member states, the EEF upholds that membership is exactly what Britain needs.
The food industry will be facing a lot of uncertainty in the years leading up to the referendum, which experts warn is bad for investment and ultimately bad for business and trade. Duncan Swift, of food advisory group Moore Stephens says, “This will not be helpful – there will be uncertainty over inward investments and exports.”
Sceptics argue otherwise
Of course, not everyone agrees. UK organisation Better Off Out is one of the nation’s strongest sceptics, arguing that leaving the EU would be largely beneficial. The group maintains that without EU obligations Britain would be able to negotiate stronger trade deals with foreign nations, as well as enhance the state of the national economy and create more jobs. Better Off Out also argues that should Britain leave the EU the government would enjoy greater control over the country’s resources, national borders, NHS structure, immigration policies and legal systems.
While the official verdict is yet to be decided, no one can argue that EU membership gives the UK access to the world’s largest market. EU member states are made up of over 500 million consumers and in a reformed Europe, alliance could mean lucrative economic opportunities for Britain.
Cartoon 2 | NPD go on glamorous trips abroad, technical get stuck on the motorway travelling to audit a supplier
Published Date : 2015-08-12 10:05:21
The NPD person has flown off to an exotic and sunny location to search for ideas, the person responsible for supplier quality assurance is stuck in traffic on the M25 auditing the laundry supplier..
About These Cartoons
QADEX understand the continual pressure that food safety teams are under.
Sometimes what happens is surreal and would be funny, except you are up to your neck and it is hard to see the funny side.