The FMT Blog
Opinion, analysis and musings from the FMT editorial team and expert guest writers about the food processing and manufacturing sector.
Government launches Covid-19 support package for dairy farmers
Dairy farmers in England can apply for cash payments up to £10,000 as part of a hardship fund created by the Government to support the industry during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The support scheme will also cover 70% of income that producers may have lost...
New guidance published to maintain confidence in food safety during virus
The food safety standard organisation, BRCGS, has issued new guidance to food manufacturers amid concerns about the impact of Covid-19 on food production. According to the World Health Organisation, it is highly unlikely that people can contract the virus from food or...
Scottish seafood sector urges big retailers to unlock UK markets
Seafood Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish seafood sector, has written to the chief executives of the main UK supermarket retailers, urging them to reopen their fresh fish counters. With international markets closed off, and the UK restaurant/catering sector largely...
Defra and dairy industry unite to launch £1m consumer campaign
The UK dairy sector, in partnership with Government, has announced a new joint-funded campaign to highlight the importance of ‘human connections’ during the current coronavirus crisis. The £1 million promotional campaign taps into the need for personal moments during...
FDF and trade unions working together to feed the nation
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and a number of trade unions have joined together for the first time to commend the efforts of all those in the food and drink manufacturing working to maintain the UK’s food security. In a joint statement, the FDF, along with...
Former KFC managing director joins Gousto board
Former KFC managing director, Misty Reich, has joined the board of recipe box company Gousto. Reich joins the company following an additional £33m investment to boost further job creation and business expansion. Having previously held positions as global chief people...
Half of UK rice breaches limits on arsenic for children, warn scientists
More than half of rice varieties sold in the UK contained levels of arsenic higher than regulations allow for babies and children under five. Scientists have called for labelling to warn the public about levels of arsenic in rice, after their research found half of...
Greencore issued with formal grievance by food union
The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) has filed a formal grievance against convenience food producer Greencore after it failed to tell staff that a manager had tested positive for coronavirus at its Northampton site. As reported by the BBC, the union said...
Vegan cake brand launches first ever plant-based egg alternative
OGGS, a vegan-friendly cake brand, claims to have produced the first ever patented liquid egg alternative. The OGGS Aquafaba egg alternative was developed using chickpeas and has been trialled in a number of products ranging from cakes, mayonnaise and mousses. The...
Global markets could face worldwide food shortage post pandemic
A senior lecturer from Cardiff University has warned that there could be a worldwide food shortage in the coming months as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. As reported by the BBC, Dr Ludivine Petetin said: “The problems is, as soon as you have a disruption in the...