This week it has been revealed the 2013 targets set by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to reduce campylobacter levels in chicken have not been hit. The FSA targets aimed to decrease the number of contaminated birds in the UK from 27% to 19% by 2013 and to 10% by 2015.
Campylobacter, the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK, continues to plague the UK food network. Not only was it directly responsible for more than 371,000 cases of food poising in 2009 which resulted in 88 deaths in England and Wales, but now we are faced with further concern as FSA targets have been missed.
As a result there is even greater pressure and scrutiny on the retail and food producing industry. It has therefore never been more important to ensure consumer trust, and I believe the key to this is demonstrating integrity and traceability through more stringent testing on all aspects of the food industry supply chain – from produce to packaging.
Some plastics packaging manufacturers, such as Sharpak, are using their own high tech testing laboratories, enabling them to assure the quality of the packaging which passes through their plants.
This approach not only facilitates traceability, but can directly improve the products found within the network. For example, the introduction of new technologies such as anti-microbial packaging highlights the opportunity to try and control the spread of campylobacter in the UK.
It’s important we provide a safe product with integrity that the consumer can be confident in. Our UK laboratory offers an environment in which our innovative plastic packaging can evolve in a cost-effective manner. This is essential to eliminate the guesswork in the supply chain by combining vast experience with a factual, scientific approach to quality control.
Nick James is a sales and marketing director at Sharpak Bridgwater and Sharpak Yate.
