Minutes of meeting held on 4 November 2004

Minutes of Foodaware meetings

CFG 23/04

Foodaware: the Consumers’ Food Group

Minutes of the fourteenth meeting – held on 4 November 2005 at UK European Parliament, Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1

Members present
Matters arising:
   BSE testing
   Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC)
   International Obesity Task Force (IOFT)
   Foodaware priorities
   Membership update
   Avian ‘flu
UK Co-ordinator’s report and EU Update
Presentation and discussion on salt and health
EU Organic Action Plan
Campylobacter
Strategy on Allergens

PRESENT

Members:

Mark Ainsley - FSA, Consumer Branch
Paul Allen - European Food Law Association, UK
Jaswinder Bangar - FSA, Consumer Branch
Judy Brander - National Council of Women of GB
Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott - Age Concern Scotland
Emma Fluck - Consensus Action on Salt and Health
Margaret Foss - National Federation of Women’s Institutes
John Godfrey - ERICA, FSA Consumer Committee
Janet Graham - EU Standing Group on Veterinary Matters
Susan Knox, Chair - Meat Hygiene Policy Forum, Enforcement Liaison Group
Helen Millar - National Consumer Federation
Penny McNeill - General Consumer Council for N.I.
Sue Payne - National Consumer Federation
Katy Waters - National Childbirth Trust
Grace Wedekind - International Council of Women
Alma Williams - Committee on Toxicity and EESC

Foodaware:

Ann Davison - Manager
Lucy Harris - UK Co-ordinator

Apologies:

Carolyn Allen - Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals & Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
Erica Bargman - European Union of Women
Dr Paul G Brantom - Veterinary Residues Committee/ Brantom Risk Assessment
Maria Carlton - National Council of PTA’s
Prof Ruth Chadwick - Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes
Dorothy Craig - Veterinary Residues Committee
Gilli Davies - Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs
Sheila Graham - Veterinary Products Committee
Kim Healy - International Consumer Research & Testing Ltd
Fiona Hodgson - Committee on Animal Feedingstuff
Catherine Humphries - The Cooperative Group, UK
Dr A. Majid Katme - Muslim Council of Britain
Jeanette Longfield - Sustain
Charlotte Meller - LACORS
Dilwen Phillips - Advisory Committee for Wales
David Pickering - Trading Standards Institute
Pamela Pollock - Townswomen’s Guilds
Jacquie Salfield - Institute of Consumer Sciences
Barbara Saunders - Independent Enquiry into failures in BSE Testing
Shree Om Parkash Sharma - National Council of Hindu Temples
David Smith - FSA, Wales
Michelle Smyth - Which?
John Verrall - Veterinary Products Committee
Anne Wilson - Meat Hygiene Advisory Committee

FOODAWARE BUSINESS MEETING

1. Welcome and apologies for absence

The Chair (Susan Knox) welcomed everyone to the fourteenth meeting of Foodaware and particularly Jaz Bangar from FSA Consumer Branch, who had not attended a meeting before, and also her colleague, Mark Ainsley. Susan noted that apologies would be included in the minutes.

2. Minutes of the last meeting

The draft minutes of the July meeting had been circulated by email as well as with the meeting papers. One amendment had been received concerning the group Barbara Saunders represented. This should be the Independent Enquiry into failures in BSE Testing. There were no further amendments and the minutes were then agreed as a true record of the meeting.

3. Matters arising

a) BSE testing

Barbara Saunders had sent a note informing members that the Report of the Independent Enquiry into failures in BSE testing, of which Barbara was a member, was presented to the FSA Board in Belfast on 14 October. She had answered questions on it. Members of the Enquiry would look at the draft action plan before it went to the December FSA Board meeting. They would also be participating in follow up work to ensure that proper arrangements were in place for testing and surveillance before the Thirty Month Rule was abolished (reporting to the FSA Board in the first quarter of next year).

b) Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC)

Dorothy Craig had expressed her concern about the need for stronger consumer representation on this committee. One piece of good news was that Dorothy had been appointed Chairman of the VRC for two years from 1 January 2005 (she had been acting-Chair since early 2004). However, the VRC had not yet succeeded in appointing any new consumer representatives to the committee to take over from Freida Stack and Dorothy. The vacancies had been advertised in the spring but no appointments were made. A new recruitment consultation was to take place and Foodaware was likely to be asked for nominations.

Members were asked to consider whether they would be interested in getting involved. It was agreed that Foodaware should nominate suitable candidates both for this and also the Veterinary Products Committee (which was also looking for a new lay member) if at all possible. Also that Foodaware should make every effort to ensure consumers were represented at future open meetings of these committees.

c) International Obesity Task Force (IOFT)

A request from the IOTF for information on national, regional and local initiatives preventing child obesity had recently been circulated on the list-serve. Members were encouraged to forward any relevant examples.

d) Foodaware priorities

Ann told members that she had been asked to advise FSA on Foodaware’s priorities for the next six months. Policy issues highlighted were food allergens, nutrition labelling and zoonoses. On nutrition labelling it was hoped that it would be included as an FSA priority for the forthcoming UK Presidency. On zoonoses, it was proposed that a paper be prepared which covered general issues together with specific sections on Avian ‘flu, BSE and Campylobacter etc. This should help members with their representation work on these issues.

e) Membership update

Ann gave an update on membership developments:

Groups representing younger/older consumers:

National Childbirth Trust – joined - active involvement through Katy Waters
Girl Guiding – joined – trying to find someone able to come to meetings
Net.mums.com – in contact
Age Concern Scotland - joined - active involvement through Jonathan Clogstoun-Willmott

Poorer consumers:

Coop UK - joined - active involvement through Catherine Humphries
Child Poverty Action Group - interested to join

Ethnic minorities:

Ethic Minorities Foundation - attended one meeting but decided issues not central to its concerns.
Muslim Council of Britain - to join, we hope, as observer members - active involvement through Dr Majid Katme
National Council of Hindu Temples UK - joined as observer members - active involvement through Shree Om Parkash Sharma

Still seeking secular ethnic minority organisation to become full member.

Professionals:

Soroptimists - joined

Members suggested considering health organisations as possible sources of advice, given the common interest in food, diet/nutrition and health, e.g. Primary Care Trusts and/or organisations representing health professionals (dieticians, health visitors etc). John Godfrey mentioned that there was a spokesperson for the Chinese community on the FSA Consumer Committee. It was agreed that these should be looked into and a new effort made for a better reach to the consumer members of government committees.

Action: continue to build links with, and encourage greater participation of, ethnic minority groups, health organisations and consumer members of government food committees.

f) Avian ‘flu

John Godfrey told members that Foodaware had written to Defra expressing its concerns about this, as set out in his paper discussed at the July meeting. The main concern was that Defra was not giving enough emphasis to the potential risk for humans. The main recommendation in the paper was that bird handlers should be routinely inoculated against current ‘flu viruses. Defra had replied to the letter and had partially responded to these concerns. The Department of Health now appeared to be taking the issue seriously.

4. UK Co-ordinator’s report and EU Update

Lucy introduced the UK Co-ordinator’s report that had been circulated by email. She noted that the format had been changed slightly since the last meeting to bring it in line with Foodaware’s quarterly ‘Deliverables’ report to FSA. It would be updated and finalised before being sent to FSA together with the minutes of the meeting. She invited comments and/or questions from members. It was agreed that Foodaware should respond to the DTI consultation on food related weights and measures legislation. Paul Allen offered to help with this.

The EU Update had been circulated with second mailing. Ann explained that, due to the delays in appointing the new Commission, delays were taking also place on policy dossiers in Brussels. Grace Wedekind asked about the recent Commission approval of GM maize for human as well as animal consumption. Ann confirmed that approvals had taken place and Foodaware had checked that the product did not contain antibiotic markers.

5. Emma Fluck, Project Coordinator, Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) - presentation and discussion (CFG 16/04 rev)

Susan Knox welcomed and introduced Emma Fluck who had come to talk about CASH’s work on salt issues.

Emma explained that CASH had 3.5 staff with backgrounds in science, medicine, epidemiology and food technology all with an interest in salt issues. Professor Graham MacGregor was the founder and Chairman of the group. It had been launched in 1996 in response to the government’s refusal to endorse the recommendation of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food (COMA) to reduce salt intake to 6g/day.

CASH had three main aims:

to increase public awareness about salt and its effect on health (PR campaign, education, salt awareness day).
to influence decision makers i.e. MPs.
to work with food industry to encourage salt reduction and clearer labelling.

Current salt intake was about 9 -12g/day. The official target was now 6g/day in adults and children aged over 11 years. However, this was a practical target and actual physiological need for salt was much less (evolutionary data suggests around 0.5g/day). Main sources of salt in the diet were processed foods, restaurant, takeaway and catered foods which accounted for 80% of intake; 15% was added at the table and 5% was naturally present in foods. CASH recommended that to achieve the 6g/day reduction, consumption of processed foods etc should be reduced by 53% and table salt by 50%.

The need for salt reduction to improve health was well documented with evidence linking high intakes to high blood pressure and associated heart attacks and strokes. Salt was also linked with stomach cancer, osteoporosis and Meniere’s disease. A 6g/day reduction in salt would save 35,000 lives/year from heart attacks and strokes together with a further 35,000 people from living with associated disabilities. A 1g/day reduction would save 7,000 lives/year.

CASH would continue to work with the industry, retailers and caterers to reduce the salt intake of all foods; would campaign for clear and comprehensible labelling of the salt content on foods (not sodium labelling), and would continue to raise awareness around salt and its effect on health. Further information was on CASH’s website: www.actiononsalt.org.uk

Groups such as Foodaware could campaign by:

writing to food manufacturers and caterers to encourage them to reduce salt in their foods and to label salt
encourage consumers to write to food manufacturers (who were influenced by consumer feedback)
spread the message about salt and its effects on health through written articles, newsletters or information on websites
share information with colleagues and relevant stakeholders.

Finally, Emma gave some comments on the draft Foodaware paper:

agreed with all the recommendations (largely same as CASH aims and objectives)
asked who the audience would be
asked how Foodaware thought salt reduction claims might be audited and regulated
agreed that it would be helpful for campaigning to target vulnerable groups such as older people who benefited most and immediately from salt reduction. She also suggested including people from African and Asian descent who had been shown to be more vulnerable.

Susan thanked Emma for her very helpful overview and said that it would be helpful to continue to share information and ideas with CASH on relevant work. She reminded members that, in addition to any questions or comments on the CASH presentation, the aim was to finalise the Foodaware paper (CFG 16/04 rev) on salt.

The issue of salt as a food preservative was raised e.g. in meat products and it was agreed that while a small amount was necessary much was added purely for taste and levels could be reduced. Concern was also expressed about the many products which consumers might not realise had high salt levels such as bottled waters (some of which had particularly high levels).

Concern was raised about the format of the FSA salt leaflet, the front cover of which some members thought might imply you needed salt ‘for a healthy heart’. Mark Ainsley thanked members for their feedback and emphasised that the FSA salt campaign was much wider and involved TV adverts as well as advertising on billboards and buses. He also said that FSA was evaluating the impact of the campaign with its ‘Sid the slug’ character. They believed children were understanding the message.

It was suggested that Foodaware write to FSA to congratulate them on their action on salt to date and encourage them to continue to take action to reduce salt levels both immediately and over a sustained period of years. FSA should be responsible for auditing and regulating salt reduction claims. FSA should warn the food industry that, if voluntary methods to reduce levels proved to be ineffective, then legislation might be used.

A number of specific comments were made, and amendments agreed, on the draft Foodaware paper particularly on the recommendations.

Action: Finalise paper, circulate for final agreement and disseminate as widely as possible. Write to FSA with feedback on the salt campaign.

6. EU Organic Action Plan - draft paper (CFG 18/04)

Ann introduced the paper and said that it had already been give to Defra and the European Economic and Social Committee for use in on-going discussions. Once finalised it would be sent to selected UK MEPs.

She explained that the EU regulation imposed a minimum standard but that member states might have their own national or privately run standards that were higher. One issue was how to encourage greater harmonisation. The EU had proposed greater use of the EU organic logo.

A number of recommendations were set out in the draft Foodaware paper:

that higher standards should be able to co-exist alongside the EU standards;
that the rural development programme should be used to support organic farming at national level;
that particular support should be set aside for organic farming;
that incentives to integrate the production chain in order to facilitate marketing and distribution should be used - but with the clear aim of reducing the price premium;
that transitional periods for non-organic elements should be ended (and not continued until 2010);
that there was a need to complete and further harmonise standards including for aquaculture and wines;
that an expert panel should be established, including consumer representation, in order to ensure public confidence;
that products labelled as containing gmos should not be labelled as organic;
· that a process of equivalency recognition should be used to increase access to imports. The Commission should examine ways of narrowing differences between the EU, Codex and IFOAMs standards.

Members commented that the rules could be relaxed due to weather conditions and that certain chemicals were allowed. They emphasised the role of extensification and CAP reform and the need for food in general to contain fewer artificial chemicals.

Action: It was agreed that the paper should be circulated on the list-serve for final agreement and then distributed.

7. Campylobacter (CFG 19/04)

Ann introduced the draft paper. This commented on the FSA strategy on Campylobacter in chickens and included a goal of a 50% reduction in current levels. She suggested the Foodaware comments might be integrated into a larger paper on zoonoses.

The paper stressed the need for a tough approach to what is a serious public health problem. It argued that the FSA should enforce the existing Food Safety Act more vigorously and also that the prevalence of Campylobacter in the UK flock should be more systematically measured (possibly using CAP funding).

Members asked whether CAP funding for this was realistic. It was thought unlikely but the UK did have some CAP money at its disposal that could be used. It was also suggested that it would be useful to compare the experiences of other countries on controlling this disease. More data should be in the public domain about the level of the problem. Ann agreed to look into what EU data was available.

Members expressed concern about whether the FSA leaflet and poster etc, aimed at the farming community, would attract their attention and felt the language should be simplified. It could be distributed through relevant channels such as regional offices of the NFU and young farmers’ groups. Electronic tagging of poultry was suggested. John Godfrey knew of a microbiologist who might be prepared to comment on the paper.

ACTION: Members were invited to send further comments to Ann. The paper would be amended accordingly.

8. Strategy on Allergens

Ann introduced the draft paper. This commented on the FSA allergens strategy. She said that Foodaware had contributed to the on-going debate with its previous paper on food allergens and labelling. There was concern that the new EU legislation, while an improvement, fell short of what was needed especially in the areas of emerging allergens, non pre-packed foods and in catering. Catering was a particularly complicated area. Consumers should be able to find out what exactly was in the food being offered. However, not many caterers would be willing to guarantee no cross-contamination.

Members agreed that much greater awareness of the problem and range of possible allergies was needed in the catering sector including better training. Foodaware also supported greater input from enforcement officers e.g. carrying out surveys to check whether meals requested to be nut-free etc were so.

Ann mentioned that the FSA wanted to target teenagers in this campaign and would welcome any ideas from Foodaware. Suggestions included contacting Girl Guiding and Trish Thompson of the NFWI who had set up a website for teenagers.

There was a request for the ‘may contain’ paragraph to be clarified. Katy Waters asked to include the possible effects of maternal diet, breast-feeding and general hygiene levels in the home and local environment that might influence the incidence of allergies.

Action: Members were invited to send further comments to Ann in order that the paper could be developed.

9. Involving the wider membership in the nutrition labelling debate

Ann introduced this item and explained a draft questionnaire on nutrition and labelling (CFG 20/04) had been circulated as agreed at the last meeting. It was intended as a way of collecting feedback from Foodaware’s wider membership based on the key issues to be resolved concerning nutrition labelling. For example, which ingredients to highlight, what wording or symbols could be used etc. Once the details of what to include were agreed, it would be properly set out and distributed to members to be circulated within their organisations. Members would decide how best this could be done within their own organisations e.g. it could be discussed at a local branch meeting.

Feedback from the membership would inform Foodaware’s policy and, in turn, used to try and influence the FSA’s and EU policy on this issue. Foodaware was lobbying for nutrition labelling to be given priority under the forthcoming UK Presidency of the EU.

Members were invited to comment on the draft. It was agreed that it needed a strong and clear introduction that explained its context. It should ensure that respondents were the main shopper in the household. Also that professional advice (perhaps from NCC or Which?) should be sought on its overall structure so that it would lead to the collection of meaningful data. The completed questionnaires would be analysed via professional software. Following a discussion about how much information was needed about the profile of respondents, it was agreed that each member organisation was already familiar with its own membership base.

Action: Members should forward any further feedback on the content of the questionnaire to Ann Davison via the list-serve. A revised draft would be produced and members given another opportunity to comment before distribution.

10. Any other business

a) TSE amendment regulation

It was noted that a consultation was out on this (deadline 1 February 2005) and that Foodaware should respond. It was agreed that John Godfrey and Barbara Saunders should, if possible, assist with the drafting.

b) FSA Review

It was noted that the FSA was approaching its fifth birthday (set up in April 2000) and that the Agency’s Board had commissioned an independent review of its performance. It was suggested that Foodaware could carry out its own ‘audit’ of FSA from a consumer perspective - assessing to what extent consumer priority issues had been taken on and to what effect.

c) Crimp packaging

Ann informed members that there had been an FSA consultation on a proposed amendment to the food labelling regulations concerning flour confectionary pack in crimp cases or in wholly transparent packaging that would no longer be exempt from labelling legislation. Members might wish to check this as it could affect food wrapped for sale e.g. at WI markets etc.

d) 2005 meeting dates:

Susan asked members to note Foodaware’s 2005 meetings:

Thursday, 3 February
Thursday, 28 April
Thursday, 21 July
Thursday, 24 November

The meeting closed at 4.00 pm