Which? invites APA to talks about Food Fraud
The Consumers’ Association Which? magazine recently invited representatives from the Association of Public Analysts, Trading Standards and others involved in monitoring food standards, to a working lunch at its London HQ, to talk about food fraud and labelling.
APA Conference 2009 - Spice, Ice and Rice
The APA Annual Conference was held on 29th to 30th October 2009 at Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne. The programme for the conference is available along with copies of the presentations made
Westminster Hall Adjournment Debate on the Public Analyst Service
The threat to the future of the Public Analyst service was discussed by MPs in Westminster Hall (the UK Parliament’s ‘parallel chamber’) in a 90-minute Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 2 June.
Association submits evidence to Select Committee
The Association has submitted a written memorandum to the House of Commons Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on Securing Food Supplies up to 2050: the Challenges for the UK.
Parliamentary Support for Public Anaysts
Westminster and Holyrood Parliamentarians have called for support for Public Analysts
Tayside Scientific Services Joins RSC Partnership Programme
Tayside Scientific Services has recently joined the RSC Partnership Programme and this fact was suitably highlighted on 13th August when Andrew Scott (RSC Membership Sales & Marketing Manager) visited the laboratory to present the official plaque and certificate to Jane Couper, Head of Service.
APA President to meet Hong Kong Officials
The President of the Association, Alan Richards is to meet a high level delegation of government officials from the Food and Health Bureau (FHB) Hong Kong (http://www.fhb.gov.hk/en/index.html). The meeting will take place on 8th May at the Eurofins Laboratory, Acton, London.
GSS Secures Accreditation for Training Delivery
Glasgow Scientific Services was formally recognised this week by the Royal Society of Chemistry for the training delivery provision to specialist fire and rescue officers and scientific advisers.
APA Welcomes the Creation of the Health Protection Agency’s Food, Water and Environmental Protection Network
The Association is pleased to learn of the creation of the above network within the Health Protection Agency and looks forward to working alongside it in the scientific protection of the health and welfare of the public to problems associated with food, water and the environment.
Glasgow Scientific Services Assist Malawi Water Charity
Glasgow Scientific Services have come to the rescue of “Waterforall” a charity dedicated to the provision of safe drinking water in Malawi.
“Sensational” PA Women in Science!
Jane Couper and Elaine Miller (Dundee Scientific Services) made a presentation at Sensation, Dundee’s science centre, as part of a programme of activities aimed at early secondary school pupils as part of National Science and Engineering Week 2009. This was intended to raise awareness of women’s achievements in science, technology, engineering and maths while also emphasising the important place that public analysts have in public health and safety. In a similar event at the other end of the country Patricia Urwin and a colleague from Bristol Scientific Services presented a practical, interactive workshop at Skirting Science held at Wyvern School in Weston-super-Mare.
Hidden salt in high-street chain restaurant meals
Several public analyst laboratories recently analysed the salt content of 96 popular items on the menus of 16 popular high-street chain restaurants, as part of a survey commissioned by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH)
Do you know what's in your doner kebab? - UK-wide survey reveals the reality
The results of a UK-wide co-ordinated sampling and analysis programme of doner kebabs have just been released and they make disturbing reading, both for the businesses supplying the kebabs and for consumers.
Food safety specialists under threat
The October/December issue of the Food Magazine carries a full page article highlighting the funding cuts facing front line analysis.
Princess Royal Visits Glasgow Scientific Services
The Princess Royal visited Glasgow Scientific Services, one of the largest local authority public analyst laboratories in the United Kingdom, on Friday 7th November 2008. The Princess Royal took the opportunity to meet the staff and witness the huge variety of work that a busy public analyst laboratory deals with on a daily basis
President Meets Chair of FSA Board
The President of the Association, Alan Richards, met Dame Deirdre Hutton, Chair of the FSA Board to discuss the national crisis currently facing provision of public analyst services in the UK. West Yorkshire Joint Services Laboratory was the venue for the meeting and it was hosted by Dr Duncan Campbell, Public Analyst and Mr Graham Hebblethwaite,
APA Conference 2008
APA Conference was held in the Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne from 30-31 October 2008 and had the theme “Wine and Chocolate”.
New Public Analyst takes up post with Worcestershire Scientific Services
Elizabeth Moran has been appointed to the post of Public Analyst & Scientific Advisor at Worcestershire Scientific Services, from August 2008, taking over from Bob and Carol Stevens, who retired at the end of July.
Worcestershire Public Analysts retire
Bob and Carol Stevens, Public Analysts with Worcestershire County Council have retired.
Restaurant counts the cost of beef in lamb dish
Worcestershire County Council has successfully prosecuted a Worcester restaurant for selling lamb meals that contained other meats.
New Laboratory Manager
Nigel Payne has taken up his post as Laboratory Manager with Durham County Council. To learn more about Nigel and his new post
Successful prosecution of supermarket
Elizabeth Moran, Public Analyst for Worcestershire County Council, provides information of a recent prosecution of Morrison's Supermarket for selling fresh fish that was not fresh
“The Truth about Your Food"
APA President, Alan Richards, appeared in Channel 4's 'Dispatches' programme broadcast on Thursday 10th January.
European Commission Inspectors Visit Glasgow Scientific Services Laboratory
Inspectors from the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the European Commission recently visited the laboratories of Glasgow Scientific Services.
Public Analysts attend "Science in Parliament" 2007
Public Analysts from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Tayside attended the latest event of Science in Parliament which was held in "Our Dynamic Earth Centre" in Edinburgh.
President of the APA addresses international Food Symposium in China and Visits Government Chemist Laboratory in Hong Kong
Alan Richards, President of the Association of Public Analysts, was one of only four international speakers invited to address the first International Food Symposium held in Guangzhou on 22 and 23 November. Two other members of the Association, Peter Brown and Michael Walker, also spoke at the symposium. Alan was also invited by the Government Chemist in Hong Kong to speak with staff in the laboratories and share experiences and expertise in food analysis.
New laboratory for Dundee Public Analysts
New laboratory facilities for Dundee's Public Analysts were opened by Professor Hugh Pennington on 12 November.
Two Public Analysts' Laboratories join European Network of GMO Laboratories
Worcestershire Scientific Services and Somerset Scientific Services, have been admitted to the European Network of Genetically Modified Organisms Laboratories following authorisation by the Food Standards Agency.
Egyptian scientists visit Public Analyst Laboratory
Kent Scientific Services hosted a visit by Egyptian Scientists studying analysis of food additives and contaminants.
Yorkshire Public Analyst to help Romanian scientists meet EU requirements
Dr Duncan Campbell of West Yorkshire Scientific Services will be the only UK speaker at an EU-sponsored Workshop on Control Programmes for Food Toxicants in Bucharest.
APA Conference 2007
The Association held its 2007 Annual Conference in Durham on 25 and 26 October. A short account, and copies of a number of the speakers' presentations, are now available.
Loss of two Aberdeen Public Analysts.
Due to a restructuring in Aberdeen City Council, two Public Analysts, who have 54 years service between them, retired on 31st August.
Government Chemist publishes Annual Review of 2006.
The Government Chemist has published his annual review of the year 2006. The review is available on the Government Chemist Website.
President attends Science in the Assembly May 2007.
The President of the Association of Public Analyst, Alan Richards, attended "Science in the Assembly" at the Welsh Assembly.
FSA Publishes Report on Wild and Farmed Fish.
FSA have carried out a survey on fish sold as "Wild". The report, which shows some farmed fish being sold as wild, is now available on the Food Standards Agency Website.
Government Chemist Publishes Report on Chromatographic Methods for Ginkgo Biloba and Echinacea in Food Supplements.
The Government Chemist has published a report on a study of chromatographic methods for Ginkgo Biloba and Echinacea, two popular ingredients in dietary supplements. The report is now available on the Government Chemist Website.
Large Fines for Counterfeit Vodka and Gin.
On the evidence of the Public Analyst, Stockton Borough Council successfully prosecuted a retailer displaying counterfeit Smirnoff Vodka and Gordon's Gin for sale.
Government Chemist Publishes Report on the Analysis of Chondroitin in Supplements.
The Government Chemist has published a report which describes the assessment of the suitability of methods for the analysis of Chondroitin in commercial formulations. The report makes recommendations to address some problems that impinge upon the accuracy and reproducibility of such analyses. The report is now available on the Government Chemist Website.
Dangerous Vodka Detected by Welsh Public Analyst Laboratories.
"Vodka", which appeared to be processed industrial alcohol and contained dangerous methanol, has been found in Wales.
Fish Producer in Court Following Deficiency in Fish Content.
Thistle Seafoods were given a large fine and required to pay costs following sale of fish products deficient in fish.
Public Analyst and Government Chemist Combine to Detect Deficiency is Fish Fingers.
Following and adverse report by a Public Analyst the Government Chemist analysed samples of fish fingers. The findings confirmed the Public Analyst's report of a deficiency in fish content and the trader responsible received two large fines.
Government Chemist Publishes Methods for the Determination of Sudan-I and related dyes.
Following a food contamination incident in 2005 the Laboratory of the Government Chemist carried out a study to develop a reliable method for the determinaiton of Sudan-I and related dyes. The method is now available on the Government Chemist Website.
Government Chemist Completes Study into Methods for the Determination of Folate in Food.
A study into the effects of different extraction techniques on apparent folate content of foods has been completed. An abstract of the findings is available on the Government Chemist Website.
Glasgow Public Analyst Retires.
Dr Charles McDonald, Depute Director Environmental Protection Services and Head of Scientific Services Division of Glasgow City Council, retired on 22 December 2006.
Chairman of The Association of Public Analysts of Scotland Steps Down.
Public Analysts in Scotland are members of a Scottish organisation in addition to the APA. At their recent AGM a presentation was made to the Chairman who is standing down.
Public Analysts and Food Fraud, Item 2.
The New Scientist magazine published an article on food fraud in November. The President of the Association wrote to the magazine expressing concern at the low level of spending on enforcement activity in this important area.
Public Analysts and Food Fraud.
The Times newsaper recently published an article on Food Fraud. A former President of the Association wrote to the paper explaining the Public Analyst role in detecting such fraud and raising concern at the reducing funding for this work.
Public Analysts to Debate Decline of Food Controls in the UK.
The President of the Association has expressed concern over the decrease in the numbers of Public Analysts. Discussions are to be opened early in 2007 to discuss this problem with the Food Standards Agency.
APA Conference 2006, Food Labelling, Supplements & Diet.
The Association of Public Analysts held their 2006 Annual Conference in Aberdeen on the theme "Food Labelling, Supplements & Diet". The Conference Programme and speakers' presentations are available in pdf format.
Public Analysts attend "Science in Parliament".
Public Analysts from around Scotland attended the latest event of Science in Parliament which was held in "Our Dynamic Earth Centre" in Edinburgh. The President of the Association, Alan Richards also offered support to the event by manning the stand for part of the day.
Food Retailers fined £12,000 for "Chicken" with only 76% Meat.
Public Analyst finds "Premium Chicken Breasts" containing only 76% chicken.
New President of the Association of Public Analysts takes up Office.
Alan Richards, Head of Scientific Services for Durham County Council, took over the President's Chain of Office at the Association of Public Analysts Conference in Aberdeen in September.
