International support

A world class resource

Our services are drawn on by companies and governments from across the world. Our work with Kuwaiti authorities provides a good example. Kuwait imports around 85% of its food and assuring the safety of this and domestically produced food is paramount for the authorities. Over several years we have provided extensive technical advisory services to the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in the development of a food control infrastructure for the Kuwait Municipality. This year we created a specification to help the authorities procure a computerised risk assessment and food sampling system to link to a laboratory information management system (LIMS) for efficient data gathering for samples along the import, distribution and testing chain.

The work of C&C Hungary in supporting companies with suppliers in central and Eastern Europe provides another good example. The Hungarian site offers support services in food and drink safety, quality management product development, consumer preference and a range of training activities. Much of this work centres on product quality - through sensory analysis, sensory benchmarking and consumer studies. This is complemented by extensive work on quality management, traceability and safety assurance systems. With regard to HACCP, for example, Budapest has been one of the main venues for a series of twenty 5-day HACCP workshops in Europe, undertaken as part of a new initiative of the European Commission on Better Training for Safer Food. HACCP and other quality management support has also been provided in Europe, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, Brazil, the Philippines and Mauritius.

We also advised extensively on specific aspects of safety, covering microbiological and chemical hazards - the format varying from brainstorming and reviews to specific guidance. Subject matter ranged from foodborne pathogens and allergens to ingredient analysis and sampling methods.

Building on the international reputation of our bakery courses at CCFRA, we are increasingly asked to deliver them overseas to meet the needs of non-UK companies, saving delegates time and companies money. Companies from the UK, Denmark, Mauritius, Egypt, Hungary, Saudi Arabia and China opted for confidential, tailored courses where delegates could openly discuss specific business-critical issues close to the production environment. However, using the process equipment facilities at partner companies - Anchor Yeast in Johannesburg and Odlums in Dublin - enabled us to run open courses covering biscuit, bread and cake technology, fibre in bakery products and 'flour power'. This is in addition to bakery consultancy and training as far afield as Sri Lanka, Mauritius, North America and Saudi Arabia.

In the area of thermal processing we worked with the Thai National Food Institute, as part of the EU Thailand Economic Co-operation Small Project Facility, to deliver training on advanced thermal processing to Thai trainers who will disseminate the expertise through the Thai heat preserved food sector. A course run jointly with Norconserv delivered training in microwave cooking for Norwegian companies. Our international reputation in thermal processing is also reflected by consultancy and support visits to companies in Europe, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and South Africa.

Our support of food laboratories is also international, including advice on good practice and their accreditation to CLAS - the Campden Laboratory Accreditation Scheme. This year saw Turkey and South Africa added to the list of countries where laboratories have achieved CLAS accreditation. This reflects the growing international recognition of CLAS which covers laboratories from Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe to as far afield as the Maldives.