Author: Peacock Carter

Scotland’s international exports for food and drink has increased by £275 million to £5.5 billion in 2016.

The rise revealed in National Statistics Publication: Export Statistics Scotland (ESS) 2016 has been driven by strong whisky exports (£4.0 billion in 2016). The manufacture of food and beverages continues to be the largest industry for international exports in Scotland.

International food and drink exports to the EU are up by £70 million (3.5%), however overall, export figures to the EU and the rest of the UK reduced, the latter largely due to the downturn in the oil and gas sector, as well as in energy related exports following the closure of Longannet power station. The oil and gas sector has now stabilised with activity beginning to increase.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said:
“It is encouraging to see that international exports continue to increase for Scottish businesses.

“Our Food and Drink sector is performing particularly well and as we implement our Trade & Investment Strategy and the outcome of the Enterprise & Skills Review we must now take the lessons that have been learned growing food and drink exports and encourage other sectors to follow their lead. It is encouraging to see increasing international interest in our professional and scientific services.

“These figures do, of course, cover a year of considerable uncertainty with the EU Referendum, the downturn in the oil and gas sector and the closure of Longannet – all of which have had an impact on these historic figures. However it is clear that if the UK Government continues in its plan to withdraw from the European single market and the customs union, putting barriers in the way of international exports, that our economy could be severely damaged in future.

“As part of our efforts to boost Scotland’s export performance in any circumstance we have appointed Trade Envoys to champion Scottish interests at home and abroad, we’re continuing to enhance the SDI presence in Europe and we’re establishing new international innovation and investment hubs.

“And we will continue to push to remain in, at least, the single market and customs union and retain and rebuild the relationships Scottish businesses have in Europe.”

A majority of Scots support plans to restrict supermarket price offers on unhealthy junk food, a poll has found.

The survey for Cancer Research UK found calls for the Scottish Government to restrict price promotions for fatty, sugary and salty food were supported by 62% of adults in Scotland.

The survey also found that two thirds of Scots are worried about their weight or the weight of a family member. It also found 82% of Scots said supermarket deals which offered extra items for free encouraged people to buy unhealthy food.

The charity said obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking and support strong action.

Restrictions are part of the Government’s diet and obesity strategy to help people lose weight.

A consultation on the plans, which would also see the broadcast of TV adverts for unhealthy food banned before the 9pm watershed will be debated on 1 February in Scottish Parliament.

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s cancer prevention expert, said: “This survey shows that obesity is a worry for all of us – and with good reason. Obesity is linked to 13 different types of cancer.

“When we stock our cupboards with cheap chocolate, crisps and biscuits, we are getting far more than we bargained for. Obesity costs us dearly and this survey tells us the public want action.

“On World Cancer Day, we hope politicians will unite to call time on obesity in Scotland. In the fight against obesity, laws to restrict the tempting junk food deals that are at the heart of Scotland’s poor diet will be crucial.

“The evidence for action keeps piling up. We must do much more to make sure the pounds don’t keep piling on.”

The YouGov poll surveyed 1037 Scottish adults in early December.

A final report into the investigation into carbon dioxide (CO₂) leaks into homes in the former mining village of Gorebridge in Midlothian has been published.

In recent years there have been many reports of new construction products with innovative properties, such as very high-strength concrete, selfcleaning windows and novel insulation materials. Many of these products are facilitated by nanotechnology: technological advances in electron microscopes have enabled the study and manipulation of matter at an atomic level. This new science has supported acceleration in the development of new products. It has been suggested that nanomaterials might account for up to half of our building materials by 2025.

However, concerns have been raised that some nanomaterials may be hazardous due to the presence of very small particles. There have also been similarities observed between some nanomaterials and asbestos fibres.

The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has recently published a report based on research by a team of Loughborough University researchers on nanotechnology safety. The research was carried out to improve understanding of how nanomaterials are being used in construction and what health risks might arise for those constructing or, in the future, refurbishing or demolishing buildings. A supplementary guide has also been developed for health and safety practitioners and industry stakeholders on how to minimise any risks.

The full report and supplementary guidance can be found here.

On 11 January, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced a 25-year plan to "nurture" the environment, referring to it as a "national plan with international ambitions".

The Policy Paper titled “A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment”, sets out goals and targets under environmental themes such as clean air, minimising waste, enhancing biosecurity and reducing the risks of harm from environmental hazards.

The primary focus of the plan has been centred around reducing plastic waste and has set the goal to eradicate all avoidable plastic waste in the UK by 2042.

In addition, supermarkets will be urged to introduce "plastic-free" aisles while taxes and charges on single-use items such as takeaway containers will be considered.

However, the plan also focuses on more than plastic waste and other polices in the plan include:

·      Cracking down on fly-tippers and waste criminals

·      Publishing a Clean Air Strategy

·      Minimising the risk of chemical contamination in our water

·      Tackling climate change

·      Helping primary schools create nature-friendly grounds

·      Creating more green infrastructure

·      Planting more trees in and around our towns and cities

In her speech, Theresa May said: "We look back in horror at some of the damage done to our environment in the past and wonder how anyone could have thought that, for example, dumping toxic chemicals into rivers was ever the right thing to do."

She called plastic waste "one of the great environmental scourges of our time", adding: "In the UK alone, the amount of single-use plastic wasted every year would fill 1,000 Royal Albert Halls."

The Policy Paper has received both a warm welcome and wide criticism for not going far enough.

The Independent lead with a headline asking whether the policy is ‘fundamentally flawed’ because it provides little in the way of legislation to back up ambition.

Others, such as the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) saw the 25-year plan as a potential turning point which would allow us to restore the environment rather continuing to destroy it.

Friends of the Earth's welcomed a long-term vision but called for urgent action now, and Greenpeace called for a detailed 25-month plan, rather than a 25-year vision.

A UK-wide prohibition on the use of plastic microbeads in the manufacture of some cosmetic and personal care products has come into effect. The ban initially prohibits the manufacture of such products and then a ban on sales will follow in July.

These tiny pieces of plastic are added to rinse-off products such as face scrubs, toothpastes and shower gels. The small spherical beads, designed to help with exfoliation are washed down the drain and often slip through waste-water treatment plants which then end up in the seas.

The government has been convinced to act after growing concern over the impact of these tiny plastic beads on marine life as they do not degrade over time and can transport toxic chemicals into marine organisms. The UK government first pledged to ban plastic microbeads in September 2016, following a United States ban in 2015.

Pressure is now mounting for action on plastic bottles as they make up a third of the plastic litter in the seas. In December, the UK’s environmental audit committee (EAC) of MPs called for a deposit return scheme, which has successfully increased recycling rates in other countries.

Mary Creagh MP, Environmental Audit Committee chair, said: “The microbead ban is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done. Since we called for a ban, my committee has also recommended the deposit return scheme, a latte levy for plastic-lined coffee cups and reforms to make producers responsible for their packaging. We look forward to hearing the government’s response.”

The Prime Minister, Theresa May tweeted: “In 2015 we introduced the 5p charge on plastic carrier bags, we now see 9bn fewer bags being used. It’s making a real difference. We want to do the same with single use plastics. Nobody who watched #BluePlanet2 will doubt the need for us to do something – and we will.”

A food business operator of a takeaway in Aberdeen has been prosecuted and fined for food hygiene offences.

Mohammed Kioum who runs Get Stuffed on Market Street pled guilty to six charges and was sentenced at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 8 January 2018. The charges related to failure to comply with hygiene improvement notices under Regulation 6(2) of the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and contravention and failure to comply with any specified Community provision under Regulation 17(1) of the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006. These specifically referred to an incomplete and unimplemented food safety management system, equipment disrepair, poor cleaning standards and inadequate personal hygiene.

The notices were served following initial visits by Aberdeen City Council Environmental Health Officers in February and June 2016. On the revisits in August 2016 and again in January 2017 they discovered that the notices had not been complied with.

During the visits they noticed poor personal hygiene and on one occasion witnessed an employee preparing food without washing their hands after having handled money. On all occasions the premises had inadequate cleaning standards.

Representing Mr Kioum, defence lawyer Chris Maitland said his client had attempted to carry out the improvements. He said: “He has now provided the relevant training to his staff.”

Sheriff, Andrew Miller said: “It is very important that anyone responsible for the running of businesses which serves food to members of the public is aware of and complies with hygiene provisions.

“I take account of the fact you have no prior convictions and no record of breaches of this legislation.”

Mr Kioum was fined £300 each for two charges, totalling £600. He was admonished and dismissed for the other four charges

Aberdeen City Council’s policy is to prosecute if a hygiene improvement notice is not complied with. Prosecution reports are very time consuming but in this case it has proven to be worthwhile and demonstrates that poor food hygiene standards will not be tolerated.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has launched its new food safety campaign aimed at encouraging good food safety practices in the home, and raising awareness of how changes to our preparation and cooking behaviour can reduce the likelihood of getting food poisoning.

The campaign highlights 20 common ‘kitchen crimes’ which could potentially lead to food poisoning. A recent survey for FSS has shown that people in Scotland only follow 11 out of 20 food safety practices on average.

There are estimated to be around 43,000 estimated cases of foodborne illness in Scotland annually, so the importance of good food safety hygiene in the home should not be overlooked.

The campaign features tongue-in-cheek creative posters of everyday people holding up a food crime mug shot board. You can find out if you are a “Ham Sniffer”, “Dodgy Chiller” or “Chicken Washer” or one of the other 20 “Kitchen Crimes” by completing the online quiz. You might be committing more crimes than you think!

The campaign is being supported by Lidl, Tesco, Mumsnet, Dads Rock, Parenting Across Scotland and Scottish local authorites. The campaign will run from 10 January to 31 January. 

Scottish MSP Kate Forbes has officially launched her Final Straw campaign which calls on Scottish and UK Governments to ban plastic straws.

The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch is highlighting the damage caused by single-use disposable plastic items to both onshore and marine environment in Scotland.

Items such as plastic straws can take up to 500 years to decompose, despite only being used for less than half an hour. It is estimated that in Scotland £3 billion straws every year are thrown out, based on US estimates of people using an average of 1.6 straws per day every year.

Ms Forbes wants to see the use of plastic straws banned but stressed: “Any ban has got to be UK-wide because the sea does not respect country borders and plastic straws washed out to sea in the south of England could easily end up on the Highland coastline.

“That’s why my campaign calls on both the UK and Scottish governments to crack down on plastic straws as part of an overall strategy to ban single-use, disposable items such as cotton buds and throwaway cutlery where environmentally-friendly alternatives exist.”

She also called on pubs and restaurants to “stop handing out straws automatically and to only provide biodegradable alternatives” – saying the pub chain Wetherspoons had already done so.

Ullapool recently became what it believed to be the first village in the UK to halt the use of plastic straws in all bars, restaurants and cafés after a campaign by school pupils.

Marine Conservation Society has given support for the campaign. Scotland conservation officer Catherine Gemmell said: “It is fantastic to see MSP Kate Forbes call for a ban on plastic straws as they are one of the many single-use plastic items that we find rising in numbers on our beaches, in our seas and impacting our wildlife.

“A straw is only used for minutes, yet will remain in the environment and our oceans for hundreds of years to come.

A Scottish government spokeswoman said it would be “appointing an expert panel to advise on the use of charges and other measures to reduce use of single-use items, which will help towards our ambitious target of reducing all waste by 15% by 2025.”

She added: “With the support of this panel, we will consider the range of ways we could reduce use of throwaway items like plastic straws that are littering our land and seas.
“We all have a role to play in this and we would encourage people to think about whether they need to use such items.”

From January 2018 Irn Bru will contain approximately 50% less sugar.

The move is part of a sugar-reduction programme by AG Barr before the Soft Drinks Industry Levy comes into effect in 2018.

Regular Irn Bru sugar content will reduce from 10.3g to 4.7g per 100 millilitres. This will reduce the calorie count per can from just under 140 to about 66.

Regular Irn Bru will still remain a sugary drink but will now be blended with a mix of low calorie sweeteners including aspartame, a source of phenylalanine.

A spokesperson from A.G. Barr said: "From January 2018 Irn Bru will continue to be made using the same secret Irn Bru flavour essence, but with less sugar.

"The vast majority of our drinkers want less sugar in their Irn Bru so that's what we're now offering.

"We know that our loyal drinkers love Irn Bru for its unique great taste and we've worked hard to deliver this.

"We ran lots of taste tests that showed most people can't tell the difference – 9 out of 10 regular Irn Bru drinkers told us we had a good or excellent taste match.

"Most shoppers can expect to buy Irn Bru with reduced sugar from later this month. Give it a try when it comes out."

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy is a key part of the government’s childhood obesity strategy, and was first announced at Budget 2016. The tax will see firms to pay extra tax on drinks containing more than 5g of sugar per 100 millilitres.

The new tax would see the North Lanarkshire drinks firm paying an extra 24p tax for every litre of original recipe juice they produce.

It was originally estimated that tax would, in its first year, raise £520m a year. Though a year later the estimate dropped to £400m after soft drinks companies started to cut sugar.

Correction- Glasgow among UK’s most polluted town and cities in UK

Following a news article titled “Glasgow among UK’s most polluted town and cities in UK” published on 19^th December, REHIS would like to make the following correction.

Although the information was taken from a recent report published by the Royal College of Physicians and Lancet Countdown it was discovered after our publication that the data presented related to measurements taken three/four years ago.

Indeed, in the last three/four years the PM measurements in Glasgow have shown a distinct improvement and has for the past few years met all WHO targets and Scottish objectives for PM10 and PM2.5.  All Glasgow’s air quality reports are available here.

In addition, it has been noted that there are issues with the data comparison. The data which was taken from World Health Organisation’s (WHO) ambient air database compared a single kerbside monitoring location in Glasgow against various locations elsewhere which could be roadside, urban background. Therefore, it would be inaccurate for a single reading from one city to then be compared against an average value derived from other non-comparable locations in another city.

As mentioned in the previous article, Scotland was the first country in Europe to pass legislation based on WHO guidelines on safe levels of PM2.5s.

Glasgow will also be the first city in Scotland to introduce a low emission zone by 2018. The Scottish Government is also working with other local authorities to introduce other low emissions zones in each of the four biggest cities by 2020 and then to all other air quality management areas where necessary by 2023.

REHIS apologise for publishing this inaccuracy and is grateful for the opportunity to highlight the error in the previous article. 

A new study has found that Scottish pupils are eating “out of school” foods high in fat, saturated fat and salt at lunchtime.

The study published by BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health Journal examined the food retail environment around five secondary schools in Glasgow. The pupils purchasing behaviour in local shops was observed by researchers.

Samples of the most popular foods were then purchased by the researchers and assessed for nutritional content, including energy, total and saturated fat, and salt. This was compared with the nutrient standards for school lunches established by the Scottish Government.

The number of outlets within a 10 minute walk from each school ranged from five to 30. The outlets included fish and chip shops, kebab shops, convenience stores, newsagents, bakeries, mobile catering units, cafés, pizzerias, sandwich shops and supermarkets.

Nutritional analysis of 45 savoury food items purchased was conducted by laboratory staff. The analysis found four-fifths of the foods purchased by secondary school pupils contained either too much fat, saturated fat or salt.

In addition, of the foods analysed, 58% exceeded total fat recommendations, 64% exceeded saturated fat recommendations and 42% had too much salt. 49% of the samples exceeded the recommended calorie intake of 664 calories, with the worst offenders being a doner kebab and chips containing 1,314 calories per portion.

Lunchtime offers and other marketing strategies targeting school pupils were observed at most outlets and found that meal deals and promotions of unhealthy foods aimed at pupils were widely available.

The number of secondary pupils taking school meals is declining and almost two-thirds buy their lunch outside the school grounds. The study remarked: “Observers noted a brisk exodus from the school grounds by pupils when the lunchtime bell rang.”

The study, led by Dr Anne Ellaway, of the Medical Research Council’s Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at Glasgow University, backed a crackdown on fast food and other outlets.

“There is ample opportunity for school pupils to purchase oversized energy dense products that are high in fat and salt during their school lunchtime break,” it said.

“This study provides clear evidence regarding the adverse impacts on pupils’ health and wellbeing of leaving school at lunchtime to purchase off-site food and highlight the need for greater availability of healthy, tasty, low cost food in external outlets.

“The maintenance and promotion of strict nutritional standards in relation to school based food and drinks are unlikely to bear fruit when such grossly unhealthy options are available and promoted just beyond the school gate.”

In 2016, 65 per cent of adults aged 16 and over were overweight, including 29 per cent who were obese. Almost one-third (29 per cent) of children aged between two and 15 were at risk of being overweight or obese.

The study recommended the use of “licensing and planning powers to limit the number and concentration of commercial outlets selling unhealthy food in local neighbourhoods and near schools”.

It added: “Public health action needs to take place across educational, commercial, and local authority boundaries as well as through engagement and awareness raising work with parents and pupils.”

Several councils did previously introduce a ban on snack vans close to schools.

But North Lanarkshire Council last year lost a court battle over its ban after a group of burger van owners argued it conflicted with their human rights and those of their customers. The ban was deemed unlawful at a civil hearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court.