Author: Peacock Carter

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.

Lorrainne MacGillivray has recently been installed as the Institute’s President.

Lorrainne who is Manager of Regulatory Services at Stirling Council has had several roles with REHIS including member of Southern Centre Management Committee since 2005, Chairman of the Examinations and Training Committee from 2013-2015 and is currently Chairman of the Management Committee.

Commenting on her recent post, Lorrainne MacGillivray said “It is a huge honour to be elected to this post by the membership and I look forward to serving the members over the next twelve months. I also look forward to working with the Institute’s many partners in local and central government, and in the wider community. 

The successful delivery of Environmental Health and ensuring the effective protection of the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland through education, training and qualifications is of paramount importance to the Institute.”

Lorrainne has also sent a Christmas wish to all members which can be accessed here.

A study published by the British Medical Journal found that air pollution from road traffic is putting the health of unborn babies at risk and is linked to low birth weight.

A team led by the Imperial College London carried out the research in London but stressed the findings can be applied to other cities in the UK and further afield in Europe. They also stressed that environmental health policies aimed at reducing road traffic could reduce the burden of low birth weight, small for gestational age and subsequent lifelong morbidity.

The Researchers used national registers to study more than 540,000 births in Greater London between 2006 and 2010 and estimated average monthly concentrations of traffic-related pollutants mother’s home address at the time of birth.

They found they found the risk of a low birth weight increased by between two and six per cent for in area associated with higher traffic-related air pollutants. There was also a one to three per cent increase in the odds of the baby being small for gestational age.

The study authors concluded: “The findings suggest that air pollution from road traffic in London is adversely affecting foetal growth”.

The study also found no evidence that exposure to road traffic noise was linked to birth weight but the authors said they “cannot rule out that an association might be observed in a study area with a wider range of noise exposures”.

5 energy saving things to do before the Christmas break from Resource Efficient Scotland

If you’re one of the lucky businesses that will be working reduced hours over the holidays, or closing your doors for a well-deserved holiday fortnight, check out these top energy-savings tips from the team at Resource Efficient Scotland. By planning in a little time to do these final checks around your premises before you leave, you can relax in the knowledge that you’re not wasting energy or money while you are away, and that you’re doing your bit for the environment. 

Energy Saving Checklist:

1.         Turn off and unplug electrical equipment

2.         Turn off lighting

3.         Adjust heating controls

4.         Check your kitchen and canteen

5.         Turn off taps

In a report prepared jointly by environmental analysts Eunomia and the European Environmental Bureau analyses recycling data from around the world to compare municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling rates as equally as possible in order to explore best practice.

MSW is made up of everyday items that are thrown out by the public at home or on the go. 

The best performing country was Germany with a recycling rate of 66.1 per cent followed by Wales at 63.8 per cent. Scotland came in 15^th at 46.3 per cent, above England in 18^th place at 42.8 per cent and Northern Ireland in 20th place at 41.8 per cent.

The report reveals that based on recent MSW recycling increases Wales is set to knock Germany off the top spot next year. Wales has set itself a target to be zero waste by 2050.

‘It’s important to note this research has been carried out so we can identify who the real leaders in recycling are, to share best practice by shining a spotlight on what these countries are doing,’ said report author and Eunomia Managing Consultant Rob Gillies.

‘We also hope that this will help progress the debate on how best to measure ‘real’ recycling, in line with the principles of the waste hierarchy, in a way that is as consistent as possible within Europe and further afield,’ 

Countries that made it into the top 10 had recycling rates of more than 50%. There were key themes and policies shared by those countries doing well on recycling. These include: 

• Mandatory separate collection of key dry recyclable materials.
• Mandatory separate collection of bio waste.
• Statutory targets for rates of recycling or the reduction of unrecycled waste.
• Pay-as-you-throw charges.
• Producer responsibility schemes, where producers fund the collection of key recyclables.
• Taxes on landfill.
• Deposit refund systems.

The Scottish Government has set a target of recycling 70% of all waste by 2025.

New research on UK pollution published by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and Lancet Countdown collaboration shows that out of 51 UK cities listed in the World Health Organization ambient air pollution database, 44 UK cities are in breach of the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for air quality.

WHO’s recommended limit value for particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5) is 10 micrograms per cubic metre of air. But in numerous UK cities and towns annual average levels are higher.

Glasgow has emerged as one of cities with the highest levels of PM2.5s in the country, with a concentration of 16 micrograms per cubic metre. The seaside town of Prestonpans in East Lothian also had high levels, with 12 micrograms per cubic metre – higher than in cities such as Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Inverness. London and Leeds both had 15 micrograms of the particles in every cubic metre-sized parcel of air, while Cardiff, Oxford and Birmingham had 14 and Manchester 13.

In addition, 13 out of the 51 UK cities in the WHO’s ambient air pollution database exceeded the WHO’s recommendation for PM10 of 20 micrograms per cubic metre. Glasgow again emerged as one of cities with the highest levels of PM10s, with 23 micrograms per cubic metre.

The authors acknowledged that European Union air quality guidelines were far less stringent than those of the WHO, with an upper safety limit for PM2.5s of 25 micrograms per cubic metre. However, they claim WHO limits represent a “safer threshold”.

The research notes the need for national action to tackle air quality. In 2016, along with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the RCP estimated that ambient air pollution causes 40,000 premature deaths, over 6 million sick dates and an estimated social cost of £22.6 billion per year.

The Scottish government said Scotland was the first country in Europe to pass legislation based on WHO guidelines on safe levels of PM2.5s.

A spokesman added: "We recognise the link between air quality and public health, which is why we announced earlier this month that Glasgow will be the first city in Scotland to introduce a low emission zone by 2018.

"We are also working with local authorities to introduce low emission zones in each of our four biggest cities by 2020, and in all other air quality management areas where necessary by 2023."

In September, the Scottish government announced a target to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles in Scotland by 2032. 

A reminder to members that 2017 CPD returns should now be sent to the REHIS office for scrutiny. For those wishing to remain Chartered or who are progressing towards it, the deadline for doing a written submission and providing CPD records for 2017 is 31 January 2018. Entries must be signed and corroborated by a senior colleague or by supporting evidence.  Further details are available from the Institute’s office. Guidance and briefing note can also be found here.

Five companies face charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act following an outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Edinburgh.

The outbreak in 2012 saw four people die and 92 cases identified. The source of the outbreak was never identified and the Crown ruled at the time there was no evidence to justify any prosecution.

The charges are connected to alleged breaches of health and safety regulations and are unrelated to the deaths.

North British Distillery, Macfarlan Smith, Ashland Industries, Pera Services and Chemtech Consultancy are accused of exposing people to the risk of legionnaires between 2009 and 2013.

It is alleged the companies failed to ensure the safety of employees and members of the public from the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria from cooling towers at property in Wheatfield Road.

At the city’s Sheriff Court legal representatives of the companies pleaded not guilty to the indictment.

Sheriff Alison Stirling was told the trial could last up to 12 weeks. A further hearing will be held on 25 January next year. No date has been set for the trial.

From 2018, food businesses in Europe will have to take steps to cut down on acrylamide- a carcinogenic chemical produced by food in high temperatures.

The European Commission voted to introduce measures to tackle acrylamide in July this year, pending confirmation from the European Parliament and the European Council. It has now announced that both of these bodies have signed off and new legislation has been published to come into effect in April 2018.

Acrylamide was first discovered in foods as recently as 2002. It forms naturally during high-temperature cooking and processing. This includes frying, roasting and baking, particularly in potato-based products and cereal-based products, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed in 2015 that acrylamide is a carcinogenic substance and that current levels of dietary exposure to it indicate a concern to carcinogenic effects.

Although it is not possible to totally eliminate acrylamide from foods, actions can be taken to try and ensure that levels are as low as reasonably achievable. Food businesses will be required to put in place practical steps to manage acrylamide within their food safety management system under the new EU legislation. The legislation describes practical measures based upon best practice guidance developed by the food industry to mitigate acrylamide formation in a range of foods.

Food Standards Scotland and FSA are working with the British Hospitality Association and other key stakeholders to develop simple guidance which will help the catering and food service sectors comply with new rules.

In addition, the FSA has been undertaking surveillance on acrylamide levels in food products since 2007. The latest surveillance report can be found on the Survey of acrylamide and furan in UK retail products page.

FSA’s advice and more information about the chemical can be found by clicking here.

Revised guidance has been published for businesses on how to improve protections for food and drink supply.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the British Standards Institute have published a revised guide for food businesses on how to improve protections for food and drink supply.

The guide has been published to help provide user-friendly advice to businesses on the steps they can take to strengthen resilience in their operations from a range of potential risks.

The latest version of the Publicly Available Specification guidance titled ‘PAS 96:2017 Guide to protecting and defending food and drink from deliberate attack’ has been jointly sponsored by the FSA and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

It uses risk management strategies which can be adapted to operations of all sizes at different points in the supply chain. It also provides advice on how businesses can detect potential vulnerabilities and the steps that they can take to mitigate them.