Category: News Item

New guidelines have been published for acrylamide in food by Food Standards Scotland in partnership with SFELC Food Safety and Food Standards Sub Committees. 

The guidelines are intended to help authorised officers with the implementation and interpretation of Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158. 

Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 was published following a full Scientific Opinion produced by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the risks related to the presence of acrylamide in food, and concluded that the current level of acrylamide in food is a concern for public health

The overall aim of the Regulation is to ensure that food businesses put in place steps to mitigate acrylamide formation where practicable to ensure levels in food are As Low As Reasonably Achievable (the ALARA principle) through the application of appropriate mitigation measures by all Food Business Operators (FBOs) along the food chain. 

Acrylamide is a chemical substance formed by a reaction between amino acids and sugars, typically in foods with high starch content, when cooked at high temperatures such as in frying, roasting, toasting and baking. Acrylamide is considered to be a chemical hazard in the food chain and a probable genotoxic carcinogen in humans.

Foods that typically affected are ones that have a high starch content and are cooked at high temperatures such as frying, roasting, toasting and baking. These include French fries, potato crisps, bread and breakfast cereals. 

Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 requires all FBOs to consider chemical contaminant hazards (e.g. acrylamide) within the scope of their Food Safety Management System (FSMS). 

Therefore, Cooksafe has also been updated and now includes an Acrylamide insert to help Food Business Operators identify and reduce acrylamide in products. It is also available in Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Cantonese. 

“Guidelines for Local Authorities on the Implementation of Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158- establishing mitigation measures and benchmarking levels for the reduction of the presence of acrylamide in food” can be accessed here.

The Cooksafe insert can be accessed here.

Environmental Health at East Renfrewshire Council have created a short video in a bid to raise awareness of allergen information requirements for food businesses. 

The video aimed at food businesses and consumers aims to ensure that they are aware of the allergen requirements and they can trust the food they buy and are protected. 

The video can be viewed here.

Clean Air Day Scotland website has now gone live and the toolkits can be downloaded from here. 

Clean Air Day is happening on Thursday 20 June 2019. The website brings together years of experience and expert advice to create lots of free resources which will contribute to the success of Clean Air Day.

At the recent REHIS Annual Environmental Health forum at New Lanark delegates had the pleasure of welcoming Lawson Wight from the Burnright campaign.

Burnright is the national consumer awareness campaign to promote efficient domestic burning.

Many consumers are unaware that the way they use their fuels and fires can make a big difference to air quality. Burnright has created a website with lots of useful information, videos etc. where consumers can learn how to “Get it Right” and make a big difference.

In addition, Burnright has produced an evolving range of materials and resources to help sweeps and solid fuel professionals deliver the right messages.

REHIS president David Duffy said “Lawson’s professional insight and technical awareness gave our delegates an eye opening presentation around wood burning practices. Key messages regarding fuel suitability and the need for correct operation of these units will assist our members when tackling smell and smoke nuisance complaints which they often receive. It is hoped through network sharing that Burnright members across Scotland can be taped into as a technical source of advice for Enforcement Officers throughout Scotland. We are very grateful to Lawson and Burnright for his time and attendance at this year’s Forum.”

Lawson Wight from the campaign said “I was very warmly welcomed by the REHIS team and I’d like to thank them all for the opportunity to present to such an engaged audience. Forging links between EHO’s and solid fuel professionals will really help consumer awareness of efficient domestic burning and air quality. I was particularly grateful for the opportunity to talk to REHIS officers and members at their dinner the night before and I think we all learned a lot.”

He summed up the future potential saying, “Chimney sweeps and fireplace installers engaging with EHO’s have a great opportunity to spread the Burnright messages further and faster. This can make a big difference to local air quality for minimal effort and cost.”

See all the consumer and trade information at www.burnright.co.uk.

Photo: Burnright – REHIS president David Duffy and Burnright’s Lawson Wight at the recent forum

Levels of second-hand smoke in Scotland’s prisons fell by more than 80 percent in the week after smoking was banned, according to new University of Stirling research.

The study confirms the positive impact of the smoke-free policy, introduced in November 2018, on the air quality within Scotland’s 15 prisons. The researchers compared smoke levels to measurements taken in 2016.

The study was led by Stirling’s Institute of Social Marketing (ISM), and involved the University of Glasgow and conducted in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service

Dr Sean Semple, Associate Professor at the ISM said: “We collected more than 110,000 minutes of second-hand smoke measurements from across the prison estate in the week that the smoking ban was introduced – and we compared these readings with measurements taken as part of the Tobacco in Prisons Study (TIPS) research in 2016.

“Our study shows improvements in the levels of second-hand smoke in every prison in Scotland, with an average fall of 81 percent. This is similar to the scale of change observed when pubs became smoke-free in 2006 – and the concentrations of fine particles in prison air has now reduced to levels similar to those measured in outdoor air in Scotland.

“This research confirms that exposure to second-hand smoke has been drastically reduced and, ultimately, this will have a positive impact on the health of prison staff and prisoners.”

Smoking has been banned in most enclosed public spaces in Scotland since 2006, however, prisoners were still permitted to smoke in their cells as long as their doors were closed. This situation changed on November 30, 2018, when smoking was banned in all prisons in Scotland.

It was estimated about 72% of Scottish prisoners smoked regularly before the ban was introduced.

The researchers used air quality monitors to measure fine particulate matter in each prison since 2016 and did so again during the week when the ban came into force.

The results showed that airborne levels of fine particles declined substantially in every prison between 2016 and December 3, 2018, the first full working day following the introduction of the ban. The overall median reduction in particle concentrations was 81 percent across all prisons.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said "All Scottish prisons went smoke-free on November 30 2018, and there have been no significant incidents as a result.

"This amazing achievement is a testament to the contribution made by all of our staff, especially those on the front line, and the cooperation of those in our care."

Debbie Sigerson, Organisational Lead for Tobacco in NHS Health Scotland said: “Smoking rates in prisons were much higher than they are outside. It was anticipated that creating a smoke free environment in prison would contribute to addressing this health inequality, and that the health of people who live and work there would be improved.

“We are delighted that the results from this study, early on in the implementation of smoke free prisons, shows that one factor that impacts on that harm – exposure to second hand smoke – has significantly reduced. Everyone has a right to live in a smoke free Scotland and today’s results show that we are one step further along the way to getting there.”

The study The impact of implementation of a national smoke-free prisons policy on indoor air quality: results from the Tobacco in Prisons Study was published in the British Medical Journal’s Tobacco Control and is the first of its kind to examine second-hand tobacco smoke concentrations across an entire prison estate where smoking is prohibited in all establishments.

Scotland is the first country in the UK to announce its plans for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers.

Scotland’s new Deposit Return Scheme will include aluminium and steel cans as well as drinks containers made of glass and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic with a 20p deposit as part of plans to combat climate change.

The ambitious scheme is based on successful international equivalents and will be widely accessible, with all shops which sell drinks offering deposit refunds to customers.

Consumers will pay a 20p deposit when they buy a drink in a single-use container. The consumers get their deposit back when they return the empty bottle or can. 

The scheme will operate across Scotland from cities to rural areas. Online retailers are also included in the scheme.

All types of drinks and all containers above 50ml and up to three litres in size are included.

Businesses that sell drinks to be opened and consumed on-site, such as pubs and restaurants, will not have to charge the deposit to the public.

There will be two ways you can return your empty container – over the counter, or by using a reverse vending machine (RVM). 

An RVM is a machine that scans containers when they are returned and then refunds your deposit. 

There will be a range of ways you can get your 20p back, for example cash at a till, a token or discount voucher or digitally. The returned containers are stored in the machine and are then collected for recycling.

As well as retailers and hospitality businesses, schools and other community hubs will be able to act as return locations.

Community organisations will also have the opportunity to get involved as collection points. The scheme has been designed to be as accessible as possible to people.

It’s intended that the scheme be run by an independent, privately-run, not-for-profit company. It will be paid for through three sources of funding: unredeemed deposits, revenue from the sale of materials and a producer fee. 

The Scottish Government intends to introduce legislation later this year. Once the regulations are passed by the Scottish Parliament, there will then be an implementation period of at least 12 months before the scheme is up and running. 

An Implementation Advisory Group, comprising industry representatives, has been set up to provide industry input and guidance on delivering an effective scheme, as well as testing assumptions and decisions about how it is delivered.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“Scotland was the first part of the UK to commit to a deposit return scheme as part of our wider efforts to prevent discarded drinks containers from ending up in our streets and seas, and is now the first to outline its design – one that is ambitious in scale and scope, and which gives the people of Scotland a clear and straightforward way to do their bit for the environment.

“There is a global climate emergency and people across Scotland have been calling, rightly, for more ambition to tackle it and safeguard our planet for future generations. I am therefore delighted to confirm that I intend to implement a system covering PET – the most common form of plastic packaging – aluminum and steel cans, and glass, with a deposit refund set at 20p.

“Supported by international evidence our plans for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme are gathering pace with widespread consensus demonstrating that a well-run, appropriately-targeted scheme could improve the environment, change attitudes to recycling and litter, and support a more circular economy.”

For more information about the scheme, please visit the online hub for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme.

The health claims made on the product packaging for a large proportion of foods marketed to children in the UK are 'confusing', and could be contributing to increases rates of childhood obesity, suggests research published online in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

University of Glasgow researchers examined products with child-focused imagery and health and nutrition claims on the product packaging.

332 different products, including breakfast cereals, fruit snacks, fruit-based drinks, dairy products, such as yogurts, and ready meals were assessed, including 41 brands, sold at seven major UK supermarkets between 2016 and 2017. 

The researchers used a scoring system, made up of seven elements — energy; total sugars; saturated fat; salt; fruit/vegetables/nuts; fibre; protein — from the product labelling information, to classify the nutritional quality of foods.

The calculations showed that a large proportion of the products, including those commonly perceived as 'healthy' (41%), were classified as 'less healthy,' by the tool scoring system.

Fruit snacks were found to contain the highest sugar content, averaging 48 g/100 g, but still made the 5-a day claim.

Nearly a quarter of the products, most of which were fruit based drinks and snacks, made 'no added sugars' claims. But half had concentrated juice or fruit puree as the added ingredients.

The researchers write: "Processed fruits are perceived by the public as a healthy natural alternative to added sugars, but because of the breakdown of the cellular structure they potentially have the same negative effect on weight gain as other forms of sugar, which is why they have recently been classified as free sugars in the UK." 

Many products (over 41%) made 5-a day claims, most of which were fruit drinks, ready meals, and fruit snacks. Processed fruit, concentrated fruit juice, or puree appeared as ingredients in nearly half (just over 44%) of these products.

But despite most (82%) of them claiming to contain one portion of fruit or vegetables, three out of four didn't contain the recommended 80 g portion size. And half of the products making 5-a day claims didn't specify whether these were adult or child size portions.

The serving size for most (nearly 95%) fruit-based drinks exceeded the recommended 150 ml limit for fruit juice, yet the fruit and vegetable portions for most products were below the recommended portion size.

The researchers now urge for stricter regulations are needed for food labelling and product content to lessen this risk, urge the researchers.

While steps have been taken to control the advertising to children of products high in fat and sugar, such as sweets, chocolates and sugar sweetened drinks, rather less attention has been paid to other foods carrying product packaging claims suggesting that they contribute to good health/nutrition, say the researchers.

Child-focused marketing techniques, using cartoon characters, toys, games and promotions have long been an advertising staple. However, the researchers note that the use of health and nutrition claims for particular foodstuffs is a more recent trend. They said that when such claims are made, they create a positive impression, a phenomenon known as the 'health halo effect'.

The researchers caution that while they tried to include as representative a sample of products as possible, some may have been missed, and they were obliged to estimate the content of some products in the absence of adequate ingredient information on the packaging.

But the findings indicate that "health and nutrition claims used on product packaging are currently confusing," they say.

"Prepacked foods targeted to children can be consumed as part of a 'balanced and healthy' diet, yet their health and nutrition claims remain questionable. Given the current rising rates of childhood obesity, the consumption of less healthy foods may have long term negative implications on child health." write the researchers.

"Stricter regulations on product composition, food labelling, and marketing techniques are required to discourage the promotion of foods which might be considered obesogenic," they conclude.

Renewable electricity generation in Scotland reached record levels in 2018. The latest figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) show, the equivalent of 74.6% of gross electricity consumption was from renewable sources.

Generation in Scotland was 26,708 GWh, a 6.1% increase on the previous record in 2017. This output of electricity is the equivalent of powering all households in Scotland for more than two-and-a-half years.

The latest statistics also show:

• the growth of Scotland’s renewable electricity capacity continues – rising from 10.0 GW in 2017 to 10.9 GW in 2018
• 2018 saw a big increase in electricity generated via offshore wind, with capacity and generation both more than doubling compared to 2017. Generation increased from 616 GWh in 2017 to 1,369 GWh in 2018. Capacity has increased from 246 MW to 623 MW

Scotland’s Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said:
“These figures show Scotland’s renewable energy sector continues to go from strength to strength. Last year, we were able to meet the equivalent of 74.6% of our electricity demand from renewable sources.

“Last year we saw the growing importance of offshore wind with capacity and generation both more than doubling compared to 2017 – with further projects under construction.

“Despite damaging policy changes from the UK Government since 2015, particularly in terms of impacts on onshore wind, we continue to provide strong support for Scotland’s renewable energy sector. Generation and infrastructure investment continues, not least because of the importance in preventing the damaging impacts of climate change.

“We will ensure the correct strategic decisions are taken to further support this highly valued sector, despite the difficulties created by unhelpful decisions at Westminster.”

The world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) came into force in London on Monday 8 April.

Shortly after it came into operation in London the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, revealed it has already reduced harmful pollution levels.

The Mayor’s office reported that concentrations of roadside N02 have been reduced in the zone by 20% and the scheme, which started on 8 April, is predicted to reduce it by 45% eventually.

The ULEZ is central to London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s plans to improve the health of Londoners by reducing pollution, which has been linked to the early deaths of many people.

Most vehicles driving in the ULEZ will need to meet new, tighter emission standards or pay a daily charge to travel within the area.

Motorists driving older and dirtier vehicles will be charged an extra £12.50 to enter central London. Petrol cars older than 13 years and diesels older than four years will be hit by the levy.

For the first two and a half years the ULEZ will cover the same area as London’s existing congestion charge, but in October 2021 will be expanded to the entirety of the inner city, out to the north and south circular roads.

But unlike the congestion charge, which costs drivers £11.50 between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, the ULEZ levy is in force 24 hours a day.

All vehicle types apart from black taxis are liable for the ULEZ charge unless they meet certain emissions standards or exemptions. Non-compliant lorries, buses and coaches face a £100 daily fee.

The ULEZ will help reduce emissions and it is hoped it will protect Londoners from lung damage, reduce the risk of breathing illnesses and heart disease in adults, and improve the health of people exposed to the highest levels of pollution.

More than 18,000 Londoners responded to the Mayor’s public consultation on ULEZ, with nearly 60 per cent (11,041) strongly supporting the principle of ULEZ.

The ULEZ is one of the many actions being taken to clean up London’s air. It follows action already taken to tackle the most polluting cars and improvements to London’s bus and taxi fleet including:

• ensuring all new double-decker buses are hybrid, hydrogen or electric from 2018.
• bringing in 12 low emission bus zones in some of London’s worst polluted ‘hotspots’ by the end of 2019.
• upgrading 5,000 older buses to be ultra low emission by October 2020.

The ULEZ is expected to contribute to improved air quality for people in London and reduce exhaust Nitrogen Oxide emissions by up to 45%.

British Heart Foundation has it welcomed the new vehicle charging zone and urges other cities to follow, the charity’s chief executive, Simon Gillespie said: “The ULEZ will help reduce the levels of dangerous pollutants in the air Londoners breathe and crucially, it will help to protect the health of the most vulnerable people across the capital,”

“Air pollution is a major threat to the UK’s health, and contributes to thousands of heart attacks and strokes every year. BHF-funded research has shown that tiny particles emitted from diesel vehicles can enter our bloodstream and silently damage our heart and circulatory systems.

“We now need to see other cities across the UK following suit, and more ambitious plans put in place nationally and locally to ensure that everyone gets the right to breathe air that won’t harm them. We need to see this action as soon as possible, beginning with the adoption of World Health Organisation (WHO) air pollution limits into UK law.”

Anstruther beach in Fife was closed to the public at the start of the Easter weekend as Scottish Water worked to contain a sewage spill. This was the second time in the space of a week that access to the beach was restricted due to a spill.

On 15 April, people were told to avoid the beach and water on the beach near Castle Street and Shore Street after sewage leaked on to the beach as a result of a privately-owned drainage system being blocked by wet wipes.

The beach was reopened again on Wednesday, but on Friday afternoon Fife Council confirmed the problem had resurfaced and the decision had been made by Environmental health Team to close the beach again as a precaution.

Linda Turner, service manager for environmental health at the council, said: “Unfortunately, environmental health have had to take the decision, as a precaution, to again close the beach at Anstruther.

“The closure is in the vicinity of Castle Street and Shore Street.

“Investigations are ongoing to find a permanent solution to this drainage problem, and we will continue to work with partnership agencies and landowners to achieve this.

“Scottish Water are in attendance and will be carrying out some essential remedial works, as quickly as possible.”

The incident has involved a response from Environmental Health at Fife Council, Scottish Water as well as NHS Fife Public Health, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Food Standards Scotland and Health Protection Scotland.

Signs were put up advising people to avoid contact with the beach and water, not to eat fish or shellfish from the shore and to wash hands and footwear.

On Friday, Scottish Water could not confirm when the beach would reopen and members of the public were advised to check Fife Council’s social media pages for updates.

East Neuk and Landward Conservative councillor Linda Holt said: “It’s extremely disappointing to learn that the problems at Anstruther beach have not been sorted out so it is at risk of being closed over the Easter weekend when visitors will be flocking to the harbour and beach to enjoy its delights.

“I welcome the multi-agency approach and I hope a full report will be brought to the area committee in due course about Anstruther’s drainage and sewer infrastructure.

“It is a perennial problem, and as business grows in the town, and extreme weather events increase, we need to make sure our infrastructure can cope.”

Thursday June 20, 2019, marks Clean Air Day (CAD) – a red letter day for air quality

That’s when people and organisations will come together across Scotland for the annual event to raise awareness of the difference we can all make to the air we breathe.

Environmental Protection Scotland (EPS), is once again coordinating Clean Air Day on behalf of the Scottish Government’s Cleaner Air For Scotland (CAFS) strategy. The CAFS strategy aims to make Scotland’s air quality the best in Europe.

CAD 2019 will showcase simple, but effective steps we can all take to reduce pollution and recognise the health benefits of smarter travel choices.

Road transport contributes to around a third of NO_X emissions in Scotland and one of the aims will be to encourage people to leave the car at home.

Ways in which local authorities can get involved include:

• Getting people to sign pledge cards which will soon be available for download from the Clean Air Day Scotland website to catch a train, bus, the Subway, tram or bicycle (or even a combination of these options!) for the daily commute. 
• Families could walk or cycle with the children or grandchildren to and from school. 
• Encourage people work from home on June 20 2019?
• A community walk like the one organised by a GP surgery in Inverness on Clean Air Day 2018 is also a tremendous way of encouraging people to come together socially and improve their fitness and overall health. 
• Councils could reward staff who cycle or walk to work with free fruit and people can wear a CAD t-shirt to show their support for the event and health boards could reinforce their existing messages around active travel initiatives.
• Local authorities, other public sector organisations and private companies can raise awareness of active travel options and the grants available for cycle schemes and the travel routes available. 
• Encourage people travelling on foot or by bicycle to cut their exposure to air pollution by choosing quieter routes. EPS last year conducted a study for last year’s event that found primary and nursery school children were being exposed to 30% more particulate pollution compared to adults when walking along busy roads compared to quieter routes.
• Councils can utilise messages around vehicle engine highlighting, to discourage the practice and draw attention to the fines that can be imposed.
• This year’s Clean Air Day will also highlight how purchasing an electric vehicle or joining a car club cuts emissions and congestion

CAD will also aim to encourage motorists to switch off their vehicle engines while stationary, improving air quality, particularly in congested areas such as outside schools.

Already City of Edinburgh, Aberdeen City Council, Glasgow City Council, Renfrewshire and Aberdeenshire Councils are planning public events or visits to schools or are planning on promoting their air quality policies, active travel and no idling messages as part of Clean Air Day.

To find out more visit www.cleanairday.org.uk/pages/category/scotland

If anyone requires further information about how they can take part, please email EPS at admin@ep-scotland.org.ukor call us on 0141 333 6655.

Parakeets are causing concerns in a park in Glasgow– leading to a potential ‘cull’ as has been the case in London and also in Spain,

About 20 or 30 of the birds have made their home in Victoria Park in the west of the city, leading to the Scottish Natural Heritage deeming them the most northerly flock of parrots in the world.

A parakeet is any one of a large number of small to medium-sized species of parrot that generally have long tail feathers. It is believed the parakeets were kept as pets – and either escaped – or deliberately released.

The main concerns are the invasive parakeets will affect local wildlife – as they do in Spain – along with bird droppings, causing diseases, in years ahead.

Stan Whitaker of Scottish Natural Heritage told BBC Scotland’s The Nine programme:”Surprisingly parakeets seem to be very adaptable to different environmental conditions,”

“Almost certainly parakeets were kept as pets and they have either escaped or perhaps been deliberately released.”

“Invasive species cause impacts on native wildlife, the economy and the way that we live.

“Their droppings can also spread diseases.

“So we can’t just think about what the impacts are at the moment, we have to look ahead 40, 50 years into the future and see what impacts are likely to be then.”

A study is being carried out by government wildlife agency Scottish Natural Heritage to see if Scotland’s only breeding colony of ring-necked parakeets will have to be removed.

Mr Whitaker said: “It would be feasible to catch them and potentially rehome them.

“If we allow it to get much bigger, certainly in London the way that the fruit farmers manage them there is by shooting.”