Latest posts

New Charity Commission guidance encourages all charities to have a social media policy and even seeks to moderate the freedom of trustees and others to post freely on their individual social media.

Food Standards Agency provides updated guidance on allergens. Protein drinks advised to update warnings after latest fatality. FSA publishes board papers including on genetic precision and incidents over the last year. ASA adjudications look at what is an ad? what is involved in a commercial relationship? Do freebies count? Viva gets complaints upheld that ad caused unjustified offence and was inappropriately targeted. Finally, Westminster Forum and data transparency in the food supply chain - latest update is that Food Data Transparency Partnership info and data provision will be voluntary for business as supported by M&R speaker at the event, Jessica Burt.

A new consultation specifically considers widening the scope of section 75 arrangements to support the integration of health and social care services...

Under the Care Quality Commission’s new Single Assessment Framework, care providers’ existing ratings will no longer be used as the main basis for their next inspection...

The Department of Health and Social Care sets out an ambition to ensure that at least 80% of CQC registered providers have a digital social care record by March 2024...

The Bill seeks to deliver the Conservative Government’s manifesto commitment to “ban public bodies from imposing their own direct or indirect boycotts, disinvestment or sanctions campaigns against foreign countries”...

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) has hit the headlines recently in relation to schools. It also affects further and higher education establishments. What should you do if your buildings are affected?

NHS trust boards to take steps to assure themselves around the risks to the presence of reinforced aerated autoclaved concrete...

Whilst ads would wish to portray the food products in the best possible light they must not misrepresent the quantity or ingredients of those products without being considered misleading. This is brought home by a series of class actions in the US alleging that ads make food products look bigger than they actually are would be false advertising so blatant that it amounts to breach of contract. Could this happen in the UK?

Ultra processed foods (UPF) have been in the news lately with dire warnings that, apart from the levels of fat, salt and sugar, the processing and use of artificial ingredients itself can cause health issues to consumers. But what were the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN's) findings on this?

PFAS are widely used as they provide a non-stick barrier to fat and water. The compounds are widely used in takeaway food packaging, microwavable bags, kitchen utensils, and cookware. Human exposure to PFAS from the environment and through dietary sources has been highlighted in media in recent years. The latest science has found PFAS in plant based straws illustrating the potential for environmental and health issues for plant based alternatives to single use plastics. 

Defra has launched a new Report Packaging Data (RPD) service.  It has also launched a consultation with industry into the “clarity and operability” of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. This month it was also reported EPR for packaging fees have been deferred for 1 year. However, whilst the fees have been delayed, the data collection requirements are still currently set to come into force as planned.