Operation Transformation are calling for calories on menus.  Give your opinion on putting calories on menus in Ireland by filling out the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s survey (see below for link).

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland announces a national consultation to seek opinions on the best way of putting calorie information on menus in Ireland. This is an initiative Minister Reilly announced late last year by writing to Fast Food Outlets and Cafes requesting that they consider including calories on their menus. Ireland currently has the second highest rate of obesity in Europe and research shows that displaying ‘calories on menus’ helps consumers to make healthier and more informed choices about what they eat and encourages them to eat smaller portions.

This is an opportunity for consumers and the food industry to give their views on how ‘calories on menus’ can be best implemented in Ireland. All interested parties are invited to comment and to facilitate maximum participation the consultation involves completing a short online questionnaire on the FSAI website. The consultation will close on 29th February 2012.

The information provided in this public consultation will form the basis to develop the best system for placing calorie information on menus in Ireland. This will include technical guidance for food service businesses. In addition, the FSAI will, where possible, provide necessary support for the industry. Internationally, it has been shown that when calories are displayed on menus people consume fewer calories.

According to Dr. Mary Flynn, Chief Specialist Public Health Nutrition, FSAI, one of the key issues is that people are not aware that some snacks they choose provide almost all of the calories they need in a day.

“It has shown that putting calories on menus creates a demand for healthier options and smaller portion sizes. The feedback received in this consultation will be instrumental in developing a working model for placing calories on menus in Irish food service business that works best for Irish consumers and the food industry. It is recognised that putting calories on menus will not be an easy task for food businesses – in particular, for smaller food businesses; it will require technical tools to calculate nutritional content and support from nutritional experts. The FSAI is currently exploring a number of ways that support can be provided to food businesses during any transitional period,” she concluded.

Two booklets are available from the FSAI website homepage outlining information on What People need to Know about putting Calories on menus in Ireland and Putting Calories on menus – Draft Technical Guidance for Food Businesses. The FSAI is seeking consumer feedback to ascertain how best calorie information should be displayed and in what outlets would consumers most like to see calories on menus. The FSAI especially invites food service businesses to give their views on how best calories on menus can be implemented in Ireland. In particular, it is keen to hear about the support that these businesses would require to put calorie information on their menus. Feedback is also welcome from all other interested parties including health professionals, Food Law Experts and Environmental Health Officers

All opinions and views submitted in this consultation will be considered in the development of an overall framework for the way calorie content is calculated and displayed in menus in Ireland.

Click here for more information on the FSAI campaign…

Link to Consumer Questionnaire

Link to Industry Questionnaire

Enterprise Ireland have just announced a new call  for their €5000 Innovation Voucher Scheme.

Opening Date: 12^th March 2012

Closing Date:   28^th March 2012

For application forms please click here

Companies may make use of a maximum of two 100% publicly funded vouchers and one 50 -50 co-funded Fast Track Vouchers     (50-50 Vouchers are applied for in conjunction with a Knowledge Provider)

We are a registered a Knowledge Provider for Enterprise Ireland and can walk you through the application process if required.

Avail of advice from our team of Qualified Food Technologists.

Call the Food Technology Centre for more details on 071 9150734  OR email: info@thefoodtechnologycentre.ie

Let Us Help You With Your Application

Do you have a food idea?  Do you need to accertain shelf life of a product, adapt a recipe, explore the possiblities of producing a new food product for the market. ……     Perhaps we can help.

Applictions for current call must be submitted before end of September 2011

If you own or manage a small limited food company and you have a business opportunity or problem that you want to explore, why not apply for an Innovation Voucher worth €5,000.00?

The objective of the Innovation Voucher Initiative is to build links between Ireland’s public knowledge providers and small businesses and create a cultural shift in the small business community’s approach to innovation.

Enterprise Ireland is deighted to announce that the Innovation Voucher Initiative is now also running in Northern Ireland, through Invest Northern Ireland.

The Innovation Voucher allows you to concentrate on running your business, while knowledge providers come up with a solution that could take you business to the next level.

Companies must be a registered company and have a valid CRO number.

For permitted uses and eligibility conditions  please refer to the Innovation Vouchers  Website: 

www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/Reserch-Innovation/companies/collaborate-with-companies-research-institutions/Innovation-voucher

Companies may make use of a maximum of two 100% publicly funded vouchers and one 50 -50 co-funded Fast Track Vouchers     (50-50 Vouchers are applied for in conjunction with a Knowledge Provider)

We are a registered a Knowledge Provider for Enterprise Ireland and can walk you through the application process if required.

Avail of advice from our team of Qualified Food Technologists.

Call the Food Technology Centre for more details on 071 9150734  OR email: info@thefoodtechnologycentre.ie

Do your customers enquire about calorie content in you dishes?

In this health conscious society and with the current emphasis on obesity, so many people in Ireland are trying to lose weight, it can be difficult to make menu choices when eating out.

Perhaps  providing nutritional values on your recipes might be the answer.

We can provide detailed nutritional assessment for your recipes.

An analysis of your entire menu or you could start with a  few menu items to present as a healthy option.

We can also assist in sourcing funding possibilities.

For details on Nutritional Analysis please refer to our “services” page

or contact us by phone 0719150734 or via email : info@thefoodtechnologycentre.ie

The Take Away My Way competition will be running again this year.  Celebrity Chef Neven Maguire will judge the all island final!
This exciting competition is organised by St. Angela’s College, Sligo and sponsored by Safefood. The competition aims to encourage students to display their culinary capabilities while also promoting the importance of healthy eating and giving due cognisance to budgetary requirements.
Teachers are asked to encourage their students to choose their favourite takeaway food and modify the recipe to make it healthier!

The entries will be judged by a panel of experts. Finalists will be invited to cook for Chef Neven Maguire at the all-island final in St. Angela’s College, Sligo on the 12th March (Junior Final) and the 13th March (Senior Final) 2012.

EHOA Accredited Primary Course in Food Safety

Taking Bookings Now for Course in New Year 2012. Date to be announced.

The course will be presented over two half days, 09.30 – 13.30

A short exam will be conducted on the afternoon of the second day 14.30 – 15.30

This course is aimed at all personnel involved in the catering, retail or food manufacturing environment, suppliers of raw materials and contractors to the food industry. No prior learner knowledge of food safety is required. This course focuses on the requirements of the Regulation (EC) 852/2004 Hygiene of Foodstuffs Regulations and FSAI Training Level 2. The aim of this course is to provide staff with adequate training in the basic principles of food hygiene. Successful Participants will receive “A certificate from the Environmental Health Officers Association” The Certificate is valid for 5 years, refresher training is advised after 5 years.

For more details, please see the Environmental Health Officers’ Association website for more information.

The next ‘EHOA – Primary Food Safety’ course is scheduled to take place

• Day One:   Time: 09.30 – 13.30
• Day Two:  Time: 09.30  – 13.30
• Exam :  Afternoon on Day Two /       Time: 14.30 -15.30

For more details on this course please contact The Food Technology Centre on 071 9150734 or email: info@thefoodtechnologycentre.ie

FETAC level 5, Food Safety & HACCP Course

Participants taking part in this programme will gain a thorough understanding of the Principles of HACCP and Prerequisite requirements and how they may be applied to ensure Food Safety, have the ability to take a lead role in the application of HACCP principles in their own production environment by developing a HACCP plan incorporating a Process Flow Diagram, Process Flow Description, Hazard Analysis and identifying Critical Control Points. Participants also complete coursework based on a case study or in house company project as part of this program.

This course is FETAC Accredited, for more details please see the FETAC website, Course Code: N22795

Successful Participants will receive “A Level 5 Certificate in Food Safety”

The next ‘Fetac Level 5 – Food Safety & HACCP Course’  Will take place in the New Year 2012

Dates to be announced.

Intertrade Ireland ‘s FUSION  programme / Graduate Career Opportunities

Intertrade Ireland’s FUSION programme has exciting opportunities for talented graduates to manage new innovative technology-led projects with some of the most progressive companies and academic institutes across the island.

Full job specifications are available on www.intertradeirelandfusion.com

The Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards took place in Dingle recently. The awards has been held for the last 3 years as part of the annual Dingle Food and Drink Festival. Upwards of 800 products were submitted to the competition from approximately 200 companies across over 27 categories. All products entered were subject to an independent assessment using robust scientific ‘sense-award’ scoring system and we are pleased to announce that some of The Food Technology Centre’s clients picked up some prestigious awards!

Gold Award  – The Foods of Athenry’s Very Berry High Omega Granola

Silver Awards - The Scullery’s Irish Country Relish, Kooky Dough’s Triple Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Nutrisnax’s Breakfast on the Go

Bronze Awards – The Tipperary Kitchen’s Butterscotch Sauce and Sligo’s own Elizabeth Ann’s Rose Scented Berry Tart

For more details on the Blas na hEireann – Irish Food Awards click here