In this issue:
CFA and technical
Chilled Education
It’s always exciting to be the subject of positive media interest. Which is what happened when the IFST approached the CEd team for a profile on the initiative and progress since 2011.
A fantastic four-page profile appeared in the March issue of the IFST Magazine and is available to view via the CEd website with kind permission of the IFST.
The magazine’s editor, Veronica Giacintucci explains why she chose to focus on CEd:
‘”I wanted to highlight the incredible work they are doing to address skill shortages in food science and promote science education, creating precious resources and sharing insightful case studies. Their strong focus on food science makes their work especially relevant to our readership. The article provided a valuable opportunity to showcase real stories and raise awareness of the high-quality resources Chilled Education offers. As someone who directly benefits from these resources, I find them highly accessible and often turn to them when developing activities aimed at younger students to spark interest and awareness in food science topics and careers.‘
4 September 2025
CFA has been invited to contribute to a new EU-funded project that aims to transform the European approach to food safety taking account of the impact of climate change. Looking at grains and fresh produce AMBROSIA will aim to model climate-related risks and their impact on every aspect of the food chain from farm to fork.
Dr Rachel Hackett attended the first meeting, which focussed on scoping the project: “This exciting project brings together experts in climate modelling, food safety and risk assessment from 18 organisations across Europe and the UK to share information on what is an accelerating threat to food safety and food security. We have made input on the project’s deliverables to help ensure it address real gaps in shared knowledge in the understanding of climate change, specific effects on particular foods and identify the truly relevant support needed by geographical regions, socioeconomic groups and crops and agronomic systems.”
The AMBROSIA team are currently developing the systems and, having consulted on this important first stage, will gather stakeholders together again in 2026.
4 September 2025
Domestic fridge design has remained largely unchanged from a consumer’s perspective since their first use in the 1920s. So a long-overdue project, instigated by Karin Goodburn, and funded by FSRN is ongoing using sensor-based technology to improve the design, performance and usage of domestic fridges.
Previous work revealed that the energy consumption of different models of fridges was down, not to design, but to how they were used. Analysis of consumer behaviour is therefore key with focus groups providing insights into how people organise their fridges, food waste management, temperature control, willingness to have their fridges monitored and other considerations. Users prioritise functionality, efficiency, and affordability, with some interest in smart features but they have concerns about cost and privacy.
The next stage comprises further consumer research and testing with potential sensor systems. These may record air temperature, humidity and energy usage, and could also track how many times the door is opened. The use of a camera will monitor what goes in and out of the fridge and where items are stored.
Karin adds: “The temperature at which food is stored is central to all our work in the chilled food industry. Correct conditions must be maintained at every stage of the food chain and yet for decades that final stage – the temperature of our fridges at home – has remained a frustrating variable. I am therefore delighted that this project is looking at the issue and will, we sincerely hope, give us the information required to influence fridge manufacturers.”
The project is being led by London South Bank University and CFA is collaborating along with Food Standards Scotland, University of Leeds, WRAP, and the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Met University.
4 September 2025
In July over 600 people attended Karin Goodburn’s webinar presentation ‘Listeria: The Inconvenient Truth’ at the Royal Society for Public Health. She dispelled myths and hype and provided clarity on the hardening of the regulatory penalty for RTE foods supporting growth of Listeria monocytogenes from next July (2026) in the EU and other jurisdictions applying EU law if shelf life data are not appropriate (criterion 1.2b in assimilated (EU) Reg 2073/2005).
Her presentation set out how there is no change to shelf life assessment requirements that have been in place for RTE foods through the Regulation for nearly 20 years. 
Her reassuring clarity was well received attracting positive feedback from attendees: “(It) Was a great session brought me back through all the Listeria hysteria of the 1990’s and the great work CFA have and continue to do in this space.” And “Fantastic session today, thank you Karin for providing absolute clarity through all of the noise on such a fundamental subject for food manufacturers.”
Karin says: “The presentation was developed in response to uncertainty surrounding next year’s changes to Listeria legislation criterion in the EU and jurisdictions applying EU Law (e.g. Northern Ireland). The change only applies if the Competent Authority is not satisfied with the basis of shelf life for a ready to eat food supporting the growth of Lm. Under the changes individual EU Member States will continue to decide how shelf life should be established. However, the European Commission has made it clear that there is, for example, no requirement nor expectation that challenge testing be done whether other shelf life data are available. We are currently awaiting refreshed EC informal guidance on shelf life establishment.
“We are working with FSA, FSS, FSANI and FSA Wales refreshing the 2010 CFA/BRC/FSA Shelf life of ready to eat food in relation to Listeria monocytogenes – Guidance for food business operators (download) to make this explicit and reaffirm existing requirements in shelf life establishment.”
4 September 2025
CFA is keeping its members abreast of the latest developments in activity following up on the 19 May 2025 UK-EU High Level Summit’s announcement on forthcoming negotiation of an SPS Agreement between the UK and EU.
Karin Goodburn chairs the SPS Certification WG, which meets weekly including with senior officials from various departments and agencies engaged in preparation for such negotiations and of further potential changes to infrastructure and systems. A summary of divergences in legislation requiring attention in the streamlining of trade has been shared with Government officials, the Lords EU Affairs and Commons EFRA Committees.
The cost of EHC completion for certain exports to the EU post-Brexit is still around £5m pcm, or about £260m since the end of the Transition Period when their completion to certify compliance with EU law came into effect. This is equivalent to the profit from over £13 billion food sales.
The Groupage Exportation Facilitation Scheme (GEFS), which is vital for the distribution of mixed loads of foods containing products of animal origin (POAO), is continuing, with strengthened requirements. The Scheme streamlines export bureaucracy on adherence to best traceability and other specified practice for entire groups of products sent as mixed loads to the island of Ireland in particular. Changes made enabling GEFS’ continuation include increased audit frequency for Scheme members, standardised Support Attestations and stronger compliance rules. Revised GEFS guidance has been issued by Government.
Meanwhile the potential for GB-wide “Not for EU” labelling for POAO remains although no legislation has yet been enacted to make it enforceable in GB. It appears to be being kept “in reserve” for potential inclusion in EU SPS agreement negotiations.
Karin Goodburn comments: “It’s worth noting that great majority of UK law relevant to EHCs is the same as that in the EU as the UK played a leading role in securing appropriate finalised EU legislation when it was an EU Member. Resolution of such incongruities would help facilitate trade, but where there is divergence and it is in favour of UK businesses this needs to be accommodated. In addition, for chilled foods to be sold on the Continent requires re-establishment of sales infrastructure, which has to be underpinned by commercial confidence in systems, and requirements becoming stable.”
For more information visit our Brexit pages here.
4 September 2025
On 30 April 2025 CFA held its AGM at which the Annual Report for calendar year 2024 was agreed.
The meeting also saw Dr Gary McMahon (right) of Pilgrims Europe re-elected as Chair. 