Improving food safety in Wales

A new Food Industry Centre at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC), which aims to improve food safety and supporting the food industry in Wales, has officially opened by the First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

Built at a cost of £5m, the new centre will help food businesses to put in place the processes they need to meet global food safety standards while making an impact on the knowledge economy through applied research, knowledge transfer and the provision of graduates with the skills demanded by employers.

The centre will also provide practical courses on assessing and managing food safety risks to industry, Local Authority food agencies and food science and environmental health students.

The First Minister said: "The tragic and avoidable consequences of the E.coli outbreak and the central findings of the Pennington inquiry show clearly how important developing high standards in food safety management is. That is what makes opening this centre such an important event. It will also provide support for the Welsh food industry through its cutting-edge research and technology.

"It will also support the food industry through providing state-of-the-art product development and testing facilities including the first Sensory Suite in Wales where new food products can be taste-tested under strictly controlled conditions."

In addition, a hi-tech video and sound link between the boardroom and the kitchen will allow food company representatives to interact with the chefs to assess how their products are prepared and cooked in an environment which can be designed to mirror domestic kitchens.

Research at the centre, which is part of UWIC's Cardiff School of Health Sciences, will also push forward the understanding of diet and lifestyle on the ageing process and many of the diseases that are common in Wales including Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Obesity and Asthma.

Words: Maria Bracken

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