Multiple outlets - single source

Phew what a busy month May was! Not only were we celebrating ten years of trading, but also we have been nominated for North Devon's Business Awards in the Micro Business category.  The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on 19th June....so watch this space.

The gluten free world has been shaken this week with a contamination issue at one of the major plants that produce gluten free food for some of the biggest companies in the industry.  Genius Foods recalled some of its products on the 7th June http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2015/14047/genius-foods-recalls-some-gluten-free-products-as-they-may-contain-gluten

Initially, only three products were recalled: Genius Crumpets, Livwell Gluten Free Crumpets and Livwell Garlic Naan, however this was extended to a myriad of products http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2015/14063/some-gluten-free-products-recalled It would appear that human error was responsible for the contamination.  Genius's statement on its website is that one of the dry ingredients used in the baking process affected its products - http://www.geniusglutenfree.com/en_GB/blog/Product%20recall:%20Genius%20&%20Livwell%20Crumpets%20and%20Livwell%20Naan and Genius went on to say: "The affected products tested between 5ppm (our minimum accepted level for all products) and 80ppm – therefore the risk to consumers by industry standard is very low."

I have to take umbrage at that last statement.  The law states that for companies to make the 'gluten free' claim their finished products must test at less than 20 parts per million of gluten.  There is a reason for this - numerous studies have indicated that products that contain more than 20 ppm have an adverse affect on the health of a significant number of coeliacs.  In fact, other countries such as Australia, have a lower gluten free threshold than the UK.  So, for a specialist gluten free manufacturer to make a blanket statement like the above, it would seem that the products it produces are aimed more at the gluten free 'lifestylers' and not the coeliac market.

However, as a manufacturer myself I have to empathise a little with Genius.  All the procedures and processes that one has in place cannot ever totally allow for the fallibility of human intervention. Although, it should not have happened in the first place, the best we can hope for is that the company learns from this.....as should all other manufacturing plants that produce different products in the same place.

What I find particularly interesting about the whole thing is that all these own label and branded products are sub-contracted and are actually made in the same place by a single manufacturer - as is true, I'm sure, of many 'normal' food brands.  So, Genius crumpets are fundamentally the same as Livwell's and all the other supermarket brands.  And yet we are constantly wowed by the choice now available.....it brings it in to focus that if you want real choice, you need to shop at smaller independent manufacturers and retailers.