Mairead McCarthy, Author at The Food Safety Company

Author: Mairead McCarthy

The Stigma Surrounding the bacteria Listeria Monocytogenes

The Stigma Surrounding Listeria The presence of Listeria, particularly Listeria Monocytogenes is a grave concern for many food business operators, particularly those manufacturing or processing raw foods such as milk and cheeses as well as ready to eat foods due the resistant capacity Listeria has of forming biofilms as well as its ability to multiply […]

The Asian Market! What Ireland has to Offer

The Asian Market – What Ireland has to offer The Asian Market is the single largest economic driver in the world, having the fastest growing population worldwide serving home to 6/10 people in the world. This rapid expansion in population of 44 million people per year over the past 10 years has resulted in more […]

Occupational and Emergency First Aid in the Workplace

Over the years most of us at some stage will have administered first aid treatment. For some it may have been as simple as putting a sticking plaster on a cut and for others it might have been knowing what they had to do when a colleague had a seizure at work, or maybe you […]

The Rise Of Coeliac Disease and the Need For Increased Knowledge on the Condition

Coeliac Disease is a prolonged autoimmune condition that is prompted by gluten which is found in wheat, barley and rye. Coeliac Disease is a permanent intolerance to gluten. This disease affects more females than males and research has estimated that 1 out of every 100 people in the world is affected by this condition. There […]

Latest BSE Scare for Ireland

BSE or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy has again caught public attention with an isolated case confirmed on a farm in County Louth on the 11th of June. BSE is a disease that damages the brain and central nervous system and eventually leads to the death of adult cattle. An unknown fact about BSE is that an […]

The Future of “Artisan Food”

“Artisan” products have exploded in recent years and has quickly become a fast growing niche market in the food enterprise sector as a result of consumers becoming more demanding for local high quality produce, but what is it really? Following attending the Food Symposium in UCC last week, some very stimulating points about a definition […]

Certified Online Training designed to the FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Irelands)

Certified Online Training designed to the FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Irelands) training framework The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) state that it is a legal requirement that all staff involved in a food environment are trained and the responsibility for training of staff lies with the proprietor of the food business. Training certificates […]

Customers of all ages must declare their allergies!

We had an interesting incident last week, where a child with a known nut allergy, visited an Asian Restaurant with another twelve year old child and ordered food. Her Mother was shopping nearby at the time. When the Parent called to collect the children, she then asked the attendant were there nuts in the dish […]

Food Safety is Imperative! – Guest Blog by The Montenotte Hotel

The Montenotte Hotel is perched high above the city offering visitors a great place to relax and unwind while enjoying the spectacular city views of Cork. With such picturesque views in such a central location it is no surprise that The Montenotte Hotel is kept busy with weddings, events, conferences, parties and banquets, as well […]

Healthy Eating this Christmas! Guest Blog by Brook Catering

“A fresh look at healthy cooking…. So Santa won’t get stuck in the chimney!” Festive greetings to you all!

Allergen Labelling – It’s the Law!

As of the 13th December, 2014, all food businesses must have written information (allergen labelling) available on the presence of the 14 key allergens. Legally, this information must be provided regardless of whether food is sold pre-packed or sold loose. The EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation will affect all food businesses including crèches, charitable organisations, […]

HACCP System for Craft Breweries

These days a month doesn’t go by without some sort of Craft Brewing event or festival somewhere in Ireland. Craft Breweries are opening up at a rapid pace. Of course this is a good thing for Ireland, promoting our culture, creating jobs and growing the market at a rate of 45% per a year. However, […]

Food Safety & Hygiene Top of Head Chef Greg Murphy’s Agenda: Guest Blog

As a busy chef, working both in our family restaurant and catering company, food safety & hygiene is an imperative part of my daily life. Clear food safety and hygiene guidelines need to be in place to ensure that paying customers are not only receiving delicious food, but that the food they are eating is 100% […]

Implementing the EIQA standard

A food safety standard is a food safety management system that is over and above what is required by law and what is required from the enforcement officers – the Environmental Health Officers with the HSE, the Veterinary Officers with the Department of Agriculture and the Sea Fisheries Protection Officers with the SFPA. The food […]

HACCP Training Dublin / Food Safety Training

Two new dates have been added to our HACCP Training Dublin Schedule Two new dates have been added to our HACCP Training Dublin Schedule, September 29th and October 20th. Our day long Level 2 training will be delivered in Sandymount, Dublin by our Dublin Associate, Emer Murphy. About our food safety course Emer a qualified […]

Bar and Restaurant Skills Training

The tourism season is in full swing and as we all know this is the busiest time of the year for the hospitality industry. I am delighted to announce that we recently completed a fantastic bar and restaurant skills training course in Kerry. This course was specific for job seekers looking for a career in […]

Changes to the labelling of Allergens – What this means for the Seafood Industry

Date for your Diary: 14th December 2014 This is the date the new EU labelling legislation comes into law meaning that from this date the food industry must implement the required changes being brought by the new Provision of Food Information to the Consumer Regulation (FIR) 1169/2011. This new law brings changes to the labelling […]

BBQ Food Safety basics – How to prevent food poisoning

When the temperature rises, so do incidences of food poisoning. Keep your guests safe with this barbeque checklist Barbeque season has begun! The sun is finally shining, temperatures are set to reach the mid 20’s and the allure of eating outdoors is enticing us all to dust off our barbeques and get cooking! I have […]

Food and Nutrition within the Intellectual Disability Sector and in a Care Home Setting

Care Home Setting: Each Residential Centre must develop a comprehensive Nutritional Policy based on 10 key points which range from serving Safe Food to having a Resident Center Approach. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) have recognized the vital role that food and nutrition plays in terms of health and well-being in Residential Care […]

E cigarettes in your Food Business

Many of our Food Business clients are concerned about the use of E-cigarettes in restaurants and other food businesses and our Tobacco Free Policy is increasingly facing difficulties arising from the use of electronic cigarettes by members of the public in Restaurants and Bars. The HSE is also concerned that because the devices resemble ordinary […]