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PETER FERNER
Associates
Fresh & Frozen Meat
Surveyors
Consultants to the Food Industry
Food Standards, Food Industry Consultants, Meat Surveyor, Food Law,
Environmental Health & Hygiene, Trading Standards, Factory Management,
Production & Food Processing, Fresh, Frozen, Chilled, Farm, Consumer,
Legal Advice
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PETER FERNER ASSOCIATES
Interesting Cases
Some Interesting Cases...
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A shipload of poultry meat was refused at its
first destination. The new customer would only accept and pay for perfect
goods. I was asked to oversee the unloading in Turkey. Incidentally, if overseas
jobs sound like freebie holiday jaunts, think again. I was onboard ship from
8 in the morning until midnight, working at temperatures of over 30˚C.
The Turkish customer had a practical and inexpensive method for checking
whether the goods were wholesome; they allowed individual pieces of meat to
thaw in the ambient temperature of 30C, and if the goods smelt right and
looked right; they were right! As only 0.38% of the load was rejected, the
client was delighted with the outcome.
·
A major UK food processor discovered
their Stock Management was totally out-of-control. There was a very large black hole in their
books. I spent a month on site,
working both during the day and on the night shift observing the situation,
which included a ‘virtual stockroom’ where goods were stored that
didn’t fit elsewhere. The actual
goods were stored in one or more of the real stockrooms, but it took a major
checking exercise to put everything back in an orderly manner. I put in place a new series of protocols
that enabled the company to regain control, and I did this without major
expenditure.
·
An International company had problems with
rancid pepperoni on pizzas. All the parties involved carried out
investigations and test work without success. When I examined the paperwork,
I found that one of the ingredients contained a low percentage of
anti-oxidant. The rancidity happened because the anti oxidant was not
incorporated into the dry ingredient mix in the correct manner. Improved
supervision of manufacturing practices solved the problem.
·
A manufacturer of Chinese meals received
complaints regarding a bitter, burning taste from certain products.
Bacteriological tests proved the goods were sound, but through my contacts, I
was able to find an expert in the production and manufacture of recipes with
bean shoots. He demonstrated the fault
by making his staff eat correct and incorrect samples…a very quick and
interesting experiment!
·
A client had pleaded guilty to supplying beef
mince that was too fat. Trading Standards opposed his plea of due diligence,
claiming he was not making sufficient tests. We found the standards they were
using applied to manufactured goods, and were not food specific standards,
and the authorities reduced his fine accordingly.
·
Although most of my work is in the UK,
I do get trips abroad. Sometimes this
is pleasant, sometimes not. However,
sometimes I am asked to evaluate a situation solely from the paperwork. One such case involved a shipment of meat
prepared in one country and shipped to another which was temperature damaged.
I was asked to prepare a report on behalf of the shippers. I found that, although two surveys had
already taken place, neither of them were satisfactory in that they were very
sketchy in meat terms, and were not acceptable under the rules of the
International Meat Traders Association.
Neither of the surveys took account of the chart from the
refrigeration units on board ship, and I was able to prove to my satisfaction
and the client’s that the damage had not occurred whilst in transit.
·
It is not often I go searching for business,
but I suppose you could say that I did so in this case. I am very fond of cooked pork rinds, called
scratchings, in this part of the UK. The ones I bought from my local supermarket
were often unsatisfactory, having a rancid taste. After returning a few packets, I contacted
the manufacturer directly. He invited
me to come and look, and I was able to give him some pointers that enabled
him to make a more reliable product.
He offered to pay me in a lifetime’s supply of scratchings, but
I declined….
And then there was -
·
The supermarket whose client complained of
'black mould' on a marinated lamb product. The Public Analyst verified the
complaint, but the Independent Analyst engaged by me, found the 'mould' was
in fact vegetable residue from the marinade...
·
The client accused of selling unfit chicken
portions. The case did not proceed, because the complainant refused to appear
in court. We wondered if the reason was contained in the witness statement
from her son stating that he was unemployed. His statement began 'When I came
home from work'…
New stories – Updated for 2008
Some Cases in progress, or
recently completed – so I cannot be specific…
·
A restaurant in dispute with the Inland
Revenue. The Inland Revenue claimed that the balance of meat purchased
did not match the number of meals served. They disputed the amount of
wastage incurred during preparation and cooking using a limited unscientific
experiment as proof. I carried out a series of controlled tests with
full photographic evidence, and eventually we proved our case at a Special
Tribunal.
·
Two clients in the Midlands
asked for my assistance in finding premises and setting up manufacturing
production facilities. I am happy to say they are both now up and
running.
·
A major recall of cooked meat by a supermarket
because of the presence of small pieces of bone. I found the supplier had inadequate and
flawed quality control, combined with badly written contracts – they
were allowing the raw material supplier a leeway with a small amount of bone,
and yet guaranteed their client a bone-free product.
·
I have been approached by a major manufacturer
in Europe asking for assistance in finding new markets in the UK.
·
I have been working with a major US supplier of organic beef to set up an
export organisation in the UK
and mainland Europe
Bearing
in mind client confidentiality, I am not at liberty to name the organizations
that have used my services. However, my clients include:
·
Government Departments - Environmental Health
Departments - Trading Standards Offices - International Food Companies -
Insurance Companies - Banks - Food Manufacturers and Wholesalers in
Australasia, Europe, America and the United Kingdom - and my local butcher's
shop.......
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Surveyors & Consultants in
Food Processing,
Technology & Legislation
Peter Ferner M.R.S.H. M.inst.M MSOFHT
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Intro . Cases
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Me
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