Business organisation the Food and Drink Forum played a part in ensuring that the SALSA approval scheme for small food and drink producers continues to run successfully.The Forum sponsored and hosted an event to give the annual CPD – continuous professional development – session to a group of auditors from across the Midlands.
The IFST auditors are responsible for checking food and drink firms have the required standards in place before they are awarded the SALSA accreditation, which stands for Safe and Local Supplier Approval.
A food-safety standard written by experienced food safety experts to reflect both the legal requirements of producers and the enhanced expectations of 'best practice' of professional food buyers, SALSA certification is only granted to suppliers who are able to demonstrate to an auditor that they are able to produce safe and legal food and are committed to continually meeting the requirements of the SALSA standard.
The group of six auditors, including the Food and Drink Forum’s senior technical manager Richard Wigley, who is a SALSA auditor, were hosted at the Business Centre, Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, where the Forum is based.
“It was the first time we’d sponsored and hosted the CPD training at Southglade, and everyone seemed impressed with the facilities. We will probably hold it at Southglade again next year, as it’s in an ideal location and is the perfect place to focus on all things food and safety related,” said Richard, who is also a mentor for the SALSA scheme.
The CPD session updated auditors and also focused on how to achieve consistency.
The Food and Drink Forum was founded in 1998 as a not-for-profit, membership-led organisation to stimulate and support the sustainable growth and development of the food and drink industry in the East Midlands. It has members across the region.
Pictured, left to right, Richard Wigley, the Food and Drink Forum’s senior technical manager, and CPD trainer Sarah Jackaman.
www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk
Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk
