News

Allergy reminder to county food outlets

Published

9 years ago

June 14, 2016

Guilty: Mohammed Zaman

FOOD BUSINESSES in the county are being reminded of the need to take food allergies seriously and to provide accurate allergen information about the ingredients in the meals they serve to customers.

The warning comes from Pembrokeshire County Council following a high-profile court case in England earlier this week.

Mohammed Zaman was jailed for six years for manslaughter after customer Paul Wilson suffered a severe anaphylactic shock after eating a takeaway containing nuts from Zaman’s restaurant in North Yorkshire.

Mr Wilson had a peanut allergy and while ‘no nuts’ was written on the lid of his takeaway container, the meal did contain nuts and subsequently caused his death.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, Huw George, emphasised the legal responsibility on all food businesses to provide correct allergen information.

“This case shows how very important it is for all businesses to train their staff, to check that they understand the training and that everyone working there puts it into practice consistently” said Councillor George.

“Anyone who might buy different ingredients to those normally used, or who might make changes to standard recipes, must have adequate food allergy awareness training to ensure that they understand the risks and how they must be controlled.

“Ingredients should not be decanted into unlabelled containers, and all staff need to know which ingredients and dishes contain allergens or have a reliable way of finding out.

“‘Groundnuts’ are peanuts, and should be labelled as such.”

Councillor George continued: “People die from food allergies so it’s crucial that food businesses talk to their customers about their requirements.

“Even if food is sold loose, or by catering businesses, allergen information must be provided in writing, although this can be done using a notice which tells customers that the information is available if they ask.

“If a business takes orders by phone, they are required to ask their customers whether they have any food allergies, and provide written information about the ingredients used.

“Effective communication is critical and care should be taken if there might be any difficulties in this respect, for example due to different languages being spoken.”

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Food Safety team have been providing advice to food businesses about the law since 2014. It remains a key focus during food premises inspections and when advising new businesses startingup.

Relevant information and advice is freely available to all businesses via the Council’s website at: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/foodlawadvice.

The website also includes further details on the ‘business advice service’, available to new and existing businesses, to support compliance with a range of food safety and standards requirements.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.