ITCA Update
Local heroes
WELCOME TO NEW ITCA MEMBERS
New Africa Catering Banjul International Airport, Yundum, Gambia Mr Musa Jobe, Tel: +220 990 180 7
Ostia Care and Beauty PO Box 213005, Dubai Mr Osama Zoghayer, Tel: +971 4 8858 586
Paterson Arran Ltd The Royal Burgh Bakery, Livingston, UK Mr Allan Miller, Tel: +44 1506 431 031
This year ITCA celebrates its 30th year, and much of its success is due to the continuing loyal support of our supplier exhibitors, - small specialist companies such as W.K. Thomas (above) which are the bedrock of the travel catering business - our local heroes. We are especially grateful to these above-the-
wing innovators from all corners of the globe who have been regulars at our exhibitions over the years. Their unswerving commitment has
From Colin Banks Food safety, non-compliance and complacency
Dear Sir, Whilst we read with interest Professor Peter Jones’ paper on food poisoning and air travel (Onboard Hospitality 45); we would raise a number of issues. Whilst legislation and improved screening
techniques for suspected bacterial food poisoning have reduced the risks and possible numbers of diagnosed outbreaks, there is positive evidence to suggest that there are thousands of cases of bacterial food poisoning that go undiagnosed every year worldwide. The airline industry has developed fairly robust food safety controls and monitoring systems based on HACCP principals, but it would be unwise to believe that our industry is fireproof. We are consistently not getting the basics right. Foreign body complaints have increased over the
last two years causing physical contamination of airline food products and they present physical and
microbiological hazards. The flight catering industry has not escaped the current economic climate, and in reality we have witnessed drastic reductions in training budgets, failures to carry out maintenance issues and, lastly, improvements in standard operating procedures related to food safety. Most airlines no longer have their own environmental and food safety consultants, and rely on external agencies. During shop floor auditing of flight catering units
and suppliers’ premises, we are witnessing on a regular basis serious issues related to environmental hygiene and safe food. This is not the place to go into detail but to name a
few areas of concern would be, in order: • Temperature abuse of high-risk foods; • Poor maintenance of buildings and equipment; • Pest and insect infestations;
• Misuse of cleaning chemicals; • Poor cleaning and sanitation by contract cleaners; • Malpractice related to hand hygiene and use of disposable gloves;
• Serious issues related to HACCP documentation and monitoring systems. Despite these very serious issues, it is correct to
say that we have not yet witnessed any major food safety related incident in recent years. But, unless we seriously review our training programmes and address these issues, we can foresee the occurrence of a major incident. What price bacterial food poisoning to an already
battered industry? What price physical or chemical contamination in terms of proven negligence by airline customers? Yours faithfully, Colin Banks, ITCA Education Consultant & TutorDirector, International Food Safety
www.onboardhospitality.com 71
played a major part in the association’s success, and will continue to do so. We are slowly building up a portfolio of all
those who have attended all 30 ITCA annual events and have now heard from Hugh Muir (pictured above) of Plane Talking Products who has also been a loyal ITCA supporter. Please let us know if you too have been ‘ever present’.
www.itcanet.com
Spicejet Ltd(Airline) 319, Udhyog Vihar, Gurgaon, India Mr Vikram Rathore, Tel: +919 810 355 449
G&J Greenall Melbury Park, Warrington, UK Mrs Christina Brown, Tel: +44 1925 286 400
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