Food « Thurles Information

Titanium Dioxide No Longer Authorised As Food Additive in European Union.

Titanium Dioxide is no longer authorised as a food additive in the European Union, with effect from August 7th 2022.

Titanium dioxide is being banned in the EU as a possible carcinogen. [Note: A carcinogen is a substance, organism or agent capable of causing cancer.]

A class action lawsuit, which was filed recently in California, claims that sweets company ‘Mars’ failed to adequately warn customers about the chemical, titanium dioxide, and therefore committed a fraud of omission.
Mars says that ‘Skittles‘ are made in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, which permit the use of titanium dioxide at less than 1% of the food’s dried weight, and that the company has done nothing wrong.

Titanium dioxide (E171) is an additive that is used in food as a colour. Its function is to make food more visually appealing, to give colour to food that would otherwise be colourless, or to restore the original appearance of food. Titanium dioxide is used to provide whiteness and opacity to foods.

In terms of dietary exposure, titanium dioxide is often used in a variety of food categories, including bakery products, soups, broths, sauces, salads, savoury based sandwich spreads and processed nuts. It is also used in confectionary, chewing gum, food supplements and cake icing.

In May 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an opinion that stated that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.

Based on this opinion, the European Commission and the Member States agreed to remove all uses of titanium dioxide as an additive in food. In January 2022, a Regulation withdrawing the authorisation to use titanium dioxide as a food additive in food products was adopted i.e. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63.

This regulation entered into force on February 7th, 2022. However, the Regulation included a six-month transitional period to allow food businesses time to phase out the use of this food additive and to reformulate their products using suitable alternatives. This period will now end on August 7th, 2022.

Food containing titanium dioxide that is lawfully placed on the EU market before August 7th, 2022 may remain on the market until its date of minimum durability or its ‘use-by’ date has passed. Food produced or placed on the market after August 7th 2022 cannot contain titanium dioxide. The ban on the use of titanium dioxide is effective in each EU Member State, and in Northern Ireland. Some third countries, such as the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland), continue to permit the use of titanium dioxide.

All food businesses currently using titanium dioxide as a food additive have a legal responsibility to comply with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2022/63, banning the use of titanium dioxide.
The FSAI encourages food businesses to source suitable alternatives to titanium dioxide and start the process of reformulation now to ensure compliance in advance of the ban coming into force on August 7th 2022.

Allergy Alert Notification In Relation To Dunnes Stores White Sub Rolls

Yesterday the Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued an allergy alert notification in relation to Dunnes Stores White Sub Rolls (4 Semolina Dusted White Sub Rolls); pack size: 290 g; best before date: 17/07/2022.

The implicated batch of Dunnes Stores White Sub Rolls were improperly or incorrectly packaged, with Dunnes Stores Floury White Baps. This bap product contains milk and eggs, which are not declared on the list of ingredients .

This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to, or intolerant of milk or eggs.

Recall Of Roma Formaggio Da Pasta Batch Due To Possible Presence Of Mould.

Yesterday, Thursday, July 7th 2022 a batch of Roma Formaggio Da Pasta was recalled by Valeo Foods, as advised by the Irish Food Safety Authority (FSAI).

The pack size being withdrawn and which was imported from the Netherlands, was the 80g pack variety, with Batch Code: “Best before date: May 5th, 2023”.

Do check your dry goods storage area as Valeo Foods are now recalling the above noted batch due to the possible presence of mould.

Point-of-sale recall notices are being displayed in stores, known to supply the implicated batch.

Teagasc Accuse Northern Ireland Poultry Farms Of Falsifying Official Documentation.

In Northern Ireland, poultry farmers are accused of having allegedly used falsified official documents; same needed to obtain necessary planning permission, in order to provide evidence that they can safely dispose of or store manure, produced by their expanding farms.

Teagasc, the Irish Republic’s agri-food agency, had launched an internal investigation into the planning applications of dozens of northern poultry farmers beginning in 2021 and to-date, investigations are understood to have identified over 20 cases of falsification or the amending of applied applications, with farmers names used without permission or consent regarding chicken litter contracts.

Teagasc claim that it found that most of these applications used documentation purporting to be issued on their behalf, which were either completely falsified or certainly altered, and also without their knowledge or indeed consent.

These same planning applications relate to the export of chicken manure/litter, latter a rich fertiliser, produced by poultry farms. In order to obtain necessary planning permissions, applicants must provide continued evidence that they can safely dispose of, or store, manure produced by their farm units. However, most farms do not have the capacity to store the quantity of litter produced, as these farms continue to expand.

Historically, waste/manure/litter from poultry units in Northern Ireland would have been spread on local agricultural land or for use in the mushroom industry.
However, in more recent times the rapid growth in chicken farming has produced an unsustainable volume of poultry manure, both in Northern Ireland and indeed to a lesser extent here in the Republic of Ireland also. Some 65,000 tonnes of known chicken waste were imported into the Republic just last year. Since 2017, over 280,000 tonnes of poultry litter were imported into the Republic of Ireland.

This same poultry litter produces harmful emissions such as Ammonia, latter gas which is already at extremely high levels across the whole island of Eire. There also, is a further downside to the production of such quantities of poultry litter, with same known to cause environmental and human health risks, through water, air and soil pollution; with the spreading of antimicrobial residues, causing respiratory issues.

The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture says it was contacted by Teagasc, latter here in Southern Ireland, following internal investigations by Teagasc last year.

In Ireland over 110 million birds are processed for meat and 900 million eggs are produced annually. There are estimated to be 24.5 million chickens being produced in Northern Ireland at any given time.

Visit Mid-Summer Market Tomorrow In Holycross Village, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Geraldine Helbert Reports.

“It’s so exciting and almost here! Yes, tomorrow Saturday June 25th, 1:00pm to 3:00pm The “Village Market”, Holycross, Thurles, invite children and families to celebrate “Schools Out” at our bi-weekly, Mid-Summer Market.

As always, on special market days, we invite the younger members of the Tipperary community to come along and have a little fun with us and celebrate the start of the school holidays.

Dress yourselves up in your sunniest summer outfits and be as creative as you can, to get free entry into a special raffle with a mystery prize, just for the children. Get some personalised hair braiding, refreshments, treats and that all important Ice-Cream. Note: Admission is free to all.

Enjoy a choice of delicious hot lunches from our local catering duo at the “Grub Hub”, have a coffee, hot chocolate and a delicious home baked tasty treat or Granola bar.

We have doubled our seating capacity and everyone is in for a really entertaining treat from a very talented male singing group from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, who will be joining us.

New amazing bakers, crafters and artists join our regulars each market day with home-made jams, granola, low-carb options, tray bakes, vegetables, meat, breads and cakes. Pick up unique crafts and gifts and paintings for all occasions from one of our many talented crafters and artists. Get lots of plants and advice for the garden too.

And there is more! We have two tickets to raffle tomorrow for ‘Cut Loose’ Country Music Festival, latter taking place in Holycross, Thurles, on July 31st next.

Congratulations to the winners of our previous raffles; Johnny Carey won two tickets to ‘The Cavalcaders’ at ‘The Source’ Arts Centre for Sunday June 26th next, while Samantha Irwin was winner of an additional prize of ‘Honey Vinegar’ (naturally brewed and unfiltered), kindly donated by ‘Windmill Honey farm‘.

Do join us tomorrow and indeed every second Saturday for coffee, chat and fresh produce. We enjoy seeing you all in attendance brightening up our village. The market grounds are safe and easily accessible for all; with ease of parking and an opportunity to visit the historic Abbey and enjoy the unique welcome and beauty of Holycross village.”

Note: Students, musicians and new traders are always welcome. [Email us at thevillagemarketholycross@gmail.com]