Briefs

n Nearly 80% of 17,000 mothers who took part in an FSA online survey supported the Traffic Light Labelling scheme over the rival Guideline Daily Amount labelling scheme preferred by some retailers and manufacturers.

n Denver Cottage Bakery of Ilkeston in Derbyshire has been fined more than £1,800 after mouse droppings were found baked onto the outside of a bread roll. The company admitted breaches of hygiene regulations during a hearing before South Derbyshire magistrates after an investigation by health officers found a serious infestation at the bakery. Denver Cottage said it had had no previous problems and that it had now upgraded systems. It was fined £500 with £1,380 costs.

n Knaresborough-based marketing company Allott & Associates is offering free advice to the food industry. In a one-off promotion, the agency will conduct a free marketing review to a number of companies. The audit takes about two hours and provides an assessment of a company’s marketing and what steps can be taken to improve it. Call 01423 867 264

n A survey by trading standards officers (TSOs) in Herefordshire has shown a drop in the amount of salt being added to bread.

The TSOs examined 53 different bread samples from both supermarkets and high street bakers to find an average salt content of 1.2%. This compared to a total of 1.34% in a similar survey in November 2005.

n The HGCA’s Innovation is the Key half-day seminar will be held at the British Library Conference Centre in London on 14 March.