Goodbody Clinic Launches At-Home Health Checks in Response to Increasing NHS Wait Times

In some parts of the UK as many as half of all patients are still struggling to access a face to face appointment with their GP. 

To alleviate pressure on the NHS, leading health diagnostics provider Goodbody Clinic has launched a comprehensive blood testing service which enables patients to take control of their health.

Finger prick tests are available from the comfort of your own home. A testing kit is sent via the post with everything you need to collect your sample and return it to the lab.

Or as an alternative, Goodbody Clinic has a national network of pharmacies and clinics with trained phlebotomists available to administer tests which require a venous blood draw.

The comprehensive range of tests includes well women and well man profiles; liver, kidney and heart checks; hormone and vitamin levels; fitness profiles; cancer DNA tests and everything in between. For some these tests are preventative, allowing individuals to monitor key wellbeing markers to provide them with reassurance. For others, diagnostic tests can help them investigate a niggling or unexplained symptom

Tests are processed at UKAS accredited laboratories, with results sent direct to the patient. There is even the option of being referred to an online GP service to discuss any abnormal results in more detail. Alternatively, the patient can take the results back to their own GP for further assessment and treatment if required.

One of the tests available is an early detection diabetes test. With research finding that people who recovered from Covid-19 within the past year are 40% more likely to receive a new diagnosis of diabetes this could result in millions of new diabetes cases worldwide. This simple test allows early diagnosis of diabetes or pre-diabetes so that the condition can be monitored properly.

According to Dr Jamie Brosch, a GP with 30 years’ experience, “Early recognition and management of diabetes can substantially reduce the risk of complications, such as eye, kidney and heart damage which can begin years before some people even find out how they have the condition”.

Father of two Sam recently had diabetes and cholesterol tests, “Since the start of the year, I had really wanted to do something about my health. I have a young family, so want to be the best Dad I can be for my kids, which means taking care of my health so that I can be there for them.

“I’ve lost over 3 stone since January 2022, but I wanted to make sure things were improving on the inside too. I have a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure, which I know is a side effect of high cholesterol levels in the blood. I was looking at booking a rapid diabetes test, but thought I might as well book a cholesterol test at the same time just to get a clearer overall picture. 

"I was really pleased with my results, they reflected the hard work that I’ve been putting in and it’s clearly paying off. I may be becoming more physically fit, but I’m so glad I’m also becoming biologically fitter as well”.

According to MD of Goodbody Clinic, George Thomas, “With the NHS under increasing pressure, creating new pathways for health diagnostics is a positive move forward for primary care. Patients are increasingly health-aware and want to take control of managing their wellness before symptoms arise”.

Tests can be ordered on the website www.goodbodyclinic.com/bloodtesting.

Delays in supporting ‘UK Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry’ putting more lives at risk

With the inquest into the death of Celia Marsh in December 2017 taking place this week, the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) has today issued a call for more funding for the Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry (UKFAR).

Celia died after she ate a pre-packaged vegan sandwich. She was known to have an allergy to cow’s milk. 

Unfortunately, these cases are becoming more frequent and understanding why these fatalities occur, and to reduce the number of deaths, the medical profession must understand the mechanisms by which anaphylaxis becomes lethal and know why these fatalities occur.

In 2020 The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) in collaboration with Manchester Foundation Trust (MFT) received a one-off grant of £100,000 from the Foods Standards Agency (FSA) to support the development of a Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry. 

The registry employs staff who collect and analyse data from deaths that have been recorded as anaphylaxis to identify patterns of events so that we may understand more about what causes people to die from anaphylaxis and improve survival rates. To continue its work, more funding is needed on a sustainable basis.

Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, co-founder of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said: "It is absolutely vital that funding continues for the fatal anaphylaxis register. Recording this information is critical so that lessons can be learned and we can help keep people with severe food allergies safe. 

"We already have significant concerns that anaphylaxis deaths are being under reported and not developing this register will further undermine the huge efforts being made on behalf of the 2 to 3 million people with food allergies in this country."

Inquests into previous deaths from Anaphylaxis have resulted in calls from coroners to establish a national reporting system for recording anaphylaxis fatalities so they can be investigated. 

Judith Bousquet, the mother of Ruben Bousquet, a 14-year-old boy who died after eating popcorn with a drink at the cinema, says "Ruben had a whole life ahead of him and despite taking precautions to ensure his own safety, tragically, it wasn't enough in the environment he was in on the day he was taken from us. 

"Clearly, more needs to be done. The safety net which is currently in place for those living with allergic disease isn't sufficiently robust. A UK Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry is one step in helping to rectify this and we fully support its introduction."

Owen Carey who died after eating grilled chicken coated in buttermilk at a restaurant. Paul Carey, Owens father said: “The Campaign for Owen’s Law fully supports the continued development of the Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry. It is incredibly important that this work carries on indefinitely and is critical in helping reduce the risk of early deaths of those with allergies, as we suffered with Owen.”

Fiona Rayner, BSACI Chief Executive states “The one-off grant from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will run out by the end of the year. Long-term funding is needed to sustain and analyse retrospective cases as well as prospective cases, as its critical to be able to reduce the number of deaths in the future. The BSACI have been working with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to secure funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and are awaiting to hear the outcome of a proposal to support the UK Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry.”

Lead Investigator on the UK Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry Dr Vibha Sharma points out: “The UKFAR is unique in the kind of information it can collect and retain. This registry has been informative for allergic individuals and for those involved in their management. There is still a lot that remains ill understood. 

"We are aware that anaphylaxis is common but deaths from anaphylaxis are rare. Why some die and many recover is ill understood. Continued detailed review of each case of fatal anaphylaxis is likely to enhance our understanding and help avoid future deaths."

Each case of fatal anaphylaxis is unique. Learning lessons from each of these deaths is important. Attempts must be made to learn from each of these cases. Early involvement of UKFAR in assessment of suspected fatal anaphylactic events will facilitate collaboration for important data, evidence gathering to help identify contributing factors, and focus on relevant post-mortem assessment/s.

Calls for the ongoing funding of the UK Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry were also echoed by UK allergy charities Allergy UK and Anaphylaxis UK that both support people living with allergies. A referral can be made for UKFAR involvement here

Carla Jones, who is the CEO of Allergy UK, the leading national charity for people living with all types of allergy, comments, “Our most heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Celia Marsh for whom this inquest has undoubtedly resurrected the devastation of such a needless and tragic death of a loved one. We continue to be faced with a society that doesn’t take allergy seriously, which is why we urge the call to be heard for a UK Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry to be introduced without further delays. It is a crucial step in helping to ensure the risks of this happening to anyone again in the future are significantly reduced.”

To learn more visit www.bsaci.org.

Alder Tree Blackcurrant Ice Cream Scoops Great Taste Golden Fork Award for East Anglia

Following a stunning and record-breaking 14,205 food and drink entries from 110 countries all over the globe, Great Taste, the world's largest food and drink accreditation scheme based entirely on taste, has reached its grand finale for 2022.

Announced last night at the Great Taste Golden Forks ceremony held in Southwark Cathedral, the Great Taste Golden Fork trophy for East Anglia has been awarded to Alder Tree from Ipswich, Surrey, for its Blackcurrant Ice Cream, described as a “delicious balance of creaminess and tart fruit and pronounced blackcurrant flavour”.

The Alder Tree Blackcurrant Ice Cream is made by hand on the company's fruit farm to a traditional family recipe which calls for the use of only 100% British fruit and cream and sugar.

Thrilling the Great Taste judges with its “inviting, deep, rich purple colour”, the Alder Tree Blackcurrant Ice Cream made an impression at every stage of the blind-tasted judging process across the 90 days.

Rising to the top among hundreds of other entries from East Anglia, this “light and airy” ice cream was celebrated as being the best tasting product in its region at the highly anticipated ceremony, the culmination of Great Taste, the largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme on the planet - dubbed the 'Oscars' of the food & drink world and attended by food industry experts and influencers.

Says John Farrand, the MD with the Guild of Fine Food: “Unveiling the Great Taste Golden Fork winners is always a huge honour. After months of rigorous blind-tasting and judging, it is fantastic to reveal the award-winning products and celebrate the producers' hard work and innovation. It's been an exceptional year for creativity and inspirational food and drink entries. 

"Huge congratulations from all of us at GFF to all the award winners, it really isn't easy to do what you do - I have the utmost admiration for you all. And thank you to everyone who was involved in Great Taste 2022.”   

For more information on Alder Tree, see here: https://www.alder-tree.co.uk.

The Great Taste Golden Fork from East Anglia was sponsored by Shire Foods East Anglia. Also nominated this year were the Great Taste 3-star Hadley's Blackberry Ice Cream from Hadley's Dairy based in Colchester and a Beef & Bone Marrow Burger from The Gog which is based in Cambridge.

This year, food and drink products from 110 different countries were entered into the Great Taste accreditation scheme. Only 5,556 products – that's 39.1% of the total products entered this year – received either a Great Taste 1-, 2- or 3-star award, and of the 2,344 winning companies, 27% are based outside of the UK. 

The full list of this year's winners can be found at www.greattasteawards.co.uk and a wide range of the award-winning products are available to buy in delis, farm shops and independent retail outlets.

Visit – https://gff.co.uk

Established in 1994, Great Taste is organised by the Guild of Fine Food and is the world's largest, longest standing and most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food and drink producers. 

100% Environmentally Friendly Coffee Wins Great Taste Golden Fork Award for Wales

Following a record-breaking 14,205 food and drink entries from 110 countries all over the globe, Great Taste, the world's largest food and drink accreditation scheme based entirely on taste, has reached its grand finale for 2022.  

Announced last night at the Great Taste Golden Forks ceremony held at Southwark Cathedral, the Great Taste Golden Fork trophy for Wales has been awarded to Bay Coffee Roasters from Ceredigion, for its Indonesian Sumatran Fairtrade Organic coffee beans, described as having aromas “redolent of the cedar veneer found in quality cigar tubes” and a “full bodied coffee with spice notes at the front”. The Bay Coffee Roasters Indonesian Sumatran Fairtrade Organic is also made using 100% environmentally friendly energy.

Impressing the Great Taste judges with its “gentle, sweet, spicy flavours which dance around the mouth and then come together in a balanced harmony that finishes with a sweet, slightly fermented linger”, the Indonesian Sumatran Fairtrade Organic made an impression at every stage of the blind-tasted judging process across the 90 days.

Rising to the top among hundreds of other entries from Wales, this “complex but wholly approachable” coffee was celebrated as the best tasting product in its region at the highly anticipated ceremony the culmination of Great Taste, the world's largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme, dubbed the 'Oscars' of the food & drink world and attended by food industry experts and influencers.

John Farrand, who is the MD at the Guild of Fine Food said: “Unveiling the Great Taste Golden Fork winners is a huge honour. After months of rigorous blind-tasting and judging, it is fantastic to reveal the award-winning products and celebrate the producers' hard work and innovation. It's been an exceptional year for creativity and inspirational food and drink entries. Huge congratulations from all of us at GFF to all the award winners, it really isn't easy to do what you do - I have the utmost admiration for you all. And thank you to everyone who was involved in Great Taste 2022.”   

For more information on Bay Tree Roasters, you can visit them here: https://www.baycoffeeroasters.com

The Great Taste Golden Fork from Wales was sponsored by Food and Drink Wales. Also nominated this year were the Great Taste 3-star Espresso Martini Ice Cream by Mario's Luxury Dairy Ice Cream from Carmarthenshire and the Curried Goat Pattis from Tasty Bites @ Ionas Kitchen which is based in Gwent.

Get Britain Cooking: Cookable Launches a New Way to Learn to Cook

Cookable is on a special mission to Get Britain Cooking, and make learning to cook more accessible to more people.  The company has launched a 4 week course - Cooking Essentials - that is affordable, accessible, and effective -  bringing new learning opportunities to millions more people.

Cooking good food more often at home has never been more important.  Knowing how to cook will: 

Reduce food bills 

Reduce reliance on take outs/convenience 

Improve diet and health

Cooking Essentials is a dedicated 4 week online course.  It's designed for everyday home-cooks, it teaches how to cook quicker, healthier, and more affordable meals.  Crucially, it ticks all the boxes:

Effective: All the teaching is live and interactive, taken from your kitchen - the best way to learn.  

Flexible: Each weekly class is run multiple times through the week.  Every student can choose what time suits them best.  (Choices are weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons)

Affordable: The course - with the 4 live & interactive classes, plus the additional resources of recipes, how-to's and guides - sells for £50.

Cooking Essentials is for everyone: 

Anyone who wants to learn the basics, and cook more often at home 

Anyone who wants to rely less on take-outs and convenience meals 

Anyone who wants to feel confident, and conquer their kitchen 

Launched this summer, 2022, Cookable was born out of a lack of learning opportunities when it comes to cooking.  The company's flagship course Cooking Essentials - and the entire business model - is designed to make a significant difference to Britain's cooking ability: 

Scalable: Cookable's business model can scale to whatever the demand from the British public.  Allowing us to make a tangible improvement to our country's cooking habits. 

Effective: Live and interactive teaching is the best, most effective way to learn. 

Accessible: The course is at an affordable price point, and runs in a flexible format - taking classes from home, and at a time that suits the student.   

Jack Deane, founder said: “Particularly in our cost of living crisis, knowing how to cook is more important than ever.  Cookable is here to give everyone the chance to learn.  We're ready to bring our cooking course to anyone who wants it, and we're working with charities and educational bodies to bring it to those who need it most.  Let's Get Britain Cooking and reduce our bills, waste less food - and have more fun whilst we do it!”

https://cookable.co.uk.

That's Christmas: Planning ahead for a fantastic Christmas this year

That's Christmas: Planning ahead for a fantastic Christmas this year: Everyone will probably be feeling the pinch this year as we head toward Christmas. So how can you make sure that you, you family and your fr...

Aimia Foods Spice Up Their Range of 1883 Syrups With Pumpkin Spice, Gingerbread and Cinnamon

This is an amazing and ideal option for baristas and foodservice operators who want to create top quality, seasonal beverages, 1883 Pumpkin Spice, Gingerbread and Cinnamon syrups can be used to transform standard beverages into a seasonal, limited-edition options.

As Karen Green, Marketing Manager at Aimia Foods, enthused: “Consumers love to get into the spirit of the season, particularly as we approach Halloween and Christmas when customers crave the taste of exotic, wintery spices.

By adding a shot of 1883 Cinnamon syrup, baristas can satisfy this demand, transforming a standard latte, cappuccino or hot chocolate into a wintery delight, one that packs a spicy and sweet punch and can be charged for at a premium, especially when served in an aesthetic way.

With all the aromas and irresistible taste of a classic gingerbread recipe, 1883 Gingerbread syrup can be used in the same way, with subtle notes of cinnamon and ginger powering through, making it an ideal addition to many hot beverages.

Particularly popular in the run-up to Halloween, Pumpkin Spice 1883 syrup captures all the intensity of pumpkin, enhanced by notes of cinnamon, ginger, clove and nutmeg, making it an ideal option for baristas that want to share a slice of the profit opportunity that pumpkin spiced lattes have to offer.”

Steeped in history, every 1883 syrup has been expertly crafted since 1883 and are always made with the finest ingredients available including pure cane sugar and water from the French Alps in which surround 1883's home. What's more, the natural properties of 1883 syrups ensure consistent quality without the need for any preservatives.

Due to the impressive high concentration of 1883 syrups, a bottle has an extremely good yield compared to competitor syrups, with just 8ml per pump. 

How to put this into perspective? From a single 1 litre bottle of Pumpkin Spice syrup, baristas can create up to 125 pumpkin spice hot drinks or 63 cold drinks based on an 8oz cup.

To find your nearest stockist, or for more information on 1883, contact Aimia Foods on 01942 4086000 or visit www.aimiafoods.com

 

Great Taste First, as Fermented Fresh Green Kampot Peppercorns Revealed as Supreme Champion of 2022

The Great Taste Supreme Champion is the highest award for taste in the world, there is only one and it's the best of the best, the highest-scoring product in the whole competition. And it was revealed last night at the Golden Forks ceremony, the culmination of Great Taste, the world's largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme, dubbed the 'Oscars' of the food & drink world and attended by food industry experts and influencers.

The small, but mighty, peppercorns packed a massive punch and impressed the judges at every stage of the blind-tasting process, earning Kadode Kampot Pepper UK the highest honour for taste. Described as “an extremely interesting product with a delicate scent of salt on the nose”, the judges enjoyed the “soft crunch of the peppercorns and the layers of flavour that started salty, then fruity then have a kick of heat”.

John Farrand, the MD at the Guild of Fine Food said: “These Kadode punchy peppercorns are probably one of our most interesting winners so far. I'm impressed, but not surprised, to see a fermented product take home the Supreme Champion trophy this year. For many years, we've seen meat, fish and cheese doing very well in Great Taste, but every year is different, palates changes, flavour fashions evolve, and we're seeing a new desire for fermented and plant-based foods. These peppercorns are both.”

“It's such an honour to celebrate the Supreme Champion. We really saw that there was noticeably more innovation and creativity in the entries this year, and ingredients - like these peppercorns - certainly captured our judges. They really do taste exceptional.”

In the final stage of the awards, 241 Great Taste 3-star award-winning products were re-judged to find this year's Supreme Champion and regional Golden Fork trophy winners.

The Fermented Fresh Green Kampot Peppercorns come from southwest Cambodia, in the shadows of the Phnom Voir mountain range in Kampot Province. They undergo a unique natural process where young peppercorns are picked from the vine before being lacto-fermented – similar to that of yogurt, kimchi or pickles, producing a dark, juicy and almost snackable peppercorn. In the final stages of production, the peppercorns are preserved in Kampot fleur de sel. Tasting notes suggest heat, fruit, and citrus, and they can be served whole or crushed.

Food writer Melissa Thompson judged the peppercorns during the Great Taste 3-star final panel process and comments “I thought they were incredible. I think pepper for so long has been maligned as this sort of 'one note flavour', which we don't pay enough attention to, but these fermented peppercorns bring out the best of the already-loved ingredient. The fruitiness, the tang, the heat, - they are really addictive. I can eat them as is, but I'd love to cook with them or just sprinkle them over some cheese. I'm really excited by this product.”

As the top scoring product, the Fermented Fresh Green Kampot Peppercorns were also awarded the Great Taste Golden Fork for Best International Food and Drink – a double whammy of a win!

For more information about this year's Supreme Champion, please visit www.kadodepepper.co.uk.

Along with the Supreme Champion, 14 Great Taste Golden Fork trophies were also awarded:

Great Taste Golden Fork for Best International Food and Drink - Kadode Kampot Pepper UK for Fermented Fresh Green Kampot Peppercorns

Great Taste Golden Fork for Charcuterie Product of the Year - Highland Charcuterie and Smoke House for Wild Highland Venison Salami with Juniper, Smoked with Peat

Great Taste Golden Fork from East Anglia – Alder Tree for Blackcurrant Ice Cream

Great Taste Golden Fork from Ireland – Scúp Gelato for Natural Yogurt

Great Taste Golden Fork from London – Jemima's Deli for Jemima's Tahini Granola

Great Taste Golden Fork from the Midlands – GCL Food Ingredients for Nduja & Honey Mezzaluna

Great Taste Golden Fork from the North of England – Mr Vikki's for Black Lime Chutney

Great Taste Golden Fork from Northern Ireland – Baronscourt Estate for Wild Sika Venison Loin

Great Taste Golden Fork from Scotland – Heather Hills Farm for Scottish Heather Comb Honey

Great Taste Golden Fork from the South East and Great Taste Startisan of the Year – Sozye for Noya Sauce - Soya Sauce Alternative

Great Taste Golden Fork from the South West and Great Taste Small Artisan Producer of the Year – The Artisan Kitchen for Blaisdon Red Plum Jam

Great Taste Golden Fork from Wales – Bay Coffee Roasters for Indonesian Sumatran Fairtrade Organic

Nigel Barden Heritage Award – Martins Meats for Dry-aged Lamb Hogget Chops

The Guild of Fine Food also awarded its annual Lifetime Achievement award for contribution to the food and drink industry to Stuart Gates, former managing director of Fortnum & Mason and former director of Daylesford Organic and Harrods.

So... what is Great Taste?

Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else. All products in the line-up for judging are blind tasted: every product is removed from its packaging so it cannot be identified, before entering a robust, layered judging process. This year, the judging took place over 90 days across two judging locations (Dorset and London).

Great Taste's prestigious judging panel is made up of over 500 food & drink professionals, including critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers, retailers, journalists, broadcasters, and experts in the field. This experienced panel, each with trusted palates, have together tasted and re-judged the 3-star winning products to crown the Golden Fork trophy winners as well as the Great Taste 2022 Supreme Champion.

This year, food and drink products from 110 different countries were entered into the Great Taste accreditation scheme. Only 5,556 products – that's 39.1% of the total products entered this year – received either a Great Taste 1-, 2- or 3-star award, and of the 2,344 winning companies, 27% were based outside of the UK.

Information on where to buy the Fermented Fresh Green Kampot Peppercorns and all other 2022 winners can be found at www.greattasteawards.co.uk.

 

Final Call for Entries: World Cheese Awards 2022

Today, the Guild of Fine Food, organisers of the World Cheese Awards, would like to remind cheesemakers of the entry closing date for this year's awards; reveal more details about the World Cheese Market for trade; and announce important information for the Academy of Cheeses' Young Cheesemonger of the Year competition.

World Cheese Awards: Call for final entries

The entry closing date is Tuesday 20 September. Spaces are being quickly filled, with cheese entries coming in online from over 40 countries across the world. Cheesemakers shouldn't delay in submitting their entry forms, as the closing date will be brought forward if capacity is met.

This year will be the 34th edition of the World Cheese Awards, which is the largest 'cheese-only' event of its kind globally. The awards will be held at the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales), Newport, Wednesday 2 November.

John Farrand, who is the managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, the organisers of the competition, says: “We've seen some impressive entries already this year and look forward to those yet to come. With limited entry places, we're encouraging cheesemakers to get their submissions in as soon as possible to be part of this year's World Cheese Awards.

“For anyone involved in making, buying, or selling cheese, come and see us in Wales at the World Cheese Market and explore an array of exceptional cheeses and cheese people, from around the world. We look forward to having you join us and introducing the rich food and drink culture, history, and beauty of Wales.”

World Cheese Market: Trade visitors are welcome

The awards will also play host to the World Cheese Market on Tuesday 2 November. A total of 32 stalls surrounding the judging arena will be manned by cheesemakers, affineurs and a range of cheese accessories, so that trade visitors can take in the atmosphere of the judging spectacle whilst also enjoying a valuable day out from their business connecting with other industry professionals. Award-winning cheesemakers exhibiting at the market will include Cornish Cheese, Shepherds Purse Cheeses, Quesos Rey Silo, Quickes, Treur Kass and White Lake Cheese. For any trade wishing to attend the market, please visit: gff.co.uk/world-cheese-market-2022/ to book your free trade tickets.

Young Cheesemonger of the Year 2022 – Run by the Academy of Cheese, the Young Cheesemonger of the Year competition will take place at this year's World Cheese Awards in Wales. An innovative contest to find the brightest, freshest talent in the world of cheese retail. The competition has been established to celebrate rising talent, promote cheese knowledge, and provide career development opportunities within the industry.

Tracey Colley, director of the Academy of Cheese, comments “The Academy are thrilled to once again support the search for Young Cheesemonger of the Year. It's an award that is completely aligned to the Academy's ethos of championing skills and knowledge within the industry. I hope that in years to come, many more young cheesemongers will develop their passion for the sector through our accreditation programme. Previous contestants have gone onto great jobs in the cheese industry, including Senior Buyer, Head Cheesemaker and Cheese Grader”.

Free to enter, the competition is open to any cheesemonger under the age of 30, with applicants being asked initially to provide a short biography and submit recommendations for their perfect cheeseboard. Shortlisted entrants will be invited to attend the World Cheese Awards in Wales and compete against their peers across four testing rounds. The rounds will comprise of delivery of the rationale behind their cheeseboard selection; demonstration of their “cut and wrap” skills; a cheese identification round, and the final round - MasterRind - a quiz about cheeses from around the world. Sure to be a highlight of the competition, MasterRind will be hosted by Justin Tunstall, an award-winning cheesemonger-turned cheese judge, consultant, and food champion.

The winner of the award will be announced at the World Cheese Awards dinner on Wednesday 2 November. Full details of this, along with the application form, can be found on the Academy of Cheese's website: academyofcheese.org/young-cheesemonger-of-the-year/

As well as a bright future and the coveted title of Young Cheesemonger of the Year 2022, the winner will receive a trophy and will also be invited to judge at the World Cheese Awards 2023. International contestants are welcome, and all entries are to be submitted by Friday 9 September.

Keep up to date on socials: @guildoffinefood #WorldCheeseAwards

Scottish Heather Comb Honey Wins Great Taste Golden Fork Award for Scotland

Following a somewhat staggering and record-breaking 14,205 food and drink entries from 110 countries across the world, Great Taste, the world's largest food and drink accreditation scheme based entirely on taste, has reached its grand finale for 2022.

Announced last night at the Great Taste Golden Forks ceremony held at Southwark Cathedral, the Great Taste Golden Fork trophy for Scotland has been awarded to Heather Hills Farm from Perth and Kinross for its Scottish Heather Comb Honey, described as having “a wonderful deep rich caramel edge that lingers on the palate beautifully” and suggesting flavours of “lavender and subtle fruit alongside pure heather loveliness”.

The Scottish Heather Comb Honey is only available in limited supply after each heather honey harvest season which occurs at the end of November of each year.

You can find Scottish Heather Comb Honey here http://www.heatherhills.co.uk.

Impressing the Great Taste judges with its “rich golden colour, and remarkably floral aroma with the character of sweet alyssum”, the Scottish Heather Comb Honey made an impression at every stage of the blind-tasted judging process across the 90 days.

Rising to the top among hundreds of other entries from Scotland, this “delightful, rich and pleasing” Comb Honey was celebrated as the best tasting product in its region at the highly anticipated ceremony – the culmination of Great Taste – the largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme on the planet - dubbed the 'Oscars' of the food & drink world and attended by food industry experts and influencers.

John Farrand, managing director at the Guild of Fine Food comments: “Unveiling the Great Taste Golden Fork winners is a huge honour. After months of rigorous blind-tasting and judging, it is fantastic to reveal the award-winning products and celebrate the producers' hard work and innovation. It's been an exceptional year for creativity and inspirational food and drink entries. Huge congratulations from all of us at GFF to all the award winners, it really isn't easy to do what you do - I have the utmost admiration for you all. And thank you to everyone who was involved in Great Taste 2022.”   

The Great Taste Golden Fork from Scotland was sponsored by Scotland Food & Drink. Also nominated this year were the Great Taste 3-star Orkney Akvavit from Orkney Gin Company based in the Orkney Islands and Scotch Reserve Pure Royal Filet from St James Smokehouse based in Dumfries and Galloway.

What is Great Taste? 

Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else. All products in the line-up for judging are blind tasted: every product is removed from its packaging so it cannot be identified, before entering a robust, layered judging process. This year, the judging took place over 90 days across two judging locations (Dorset and London).

Great Taste's prestigious judging panel is made up of over 500 food & drink professionals, including critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers, retailers, journalists, broadcasters, and experts in the field. This experienced panel, each with trusted palates, have together tasted and re-judged the 3-star winning products to crown the Golden Forks trophy winners as well as the Great Taste 2022 Supreme Champion.

This year, food and drink products from 110 different countries were entered into the Great Taste accreditation scheme. Only 5,556 products – that's 39.1% of the total products entered this year – received either a Great Taste 1-, 2- or 3-star award, and of the 2,344 winning companies, 27% are based outside of the UK. 

The full list of this year's winners can be found at www.greattasteawards.co.uk and a wide range of the award-winning products are available to buy in delis, farm shops and independent retail outlets.

Keep up to date on socials: @guildoffinefood #ISpyGreatTaste

Visit – https://gff.co.uk.