Sober October with New London Light

You need sacrifice nothing this Sober October with New London Light, a bold collection of contemporary non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs from the multi award-winning distillers at Salcombe Distilling Co. 

Thanks to innovative flavour combinations and a pioneering production method, New London Light (NLL) is setting the global standard in taste for the fast-growing alcohol-free spirits category, ensuring that alcohol-free no longer means second best.

Available in three expressions 'First Light', 'Aegean Sky' and 'Midnight Sun', New London Light can be enjoyed straight up, with tonic, or as part of a cocktail. New London Light 'Midnight Sun' is now also available to buy in selected Waitrose & Partners stores (RRP £27.50, 70cl, 0% ABV).

Serving the alcohol-free community as well as the growing market of drinkers wanting to reduce their alcohol intake somewhat, NLL provides options that will make it easy to create new habits. With all natural ingredients and no artificial flavours or added sugar, consumers can rest assured they are drinking something pure. They can also be sure they are doing some good, since every bottle purchased in the UK helps protect and regenerate Seagrass, with 1% of sales donated to the Marine Conservation Society.

New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

As unique as the rugged Nordic coast from where it takes its inspira7on, New London Light 'Midnight Sun' is a layered and elegant non-alcoholic aperi7f combining wild coastal berries, fresh kelp and pine. On the nose there is a delicate combination of floral elderflower and fresh pine with a hint of berry sweetness and herbaceous dill. Sweet yet complex berry flavours are found on the palate with a touch of salinity from kelp and samphire. Floral notes of elderflower and resinous pine provide a full spectrum of flavour. The finish is long and lingering with natural sweetness making way for elderberry tartness, dryness from sage and pine and lasting sense of the sea from the subtle flavours of kelp.

'Midnight Sun & Tonic'

New London Light 'Midnight Sun' is best served in a 'Midnight Sun & Tonic' to give a new perspective on complex flavour combinations.

Ingredients:

50ml New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

150ml Premium light tonic water

1 Raspberry

1 Mint leaf

Method:

Fill a highball glass with ice

Add a large measure of New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

Add 150ml of Premium light tonic water

Garnish with 1 raspberry and a mint leaf

Gently stir and serve

'Oslo Highball'

This crisp, fragrant, and ultimately thirst-quenching serve is like taking in a deep breath of fresh Nordic air in the glowing Midnight sun.

Ingredients:

50ml New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

15ml lime juice

15ml honey water*

Raspberry dash water

Blueberries

Dill

Method:

Muddle 3 blueberries in a cocktail shaker, before adding the New London Light 'Midnight Sun', lime juice and honey water

Fill with ice and shake for 15 seconds

Double strain into a chilled highball over ice

Top with dash water with wonky raspberries

Garnish with a sprig of dill and 2 blueberries

*To make the honey water, add 100ml of honey to 100ml of boiling water in a jug and stir until the honey has dissolved. Place in the fridge to cool before using.

'Alpenglow'

Named after an optical phenomenon when red light appears on high mountains, this sour style serve takes all of the berry and pine flavours from the land of the Midnight Sun and showcases them effortlessly.

Ingredients:

50ml New London Light 'Midnight Sun'

15ml Lime juice

15ml Honey water*

25ml Cranberry juice

3 x Fresh raspberries

20ml Aquafaba

Freeze-dried raspberries to garnish

Method:

Add New London Light 'Midnight Sun', lime juice, honey water, cranberry juice, fresh raspberries, and aquafaba to a cocktail shaker and dry shake without ice for 15 seconds

Add ice to the shaker and shake hard again for a further 15 seconds

Double strain into a chilled tumbler over ice

Garnish with freeze-dried raspberries

*To make the honey water, add 100ml of honey to 100ml of boiling water in a jug and s7r un7l the honey has dissolved. Place in the fridge to cool before using.

New London Light 'First Light', 'Aegean Sky' and 'Midnight Sun' are all available from salcombegin.com, RRP £27.50 for a 70CL boQle, 0% ABV.

For further information about Salcombe Distilling Co. and New London Light visit salcombedistilling.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook at newlondonlight.

Didsbury Gin is a real hit and a real winner

Didsbury Gin is a real hit and a real winner.

My wife and I and her cousin Dorothy were invited to try Didsbury Gin's Strawberry and Sicilian Lemon Gin.

My wife was intrigued by the taste, but was feeling a little bit left out as she doesn't particularly like the taste of strawberry.

However, Dorothy and myself really loved this particular gin type. There's a delicious marriage of the real Sicilian lemons and natural strawberry flavouring, which we found work together very well.

In fact Dorothy, who is a real gin aficionado, declared it absolutely delicious, a sentiment that I found it easy to agree with.

We made some old style cocktails using ginger ale, soda water and Indian tonic water. And each one worked remarkably well.

What other Didsbury Gin types are available? Original, Blood Orange and Ginger, Raspberry and Elderflower. To make a delicious pink gin.

They use natural fruits and ingredients, are vegan friendly and are one of the nicest gins we have been honoured to try. And all produced in Didsbury, in Manchester.

Incidentally they also produce pre-mixed cocktail cans, mixers and special gifts. 

We would like to thank the kind folks at Didsbury Gin. To learn more about the gin and to learn some really nifty cocktail recipes (remember to use them this Christmas!) please visit them at www.didsburygin.com.

Elephant Gin Brings "Ready-to-Drink" Cocktail Classic Negroni to the Home Bar!

Africa meets Italy. Just in time for Negroni Week (12th -18th September) Elephant Gin launches its newest product, a ready-to-drink version of the popular Red Negroni (28% ABV). Bitter-sweet and finely balanced, the classic drink hits the taste buds for all those who love the combination of complex sweetness, straightforward bitterness and want bar quality cocktail experiences at home.

The Negroni, a cocktail classic and great-grandfather of the Aperitivo family, consists of three components: Bitters, sweet vermouth and gin. This September, Elephant Gin brings the classic aperitif to the home as a "ready-to-drink version". The flavour profile of Elephant Gin Negroni convinces with a sophisticated balance of bitter and sweet flavours consisting of equal parts Elephant Aged Gin, vermouth and bitters all providing plenty of depth and personality which are then rounded out by six months of ageing in oak barrels.

The oak ageing enriches the drink adding depth and texture as well as creating a slightly smoky aroma. Despite ageing, a wonderful balance of bitter-sweet wormwood and Elephant Aged Gin flavours is maintained. A German Riesling from winemaker Stefan Winter was used to create a well-balanced sweet vermouth. All ingredients are produced by Elephant Gin and contain no artificial additives.

"The ready to drink trend is here to stay. Consumers like it simple, but at the same time insist on high quality. With our new Negroni we serve these demands and can offer existing and new customers a high quality ready-to-drink cocktail experience using the best possible ingredients without any artificial additives ``, says Tessa Gerlach, Co-founder of Elephant Gin. 

Highly sophisticated and finely nuanced, Elephant Gin Negroni brings not only cocktail history, but a classic and elegant cocktail to the home. Enjoy over ice and garnish with an orange zest.

True to the brand's core, each bottle (700 ml) is adorned with traditional Maasai beads, handmade by three women from a Kenyan Maasai tribe. In addition, 15% of bottle profits will go to the recently established Elephant Gin Foundation, which supports important projects to protect the African elephant.

Better Gin. Safer Elephants.

Drinking Recommendation:

Fill the tumbler with a large ice cube, pour 100 ml Elephant Gin Negroni, garnish with an orange zest. Served at sunset or before dinner but best with good company.

Serves 7 cocktails

Available through the Elephant Gin Shop (www.elephant-gin.com/shop).

From December 2022 also via Amazon

RRP £35.90/700ml

What's it all about?

About Elephant Gin

In 2013, Elephant Gin Founders, Tessa and Robin Gerlach, were inspired to create their range of premium handcrafted gins following their adventures in Africa. The award-winning Elephant London Dry Gin (45%) was first to the portfolio. The range was complemented by the aromatic Elephant Sloe Gin (35%), the full-bodied Elephant Strength Gin (57%) and the fresh Elephant Orange Cocoa Gin (40%).  

Inspired by the African sundowner experience, Elephant Gin combines rare African botanicals with fresh apples. Each of Elephant Gin's unique bottles is individually crafted with handwritten labels, excerpts of African maps and an embossed crest of the Maasai. Elephant Gin is highly lauded by the leading spirits adjudicators, as depicted below, the latest grand prize is The Spirits Business' Gin Masters Awards 2021, where Elephant Gin was labelled the world's best gin by a panel of independent judges, who described the gin as simply “stunning”.

Safer Elephants.

Elephant Gin gives back to what has inspired the brand in the first place: 15% of bottle profits are donated to the endangered African elephant. So far, over €1,000,000 has been raised through sales and fundraising events. From September 2022, donations will go directly to the Elephant Gin Foundation, a grant-making foundation that invests in African elephant conservation and educational projects.

Key Stockists (Range Various Between Outlets)

Ocado, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, The Whiskey Exchange, and the Elephant Gin Online Shop at www.elephant-gin.com.

Bar Stockists (A Selection)

Oriole, The Gibson, The Coral Room, Davies & Brooks, Dukes, The Dorchester, Mr Fogg's, Amazonico, 5 Hertford Street, Hotel Café Royal, Quo Vadis, 45 Jermyn Street, Eve Bar.

Make Christmas About Kindness This Year: Shop Local and Win a Hamper for You and a Friend

Make Christmas About Kindness This Year: Shop Local and Win a Hamper for You and a Friend

What could be better than spreading kindness while doing your Christmas shopping this year?

Produced in Kent, the membership organisation supporting the county's independent artisan producers, is launching a Christmas Kindness competition, it's an effortless way to support local and spread happiness.

Join in the festive fun and support your local shops, crafters, or producers to be in with a chance to WIN two Christmas hampers (worth over £250 each) filled with festive Kentish goodies – one for yourself and another for someone you think deserves some Christmas Kindness.

How to Enter

Pop into participating shops (see below) or visit their online stores.

Purchase a lovely local gift.

Scan the Produced in Kent QR code at the till or follow the link on your e-receipt.

Enter your details for the chance to win a hamper for yourself and a friend.

Feel good about supporting local business.

Entry Tips

For a bonus entry - share a selfie on Instagram or Facebook (a post, not story) of yourself with your shopping and tag @ProducedinKent #ChristmasKindness

Get the kids involved by spotting the Produced in Kent QR codes in stores.

Purchase from as many participating businesses as you like, the more entries, the greater your chance of winning.

Think about who your chosen co-winner might be, who deserves a treat this Christmas?

Participating Shops

A wide range of producers and retailers catering for every festive need are taking part, as well as donating prizes to the hampers – including the Produced in Kent shop at Bluewater. For exceptional wines visit participating vineyards Balfour Winery and Simpsons Wine Estate, for beer gift inspiration visit Musket Brewery and the Old Dairy Brewery for natural beauty products & more visit Fox & Bloom and Romney Marsh Wools, and for local spirits visit The Maidstone Distillery. For the full list of participating businesses and prizes visit www.producedinkent.co.uk/christmas-kindness.

From wrist warmers to wine; beer to bedding; art to artisan foods, Kent producers will have something for everyone this Christmas. Friends and family will be delighted with a gift from Kent, while your purchase will support the regional economy and the local community. It's a win for everyone!

The campaign is being backed by Kent industry, including the generosity of sponsors Café Nucleus and FoodE by Oak Creative. The competition will run from 1st October to 16th December 2022. A winner will be selected at random on 19th December and the hamper will be sent out to them and their nominated person in time for Christmas. For the full terms and conditions of the competition visit www.producedinkent.co.uk/christmas-kindness.

 

Presca Coffee

Presca Coffee's Signature Edition coffee is a genuinely delicious single-origin ethically sourced coffee.

The coffee beans are a 100% Arabica speciality coffee. 

It's grown at an altitude of 1,800 to 1,900 metres and is carefully washed.

The varietals are caturra and catuai.

They are carefully and lovingly roasted at the Presca coffee bean roastery which is in Bristol.

What does it taste like? It has a low level of acidity, is described as having a creamy body and has a cherry finish, with hints of orange peel. 

It's also delightfully sweet, too, without needing any added sweetness. Sorry, organic honey! You are sitting this one out!

I have to agree. There's a certain fruitiness to it and I could certainly detect a very present orangey taste to it.

I like this coffee, but my wife absolutely adores it!

And what's more it ticks all sorts of boxes as it is produced by the Tarrazu Co-Operative from the San Luis Lot. They are consistently winning awards and prizes as the best coffee foundation in the whole of Costa Rica.

Learn about this coffee here https://www.prescasportswear.com/products/presca-coffee-signature-edition

And whilst you are there check out all the other good stuff that Presca offers.

An update on The Gary Barlow Organic Red Wine

Gary Barlow OBE Organic Red Wine is priced at £7.99 and is currently on offer.

This is an update on the Gary Barlow Organic Red Wine we were talking about the other day.

Gary's Organic Red Wine is a real god send to red wine drinkers, especially those who really go for organic wines. 

It's absolutely delicious! It comes with a genuine red wine juiciness, more than a hint of wild berries and with a touch of spiciness. My wife can detect an element of chocolate in it, but to be honest, I'm not sure I could. But then again, my wife is the wine expert rather than me!

It matches well with traditional Spanish tapas meals (this wine is, of course, from the heart of the Central Castilla region of Spain) and it is also a perfect accompaniment with any meat dish. Including a green and black peppered beef sandwich of my own invention! 

Interestingly it also goes remarkably well with adult conversation on the patio or in the conservatory on a warm summer's eve!

To learn more please visit http://www.thebottleclub.com.

Spare Snacks Secures Major National Listings for Kid-Friendly Range

St Albans based husband & wife (and mum & dad!) duo, Spare Snacks produce delicious, crunchy anytime snacks for all the family. 

Made with 100% whole fruit, the healthy and affordable range contains no added sugar, salt, fat or oil and a pack counts as one of your five a day. 

Spare believes snacks should taste good and do good, that's why they transform wonky apples into healthy crisps, so the more you snack, the less goes to waste.

Having quickly become firm favourites on Ocado and Amazon, as well as an increasing number of schools and independent outlets, in 2021, Spare's kid-friendly range, Scrapples, is now launching into hundreds of supermarkets and schools, as well as on board British Airways flights. 

Having seen an increase in demand for healthy, sustainable snacks, Spare launched kid-friendly Scrapples Apple, Apple & Mango, and Apple & Strawberry Crisps. With eye-catching design, Scrapples come in at under 50 calories; they're high in fibre and mess-free, perfect for on-the-go healthy snacking or as a nourishing lunch box treat. Stocked by the UK's leading school caterer, Chartwell's, Scrapples is the healthiest kids fruit snack on the market.

July 2022 sees Scrapples launch to British Airways' Speedbird Café, just in time for the school holidays. The Scrapples range will also launch multipacks and single bags into major retail for the first time, rolling out across Morrisons and Co-Op stores around the country, as well as to Ocado, from the end of August 2022, in readiness for the new school year.

Over 930m tonnes of edible food is wasted globally each and every year; Spare makes use of both wonky raw and dried apples that are often rejected because they are misshapen, blemished, or deemed the wrong shape or size. 

The wonky apples are always fresh and delicious, they just happen to look a bit irregular; Spare transforms them into beautifully healthy, Great Taste Award-winning apple crisps that are good for people, producers, and the planet. Hence Spare's mantra: Waste Not, Want Lots!

Founder Ben Whitehead says, “We're so excited that our healthy and sustainable snacks are resonating with parents and buyers alike. Being able to bring Scrapples to the mass market across retail, schools and travel is an important milestone for us and comes at the perfect back-to-school moment. I can't stomach the fact that millions of tonnes of edible fruit and veg are wasted each year, whilst only 23% of us eat our five a day. 

"That's why I started transforming surplus fruit into healthy snacks. Being able to bring Scrapples to Morrisons, Ocado and Co-Op shoppers and British Airways passengers is a step that will be welcomed by fellow parents as a handy, healthy, and mess-free option for keeping the kids fed and entertained, whilst our new Top Bumps character cards also give them a chance to chat about food sustainability in a fun way.”

Dimitry Onaka, a Co-op Buyer as part of its Community Buying Team and Incubator Programme, adds, “We are delighted to work with Spare Snacks, as one of the inaugural group of businesses participating in our incubator scheme they are an exciting and innovative producer with a real point of difference and something unique to excite shoppers. Our 'apiary' programme is designed to help anticipate and, respond to changing consumer tastes and needs, while mentoring and supporting local suppliers as part of our commitment to creating value and making a difference in our local communities – we are really looking forward to seeing their products on our shelves.”

For more information, please visit www.scrapples.co.uk.

What's available?

Scrapples Apple & Mango Crisps, RRP from £0.70 per 12g bag, RRP from £2.65 per box of 5 x 12g bags

Scrapples Apple Crisps, RRP from £0.70 per 12g bag, RRP from £2.65 per box of 5 x 12g bags

Scrapples Apple & Strawberry Crisps, RRP from £0.70 per 12g bag, RRP from £2.65 per box of 5 x 12g bags

Spare Apple Crisps, RRP from £1.00 per 22g bag

Spare Apple & Mango Crisps, RRP from £1.00 per 22g bag

Where can you buy them?

Ocado (Scrapples Apple Crisps, Scrapples Apple & Mango Crisps and Scrapples Apple & Strawberry Crisps (12g); Spare Apple Crisps and Spare Apple & Mango Crisps (22g); NEW Scrapples Apple Multipacks; Scrapples Apple & Mango Multipacks)

Amazon (Scrapples Bulk Boxes and Spare Bulk Boxes)

British Airways Speedbird Café (Scrapples Apple & Mango Crisps)

NEW Morrisons (Scrapples Apple Multipacks; Scrapples Apple & Mango Multipacks)

NEW Morrisons (Scrapples Apple Crisps; Scrapples Apple & Mango Crisps)

From 19th September 2022

NEW Co-Op (Scrapples Apple Crisps; Scrapples Apple & Mango Crisps; Scrapples Apple & Strawberry Crisps; Scrapples Apple Multipacks; Scrapples Apple & Mango Multipacks)

From 21st September 2022

NEW Chartwells – The UK'S Leading School Catering Company (Scrapples Apple Crisps; Scrapples Apple & Mango Crisps; Scrapples Apple & Strawberry Crisps)

From 1st September 2022

NEW Brakes – Wholesaler (Scrapples Apple Crisps; Scrapples Apple & Mango Crisps; Scrapples Apple & Strawberry Crisps and Spare Apple Crisps and Spare Apple & Mango Crisps)

 What benefits are there?

High in fibre

No added sugar, fat or salt

One of your kid's five a day

Nothing artificial

100% fruit

Low calorie (42-44kcal per pack)

Air dried, never fried

Great Taste Award winning

No mess

Allergen Free

No palm oil

Perfect for lunchboxes, on the go and for a healthy post-school snack

Recyclable packaging

Schools-approved

Tackles, and raises awareness of, food waste

Vegan

Whole wonky fruit

                                                                                   

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.