CASE STUDIES
FOOD ANALYSIS
As a former Public Analyst, Paul has analysed virtually every food type on the UK market for composition, additives, contaminants and allergens.
Paul is an expert in the interpretation of analytical data against legal and quality standards. He also has considerable experience in assessing the microbiological quality of foods and has acted as expert witness in many cases involving mould, yeast or bacterial contamination.
One consultancy example related to a national recall of a flavoured soft drink following complaints of a petrol taint. Consumers, incorrectly, thought that the bottles had been contaminated with fuel.
Investigations showed that the taint was due to contamination with mould that was feeding on an artificial preservative in the drink. The level of the preservative was too low to stop the mould growing but was just high enough to provide a food source! Sorbic acid preservative was being metabolised to produce pentadiene - which has a petrol-like odour and taste. Following factory inspections, Paul was able to recommend changes to procedures that minimised the mould contamination and eliminated the taint.
Another case involved mould growth on pitta bread, well before the best before date. Investigations showed that the modified atmosphere pack contained insufficient carbon dioxide to stem mould growth. A simple increase in CO2 concentration solved the problem.
CASE STUDIES
TOXIC NUTS
This case related to a large consignment of pistachio nuts from Iran held at Southampton Docks for Port Health inspection.
The accompanying paperwork indicated that the nuts had been tested for aflatoxins and satisfied EU regulations. Aflatoxins are poisonous substances produced by Aspergillus, a fungus which is common in hot and humid climates. Maximum levels of aflatoxins are laid down in EU Regulations. Products exceeding these limits must not be placed on the EU market.
Paul's role as official Port Analyst was to analyse the nuts for compliance because once certified they would be free to be sold anywhere in the EU. The regulations stipulate very complex sampling and analysis procedures so an exhaustive knowledge of the regulations was crucial.
Tests in the Public Analyst laboratory showed that the levels of aflatoxin in the nuts were over 5 times the permissible maximum. Paul's evidence in court showed that the importer's lab had not sampled the product correctly and the court ordered the destruction of the entire consignment.
CASE STUDIES
SALMONELLA IN CHOCOLATE
Following a major chocolate recall due to contamination with the food poisoning bacteria Salmonella, Paul was engaged as an Expert Witness by a major insurance company.
His brief was to establish whether the chocolate manufacturer had been wilfully negligent or had made a genuine mistake. The outcome of his investigation had major implications - if the company had been wilfully negligent then it would not receive millions of pounds of insurance money.
After poring over dozens of quality assurance protocols, records and microbiological test results, Paul was able to conclude that the Company had not been wilfully negligent and had stuck to its prescribed quality and safety protocols. However, in his opinion, the protocol was not based on best practice science so was fundamentally flawed. The protocol has since been changed.
The insurance company was satisfied that the chocolate manufacturer had not been wilfully negligent so paid out the multi million pound settlement.