Genetically modified food tops mis-selling list in York

“Home made” foods that weren’t

The York Council, has published a list of the cons some food retailers attempted during last year.

red strawberry

The Council says, “During food standards inspections and sampling exercises carried out between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013 the following incidents of mis-description have been found:

  • Use of  undeclared genetically modified foods (vegetable oil) 9
  • Homemade/home  cooked foods that weren’t 7
  • Parmesan & Feta cheese 6
  • Scampi/Crab containing white fish/Surimi 5
  • Meat products containing additional types of undeclared meat 5
  • Cheaper brands of food/drink being used 4
  • Cheese analogue/substitute used instead of cheese 4
  • Spring water used instead “mineral water” 3
  • Incorrect origin or other claim 3
  • Turkey ham being used instead of ham (ie pork) 2
  • Margarine used instead of butter 2
  • Cod substituted with haddock/Pangasius 2
  • Substitution of dairy cream with non-dairy product 1
  • Frozen food described as “fresh” 1

There were also 18 incidences of under strength spirits found during inspections/sampling. However these may not be “deliberate” as they appeared to be due to the use of open top pourers on bottles, which led to evaporation of the alcohol rather than eg “watering” of spirits”.

£1 million York cycling velodrome scheme set for approval tomorrow

velodrome

The much delayed outdoor velodrome at the University of York is set to gain approval at a Planning meeting which is taking place tomorrow.

York Council taxpayers are contributing £200,000 towards the project which is described in Council budget papers as a “closed cycle circuit”.

The application is for the construction of a 250m-long, 7m-wide, tarmac surfaced, outdoor “velodrome”.

The track would be oval-shaped and banked at each end. The base of the track and the central oval would be at existing ground level.

The banking at each end would rise to 4m above existing ground level and have a gradient of approximately 18%. The track profile would be achieved by creating earth banking to support the track.

The bank would be topped by a 2m-wide footpath for spectator viewing. A handrail and fence along the top of the bank would provide protection for spectators.

The centre of the oval would be partly hard surfaced and partly grassed.

Connecting Care in York

‘Connecting Care’, the City of York Local Account for Adult Social Care for 2013 is now online.

The report sets out the current local picture of adult social care services with health and financial data and how services are performing, along with the strategic aims for improving and integrating health and social care services in the future.

To view Connecting Care visit www.york.gov.uk/localaccount

York’s 2014 Apprenticeship Challenge launches with recruitment event for young people

City of York Council will launch the second Apprenticeship Challenge with a professional Apprenticeship recruitment event on Thursday 27 February from 5pm to 8pm.

The event, which will take place at West Offices, looks to provide information on Apprenticeships for young people as well as offering the chance to meet with fifteen employers offering over 40 Higher and Advanced Apprenticeship vacancies. Training providers, along with The National Careers Service and the National Apprenticeship Service, will also be on hand to answer any questions relating to  Apprenticeships .

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York’s Children’s Centres praised by Ofsted as budget cuts loom

The work of children’s centres in the South East of York has been praised by independent inspectors, Ofsted.

Inspectors rated the Knavesmire, St Lawrences and The Avenues children’s centres as ‘Good’ in their first inspection, highlighting the centres’ work with vulnerable and hard-to-reach families as particularly strong.

In York, Labour are planning to cut over £260,000 from the Children’s Centre budget over the next 2 years.

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