Two food laboratories gain food research prize
Year between two food research laboratories, both based in the UK.
Oxoid has split this year's award for its Oxoid Laboratory of the Year between two food research laboratories, both based in the UK.
After what the company described as a rigorous judging process the winner of Contract Laboratory of Year was named as Eclipse Scientific's microbiology lab based in Ashford, Kent and theIn-House Laboratory of the Year‚ award went to Katsouris of Wembley,Middlesex.
The laboratory at Eclipse performs analysis on food, water, pharmaceuticaland environmental samples. In a year where they faced an increasing workloadand relocation of the laboratory (with complete revalidation, audit andapproval of all UKAS accredited methods within one month of moving), plusthe addition of a further 5 methods to the UKAS scope of accreditation andthe validation of all methods applicable to the new drinking waterregulations, the judges felt that the laboratory team had shown "tremendousdedication; maintaining and even improving on their high standards ofservice throughout challenging times."
The laboratory's on-going commitmentto staff training and development, and the high priority given to customerservice were also factors that persuaded the judges to award them the prize.
Katsouris are manufacturers of ready meals for the major food retailers andtheir in-house laboratory performs microbiological and chemical testing onthese short shelf life convenience foods - from raw materials through tofinished product - as well as environmental monitoring. In addition totheir routine testing work, the laboratory's proactive approach to factoryhygiene, commitment to training and involvement in new product developmentwas cited by the judges as being "an extraordinarily successful use of asmall team of people."
"I think this award is a fantastic way of acknowledging people for theirhard work and effort," said Mike Wigglesworth of Eclipse. "It's great that Oxoid has recognised the differences in the types of work carried out bycontract and in-house laboratories, providing a separate award for eachcategory."
Ravendra Chand of Katsouris echoed the sentiments, "We are allextremely pleased to have won this Oxoid Award and to have the work of ourin-house laboratory so publicly recognised within the industry."
Southern Salads (Tonbridge, Kent) received 2nd prize for their holisticapproach to food hygiene and the lab at Del Monte (Thetford, Norfolk)received 3rd prize for their devotion to maintaining high standards whilstundergoing a change of ownership.
Oxoid devised the Laboratory of the Year award to recognise outstandingmicrobiological achievement within the food industry. The finalists wereselected by a panel of judges from throughout the industryincluding Chris Bell, food industry consultant and author of many books onfood microbiology, Melody Greenwood, Laboratory Director at WessexEnvironmental Microbiology Services - winners of last year's Laboratory ofthe Year Award - and Roy Betts, Head of Microbiology at Campden andChorleywood Food Research Association.
