What is a jelly mini-cup?

Jelly mini-cup confectionery is defined according to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, as “jelly confectionery of a firm consistence, contained in semi rigid mini-cups or mini-capsules, intended to be ingested in a single bite by exerting pressure on the mini-cups or mini-capsule to project the confectionery into the mouth”.

Although the definition seems straightforward, it poses several difficulties, for example what does ‘firm consistence’ mean and how should ‘intended to be ingested in a single bite’ be interpreted? These difficulties have been the basis for disputes and requests for advice for the Government Chemist team for a number of years.

Food additive law bans the use of a range of gel-forming compounds in such products to avoid the possibility of ‘plugging’ the airway. Disputes arise, not about the presence of the additives, but about the definition of the product in which they are banned. If a jelly confectionery product conforms to the definition of a jelly mini-cup, it must not contain the banned gel forming additives.

Workshop on assessment of jelly cups

As a consequence of our involvement in assisting the authorities and businesses to interpret the relevant legislation since 2004, we have gathered extensive expertise in the evaluation and assessment of these confectionery items. We organised a workshop covering advice and guidance to interested groups on the assessment and evaluation that took place on 13 March at LGC in Teddington with the aim of disseminating that expertise.

The workshop was oversubscribed, attended by 22 delegates representing enforcement offices (Trading Standard Officers and Environmental Health Officers), Public Analysts and traders. The workshop included talks by Selvarani Elahi, Michael Walker and Ian Axford (expert in Consumer Safety Regulation) and practical sessions in the laboratory. There was a good deal of exchange of information and opinion and the feedback was very positive.

The event helped clarify the thinking about emerging ‘borderline compliant’ products appearing on the market and enhanced significantly the consistency with which this choking hazard will be regulated in the future.

For more information on the event or the work that we do contact:

New cases of tuberculosis (TB) in England have fallen to the lowest levels since records began in 1960. The new data published by Public Health England (PHE) comes ahead of World TB Day on Sunday March 24 2019.

Following action by PHE, the NHS and others, there was a 44% drop in new diagnoses from the peak in 2011 to 2018 (from 8,280 to 4,672), with an 8.4% fall in diagnoses between 2017 and 2018 alone.

PHE is working towards the World Health Organisation (WHO) goal to halve TB incidence by 2025, and ultimately eliminate the disease.

TB is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. The most common symptoms of TB are a persistent cough for more than 3 weeks, unexplained weight loss, fever and night sweats. Although TB can be fatal if left untreated, it is curable for the majority with a course of antibiotics.

While huge strides have been made to reduce TB rates, further work needs to be done to eliminate the disease in England. The most deprived 10% of the population have a rate of TB more than 7 times higher than the least deprived 10%, and people born outside the UK have a rate 13 times higher than people born in the UK. People, especially those from these communities, should be aware of the symptoms and make sure they visit their GP if they are concerned.

PHE has played a key role in driving down the rates of TB in England, working with NHS England and other partner organisations to implement the Collaborative tuberculosis strategy for England: 2015 to 2020.

This includes raising awareness and tackling TB in vulnerable populations, ensuring patients successfully complete treatment, and strengthening surveillance of TB rates.

As well as encouraging those with ‘active’ TB infection to seek treatment, PHE has worked with partners to implement testing for latent TB in those arriving from countries with high rates of the disease. A latent TB infection occurs when an individual is carrying the TB bacteria but doesn’t have any symptoms. The bacteria can, however, go on to cause disease in the future.

Steve Brine, Public Health Minister said:

We should be proud that TB rates are now at the lowest levels ever recorded in this country – a true testament to the hard work of the NHS and public health staff in this country.

There is still more to do – people in deprived communities are still disproportionately more likely to contract this disease, so we must do more to tackle this injustice by raising awareness and ensuring early diagnosis and treatment.

Dr Sarah Anderson, Head of TB Strategy at Public Health England, said:

It is hugely encouraging to see a continued decline in TB cases in England, which shows that the interventions we are putting in place are having an impact.

However, TB still affects nearly 5,000 people a year in the UK and many people are simply unaware of the symptoms and impact of the disease.

This World TB Day we are calling for anyone who has possible TB symptoms, or thinks they may be at risk of having latent TB, to speak to their healthcare professional to get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, to minimise the chance of long-term ill health and onward transmission.

Professor Mike Morgan, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Respiratory Disease, said:

One of our priorities has been to drive improvements in the way TB is managed and it is excellent news that, thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, rates are now significantly lower. However, we must not rest on our laurels and with PHE we will continue to work hard towards the eradication of TB.

The risk factors for tuberculosis include a weakened immune system, poor quality housing, alcohol and substance misuse, or time spent in a country with high TB rates.

While cases are declining overall, still more needs to be done to reach those in under-served populations to ensure they are aware of symptoms and can access treatment.

The 42,000 square metre site, equivalent to the size of 6 football pitches, is where HS2 will build the Victoria Road Crossover Box, a huge underground structure designed to allow trains passing through the London tunnels to switch tracks.

The clearance of the site, delivered by HS2’s London enabling works contractor, a Costain Skanska joint venture (CSjv) and subcontractor McGee, involved the careful demolition of 8 separate buildings, with more than 98% of materials sent for reuse and recycling.

More than 6,500 cubic meters of rubble from the clearance of the old warehouses and light industrial units was processed on site and will be reused during construction of the tunnels and crossover box.

The team will now move on to clearing hardstanding, completing utilities diversions and collecting geological data that will feed into the detailed design of the crossover box.

Welcoming the milestone, HS2’s Programme Director, Matthew Botelle, said:

The Victoria Road Crossover Box will be a vital part of the underground infrastructure that will make Old Oak Common one of the best connected stations anywhere in the UK.

It’s great to see so much progress and I’d like to thank the team for all their hard work over the past 6 months.

CSjv Programme Director, Peter Jones, said:

I am proud of the CSjv team, which has worked together to achieve this significant milestone for HS2. Our work continues apace across London, with the Ibis hotel and NTH Insull wing near Euston now almost complete and the University College London building on Hampstead Road expected to finished within weeks.

The underground crossover box is being designed and will be built for HS2 by a Costain/Skanska/STRABAG joint venture (SCS Railways). The 130 metre long box will be 25 metres underground, with 3 headhouses at ground level to provide maintenance and emergency access as well as a separate ancillary shaft.

During construction, the caterpillar-shaped box will also be used to launch two of the four tunnel boring machines digging the tunnels from Old Oak Common to Ruislip on the edge of London. Excavated material from the tunnels will be removed via the box and taken away by rail from the nearby Rail Logistics Hub.

Once complete, the Victoria Road box could also be used to provide sustainable waste heat energy to hundreds of new homes around the site, as part of the wider Old Oak and Park Royal development.

A recent feasibility study, produced by HS2, proposed capturing hot air created by trains moving through the tunnels and using heat pumps to transfer it to the surface via the crossover box. This could then be used to heat water and power central heating for new housing developments.

In the long term, the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation has plans for more than 25,500 new homes across a 650 hectare site, making it the largest regeneration project in the UK.

Across the whole of London, more than 1,000 people are currently at work, clearing the way for the start of construction. At Euston, demolitions are well underway alongside the project’s pioneering archaeology programme, while in Birmingham, clearance of Washwood Heath, the project’s future rolling stock depot, is also in full swing.

Work to clear the concrete slab covering the site of the new Birmingham Curzon Street station is also underway. In total more than 7,000 jobs are supported by the HS2 project, both directly and in the UK-wide supply chain.

The Environment Agency has officially opened over 7 kilometres of new river and sea defences in the coastal town of Shoreham, helping to keep the community safe from flooding from storms and rising sea levels. The new £45 million scheme will better protect over 2,300 homes and 169 commercial properties, as well as important local infrastructure such as the road network, railway line and Shoreham Airport.

The majority of the project has been funded by a £37.4 million contribution from government, alongside contributions from Coast to Capital LEP, West Sussex County Council and a number of private developers through Adur District Council.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, attended an event to officially open the scheme today (Friday 22 March). The scheme spans 7,200 metres along the banks of the river Adur with 1.8km of new defences on the east bank between Coronation Green and the A27 road bridge, and 5.4km on the west bank between the river mouth and the A27 road bridge.

The old flood defences varied in height and many were coming to the end of their design life. The new defences are formed of embankments, sheet pile walls, rock revetments, flood glass, and property level protection, and are designed to last for 100 years, with the option of being raised further to add even greater protection into the future. As part of the project, the Environment Agency has also improved public footpaths along the route of the defences.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency said:

This new scheme represents a remarkable feat of engineering which will see Shoreham better protected from flooding over the course of the next century

The Environment Agency has worked closely with partners and the local community to build and upgrade 7 kilometres of new and existing flood walls, embankments and other defences, bringing greater peace of mind to thousands of homeowners and well over one hundred businesses in the local area.

Floods Minister Thérèse Coffey said:

I’m delighted to see the Shoreham Adur Tidal Walls flood scheme open, protecting over 2,000 homes and businesses and supporting crucial local infrastructure including Shoreham Airport.

With £37.4 million of government investment representing over 80% of the total cost, the project showcases the very best of partnership working, demonstrating how government can work with its valued partners to continue to support local communities from flooding.

Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry MP said:

This Government is committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the UK and building a Britain fit for the future.

Protecting businesses from the impact of extreme weather is vital so it is good to see how Coast to Capital have worked with the Environment Agency to fund the reinforcement of flood defences along the River Adur. This will not only protect Shoreham harbour and airport but will also unlock the area for housing developments and employment space, supporting the local economy and opportunities for local people.

Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said:

Flood prevention is such an important issue and I would like to congratulate the Environment Agency and the project’s partners on the successful completion of this major scheme for Adur.

Cllr Neil Parkin, Leader of Adur District Council, said:

The Adur Tidal Walls scheme will have an immeasurable impact on the residents and businesses in Shoreham and Lancing. It will not only will protect our communities from future flooding but it also gives investors certainty, supporting the creation of new homes and workplaces while opening up the riverside to local residents.

I want to thank the Environment Agency and their contractors for the work over the past couple of years. The complex scheme has presented a number of challenges and there is still the issue of completing the defences at the Sussex Yacht Club site to resolve.

The new defences are made up of over 15,000 bricks, 800 m3 of concrete and 6,845 tonnes of rock. The project has also created approximately 1.4 hectares of compensatory saltmarsh habitat for the benefit of local wildlife.

The Environment Agency is investing £2.6 billion to better protect an additional 300,000 homes by 2021. Many of these flood and coastal schemes incorporate a range of measures including working with nature, alongside traditional engineering techniques.

Rape and sexual abuse support services across England and Wales have been awarded increased government funding today (22 March 2019) – totalling £24m over 3 years – to help even more victims.

The move, which involves a 10 per cent increase in funding by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), will see 79 rape support centres awarded grants – more than ever before. This will ensure, for the first time, that there are government-funded services in all 42 of the country’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) areas.

This will include a 50 per cent funding increase for services across Greater London – recognising the heightened demand for services in the region – with almost 15 per cent of all sexual offences occurring across the capital last year.

Nationally over 150,000 sexual offences were recorded by police last year, with 1 in 5 women having experienced some type of sexual assault in their lifetime. This is despite the crimes often going unreported.

The money will go towards a range of services, such as tailored face-to-face support and counselling to help victims cope with and, as far as possible, recover from these horrific crimes.

Among the services receiving a funding boost are a national helpline and webchat service for male victims following a significant rise in the number of men and boys coming forward to report crimes and access support.

The extra money will also see the number of PCC areas with government-funded male support centres nearly quadruple from 11 to 41.

Funding has also been extended to include those who suffered abuse while under the age of 13, in recognition that many victims of child sexual abuse may struggle to access timely support.

Victims Minister Edward Argar, said:

Victims of rape and sexual violence show immense courage in coming forward – and they must have confidence that the right support will be there when it is needed.

Today we are providing funding across more regions than ever, supporting more centres than ever, increasing the overall amount of funding and moving to a three-year funding cycle. We are determined to continue to improve access to these vital services for victims to help them rebuild their lives after these devastating crimes.

Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, said:

Rape is a horrific crime and has devastating and often, lifelong consequences for its victims. It is important that all victims have access to the support and therapy they need to help them recover. This increase in funding is a step in the right direction in making sure there is sufficient provision to support these victims.

I am pleased that for the first time, there will be, centrally funded rape support services in all parts of England and Wales. I am particularly pleased to see there will be a significant increase in male support centres.

As Victims Commissioner, I have been calling for three-year funding packages for frontline victim services. So, it is a positive development that the government will be offering rape support service providers a 3-year funding agreement. It offers providers and their staff greater security, enabling them to focus their energies on supporting victims as opposed to worrying about future funding. I hope it will not be long before this is extended to all victim services.

Duncan Craig, CEO of Survivors Manchester and Co-Founder of Male Survivors Partnership, and survivors of childhood sexual abuse:

In this, our 10th Birthday year, we’re delighted to receive this grant. In 10 years, we’ve supported 2,500 male survivors but the past year’s shown a huge increase in requests for help with 2 new referrals coming in every single day.

This grant will not only allow us to provide three therapists and an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor to help meet this unprecedented demand, but also contribute significantly towards our new support centre and enable us to promote our Male Service Standard Quality Assured services to the widest possible communities across Greater Manchester, helping the diverse male population we have here.

Successful organisations passed through a comprehensive bidding process, where applicants evidenced their ability to provide high-quality, victim-focussed support. As well as funding services in all PCC areas, we have better matched funding to levels of local demand, which has increased in recent years as more victims come forward to access support.

This funding is now guaranteed over three years compared to 12 months previously – providing organisations with greater stability and security to ensure they can focus on delivering their essential services. It is part of £96 million MOJ is providing to victim and witness support services this year, which has doubled since 2012/13.

Notes to editors

• MOJ funding for victim support services has almost doubled since 2012/13 (by increasing revenue raised from offenders). This year, we plan to spend about £96 million on these services.
• MOJ provides a contribution to rape support services across England and Wales and the level of grant funding varies. In 2018/19 we allocated around £7.2 million to these centres to provide independent, specialist support to female and male victims of sexual violence, including victims of child sexual abuse. This will now increase to £8 million annually.
• Rape support services in Greater London will receive 50 per cent increase to help meet growing demand, with funding rising from £481,126 to £731,126.
• This announcement also builds on the government’s commitment to further devolve justice powers. Five PCCs (Greater London, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hampshire and Nottinghamshire) have been given full commissioning responsibilities for sexual violence and abuse services in their areas as PCC are well placed to identify and respond to local needs when providing support.
• In 2018/19 we allocated PCCs around £68 million funding to locally commission emotional and practical support services for victims of crime as they are best placed to respond to local need.
• The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 20% of women and 4% of men have experienced some type of sexual assault since the age of 16, equivalent to an estimated 3.4 million female victims and 631,000 male victims.

The successful bidders are:

Avon and Somerset

• The Green House Bristol providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Bristol.
• Kinergy providing support for female and male victims in Bristol.
• Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (Bristol) providing support for female victims, including CSA in Bristol.
• Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (Somerset) providing support for female victims, including CSA in Taunton & North East Somerset.

Bedfordshire

• The Hope Programme providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Bedfordshire.

Cheshire

• Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (Cheshire & Merseyside) Chester & Warrington providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Cheshire.
• Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Chester.

Cleveland

• Arch North East providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Middlesbrough and Cleveland.

Cumbria

• Safety Net UK providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in North Cumbria.

Derbyshire

• SV2 providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Derbyshire.
• Sexual Abuse and Incest Line providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in North Derbyshire.

Devon and Cornwall

• Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Devon.
• First Light South West (Devon) providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Devon.
• Children Linked to and Experiencing Abusive Relationships (CLEAR) providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Cornwall.
• The Women’s Centre Cornwall providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Cornwall.
• SALT South West providing support for female victims in Cornwall.

Dorset

• Dorset Rape Crisis Support Centre Poole & Bournemouth providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Poole and Bournemouth.

Durham

• Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (Darlington and County Durham) providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Darlington and County Durham.

Dyfed Powys

• Mid Wales Rape Support Centre providing support for female and male victims, in Aberystwyth and West Wales.
• New Pathways (Dyfed Powys) providing support for female and male victims, in mid Wales.

Gloucestershire

• Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Gloucestershire.

Greater Manchester

• Greater Manchester Rape Crisis providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Manchester.
• Trafford Rape Crisis providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Trafford.
• Survivors Manchester providing support for male victims, including CSA, in Manchester.

Gwent

• Cyfannol Women’s Aid providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Pontypool and Gwent.

Hertfordshire

• Herts Area Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Hertfordshire.

Humberside

• Grimsby and Scunthorpe Rape Crisis (The Blue Door) providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Humberside and North East Lincolnshire.
• Hull Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Service providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Hull.

Kent

• East Kent Rape Crisis Centre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Canterbury and East Kent.
• Family Matters providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Gravesend and West Kent.

Lancashire

• Trust House Lancashire providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Lancashire.

Leicestershire and Rutland

• First Step Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland providing support for male victims, including CSA, in Leicester and Leicestershire.
• Leicester Rape Crisis providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Leicester and Leicestershire.
• Living Without Abuse providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Loughborough and Leicestershire.

Lincolnshire

• Lincolnshire Rape Crisis providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Lincoln and Lincolnshire.
• Trust House Lincolnshire providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Grantham and Lincolnshire.

Merseyside

• Rape and Sexual Abuse (RASA) Centre Merseyside providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Liverpool and Merseyside.

Norfolk

• Sue Lambert Trust providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Norwich and Norfolk.

North Wales

• Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre North Wales providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Bangor and North Wales.
• Stepping Stones North Wales providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Wrexham and North Wales.

North Yorkshire

• Survive (Support for Survivors of Rape and Sexual Abuse) providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in York and North Yorkshire.

Northamptonshire

• Northamptonshire Rape Crisis providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Northamptonshire.

Northumbria

• Tyneside Rape Crisis providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Newcastle and Tyneside.
• Grace Northumberland Rape Crisis providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Northumberland.
• Someone Cares providing support for female and male victims in Newcastle and Tyneside.

South Wales

• New Pathways (South Wales) providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in South Wales.

South Yorkshire

• Barnsley Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Services providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Barnsley.
• Doncaster Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Doncaster.
• Rotherham Abuse Counselling Service providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Rotherham.
• Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Sheffield.

Staffordshire

• SAVANA providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire.
• Sexual Abuse and Rape Advice Centre (SARAC) providing support for female victims in Burton on Trent and Staffordshire.

Suffolk

• Suffolk Rape Crisis providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Ipswich and Suffolk.
• Survivors in Transition providing support for female and male victims in Ipswich and Suffolk.

Surrey

• Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre Guildford providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Guildford and Surrey.

Sussex

• Lifecentre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Chichester and West Sussex.
• Mankind providing support for male victims in Brighton and Sussex.
• Rape Crisis Surrey and Sussex providing support for female victims in Crawley and Sussex.
• Survivors Network providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Sussex.

Thames Valley

• Aylesbury Vale & Milton Keynes Sexual Assault and Abuse Support Service providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes.
• Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Oxford and Oxfordshire.
• Rape Crisis (Wycombe, Chiltern and South Bucks) providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Wycombe and south Buckinghamshire.
• Trust House Reading providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Reading and Berkshire.

Warwickshire

• RoSA providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Rugby and Warwickshire.
• Safeline providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Warwick and Warwickshire.

West Mercia

• Axis Counselling providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Shrewsbury and Shropshire.
• Herefordshire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Hereford and Herefordshire.
• Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Worcester and Worcestershire.

West Midlands

• Birmingham Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Birmingham and West Midlands.
• Black Country Women’s Aid providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in West Bromwich and West Midlands.
• Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Coventry and West Midlands.
• Crisis Point providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Birmingham and West Midlands.
• Freedom from Torture (Medical Foundation for The Care Of Victims Of Torture) providing support for female and male victims in Birmingham.

West Yorkshire

• Basis Yorkshire providing support for female victims in Leeds.
• Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Service providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Bradford.
• Kirklees and Calderdale Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Wakefield and Huddersfield.
• Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds providing support for female victims in Leeds.
• Women’s Counselling and Therapy Service providing support for female victims, including CSA, in Leeds.

Wiltshire

• Revival – Wiltshire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre providing support for female and male victims, including CSA, in Birmingham and West Midlands.