Government

The latest news and updates on government policy, from the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.

Jul- 2018 -

5 July

Catering company probed as 70 fall ill at graduation ceremony

An investigation has been launched into catering company CH&Co after Public Health England (PHE) received reports that more than 70 people fell ill at a graduation ceremony in London. Multiple cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported following the event held by the Royal College of Art in London, the location…
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3 July

‘Large restaurant chain’ using ‘too small’ pint glasses

An unnamed large restaurant chain has been found to have been serving pints in glasses that were “too small” following an investigation by Birmingham City Council. The restaurant was ordered to make a nationwide recall of the glasses after a large number were seized by investigators from Birmingham City Council…
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2 July

40 government officials poisoned by Diwali food

As many as 40 people working for an unnamed government department in Leicester have been struck down with food poisoning after ordering “culturally relevant food” to celebrate the end of Diwali 2017. The incident prompted Leicester City Council to commission a report investigating the incident. It said: “To celebrate the…
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Jun- 2018 -

29 June

Mayor calls for ‘united effort’ to save London’s pubs

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called for a united effort from government, local authorities and the pub industry to help protect the future of the capital’s pubs, as he released new figures showing that there has been a long-term decline. The figures, published today, show that while pub…
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27 June

Channel 4 boss warns government over fast food ad ban

Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon has urged MPs to “be careful” over a potential watershed fast food television advert ban. Mahon said that a ban could lead to consequences “worse than the current situation”. The government’s proposed plans would see a ban on advertising food products on television that are…
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25 June

UKHospitality ‘wary’ as UK plans listing calories on restaurant menus

Jeremy Hunt has announced that the government is considering forcing restaurants to publish calorie information on their menus. During the announcement Hunt said that the government would consider exemplifying smaller businesses from the changes, however he said “all the big chains that we go to, they must give people that…
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21 June

Chef Alexis Gauthier supports foie gras ban

Chef and restaurateur Alexis Gauthier whose restaurant, Gauthier Soho, used to serve 25kg of foie gras per day, has told Catering Today he is fully behind banning the substance on ethical grounds. When asked if he would support a ban on foie gras Gauthier replied “of course” saying its production…
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20 June

Parliament launches inquiry into Deliveroo’s working conditions

The chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Frank Field MP, has launched an inquiry into the working conditions and human rights of Deliveroo’s drivers. The High Court granted Field permission to proceed with judicial review on “limited grounds” on 18 June. He and parliamentary researcher Andrew Forsey have published…
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18 June

McDonald’s to remove plastic straws from restaurants

McDonald’s is to remove all plastic straws from its restaurants by 2019, with a transition to paper alternatives due to begin in September. The move has already been trialled in several restaurants with McDonald’s claiming its customers have “reacted positively to the change”. All its restaurants currently keep plastic straws…
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18 June

Foie gras imports could face post-Brexit ban

Foie gras imports are at risk of a ban following Brexit after Conservative MP Henry Smith said the time had come to ban “this outdated practice”. Smith said foie gras was “cruel to produce, unhealthy to eat” and “expensive to purchase”. He added that “the fact that imports of it…
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