Cash prizes and a trip to New Orleans are up for grabs in this annual awards scheme, seeking to reward the highest standards in food hygiene and safety
Launched in 2001, the Oxoid Awards were designed to recognise the work undertaken behind the scenes to ensure the highest standards in food safety and hygiene.
In their first year the Oxoid Awards were a terrific success, with entries received from a range of companies and laboratories within the food industry as well as from public health laboratories.
With food-related public health stories continuing to make headlines worldwide, Oxoid says it is pleased to continue the scheme and can now announce that the 2002 Oxoid Awards are open for entry.
There are three award categories: Oxoid Technician of the Year, Oxoid Laboratory of the Year, and the Oxoid Award for Innovation.
Within each category there are three prizes (although in 2001 the judges were so impressed with the standard of entries that they awarded an additional Highly Commended prize in two categories).
Details of the 2001 winners can be found on the Oxoid our website (see above).
Each prize-winner will receive a commemorative trophy or framed certificate, plus a year's free subscription to International Food Hygiene magazine.
The winner of Oxoid Technician of the Year also receives œ1000 and a trip to the 2003 International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) Meeting to be held in New Orleans, USA.
Entry forms can be obtained from Oxoid by using the contact details above.
The forms contain full details of how to enter, the prizes and the terms and conditions of entry.
Alternatively, visit the company's website to register for entry - it only takes a minute or two and forms will then be sent to you by email or post.
The closing date for entries is 31 October 2002.
Judging will take place in November and winners will be notified by the end of 2002.
The judging panel includes several distinguished figures in the food industry, namely Chris Bell, independent consultant in microbiology to the food industry, Alec Kyriakides, head of product safety at Sainsbury supermarkets, Roy Betts, head of the Microbiology department at Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association, Geoff Mead, independent consultant in food safety, and Melody Greenwood, laboratory director at Wessex Environmental Microbiology Services.
