A new, international, brewing industry quality and hygiene award scheme has been launched in conjunction with the Institute and Guild of Brewing
Oxoid, a manufacturer of culture media and diagnostic products used in the food and drink industry, has created the 'Oxoid award for beer quality and brewery hygiene' to reward those whose activities are making a real difference to brewing quality and hygiene standards.
The scheme aims to ensure that their initiatives receive the recognition they deserve.
The award is open to individuals, companies, and organisations worldwide. Entrants will be encouraged to describe improvements that they have made to working practices that ensure beer quality and brewery hygiene.
For example: improvements to filtration techniques, improved cleaning processes adopted (eg to ensure that wild yeasts are removed from pipelines), identification of spoilage organisms or 'new' organisms not previously encountered, development of a new media or testing method, monitoring and usage of disinfectants.
The prize will be awarded annually with the first prize winner receiving £500 plus a commemorative trophy.
Second and third prize winners will receive framed certificates of merit.
Commenting on the new award, Brian Pegnall, chief executive of the Institute and Guild of Brewing, said "We are delighted that Oxoid has chosen to provide an award for improvements in quality and hygiene.
This is a very important area of our industry, but one that often gets taken for granted.
IGB fully endorse the award's aims and is pleased to have two representatives on the judging panel.
We are very much looking forward to seeing the first year's entries." The closing date for entries is 28 February 2003. For full details and entry forms contact Alison Smith at Oxoid (links above).
