Harper Adams senior lecturer edits international food journal

Posted 7 December 2016

The British Food Journal is releasing a special edition on food integrity in January next year. Harper Adams senior lecturer in food policy and management Dr Louise Manning was asked to be guest editor for the special issue.

Dr Manning said: “Globally food integrity, authenticity, traceability and food safety are major consumer concerns and present a challenge for the food industry.

“The 13 papers in this special issue might seem an eclectic mix, but they afford the reader the opportunity to consider the underlying themes of food integrity including the need for a pluralistic and holistic approach; the need for accountability and transparency; the influence of market dynamics and the role of food science in the verification of product and process integrity.

“A real highlight for me is that the range of work is truly multidisciplinary with work on identifying food adulteration itself right through to technical papers from industry and conceptual papers on how to take the theories forward.

“I hope that this body of work forms a basis for further research activity in the area of food integrity, because as is demonstrated by the high level of non-compliance in some food sectors this governance is long overdue.”

On her reaction to being asked to edit the special edition, Dr Manning said: “I was thrilled when I was asked to be a guest editor for the British Food Journal and to develop a special issue around what is an emerging theme in food science.

“Integrity for me is not just about the product and the way the food is produced, it is also about how people behave in the sector and delivering transparency in all areas to consumers.

“It has been a fantastic experience over the last fourteen months to see the special issue emerge with research that has currency and value to the academic and the industry alike.”

Dr Manning added: “The absolute adrenalin rush when you see your first academic paper in print, and holding it in your hand means you just smile for days, even at complete strangers! Even though it was 2002, over a decade ago, I can remember it so well.

“Writing for academic journals often leads you to focus on comments of rejection, so you have to take great personal pleasure in the success when it comes along. As my first academic paper was in the British Food Journal itself, I feel honoured to have been asked, as my first guest editorship, to be in that same publication.

“This time when I see the special edition in print, the emotion will be slightly different as I will be proud to have had a part in bringing a body of work together by academics from countries across the world.”