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| Occupation: | Food Industry Consultant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qualifications: | BA(Hons), PhD, MHCIMA
| Explanation of | Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) | Doctor of Philosophy Member of the Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management Association Organisation: | Food Consultancy Services (UK & US) Ltd | Address: |
16 Telford Close |
Conwy LL32 8GT (View Location Map) (View Aerial Photo) Office Telephone: | 01492 572369 | Mobile: | 07775 592202 | Fax: | 01492 572369 | Email: |
(). | Email to Fax: | () |
|  : www.food-hygiene1.com |
Google: | Search Google UK | Legal references: |
(none at present) | Areas of Expertise: |
Food industry | Advice in respect of food poisoning Provision of due diligence defence for clients Food hygiene and safety Food quality systems Food portion control Food risk assessment and analysis Development of quality systems for the food industry, including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point ('HACCP') systems Food-related Environmental Health improvement notices and prosecutions, litigation support and expert witness services (for both prosecution and defence). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION :- Maurice Hedgecock accepts expert witness instructions both as an independent consultant and as Managing Director of Food Consultancy Services (UK & US) Ltd. He has over 30 years' experience of preparing expert witness reports and giving evidence in hearings at Tribunals, Magistrates Courts, Crown Courts and at the High Court in London. He is happy to provide a free initial telephone advice on any food- related case, and, where necessary, thereafter, to provide a formal report and/or expert witness evidence at court. In appropriate cases, his reports are backed up with evidence from empirical testing, carried out by the company's associated laboratory, Pearman Food Consultants Ltd, a UKAS-accredited laboratory (web site). CAREER BACKGROUND :- Maurice Hedgecock founded his own independent food consultancy company in 1988, with the objective of providing quality systems to the food industry, in terms of food hygiene and customer satisfaction. Initially, the company provided services to the public sector and later developed to include commercial producers, suppliers and retailers, with national and international companies as clients. Prior to this, he worked for Clwyd County Council in the roles of Consultant for Food and Quality Control Systems. In 1993, he was responsible for implementing the first recognised standard for meals for older people in the UK, in his role as Chair of the Advisory Body for Social Services Catering ('ABSSC'). His company also has close ties with the University of Glamorgan College at Llandrillo, North Wales, in the development of 'Farm to Fork' food quality systems for producers. PREVENTION AND MITIGATION :- Maurice Hedgecock prepares reports for two main purposes :- (1) with a view to preventing legal action being taken by the relevant authorities, (2) in cases where prosecutions have been brought, with a view to reducing the fines and other penalties which may be imposed by the court at the sentencing hearing. In recent cases, reports and associated action taken by Maurice Hedgecock have resulted in an approximate 40% reduction in the level of financial penalties imposed by the court (source: Wrexham Magistrates Court, 2004). Food Consultancy Services is particularly involved in providing and including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Systems ('HACCP') and in undertaking risk assessments for the food industry. Services are provided to both the public sector and private sector, including local authorities, schools, hotels and restaurants, farms, dairies, law firms and enforcement work on contract for Public Protection Departments. Geographical area of work :- All of UK, USA and Canada Memberships of other professional associations :- Society of Expert Witnesses |
