How To Write Great Supplemental College Application Essays

How To Write Great Supplemental College Application Essays Be sure to keep the focus of the essay narrow and personal. Don’t tell your whole life story, but tell enough of it to answer the question. The duration of the video should be no more than 5 minutes OR the review/critique should be no more than 500 words. If you have earned any college credit while in high school, request that the college or university send official transcripts to UT Austin. comparable to the average class rank of students from traditional schools who have equivalent SAT or ACT test scores. Rank should be indicated as your numerical position out of the total number of students in the class. Ultimately, it is up to you to polish your essay before you submit. You may submitup to two optional letters of recommendationwith your admission application. These letters may be from teachers, mentors, or people who know you well, either within or outside of your high school. The letter should be able to give additional context or information to support your admission that is not already provided in your application or other submitted documents (résumé, transcripts). Students who wish to have an SAT or ACT score reviewed with their admissions application must submit at least one set of test scores. At the same time, don’t go against what you’ve written on the rest of your application. Keep the details straight, and if there’s something you want to reveal in the essay, just be sure it’s about your thoughts and feelings, not an important fact you left out elsewhere. Do not rush your writing process; create space in your schedule to revise your work. For example, if you’re fifth in your class of 130, your transcript should report your rank as 5/130. Applicants should submit transcripts indicating rank for the latest completed semester prior to the application deadline. All applicants must submitthree required short answersand may submitone optional short answerresponding to prompts in your admissions application. A separate request form is not required, however, students may be required to submit documentation in support of a request. If you have any questions about completing your application for admission, please contact the Office of Admissions at to speak with an admissions counselor. The quality of your essay will determine your admission to the college. Want to see what a successful admission essay looks like, proceed with an application, make sure to follow all steps below. When you apply to Stanford, you apply to the university as a whole, not to a particular major, department or school. Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250â€"300 words, typically the length of one paragraph. Students may request a fee waiver by indicating their eligibility on the online application. (We do not require the SAT Essay or ACT Writing scores.) Scores included in transcripts and copies of score reports don’t meet this requirement. If you wish, you may submit either a video/short film or a written review/critique to support your application. This may be something you did for school or on your own. This is an opportunity to show us your potential as an RTF student. As you are telling your story, be honest, be yourself and do it in the most concise way you can. Before penning down a word of your admission essay, it is important that you understand the question and what it expects from you. At the end of the essay, the question that was asked should have been answered fully and in detail. Afterward, take the time to think about it before brainstorming on the different ways to answer it. I know this sounds absurdly simple, but it really does make a difference to be as relaxed as possible when you sit down to write. Jacob Imm is a communications specialist in the North Central College Office of Marketing and Communications. He has 10 years of collegiate communications experience and has worked with hundreds of college students. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University. Even after confirming that your essay is as close to perfect as it can get, you need to get it closer still. After rewriting the essay several times, keep it away. Let it sit for a couple of hours untouched or even a whole day where the deadline isn’t close. After catching the new episode of that TV show you love or going a few chapters of the book you have been reading, go through your essay one more time. Correct any mistakes you find, but be sure not to rely on grammar and spelling checkers as they cannot put your words into context.

The Effects Of Alcohol Abuse On Sexual Behavior - 2959 Words

A Review of the Impact Alcohol Abuse on Sexual Behavior Alcohol addiction is one of the leading causes of preventable death and is estimated to cause about 10% of total disability-adjusted life years lost (Heiling). Alcohol abuse disproportionately affects younger, able-bodied individuals in the prime of their lives thus, this disablement places an extensive economic burden on society through loss of productivity as well as a drain on the health care system. Despite these facts, beyond liver damage, little is understood about the widespread impact of prolonged alcohol abuse on humans. Discovering the more general effect that alcohol has over the entire body through a behavioral endocrinology lens may provide insight into genetic mechanisms that make individuals predisposed to alcoholism as well as potential treatments for recovery. This review will center around the primary question of what impact does alcohol abuse impart on sexual behavior in humans? In order to answer this questio n, this review will examine the immediate causation of alcoholism as well as its evolutionary and adaptive causation by compiling current research in human, rat, and baboon models. Furthermore, this review will provide a basic background of the neurobiology of alcoholism, critique potential shortcomings in current research, and suggest directions for further research for the impact of alcohol dependency on sexual behavior. WHAT IS ADDICTION? Addiction, as defined by the American Society ofShow MoreRelatedLong Term Effects Of Child Sexual Abuse1467 Words   |  6 PagesLong-term effects of child sexual abuse Child Abuse can be a fundamental reason of causing issues for children and young people in physically and mentally. The primitive damage caused by child sexual abuse effect on the child’s developing capacities for trust, intimacy, agency and sexuality so that child sexual abuse is considered as a trigger of mental health problems and increase the risk of major depressive disorder in early adulthood or throughout their lifetime. There is a fact that thoseRead MoreResearch Proposal- Alcohol Abuse Leads to Domestic Violence1471 Words   |  6 PagesDetermining whether Alcohol abuse leads to Domestic Violence Abstract This study seeks to analyze and examine the effects that alcohol abuse may have on domestic violence cases. The main goal of this study is to determine whether or not alcohol or alcohol abuse really has an affect on people and if it causes domestic violence or not. This study will be helpful in many ways and instances and it will help those who are still wondering whether or not these to completely different socialRead MoreUnderage Alcohol And Alcohol Abuse1597 Words   |  7 Pagestoday’s society, there is a lot of issues concerning drug and alcohol abuse in schools whether its at the high school or college level. Not only does drug and alcohol consumption effect your overall health, it can effect your academic performance as well. In this paper I am going to be talking about the problems with drug and alcohol abuse, preventions, risks, costs and much more. We are going to dissect the problems with drug alcohol consumption amongst young adults, from high school to collegeRe ad MoreSexual Abuse As A Public Health Concern1306 Words   |  6 PagesSexual Abuse as a Public Health Concern Heather Gagnon 10/6/15 Sexual abuse is a major public health concern in our country that affects numerous men and women of all ages. According to LoveIsRespect.org, â€Å"Sexual abuse refers to any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually they don’t want to do. It can also refer to behavior that impacts a person’s ability to control their sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs, including oral sex, rape orRead More Child Abuse and Neglect Essay1139 Words   |  5 PagesChild Abuse is a very serious issue all throughout the world, in all different countries, cultures, and communities. The four main types of abuse are emotional abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse, and although emotional abuse and neglect are often overlooked, each has just as severe effects on children as sexual and physical abuse (Saisan et al.). The many causes of all kinds of the abuse of children have devastating effects on the child’s life pre sently and later on in life. ThereRead MoreDomestic Violence And Its Effects On Women1599 Words   |  7 Pagesmentally as well. Domestic violence is a very important social issue because it negatively affects both the abuser and the victim. In the article, â€Å"Domestic Violence and Abuse: Types, Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Effects,† the authors, Benedictis, Jaffe, and Segal, claim that, â€Å"Domestic abuse is not a result of losing control; domestic abuse is intentionally trying to control another person. The abuser is purposefully using verbal, nonverbal, or physical means to gain control over the other person† (BenedictisRead MorePhysical Development Of Adolescents Report1263 Words   |  6 PagesIs it possible for the engagement in sexual activity, alcohol and drug use, sport injuries and other risky behaviors damage adolescent minds? The answer is yes because early high-risk behaviors, including sexual encounters, are powerful influences and appear to be harmful to the brain’s de velopment. The hormones and neural patterns triggered can lead to addictive, high-risk behaviors, social withdrawal, and depression. What’s more, these adolescent behaviors may have additional long-term negativeRead MoreAlcohol Use, Abuse, And Related Accidents Among College Adults1412 Words   |  6 PagesQuestion: Alcohol uses among college students-What are the trends in alcohol use, abuse, and related accidents among college aged women versus men? Background National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines low risk drinking as less than 4 drinks in a day.1 On the other hand, binge drinking as a pattern of drinking makes blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.07h/dL. This level is typically reached after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men in approximately 2 hours. DrinkingRead MoreAlcohol Consumption By Underage Drinkers1645 Words   |  7 Pages and influence from family and peers can make alcohol seem attractive, relaxing, and fun when in reality the negative consequences that entail are much deeper than what’s displayed on the surface. This paper will discuss in depth the issue of alcohol and the impact it has on adolescents. Alcohol consumption by underage drinkers has and will continue to be a problem within our society. Adolescents view alcohol as a way of risk taking deviant behavior in order to rebel against parents and even society’sRead MoreEffects of Alcohol Abuse1616 Words   |  7 PagesAlcohol abuse The term alcohol abuse in this case encompasses harmful use of alcohol and misuse of alcohol resulting from dependence. The experience of alcohol abuse can have far-reaching consequences on the family, the community, and the nation. According to NIDA, drug and substance abuse costs the nation $600 Billion every year. This cost factors in crime, healthcare, and lost productivity. Alcohol accounts for 40% of this cost. It is, therefore, necessary, within the context of the family, to

East Africa and Long Distance Trade - 1688 Words

History has always been the key to our existence. We learn from our failures to better our future, just as we learn from our triumphs to excel even further. A very important time in the history of our world was the East Africa long distance trade .In the middle of the seventeenth century, East Africa had a far more important place in the world than other African countries .So wrote Marsh, Z.A Kingsnorth G.W in their book ‘An introduction to the History of East Africa , published by Cambridge university press in 1965 .. They added that The riches of East Africa were incomparably greater than those of the other African states. According to (Walter, 1966) East African countries were first African countries to be involved in long†¦show more content†¦Before the Indian Ocean Trade, most East African regions knew nothing of their neighboring civilizations. This trade network united the world. Because of it, just about all civilizations are conversant with each other. The I ndian Ocean Trade began with small trading settlements around 800 A.D., and ended in the 1500s when Portugal invaded and tried to run the trade for its own profit. As trade intensified between Africa and Asia, powerful city-states flourished along the eastern coast of Africa. These city-states traded with inland kingdoms the feuds that had been created during the time. Portuguese werent the only people who traded through the Indian Ocean Trade. As people from other countries traded as well, they brought their culture, religions, and other values and beliefs that fascinated the people who lived along the Indian Ocean regions. Thus, the trade was a way of spreading religions and cultures, and binding civilizations together. Also, by trading sundry goods and merchandise, the economies of the trading countries grew and they became experts at trading. Culturally long distance was destructive to east African countries, because of the long distance trade Europe managed to gain control over east African countries .Because of long distance trade European managed to spread Christianity among East African people, and they introduce the newly invented technological innovations.Show MoreRelatedLong-Distance Trade And Economic Development.. Many Countries1746 Words   |  7 PagesLONG-DISTANCE TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Many countries in the 15th century were isolated from communication with outsiders from other countries, thus preventing introduction of new ideas that would encourage either growth or change. They were bound by old traditions that were hard to ignore but this also created a situation whereby these countries were literally bursting at the seam for new ideas and growth. Finally ignoring years of isolationism, Chinese and European hierarchies slowly beganRead MoreAnalyze the Changes and Continuities in Long-Distance Migrations in the Period from 1700 to 1900. Be Sure to Include Specific Examples from at Least Two Different World Regions.734 Words   |  3 Pages1700 to 1900 there were many changes in long distance migration patterns across the globe as well as aspects of migration that remained the same. Throughout this time period, long distance migrations from eastern regions such as Europe and Africa to the America’s remained a consistent trend, as well as the motivation for migrating. While these things remained constant, changes during the time period occurred in diversity of the peoples migrating due to slave trade across the Atlantic being banned andRead MoreTrade Networks Change Over Time Essay928 Words   |  4 Pagesthe trade routes of Africa and Eurasia were increasing in complexity, as they became major arteries for the exchange of goods and ideas over long distances. The trade networks of these regions consistently enabled the spread of religious ideas far beyond their original homelands. Networks like the Trans-Saharan, Indian Ocean, and Silk Road systems always brought wealth to foreign products that enabled local producers to specialize in items best suited to their regions. Yet, the risk of long distanceRead MoreThe Earth and Its People: Chapter 13 Outline1629 Words   |  7 PagesTropical Africa and Asia (1200 – 1500) Ibn Battuta 1. Young Muslim scholar 2. Completed the pilgrimage to mecca 3. logged 75,000 miles of travel in 29 years 4. Powerful states and commercial systems were only made possible by local farmers, fishermen and pastoralists Tropical Lands and Peoples The Tropical Environment 1. Africa lies almost entirely within the tropics, as do southern Arabia, most of India and all of the Southeast Asian mainland and islands 2. In the lands aroundRead MoreManorial Trade Network, the Indian Ocean Trade Network, and the Trans-Saharan Trade Network842 Words   |  4 PagesManorial Trade Network, the Indian Ocean Trade Network, and the Trans-Saharan Trade Network The creation of a strong and productive society depends on a stable economy. The development of extensive trade relations in Africa, Europe, and Asia, was necessary for the existence of the highly advanced civilizations that exist today. The Trans-Saharan trade, Indian Ocean trade, and manorial trade of Europe in the middle ages were major trading networks that flourished. The Trans-Saharan trade networkRead MoreEssay about Sundiata1005 Words   |  5 Pagesstory of Sundiata depicts the story of the foundation of the Mali Empire in West Africa. This story takes place during a transitional time period, when the trade network that linked towns and villages across western Africa attracted north African merchants who brought increasing Muslim influence. The Mali Empire was one of the great West African Empires. The Mali Empire was located along the western grasslands of Africa on the fertile land that lies right below the Sahara desert. The Mali Empire wasRead More Dutch Slave Trade Essay1504 Words   |  7 Pages Dutch Slave Trade nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;During the 17th and 18th centuries, mercantilism was the emerging economic policy through which the slave trade developed in Europe. In the Netherlands many historical events gave rise to a desire for domination of international trade. They were serious tradesman and were heavily involved in the profitable business of slavery. The Dutch, intelligent and self-ruling tradesmen took no time in displaying their dominance over rival countries, PortugalRead MoreAn Old Day Passes, A New Day Arrives985 Words   |  4 PagesPost-Classical Period was dominated by powerful, established nations with extensive trade and communication networks throughout their spheres of influence. Weak political centralization and changing religious beliefs allowed these nations to be overwhelmed by nomadic peoples who assimilated and then replaced the dominant cultures. With a strong foundation for success, these new day nations were able to expand trade and cultural exchanges to a leve l unreachable to their predecessors. Fresh blood, economicRead More European Trade Routes 1100-1500 Essay1494 Words   |  6 Pagescountries, kingdoms, and dynasties established trade routes. This is the period where countries were made and countries were destroyed because of the importance of trade and the importance of building a fundamental, religious, and economical way of life. This paper will discuss the goals and functions of trades, and traders, and a historical analysis of world trade. This paper will also get into world trade patterns, of The Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, The Indian Ocean, The Silk routes, China andRead MoreAmerica and Oceania Essay724 Words   |  3 Pagesencounters of early societies in the Americas and Oceania were quite similar to the ones in Africa and Eurasia. Geography also played an important role in these early societies. A few topics I will address are: in what ways were the societies of the Americas and Oceania similar to those in Africa and E urasia in spite of such isolation. The factors in which contributed to the difficulties in sustaining log distant trade of the societies in America and Oceania with neighboring societies. The last topic I

Womens Changing Status in China - 2334 Words

Women’s changing status in China Women s changing status in China Introduction The role of women is China has changed a lot over the years. When we consider the position Chinese women held in ancient society, we find that they have come a long way to be where they are today. In the ancient Chinese culture, the role of women was very restricted. They were raised by their parents until the age of marriage to be given away to another family. When living under their father’s roof he was the one they had to obey to, once married they then had to obey to their husband. Women were restricted to the walls of their home, which is no longer the case nowadays. Traditionally, the family has been the most important unit in society, it†¦show more content†¦4) Wedding gifts: once the letter and gift accepted, the groom’s family also passes on gifts for the family such as cakes and religious items. 5) Wedding arrangement: both families agree for a date (usually it would be a  « lucky date  » for the soon-to-be-married couple, according to Chinese astrology) 6) Wedding ceremony: it is the final ritual, the bride and groom finally becomes a married couple, followed by the wedding night. We notice that both the bride and groom did not make any arrangement. They did not have any choice but to follow their parents’ will. Once married, women had to serve their husband and their family. They often became a sort of servant to their mother-in-law, to whom they had the obligation to obey. Families were omnipresent in the marriage; it was a very strict marriage where women had no other choice but to listen to men of her family. Another big part of the traditional Chinese wedding is the fact that concubines were allowed for the husband. A husband could indeed have more than one wife. As for women, if their husband died at a young age, they were not allowed to remarry; it was death penalty in case of remarriage. During the Tang dynasty (628-907), there was a â€Å"legal† document to allow men to divorce women, but it was followed closely by the State. 1) No-fault divorce: marriage can be woundShow MoreRelatedEssay on Women’s Role in China1280 Words   |  6 Pages Women’s Role in China The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says: Its a girl. -Shirley Chislom- Women have had changing roles in every society for centuries. Depending on the country, some women have had a harder time achieving equality. One of these countries is China. These women have faced such obstacles as foot binding to concubines. Until the twentieth century women were not considered equals in their society. Many cruelRead MoreThe Journey Of The Corpse Essay1568 Words   |  7 Pages Medieval China, as seen in the Stories from a Ming Collection, was characterized by distinct separations between men and women’s abilities, typical old fashioned family structure, and a desire to advance their social status. Throughout all the stories in this book, it dives deep into different aspects of how men and women are treated, how families were structured and how that affects their lives, as well as the values these people held. A very common trend in the stories was how different men andRead MoreIs Just Women Education is Women Empowerment?993 Words   |  4 Pagesgo in for higher studies to get better marriage partners. With the exception of few technical fields, no mechanism or procedure exists in Pakistan to help young women and girls. The way to solve this problem is certainly not to put a halt on the women’s access to higher education, or to confine them to the four walls o f women universities this is not to suggest that all women should be encouraged to enter the traditionally male fields solely for job market. In Pakistan, there is a gap between theRead MorePatriarchy And Subordination Of Women1726 Words   |  7 Pagessay that another in an organization such as a society is controlling subordination. Eurasia is the first society I will discuss as well as the women in the society. The women in Eurasia lived there around the time period of 1000 BCE and before. â€Å"Women’s fortunes on the whole declined between the appearance of the first human communities of hunter-gathers and the preeminence of urban centers established† (Envisioning Women in World History, 6). This quote basically implies that the chance of womenRead MoreRole of Women in Maoist China and Nazi Germany1707 Words   |  7 PagesEssay Analyse the role of women in Maoist China and Nazi Germany. â€Å"Chairman Mao is regarded as a sexist for his dalliances with young women in his old age. But on one day in 1949 Chairman Mao and the CPC did more for the liberation of women than perhaps had ever been done before in history.† This signifies the attitude of Mao towards women who benefited hugely under his policy in China after he had gained power. However, Hitler’s approach how to deal withRead MoreGender Equality And Gender Inequality921 Words   |  4 Pageshappening because of women’s physical difference in education, work pay and job opportunities, family and culture, religion, and government. This is due to the stereotypical thoughts of women being weaker than men. Because of their physical difference, people tend to discriminate towards women. As a result, this serves as the basis of gender inequality. In this part of the report, I, Irine Chong will explain to you what Gender Inequality is, and how it is impacting women’s rights ALL around theRead MoreEmpress Wu: Evil Usurper? Essay1238 Words   |  5 Pagesstrong beliefs about astrology, so when it was prophesised that a women ruler would soon ascend the throne word quickly spread throughout the common people. It was predicte d that within 30 years this woman known as ‘The Prince of Wu’ would rule over China. Whether or not Empress Wu’s rise to power was due to ‘heaven ordained fate’, she fulfilled the prophecy and became China’s first woman ruler in the 7th century. Historians, scholars and common people alike have long debated Wu’s reign. She is commonlyRead MoreThis Source Discusses Some Of The Traditional Gender Differences1151 Words   |  5 Pagesboth China and Japan women’s work remained largely domestic, such as weaving, and men plowed the fields. The traditional Japanese religion of Shintoism lead to the high status of women in early Japanese culture. The Japanese sun goddess (to whom all emperors claimed ancestry) was greatly revered for her mystical powers, and many female sovereigns where also thought to have great powers. However, with the arrival of Buddhism and Confucianism, the influence of Shintoism was weakened and women’s rolesRead MoreChina Is Facing Following One Child Policy Essay1636 Words   |  7 PagesProblems that China is facing following one child policy Introduction China, a big country in terms of economy and total population, has been experiencing a dramatic demographic transition since 1979 when one child policy was implemented. Due to the concern that population growth can pose a threat to China’s economic development not only in the short-term but over the long term as well, the Chinese government adopted the strict birth control program, which is the one child policy. Under the policyRead MoreEssay on The Divorce Rate and Women in the Workplace1723 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican West, men’s and women’s entry into the paid labor force, women’s changing roles, and the gradual broadening of divorce laws and judicial decisions regarding divorce. Recently, several historians enlarged the list by demonstrating that the changing nature of the patriarchal family, rising expectations of marriage, and inequalities in relationships between husbands and wives also created marital tensions and divorce was often the result. I would like to focus on the changing roles of women. During

Downstream Petroleum Industry free essay sample

Downstream – From Refinery to Customer The downstream sector encompasses the refining, storage, distribution and marketing of petroleum products: †¢Refining Process: Crude oil is processed and refined into more useful products; †¢Storage: The products from the refining process are stored at depots via pipeline, land (trucks rail) and sea (barge/vessel). These storage facilities are also called tank farms or terminals †¢Distribution and Marketing: Petroleum products are distributed from storage locations to the end-user directly or through retail outlets The major products produced by a refinery are, Kerosene, Premium Motor Spirit (â€Å"PMS† Gasoline), Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), Fuel Oils, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Lubricating Oils, Naphtha and Tar Figure 1. Schematic Representation of the Downstream Business ? The Nigerian Downstream Sector The Federal Government of Nigeria (â€Å"FGN†) participates in the activities of the oil industry (upstream and downstream) as well as actively supervising it due to its strategic importance to the economy. In the downstream industry, FGN regulates and participates through the following agencies / bodies: Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (â€Å"NNPC†) –NNPC has powers and operational interest in refining, petrochemicals, product transportation and marketing. We will write a custom essay sample on Downstream Petroleum Industry or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page NNPC has nine wholly-owned subsidiaries, two partly owned subsidiaries and nineteen associated companies that manage the upstream and downstream activities. Those relevant to the downstream business are the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (â€Å"PPMC), Kaduna Refining Petrochemicals Company Limited (â€Å"KRPC†), Warri Refining Petrochemicals Limited (â€Å"WRPC†) and Port Harcourt Refining Petrochemicals Limited. Department of Petroleum Resources (â€Å"DPR†) – DPR is an arm of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and has responsibilities for the following: †¢Issuing of permits and licenses for all activities connected with petroleum exploration, production, refining, storage, marketing, transportation and distribution; Acting as an agency for the enforcement of the provisions of the petroleum Act, NNPC Art or any other enactment. Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) – The PPPRA came to being from a Special Committee that was set up to review Petroleum Products Supply and Distribution (SCRPPSD) drawn from various stakeholders and other interest groups to look into t he problems of the downstream petroleum sector. The functions of PPPA are: †¢To determine the pricing policy of petroleum products; To regulate the supply and distribution of petroleum products †¢To create an information databank through liaison with all relevant agencies to facilitate the making of informed and realistic decisions on pricing policies †¢To moderate volatilities in petroleum products prices, while ensuring reasonable returns to operators †¢To establish parameters and codes of conduct for all operators in the downstream sector. Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) – The PEF fund board was established to equalize the transport cost arising from the distribution of petroleum products to all parts of the country i. . the cost of transporting products from source to point of sales. This is to ensure that petroleum products are made available in all retail outlets at uniform prices in Nigeria, and to avoid shortage of petroleum products. Petroleum S ubsidy Fund (PSF) – is a pool of funds budgeted by FGN to stabilise the domestic prices of petroleum products against the volatility in international crude and products prices. CBN is the custodian of the fund, while PPPRA administers it. Claims from / payment into the fund is subjected to duly verified volume of products lifted out of the approved depot and sold in-line with recommended open market prices. ? Marketing Companies The Nigerian downstream industry is comprised of two groups of marketing companies: Major Marketers – The companies in this group include AP Plc, Conoil Plc, Mobil Oil Plc, OANDO Plc, Total Nigeria Plc and Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc and accounted for 71% of total petroleum products sold. They belong to trade association called Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN). Independent Marketers The Independent marketers, comprises largely indigenous petroleum marketing companies. The FGN introduced the Independent Marketing Scheme in 1978 because of petroleum products shortage of the 1970s and the lack of sufficient investment by major marketing companies in the rural areas. This led to the establishment of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in 1982. Membership is open to every independent marketer duly licensed and authorised to operate by the NNPC or other appropriate organisation in charge of this function. The trade group of these companies is referred to as the independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). Examples of Independent marketers are Zenon Petroleum, Capital Oil Gas and Ascon Oil Gas. OANDO Marketing Limited (â€Å"OML†) Oando Marketing Limited one of the companies within the Oando Plc group, is a leading oil and gas marketing company with over 500 retail outlets and a commercial clientele base that cuts across all industry sectors such as manufacturing, construction, oil gas and telecommunications in Nigeria and the West Africa sub region. OML has been in the business of marketing and supply of petroleum products since 1956. OML markets a wide range of products including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO also known as Diesel), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), Aviation Turbine Kerosene(ATK), Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), Lubricating Oils and Greases, Insecticides, Bitumen, Chemicals, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG, also known as Cooking gas) and Oando insecticide Products and Uses AGO – fuel for some vehicles and marine vessels as well as for powering generators; PMS – fuel for most vehicles; DPK – fuel for cooking stove and used as a solvent to produce specialized products for road construction; ATK – fuel for aircraft; LPFO – fuel for power generation and for heating; Lubricants – lubricating oil for vehicles and equipments; Bitumen – used in the construction industry for paving roads; LPG – used as cooking and heating gas. Departments The departments in OML can be classified under the following: Core – Retail, Commercial, Marketing, Operations Logistics and Engineering Terminal. Support – Finance, Corporate Services (HR, HCM, Legal and Procurement Services), ICA, EHSQ, Service Standards and Corporate Marketing Communications. ? Retail Business Management and sales of Oando products to customers via sales outlets (over 500) nationwide is the function of the retail department. The sales focus is centred on the Total White Products (PMS, AGO and HHK), while Lubricants, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Insecticide sales provide a diversified revenue source for the team. Structure Sales is managed by Branch Managers located across the country, with each having responsibility over specific territories referred to as branches. Their activities are coordinated by Branch Coordination Managers and the department is led by the Chief Sales Officer Retail, with overall responsibility for all activities. Retail Outlets †¢Company Owned Service Station (â€Å"COSS†) – The stations under this category are owned by OML and dealers are appointed to operate the stations on OML’s behalf. †¢Third Party Owned – These are outlets owned by third parties, which carry OML’s colour and brand. OML’s main responsibility is to supply these outlets with petroleum products and on their part the owners of the outlets agree to operate in accordance to standards agreed by both parties. There are two types of third party outlets: oGallonage – The stations and equipment under this category are fully owned by the third parties, while OML brands the outlets and supply products to it. oLoan Delivery and Equipment (â€Å"LDE†) – Here, OML provides equipments such as pumps, generators and canopies, as well as branding and supply of products. The retail outlets also serve as business opportunities via Non-Fuel Revenue (NFR) activities (such as Quick Service Restaurants) that maximize the returns on shareholders investments, improve asset utilisation and maximize our medium-long term capital gains. Commercial Department The core function of the commercial department is the sale of products (AGO, PMS, DPK, ATK, LPFO, Lubricants, Bitumen and LPG) to large volume end users hinged on effective relationship management. Sales are usually made in bulk to clients most often on pre-determined trade terms basis. Structure Sales is managed by Branch Managers located across the country, with each having responsibility over specific territories referred to as branches. Their activities are coordinated by Commercial Service Managers, based in the head office in Lagos. The department is led by the Chief Sales Officer, with overall responsibility for the activities above as well as for the below-mentioned specialized units: †¢Marine Unit – sale of petroleum products to (and management of relationship) upstream oil gas companies as well as their service providers; Aviation Unit – sale of ATK and management of relationship with airlines. Services The commercial department offer a arrange of services in conjunction to the products it markets as it realized that customers want much more than just the products. Examples of such services include: Vendor Managed Inventory (â€Å"VMI†) Scheme The Oando In-Support scheme (our in-house model of the VMI) is a means of optimizing c ustomers supply chain, whereby Oando becomes responsible for maintaining the inventory level of petroleum products at its customers’ location. The major benefit of this to the customer is that it can focus on its core function while Oando manages petroleum products inventory. For Oando, the VMI scheme allows it to secure Oando Sea Station This is a Ship-to-Shore and Shore-to-Ship service station that provides fuels and lubricants for shipping companies, marine logistics companies operating in the Niger-Delta coastline as well as energy services organizations providing support to the upstream exploration and production companies operating in deep water coastal shores of Nigeria. Supply Contract This service allows customers the opportunity to enjoy a fairly stable price regime at a committed volume over a period of time. It is a modified form of In-support suitable for customers whose operations cannot permit full inventory take over. Marketing The core function of the marketing department is to initiate business deals and provide platforms to enable the sales departments (retail commercial) effectively achieve their goals and objectives. Structure The department is led by the Head, Marketing with overall responsibility for the following units: Lubricants Unit: The Lubricants unit is responsible for marketing Oando’s lubricants by creating product awareness through marketing promotions and supporting sales drive of lubricants in line with Oando’s goals and objectives. The unit also develops a high calibre technical sales support function while ensuring product quality assurance, cost management and service delivery to customers. A core responsibility of this unit is constantly identifying and initiating new/additional product lines for various target consumer markets. LPG Unit: The LPG Unit is primarily aimed at sourcing for product, providing support and devising innovative selling methods to the sales team to ensure they meet their volume and margin targets as well as satisfying their customers’ needs. The team also provides the sales team with market intelligence to ensure that they strategically positioned to make sales. The unit, in addition, serves as an interface between the sales team and other support units within the organization i. e. Logistics, CCU, Engineering and EHSQ. Non-Fuel Revenue (NFR) Unit: The Non-Fuels Revenue (NFR) unit is a strategic initiative developed to complement the shrinking margins on sales of fuel products and tap into the emerging opportunities of Non-fuel business from Retail outlets. Non-fuel offerings in retail outlets can also serve as a customer pull to increase fuel sales. Some NFR offerings include: Quick Service Restaurants (â€Å"QSR†), Automatic Teller Machines, Rent contribution from dormant assets (warehouses and offices), Income from Telecom Mast sites, revamp and increase lube bay rentals lubes contribution to stations and car wash operation. Bulk Products Unit The Bulk unit is responsible for developing and executing marketing plans to support the sales team in achieving their objectives in the sales of Bitumen and LPFO. The unit provides useful information about the construction sector of the economy, market trends, competitors’ activities and consumer preferences that helps in taking business decisions. It also provides back-end support for improving the quality of service delivery in our Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) concept. ? Operations Logistics Department The Operations Logistics (â€Å"OL†) department is primarily responsible for product sourcing and distribution to customers. OL is also responsible for product storage via warehouses and LPG Plants, and Lubricants blending via the Kaduna Lubricants Plant (â€Å"KLP†). Management of products at the terminals is handled by Engineering Terminals department. Structure The department is structured into four units, each with a head responsible for activities in the unit. Overall departmental responsibility is with the General Manager, Operations Logistics. Logistics oInbound – supply planning and product receipt; oTrade Procurement Products – product sourcing; oOutbound – handles product received from NNPC depots; oFleet – Management of relationship with transporters. †¢Customer Care Unit oScheduling – handle delivery request and schedule the trucks; oDispatch – prepare the trucks for trips; oFleet – work with the tran sporters; oCall Center – handle inquiries and complaints. †¢Warehouse LPG Plant oWarehouse – storage locations for Lubricants and Oando Insecticide before final distribution to customers. Lubricants are received at the warehouses from KLP, while with Oando Insecticide (currently being imported), product is received into Apapa for distribution other warehouses. Currently, OML has 14 warehouses across the county. oLPG Filing Plants – storage locations for LPG. Currently OML has 7 plants across the country. †¢Kaduna Lube Plant – consists of two blending plants both located in Kaduna with combined capacity of 55 million litres per annum producing various range of lubricant products for commercial and retail customers. Terminals Engineering Department The Engineering Terminals department is responsible for managing infrastructural assets across board inclusive of the operations at storage terminals. Structure There are two main units: †¢Terminals – are storage locations (exclusive of warehouses and LPG Plants) where products are received, stored and eventually distributed. The following are the terminals owned by OML: oApapa Terminal 1; oApapa Terminal 2; oApapa Joint Venture (with Total Nigeria Plc); oOnne Terminal, Port Harcourt; oPort Harcourt Terminal. Each of these locations is headed by a Terminal Manager TM who reports to the Head of Terminals Engineering. OML also stores product at third party locations such as Lister. Currently, Oando Terminals has capacity for holding various products as follows: oPMS – 80 Million Litres; oAGO – 33 Million Litres; oLPFO – 5. 67 Million Litres; oHHK – 5 Million Litres; oBitumen – 10,000 Metric Tonnes. †¢Engineering – execution of capital projects and maintenance of equipments and facilities. The activities in this unit are grouped as shown below: oProject – oversees capital projects less than N100M oRetail Network Maintenance – oversees maintenance and deployment of retail outlet equipment Retail Facility Maintenance – oversees maintenance of retail outlet infrastructure oTerminal Depot Maintenance – oversees maintenance of facilities and equipments at terminals and depots Support Departments Environment, Health, Safety, Security and Quality Assurance (â€Å"EHSSQ†) – reduce operational and accident cost, elimin ate down time, ensure total compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements, deliver world class quality products and services to enhance customer satisfaction, while guarantying sustainable development in line with the Oando vision. Internal Control Audit (â€Å"ICA†) safeguarding OML’s assets, ensuring operational efficiency, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting. Service Standards – ensures and monitors service standards across various locations. Finance provide OML with financial support for business and operational planning. OML Finance (head office) is divided into three main units namely: oTreasury; oManagement Information System; Financial Control. Corporate Services – supports OML business via the following services: oLegal – provide OML with cost-effective and efficient legal services support to and manage the inherent risks in OML’s businesses; oProcurement – assist OML in the acquisition of goods and services; oHuman Resource provide OML with effective people management solutions. Marketing Communications promote OML’s marketing initiatives through strategic product promotion and sales promotion.

A critical appraisal of the integrity of a HACCP Plan and the design of an effective, efficient, evidence based improvement strategy The WritePass Journal

A critical appraisal of the integrity of a HACCP Plan and the design of an effective, efficient, evidence based improvement strategy Abstract A critical appraisal of the integrity of a HACCP Plan and the design of an effective, efficient, evidence based improvement strategy ) explain that a HACCP is essential in maintaining the safety of individual food products. The main aim of this plan is to ensure that each stage in the food production process is safe. The main objective of this report is to identify the hazard and create controls that would prevent the occurrence of this hazard. The main issues of the Cheese-4-All company are traced to the customers’ complaint of the presence of a metal wire on a block of cheese and returned food products from caterers due to broken seals of the bags. In the first issue, the metal wire represents a physical hazard for consumers. A physical hazard is described as any foreign material present in dairy products that could cause injury or illness to the consumer (Marriott and Gravani, 2006). Mortimore and Wallace (2013) emphasise that a physical hazard results from lack of control of a process or a piece of equipment in the production chain. A number of factors have been identified to contribute to the presence of a physical hazard. Amongst these, poorly maintained equipment and the employees’ inattention to the details of the food production process are the most important factors that contribute to the physical hazard (Wallace et al., 2011). Meanwhile, the broken seals of the bags represent a biological hazard. This type of hazard results from exposure of food to pathogens (Smith and Hui, 2008). A closer investigation of the company’s issues reveals that the cutting and sealing of the vacuum packs of the cheese blocks are done by only one machine. The machine has a metal cheese wire used to cut the cheese. At the same time, this machine also automatically vacuum seals the cheese blocks. A metal detector, which serves as a control, is found at the end of the production line. This equipment could have detected any embedded metal in the cheese. At this point, poor attention to details could have contributed to the failure of the staff to detect the metal in the cheese. Instead of allowing the cheese blocks to pass through the metal detector before removing and labelling them, some members of the staff might fail to recheck whether the blocks have passed through the metal detectors. Similarly, an opportunity to check the integrity of the vacuum seals of the cheese block is also presented during the labelling. However, the staff failed to document whether all cheese blocks are safely sealed. On the other hand, the staff manually places grated cheese in plastic bags together with potato starch while the modified atmosphere packaging machine seals the packs. Recommendations for Improvement In this report, the issue of the presence of metal fragments in the block of cheese and broken seals of cheese packs will be addressed. Metal Fragments in the Block of Cheese In-line metal detectors are present in the production line. This is check point is crucial and is met by the company. However, it is recommended that these in-line metal detectors should be fitted with automatic rejection systems (Smith and Hui, 2008). In the company’s case, there was only one metal detector at the end of the assembly line. It was also not fitted with an automatic rejection system. The British Retail Consortium (2013) reiterates that metal detection protects the customers and should be part of any food protection system. However, there are cases where metal detection does not provide the consumers with significant added protection. In this case, the British Retail Consortium (2013) adds that exceptions should be made only when there is indeed no need for metal detection of the product. Hence, it is still vital that companies should make justifications why metal detection is not needed. The need of metal detection in a food company is highlighted when customers complain of metal in their food products. Consequences of this failure range from loss of credibility and loss of customers and bad publicity (Wareing, 2010). In worst scenario, metal present in the product might cause injury to the customer and result to prosecution (Academic Press, 2013). There are various possible causes of metal detector failure. The Academic Press (2013) explains that the metal detector might be experiencing mechanical failure or is not properly calibrated. The wrong pieces of metals are used during sensitivity check or the company used the incorrect metal detector. The succeeding table lists down the rest of possible causes of metal detector failure: Table 1. Causes of Metal Detector Failure Possible Causes of Metal Detector Failure Metal detector is placed in the wrong place in the assembly line Faulty rejection mechanism or there is no synchronization with the rejection system and the detector There is no control of the rejects Checks are not done regularly for the metal detector. In cases where checks are done, these are also performed incorrectly In cases where checks of metal detector reveal some failures, these are not recorded or corrective actions are not taken. Staff members of the organisation are not trained to perform metal detector checks. While staff members receive training on performing metal detector checks, the effectiveness of these trainings are not verified in actual practice. Workplace culture issues also play a role in influencing staff members not to take responsibility in performing necessary checks. Source: Academic Press (2013, p. 336) Â   Broken Seals of Cheese Packs The British Retail Consortium (2013) emphasised that food safety should be a priority amongst those in the food business. On analysis of the Cheese-4-All company, caterers complained of broken seals. Issues are often identified only when customers began complaining about the safety of the food that they order (Bougherara and Combris, 2009). This represents some breaches in safety procedures in the company. For instance, safety checks should be conducted once cheese blocks or grated cheese are sealed, before they are taken to or taken out of chillers. During the labelling process, it is also important that the staff conduct a check whether the seals are still in place or if there are broken seals in the cheese packs. Improvement Strategies Lawley et al. (2012) explain that many of the food safety legislation that are now in force in countries in Europe, including the UK, are formed as a result of collaboration between food authorities in the different countries. Representatives of the European Commissions are responsible for creating food safety legislations that are also used as template of food authorities in different countries (Lawley et al., 2012). For example, the European Commission has set out EC Regulation No. 852/2004 that set standards for hygiene on foodstuffs. In addition, the 2006 Food Hygiene Regulations also provide standards for food safety. Using information from these regulations, it is recommended that strategies should be in place to ensure the absence of metals in the cheese blocks and to prevent broken seals of the packs in the Cheese-4-All company. First, metal detectors should be checked every hour with test pieces (Robertson, 2013). Results should be recorded to assess the sensitivity of the metal detector. It is recommended that safety incidents should be recorded to ensure that staff learn from the experience and prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future (Arvanitoyannis, 2012). For example, the analysis reveals that only one machine is involved in cutting the cheese with metal cheese wire. It is also the same machine involved in vacuum packing of the cheese. It is suggested that the machine should be periodically checked to ensure that it is working properly. Second, qualified staff should perform calibration of the metal detector and ensure that it is in the proper place in the assembly line (Academic Press, 2013). Third, lockable receptacles should be in place to ensure that rejects are accommodated (Academic Press, 2013). Fourth, training staff to conduct safety checks of the food packs after sealing of the cheese, during refrigeration and before delivery. This is necessary to protect consumers from food poisoning (Montville and Matthews, 2008). Finally, it is suggested that the safety culture of the workplace should be investigated to determine the perceptions and current practice of the workers on food safety. Mortimore and Wallace (2013) argue that the safety culture of the workplace is a crucial determinant in whether safety regulations are implemented and institutionalised. In many cases, the lack of a safety culture leads to failure in the system. Conclusion In conclusion, this report shows that safety checks should be regularly done to prevent safety incidents such as presence of metals in food or having broken food seals. Consequences of these incidents include loss of customers and possible litigations from consumers who are harmed from ingested metals. Broken food seals present a health hazard since it could cause food contamination. In turn, this might lead to poisoning of the food consumers. An analysis of the Cheese-4-All Company reveals that safety checks are breached during food processing. A metal detector is present in the end of the assembly line but failed to detect the metal present in one of the cheese products. Possible causes of this failure are discussed in the report. On the other hand, the broken seal also indicates failure on the part of the staff to thoroughly check the packaging of the cheese. Finally, this report recommends performing regular checks of the machine used in cutting and sealing the cheese; ensuring t hat metal detector is working and placed in the proper position; and regularly performing checks on whether food seals are in place. It is also suggested that the work culture should be investigated to determine if safety is a priority in the workplace. This would help the company change the culture in the workplace and ensure that a culture of safety is practised. References Academic Press (2013) Encyclopedia of Food Safety, Washington, D.C.: Academic Press. Arvanitoyannis, I. (2012) Modified atmosphere and active packaging technologies, London: CRC Press. Bougherara, D. Combris, P. (2009) ‘Eco-labelled food products: what are consumers paying for?’, European Review of Agricultural Economics, 36(3), pp. 321-341. British Retail Consortium (2013) Global standard for food safety- guideline for fresh produce, London: The Stationery Office. Food Standards Agency (FSA) (2013) Safer food, better business [Online]. Available from: food.gov.uk/business-industry/caterers/sfbb/#.UswHhvbNevQ (Accessed: 6th January, 2013). Lawley, R., Curtis, L. Davis, J. (2012) The Food Safety Hazard Guidebook, London: Royal Society of Chemistry. Marriott, N. Gravani, R. (2006) Principles of food sanitation, London: Springer. Montville, T. Matthews, K. (2008) Food Microbiology: An Introduction. Mortimore, S. Wallace, C. (2013) HACCP: A Practical Approach, 3rd ed., Preston, UK: Springer. Robertson, G. (2013) Food packaging: Principles and practice, 3rd ed., Sound Parkway NW: Taylor Francis Group. Smith, J. Hui, Y. (2008) Food processing: Principles and applications, London: John Wiley Sons. Wallace, C., Sperber, W. Mortimore, S. (2011) Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the global supply chain, London: John Wiley Sons. Wareing, P. (2010) HACCP: A toolkit for implementation, London: Royal Society of Chemistry. Yiannas, F. (2008) Food safety culture: Creating a behavior-based food safety management system, Arkansas, USA: Springer.

A critical appraisal of the integrity of a HACCP Plan and the design of an effective, efficient, evidence based improvement strategy The WritePass Journal

A critical appraisal of the integrity of a HACCP Plan and the design of an effective, efficient, evidence based improvement strategy Abstract A critical appraisal of the integrity of a HACCP Plan and the design of an effective, efficient, evidence based improvement strategy ) explain that a HACCP is essential in maintaining the safety of individual food products. The main aim of this plan is to ensure that each stage in the food production process is safe. The main objective of this report is to identify the hazard and create controls that would prevent the occurrence of this hazard. The main issues of the Cheese-4-All company are traced to the customers’ complaint of the presence of a metal wire on a block of cheese and returned food products from caterers due to broken seals of the bags. In the first issue, the metal wire represents a physical hazard for consumers. A physical hazard is described as any foreign material present in dairy products that could cause injury or illness to the consumer (Marriott and Gravani, 2006). Mortimore and Wallace (2013) emphasise that a physical hazard results from lack of control of a process or a piece of equipment in the production chain. A number of factors have been identified to contribute to the presence of a physical hazard. Amongst these, poorly maintained equipment and the employees’ inattention to the details of the food production process are the most important factors that contribute to the physical hazard (Wallace et al., 2011). Meanwhile, the broken seals of the bags represent a biological hazard. This type of hazard results from exposure of food to pathogens (Smith and Hui, 2008). A closer investigation of the company’s issues reveals that the cutting and sealing of the vacuum packs of the cheese blocks are done by only one machine. The machine has a metal cheese wire used to cut the cheese. At the same time, this machine also automatically vacuum seals the cheese blocks. A metal detector, which serves as a control, is found at the end of the production line. This equipment could have detected any embedded metal in the cheese. At this point, poor attention to details could have contributed to the failure of the staff to detect the metal in the cheese. Instead of allowing the cheese blocks to pass through the metal detector before removing and labelling them, some members of the staff might fail to recheck whether the blocks have passed through the metal detectors. Similarly, an opportunity to check the integrity of the vacuum seals of the cheese block is also presented during the labelling. However, the staff failed to document whether all cheese blocks are safely sealed. On the other hand, the staff manually places grated cheese in plastic bags together with potato starch while the modified atmosphere packaging machine seals the packs. Recommendations for Improvement In this report, the issue of the presence of metal fragments in the block of cheese and broken seals of cheese packs will be addressed. Metal Fragments in the Block of Cheese In-line metal detectors are present in the production line. This is check point is crucial and is met by the company. However, it is recommended that these in-line metal detectors should be fitted with automatic rejection systems (Smith and Hui, 2008). In the company’s case, there was only one metal detector at the end of the assembly line. It was also not fitted with an automatic rejection system. The British Retail Consortium (2013) reiterates that metal detection protects the customers and should be part of any food protection system. However, there are cases where metal detection does not provide the consumers with significant added protection. In this case, the British Retail Consortium (2013) adds that exceptions should be made only when there is indeed no need for metal detection of the product. Hence, it is still vital that companies should make justifications why metal detection is not needed. The need of metal detection in a food company is highlighted when customers complain of metal in their food products. Consequences of this failure range from loss of credibility and loss of customers and bad publicity (Wareing, 2010). In worst scenario, metal present in the product might cause injury to the customer and result to prosecution (Academic Press, 2013). There are various possible causes of metal detector failure. The Academic Press (2013) explains that the metal detector might be experiencing mechanical failure or is not properly calibrated. The wrong pieces of metals are used during sensitivity check or the company used the incorrect metal detector. The succeeding table lists down the rest of possible causes of metal detector failure: Table 1. Causes of Metal Detector Failure Possible Causes of Metal Detector Failure Metal detector is placed in the wrong place in the assembly line Faulty rejection mechanism or there is no synchronization with the rejection system and the detector There is no control of the rejects Checks are not done regularly for the metal detector. In cases where checks are done, these are also performed incorrectly In cases where checks of metal detector reveal some failures, these are not recorded or corrective actions are not taken. Staff members of the organisation are not trained to perform metal detector checks. While staff members receive training on performing metal detector checks, the effectiveness of these trainings are not verified in actual practice. Workplace culture issues also play a role in influencing staff members not to take responsibility in performing necessary checks. Source: Academic Press (2013, p. 336) Â   Broken Seals of Cheese Packs The British Retail Consortium (2013) emphasised that food safety should be a priority amongst those in the food business. On analysis of the Cheese-4-All company, caterers complained of broken seals. Issues are often identified only when customers began complaining about the safety of the food that they order (Bougherara and Combris, 2009). This represents some breaches in safety procedures in the company. For instance, safety checks should be conducted once cheese blocks or grated cheese are sealed, before they are taken to or taken out of chillers. During the labelling process, it is also important that the staff conduct a check whether the seals are still in place or if there are broken seals in the cheese packs. Improvement Strategies Lawley et al. (2012) explain that many of the food safety legislation that are now in force in countries in Europe, including the UK, are formed as a result of collaboration between food authorities in the different countries. Representatives of the European Commissions are responsible for creating food safety legislations that are also used as template of food authorities in different countries (Lawley et al., 2012). For example, the European Commission has set out EC Regulation No. 852/2004 that set standards for hygiene on foodstuffs. In addition, the 2006 Food Hygiene Regulations also provide standards for food safety. Using information from these regulations, it is recommended that strategies should be in place to ensure the absence of metals in the cheese blocks and to prevent broken seals of the packs in the Cheese-4-All company. First, metal detectors should be checked every hour with test pieces (Robertson, 2013). Results should be recorded to assess the sensitivity of the metal detector. It is recommended that safety incidents should be recorded to ensure that staff learn from the experience and prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future (Arvanitoyannis, 2012). For example, the analysis reveals that only one machine is involved in cutting the cheese with metal cheese wire. It is also the same machine involved in vacuum packing of the cheese. It is suggested that the machine should be periodically checked to ensure that it is working properly. Second, qualified staff should perform calibration of the metal detector and ensure that it is in the proper place in the assembly line (Academic Press, 2013). Third, lockable receptacles should be in place to ensure that rejects are accommodated (Academic Press, 2013). Fourth, training staff to conduct safety checks of the food packs after sealing of the cheese, during refrigeration and before delivery. This is necessary to protect consumers from food poisoning (Montville and Matthews, 2008). Finally, it is suggested that the safety culture of the workplace should be investigated to determine the perceptions and current practice of the workers on food safety. Mortimore and Wallace (2013) argue that the safety culture of the workplace is a crucial determinant in whether safety regulations are implemented and institutionalised. In many cases, the lack of a safety culture leads to failure in the system. Conclusion In conclusion, this report shows that safety checks should be regularly done to prevent safety incidents such as presence of metals in food or having broken food seals. Consequences of these incidents include loss of customers and possible litigations from consumers who are harmed from ingested metals. Broken food seals present a health hazard since it could cause food contamination. In turn, this might lead to poisoning of the food consumers. An analysis of the Cheese-4-All Company reveals that safety checks are breached during food processing. A metal detector is present in the end of the assembly line but failed to detect the metal present in one of the cheese products. Possible causes of this failure are discussed in the report. On the other hand, the broken seal also indicates failure on the part of the staff to thoroughly check the packaging of the cheese. Finally, this report recommends performing regular checks of the machine used in cutting and sealing the cheese; ensuring t hat metal detector is working and placed in the proper position; and regularly performing checks on whether food seals are in place. It is also suggested that the work culture should be investigated to determine if safety is a priority in the workplace. This would help the company change the culture in the workplace and ensure that a culture of safety is practised. References Academic Press (2013) Encyclopedia of Food Safety, Washington, D.C.: Academic Press. Arvanitoyannis, I. (2012) Modified atmosphere and active packaging technologies, London: CRC Press. Bougherara, D. Combris, P. (2009) ‘Eco-labelled food products: what are consumers paying for?’, European Review of Agricultural Economics, 36(3), pp. 321-341. British Retail Consortium (2013) Global standard for food safety- guideline for fresh produce, London: The Stationery Office. Food Standards Agency (FSA) (2013) Safer food, better business [Online]. Available from: food.gov.uk/business-industry/caterers/sfbb/#.UswHhvbNevQ (Accessed: 6th January, 2013). Lawley, R., Curtis, L. Davis, J. (2012) The Food Safety Hazard Guidebook, London: Royal Society of Chemistry. Marriott, N. Gravani, R. (2006) Principles of food sanitation, London: Springer. Montville, T. Matthews, K. (2008) Food Microbiology: An Introduction. Mortimore, S. Wallace, C. (2013) HACCP: A Practical Approach, 3rd ed., Preston, UK: Springer. Robertson, G. (2013) Food packaging: Principles and practice, 3rd ed., Sound Parkway NW: Taylor Francis Group. Smith, J. Hui, Y. (2008) Food processing: Principles and applications, London: John Wiley Sons. Wallace, C., Sperber, W. Mortimore, S. (2011) Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the global supply chain, London: John Wiley Sons. Wareing, P. (2010) HACCP: A toolkit for implementation, London: Royal Society of Chemistry. Yiannas, F. (2008) Food safety culture: Creating a behavior-based food safety management system, Arkansas, USA: Springer.