Helping to put the flavour back in fireworks

We recently assisted food experience designers Bompass and Parr in the risk assessment of the world's first ever multisensory firework display, which took place as part of the London 2014 New Year celebrations. Fruity flavours were matched to different coloured fireworks and among the sensory elements devised were Seville orange flavoured bubbles, edible banana–flavoured confetti and clouds of fruity mists.

Under the guidance of Anton Alldrick, our Special Projects Manager, a conceptual risk assessment was carried out to ensure that the proposed recipes for the sensory elements would cause no harm. This included using sophisticated microbiology modelling software to assess safety. Once the event was confirmed as safe in principle and in order to verify the risk assessment, audits were performed of the manufacturing processes of the companies that were producing elements to be used in the display. A review of all their production documentation verified that they were following good manufacturing processes. In addition, tests were carried out in our laboratories to microbiologically analyse the mists and confetti used. This ensured that the entire firework display was safe and risk-free for the enjoyment of the general public.

Our risk assessment methods can work on a very large scale, as demonstrated above, down to something much smaller.

Contact: Anton Alldrick
+44(0)1386 842127
anton.alldrick@campdenbri.co.uk