Food Fraud is the deliberate placing on the market, for financial gain, of foods which are falsely described or otherwise intended to deceive the consumer. It includes issues of authenticity (like the mixing of cheaper rice in with basmati rice) as well as the placing on the market of food unfit for consumption. The August 2008 podcast of Recall Matters discusses how companies can minimize the possibility of a product recall due to food fraud.

Manufacturers of food or consumer products need to develop procedures to manage all incidents that would affect their business and their ability to supply distributors. The July 2008 podcast of Recall Matters discusses how companies can create those procedures.

In today’s marketplace many manufacturers source a large amount of their ingredients from suppliers around the world, so it is vital to know what risks will be faced when importing goods, especially from non-EU countries, and how to reduce them. The June 2008 podcast of Recall Matters discusses how companies can avoid recalls because of supply chain issues.

Many product recalls are associated with food allergies – because of incorrect labeling, an undeclared allergen, or from allergen contamination from raw materials or from within the factory itself. The May 2008 podcast of Recall Matters discusses how companies can avoid recalls related to potential reactions to food allergens.

Food and drink products are especially susceptible to contamination and recall, and such incidents increasingly attract media attention which can have a devastating impact on consumer confidence and a company’s reputation. The April 2008 podcast of Recall Matters discusses how to prevent food contamination by flying insects.

Communications are crucial to crisis management and can lessen the impact of the event. This audiocast will discuss crisis management and how to control any gaps in communications which otherwise will quickly be filled by rumor and speculation during a crisis – and none of it will be positive for your company.

Most businesses think that they are covered by their General Liability policies. However, that isn’t necessarily true, and a business owner doesn’t want to find that out too late. Originally developed to cover complex, high-risk industries, the new regulatory and legal environment has made environmental insurance increasingly necessary for businesses of every size and sector.

Heightened consumer standards, more advanced technology, increased media attention and stricter regulatory environments are making all companies more vulnerable to product recalls and aware of their devastating implications. Globalization and the incorporation of component parts and ingredients from all corners of the earth further increases companies’ exposures.

Companies worldwide are facing product recalls daily. The ramifications of these recalls can be devastating and may affect companies in ways they could not have anticipated. Having a plan or procedure to fall back on before and during the event can have a definite impact on the outcome.

Many Small Businesses or Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are not convinced that they need Directors & Officers insurance. But even directors of SMEs can inadvertently commit wrongful acts with devastating consequences. And, directors can face allegations, unfounded or otherwise, which they must defend, and even unfounded allegations can be extremely expensive, time-consuming and stressful.

Kidnapping for ransom is big business and it’s getting bigger every year. Meanwhile, the combination of economic globalization and shear opportunism has created a dangerous environment with regard to extortion in many parts of the world. Most companies lack experience with kidnappings and extortion, so getting expert advice on how to respond and react can lead to vastly different outcomes – a happy ending or a tragedy.

The number one priority in a kidnapping is getting the victim out alive with the least possible trauma during captivity. A consultant with the experience to predict how the kidnapper is likely to act and a strategy that will work to get the victim released quickly and safely is obviously someone you want at your side.

Brazil has the potential to become a major player in the global economy, and it’s now on the cusp of change and possibly a breakthrough. One of the major issues that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva must address is the modernization of the country’s infrastructure – and how to pay for it.

When a company changes hands, what happens to the Directors and Officers (D and O) cover? A change in control, such as a merger or acquisition, normally sends a company’s D and O policy into run-off. This is where the D and O Lifetime Run-off policy steps in, to cover the residual exposures of the directors and officers of that company.

Many businesses never recover from the effects of a disaster. Customers and contracts may be lost, key employees may leave, access to credit may be harder, and competitors will take as much advantage as they can. It’s been estimated that as many as 80% of businesses either never reopen, or close within 18 months of a major incident. AIG’s Office Disaster Recovery aims to jump start businesses after a disaster so they can focus on their critical business operations.