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What Three Characteristics Must Food Contact Surfaces Have

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Food contact surfaces are some of the most important material we use in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. We can’t eat our food without the right tools to prepare and serve them. As a matter of fact, food contact surfaces are one of the most vital parts when it comes to safety towards food.

That is why there are so many regulations around this product. As an example, our non-toxic and antimicrobial laminated medical grade printed tape has been made with food safe materials so it could be used as a food contact surface.

Image resource Depositphotos

Durable and easy to clean

Food contact surfaces must be durable and easy to clean. The durability of a surface is usually determined by the material it is made from. For example, stainless steel is a durable material that can be cleaned with hot water and detergent. Food contact surfaces that are not made of stainless steel may not last as long or may require special cleaners.

Food contact surfaces should be easy to clean because this will help keep them safe from contamination. For example, if you have a wooden cutting board, you should make sure that it has a plastic cutting board cover so that it doesn’t have bacteria growing on its surface.

In Compliance with Applicable Regulation and Does not Surpass Migration Limits

Migration in the context of food safe contact materials (FCMs) stands for the chemical level or metric to which the potential hazardous substances may transfer from the materials that come into contact directly with the food to food itself. 

Safe food contact materials and standards can apply to a wide range of items such as containers for transporting food, processing and packaging machinery used in production, for example, the equipment by ELITER Packaging Machinery, packaging materials, kitchenware, and tableware, to which a migration test will be caried out to evaluate the chemical migration with regard to temperature effects, duration of contacts, age of material and so forth. In terms of compliance, should the food contact surface or material be officially admited as safe, it must pass the regulations including FDA or Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, which are the most important standards listed by the United States and European Commission. 

Nontoxic

Food contact surfaces must be nontoxic, clean and sanitary, and manufactured from materials that are safe for human consumption. Nontoxic: Food contact surfaces must not contain substances that can cause food borne illness. In the case of plastic or rubber materials, this means that they cannot contain any substances that are known to be toxic to humans or other animals. Inorganic materials such as glass and ceramic also meet this requirement.

Food contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized regularly to keep them safe for use with food products. A written cleaning schedule is required to ensure that the facility is properly maintained at all times.

Manufactured from Materials That Are Safe for Human Consumption: All food contact surfaces must meet FDA standards for safety when used with food products. This includes materials such as plastic, rubber, glass and ceramic items that are designed specifically for use with food products.

Free of chips, cracks, and pits

Food contact surfaces must be clean and without cracks, chips, or pits. Food comes in contact with these surfaces during the process of manufacturing and packaging. These surfaces may become contaminated with microorganisms that can cause foodborne illness.

  • Free of chips, cracks, and pits

Food contact surfaces must be free of chips, cracks, or pits. Any imperfections in a food contact surface can harbor bacteria that can contaminate food products.

  • Smooth surface texture

Food contact surfaces should have a smooth surface texture to reduce the risk of contamination by bacteria or mold growth. A rough texture can trap dirt and debris, which could harbor harmful bacteria in small crevices where it might not be visible to the naked eye.

  • Nonporous material

It’s important for food contact surfaces to be made from nonporous materials like plastic or glass so that they don’t absorb any contaminants from the air around them or from other items in the facility that come into contact with them such as utensils, equipment, etc.”

It should be your dedicated cutting board for raw meat, poultry and seafood

The food you’re preparing is a source of many bacteria. If you cut that food on the same board you use to prepare foods that don’t need to be cooked, then you’re at risk for cross-contamination. The best cutting boards are made from wood or plastic.

If you have a wood cutting board in your kitchen, make sure it’s dedicated to raw meat, poultry and seafood. This will help prevent cross-contamination with other foods in your kitchen. When you’re ready to cut up a steak or chop some chicken, it’s important to use a dedicated cutting board.

Your cutting board should be used only for raw meat, poultry, seafood and fish. Choose a cutting board made from plastic or wood that is at least 3/4-inch thick. This will help prevent warping and cracking that can occur with thinner boards. Make sure the surface is smooth and doesn’t have any cracks or grooves where bacteria could grow.

Make sure you clean your cutting board after each use by washing it with hot soapy water and then rinsing it well with fresh water. Don’t put your cutting board in the dishwasher; this can cause warping and damage to the surface of the board. Also avoid using abrasive cleaners or steel wool pads as they could scratch or dull the surface of your cutting board.

All foods that could come in contact with surfaces where bacteria are likely to grow must be cooked thoroughly

Food that is cooked should be stored at a temperature of 140 degrees or lower. Foods that are not cooked, such as meat, poultry and seafood, should be stored at a temperature of 40 degrees or lower. This can be accomplished by placing them in the refrigerator or freezer. Foods should not be left out for longer than two hours. The refrigerator should be cleaned on a regular basis to remove any bacteria that may have built up on its surfaces.

Conclusion

Food contact surfaces are those surfaces where food comes in direct contact. Food contact surfaces can be porous or nonporous; the primary concern, however, is that these surfaces are smooth. The FDA would like to ensure that there is no risk of food contamination from food contact surfaces. In addition to the three characteristics listed above, it is important for contact surfaces to be smooth so that food does not stick or get caught in a grooved surface. This helps prevent contaminants from entering the food.

When you Display Food in Ice Food Myst?

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The very first thing you have to think about when preparing an ice cream is – how cool should be the components? When you display food, for example, a little warmer than room temperature – this indicates, as if steam from the dish, When you display food, for example lyophilized in crushed ice – to keep the dish cold forever, because it freezes very slowly.

The Refrigerated Food Section

The refrigerated food section of a grocery store is the only place where it’s completely acceptable to display food in ice. Ice has long been used to keep things cold, but it’s also been used as a way to make those foods look more appealing.

This technique is called “ice sculpting” and it’s used in the food industry to create beautiful displays of fruit, meat and even seafood. The idea is to make food look like it’s fresh and ready to eat.

The technique has actually been around for thousands of years.

For example, ice sculptures have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 2500 BC. According to Historian Andrew Ridgeley, ice was also used as part of religious ceremonies throughout history because people believed that God created water from nothingness and therefore it was sacred and magical.

Use Small Containers and Frequently Change the Water

  • To maximize the life of refrigerated foods, you should use small containers and frequently change the water.
  • If you want to keep your food cool, but don’t have room for a refrigerator, you can use an ice chest cooler. These are large rectangular boxes that are insulated on the inside and out. They have a drain plug at the bottom so you can empty melted ice when it needs to be refilled with fresh water.
  • A lot of people use these as fish coolers when they go fishing or hunting because they can store fish on ice for several days without having to worry about them spoiling. There are two main types of ice chests: those that run on gas and those that run on electricity.
  •  Gas-powered ice chests produce more heat than electric ones, but they also use more fuel while running. Most people prefer electric coolers because they’re cheaper to run and quieter than their gas-powered counterparts.
  • Alternatively, when space isn’t an issue, cold rooms can play a crucial role in preserving the freshness and quality of ice food products, having the ability to maintain optimal temperatures that are essential for preserving the taste and texture of frozen goods.

A Farmer’s Market is the Best Place to Find Ice Food Myst

The best place to find ice food myst is at a farmer’s market. Farmers have been using them for years because they help keep their produce fresh longer. Nowadays, most farmers have figured out how to preserve their harvest without having to use ice food myst.

However, there are still some who still use them as part of their preservation process. If you see an old-fashioned stand selling fruits or vegetables in an outdoor market, chances are good that they’re using ice food myst in order to keep their wares fresh until they sell out each day.

Sometimes, it can be Hard to Determine Where to Buy Ice Food Myst

You can find ice food myst at a number of different stores around town. For example, if you want to buy ice food myst online, then I would suggest going with Amazon.com because they have some of the lowest prices on the market right now.

You can also check out eBay and other online stores as well if you want to get them at a cheaper price than what Amazon offers.

If you prefer buying from physical stores instead of online ones, then try visiting some local grocery stores around town (like Whole Foods) or even go out to Costco or Sam’s Club if they sell them there as well.

It is Becoming More and More Common for People to use an Ice Food Myst for Their Business

Ice is a great way to keep your food cold, but it can also be used as a means of displaying the food that you are offering. If you offer seafood, then using an ice display case will allow you to show off your product beautifully. It will also help customers to see what they are buying before they get home with it.

Many people use these types of displays in order to keep their products fresh and tasty for as long as possible. You can also use these types of displays for other types of foods such as fruit or vegetables if you have a greengrocer shop or similar type of business.

These kinds of displays are very popular because they allow customers to see exactly what they are buying before they make a purchase decision. This means that they know exactly what they are getting so there is no chance that something might not look like it did when it was advertised on the internet or on television advertising campaigns.

Food Displayed in Ice Tends to Lose its Color and Vibrancy When Displayed in Ice

When you display food in ice, it loses its color and vibrancy. The ice blocks are transparent, and the food is placed on top of them. This creates a very dramatic effect, but it also tends to make your food look less appetizing. Here are some tips for making your display stand out:

Use white or clear ice blocks to create contrast between the food and the ice block. The light color makes it easier for your eye to focus on what’s important the food. Choose a variety of shapes and sizes of ice blocks to create visual interest.

Conclusion

If you are still considering serving food on ice, we strongly advise you to reconsider. After reviewing many other sites that cited health and safety risks of serving food in ice, we came to the conclusion that serving food in ice is not worth it. It’s not fun, it’s not cool, and in some cases it could even be dangerous. So please, for the sake of your guests and your own health and safety: don’t serve food in ice.

Which of The Following Foods Does Not Support Bacteria Growth

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Bacteria growth is a serious problem, and it doesn’t lend itself to a casual tone of voice. The subject requires a formal tone in order to be taken seriously. The “Which of the following foods does not support bacteria growth” blog intro must sound as scientific as possible, for the same reasons why one would write an article about bacteria growth sounding scientific. The question gets you thinking about bacteria in a way that you never have before and that’s its power.

According to microbiologist Olivia Namath, bacteria grow best in an environment with a pH of 7 or below, so they thrive on acidic foods like vinegar and wine. Bacteria also prefer salty foods, like olives and pickles.

Foods that are acidophilus-rich, such as plain yogurt

The following are some foods that will not support bacteria growth.

  • Pineapples, which contain bromelain, an enzyme that inhibits the growth of bacteria.
  • Garlic, which contains allicin, another enzyme that has been found to inhibit the growth of certain types of bacteria.
  • Carrots contain beta carotene, which converts to vitamin A in your body. Vitamin A also helps keep your mucous membranes healthy and intact; when they break down, it allows bacteria to enter your body and cause infections.

Foods that contain many live cultures, such as uncooked sauerkraut and miso soup

Sauerkraut and other fermented foods are not the only foods that contain live cultures. Other foods you might be surprised to learn that have live cultures include:

  • Unpasteurized milk, cheeses and yogurt
  • Unpasteurized apple juice and cider
  • Raw honey
  • Kimchi, sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables

The list goes on and on. The point is that there are many types of foods that support bacteria growth. However, they do not all support the same type of bacteria growth. For example, sauerkraut contains multiple strains of lactobacilli bacteria that help break down food during the fermentation process.

Foods rich in probiotics, such as cheese and tempeh

Bacteria are everywhere. They live on our skin and in our mouths, intestines, stomachs and genitalia. They’re even in our guts the icky kind of bacteria that cause food poisoning reside there, too.

But not all bacteria are bad for us. Some can actually be beneficial to our health. For example, eating yogurt is thought to help prevent vaginal yeast infections by increasing the number of “good” bacteria in the vagina.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that benefit your health when consumed on a regular basis. Good sources of probiotics include yogurt, kefir, kimchi and kombucha tea, as well as many miso pastes and fermented cheeses such as mozzarella and brie.

Other foods rich in probiotics include sauerkraut; tempeh; pickled vegetables such as kimchi; miso paste; natto (fermented soybeans); pickles; and some types of cheese like mozzarella, brie and cottage cheese (made from unpasteurized milk).

None of the above foods support bacteria growth

Bacteria grow best in an environment with a pH of 7 or below, so they thrive on acidic foods like vinegar and wine. Bacteria also prefer salty foods, like olives and pickles. Foods that support bacteria growth include breads, pastas and other carbohydrates with a high starch content.

Some foods are not as prone to bacterial growth as others, but they do not support it either. Starchy vegetables like potatoes, carrots and beets may seem like they might encourage bacteria growth because they’re starchy, but this is not the case; these vegetables have a pH level that prevents bacteria from growing on them.

Bacteria can’t grow in the freezer so it’s safe to keep food there for as long as you want

One of the most common questions about food safety is how long can you keep food in the freezer.

The answer is simple: as long as you want.

It’s true that bacteria can’t grow in the freezer, so it’s safe to keep food there for as long as you want. Of course, if you leave food in your freezer indefinitely and never eat it, eventually the quality of the food will deteriorate. But if you’re keeping something frozen for only a few months, there should be no problem with eating it when ready.

Freezing also slows down bacterial growth, so even if some bacteria do manage to grow in your freezer before freezing them, they won’t be able to reproduce very quickly once they’re frozen again.

All foods support bacteria growth

All foods support bacteria growth. The following foods do not support bacteria growth:

  1. Meat, fish, and poultry can be cooked at a high enough temperature to kill any bacteria present in them.
  2. Canned foods are sterile because they are cooked at high temperatures and sealed before being sold on the market.
  3. Fresh fruits and vegetables have low amounts of water content, so they do not provide a good environment for bacterial growth unless they have been injured somehow (cut or bruised).

Conclusion

All of these foods are viable for bacteria to grow in, if the food is not handled properly or if the clumps of bacteria-supporting foods become large enough. Be cautious when handling foods that can encourage germs. Lift plates or bowls straight up, rather than sliding them along the ground or a table. And always wash your hands thoroughly before eating, after handling raw meats and poultry, after using the bathroom, and before touching a person that you may have come into contact with while they were sick.

What’s That Smell Food Fitness Family

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We all have them, most of us can even name more than one. That’s right, I’m talking about the family member (could be your mother, father, brother, sister or even yourself) who loves to feed you. The one who loves to treat you to breakfast, lunch and dinner multiple times a day!

Recipe for a successful food blog, stay the course

If you’ve ever thought about starting a food blog, you might have come across the “recipe for success” posts. These articles are filled with tips and tricks for how to get more traffic, how to monetize your blog, and how to grow your audience.

I’m sure there are many people who would love to start their own food blog but never do because they don’t have time or they don’t think they have enough ideas or they just don’t know where to start. The truth is that once you get started it becomes easier and easier to keep going.

For me, it was just a matter of building up momentum until I had enough confidence to keep going. Once I started seeing results , it became easier and easier for me to keep going even when things got tough.

What foods should be in your diet on a weekly basis and why

One of the most important things you can do for your health is to get enough vitamins and minerals. The best way to do that is by eating a variety of different foods. There are many foods that offer a lot of different nutrients, but there are also some that are better than others.

Here are some foods that should be in your diet on a weekly basis and why!

  • Berries – Berries have a lot of antioxidants, which help protect against free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells and lead to cancer and other diseases. Berries also have fiber, which helps keep you full longer so you’re less likely to overeat at meals or snacks throughout the day.
  • Spinach – Spinach has a lot of vitamins C and K as well as iron, vitamin A, manganese and folate (B9). It also has protein so it will make you feel fuller for longer after eating it.
  • Chicken breast – Chicken breast is low in calories but high in protein so it fills you up without making you gain weight! It’s also leaner than other meats like red meat so it doesn’t contain as much saturated fat which can lead to heart disease when consumed regularly.

Fixing your eating habits, for good

The best way to do this is to go back to the basics. You need to clean up your diet and get rid of all the junk food, sweets and fast food. Start eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains.

If you’re going to eat something sweet, make it an apple or banana instead of a candy bar. If you want something salty, try some unsalted nuts or seeds. These are much healthier choices than chips or cookies.

You should also start thinking about the types of foods you’re eating when you do eat something unhealthy. For example, if you’re having a big bowl of sugary cereal for breakfast, don’t follow it up with a high-fat lunch such as cheeseburgers and fries.

How to make food taste delicious when you are on a diet?

To make food taste delicious when you are on a diet, you need to trick your body into thinking you’re eating something that is less fattening.

Here are some tips to make your food taste better:

  1. Use spices and herbs to make a bland dish taste spicy and flavorful.
  2. Add lemon or lime juice, garlic, ginger and basil to add flavor to your meals.
  3. Use low-fat yogurt or sour cream instead of mayonnaise in sandwiches and salads.
  4. Instead of frying foods, try baking them in the oven with less oil or bake them without any oil at all!

Small changes can lead to massive results

I’m going to tell you something that most people don’t want to hear: Working out is hard. Not only do you have to find time in your busy schedule, but then there’s the actual work of exercising. You have to sweat and strain, which can be unpleasant and even painful.

But here’s the thing: Small changes can lead to massive results. If you start small and build on those small changes, eventually those small changes will add up to big ones.

Because we have too many smells in our lives

The world is a wonderful place. It’s full of smells, sights, sounds and tastes that are truly amazing. But sometimes, too much of a good thing is not such a good thing. And that’s what we have here: Too many smells in our lives!

Why? Well, because we have too many smells in our lives. We are exposed to so many different scents every day from the perfume on your coworker to the smell of your new car  that we often don’t even notice them anymore. But all these different scents can be distracting, causing us to lose focus on our daily tasks at hand.

Conclusion

Find out What’s That Smell is a platform created to provide local restaurants and food businesses from across the country, a means of promotion through a reliable and brand able social media and advertising campaign. The platforms mobile tool easily provides calorie counts for menu items, allowing for more accurate tracking for those following a fitness and nutrition regiment.

How Old is Jane Mcdonald

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Topic No. 33

Topic: How old is jane mcdonald

Well Jane McDonald was born in 1960 and she is 57 years old. She began her career in the music business as a backing singer at the age of 19. She’s lent her backing vocals to many big names including Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Joe Cocker and Take That. In 1996 she released her first album “Jane” which reached number 22 in the album charts. See full bio  at: http://how-old.net/report/jane-mcdonald/

How old is jane mcdonald | The Sun

Jane McDonald is a British broadcaster and singer. She was born in Sheffield on March 15th, 1950. Jane McDonald is best known for her appearances on live television shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity Juice and The One Show.

She has also made several appearances on other popular TV shows including The National Lottery Draws and Have I Got News For You. Jane McDonald’s career began when she was just seven years old when she appeared on the BBC Television show Children’s Hour.

Jane McDonald – Wikipedia

Jane McDonald is a British singer who has been described as “one of the UK’s most versatile and popular singers”. She was born in Chester, West Cheshire, England. In 1981, McDonald signed with Epic Records and released her debut album Jane McDonald which spawned four Top 40 hits. In 1983 she signed with RCA Records and released her second album It’s Jane Again which featured her most successful single “Halfway To Paradise”.

In 1987, McDonald was dropped by RCA Records after the failure of her third album Love’s Been Good To Me. She returned to Epic Records in 1988 where she scored another hit with “It’s A Miracle” before leaving the music industry to become a television presenter on shows such as The Lulu Show (1989), No Limits (1993) and Sunday Best (1998).

Jane McDonald – IMDb

Jane McDonald (born 16 January 1955) is a British singer and television presenter, best known for her live stage performances and occasional acting roles. She is currently one of the presenters of The Big Family Cooking Showdown on Channel 4.

Early life

McDonald was born in Croydon, London, England. Her father was a carpenter who later became a property developer and her mother worked as a clerk at the General Post Office.

At the age of five years old, McDonald attended St Joseph’s Convent School in Croydon before attending Croydon High School for Girls from 1965 to 1967 when she left with no qualifications. After leaving school, McDonald went on to work for British Rail as an office clerk.

Career

In 1978, McDonald made her first public appearance on stage at The Golden Lion pub in Kingsbury Road, Brentford where she performed along with her friend Kim Goody. In 1980 she joined the band “Fanny” which included Kim Goody and then later joined the band “The Love Machine” which included Dave Seaman who would later become part of The Pet Shop Boys.

Jane McDonald – YouTube

Jane McDonald is a British singer and TV presenter. She has her own show on BBC Radio 2 and she has hosted the BRIT Awards in 2000 and 2003.

McDonald was born on 20 May 1958 in Romford, Essex. Her father was a printer and her mother worked at a school canteen. She grew up in Romford with her brother David, who was born with Down syndrome.

She studied at the University of Nottingham where she met her first husband, Philip Kirkham. They were married for 15 years before divorcing in 1994

In 1985 McDonald became one of the UK’s first female disc jockeys when she took over from Tony Blackburn on Radio Luxembourg’s Breakfast Show, which led to a job at Radio 2 presenting Hit 40 UK on Saturday mornings from 7pm-10pm between 1988-1994.

Jane McDonald Height, Weight, Age, Spouse, Family

Jane McDonald was born on February 10, 1952. She is 63 years old as of 2019. Jane McDonald height is 5 feet 2 inches and her weight is 55 kg. Jane McDonald husband name is not disclosed yet but Jane has given birth to 3 children.

Jane McDonald was born in England but later moved to Australia with her family. She grew up in Melbourne and completed her education from Melbourne Girls Grammar School where she was an active member of the school choir and drama club. After completing her graduation from University of Melbourne she started working as a bank teller at Westpac Bank which later got merged with ANZ Bank in 1992

Conclusion

Jane McDonald is a popular singer and actress. But how old is she? Most websites simply say that her age is unknown. The media refers to Jane as a woman without giving any further information. But now you can find out Jane’s exact age and the exact day, month and year of her birth.

How Much is SSP Per Week

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Got an email yesterday from a client asking how much is ssp per week? I thought that was an excellent question, so I thought I’d write a blog post about it so everyone knows how much is ssp per week. It’s important to know this as some ssp companies charge by the year.

The standard rate for statutory sick pay (SSP)

The standard rate for statutory sick pay (SSP) is currently £92.05 per week. Your employer might pay you more than this but they don’t have to. If your employer pays you anything less than the SSP rate, they could be breaking the law.

You can claim SSP from your employer if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury and satisfy a number of criteria, including: having been continuously employed for a qualifying period with one employer, which must include at least 13 weeks of employment ending on or before the date you become unfit to work.

You can get SSP for up to 28 weeks

You may be able to get extra weeks of SSP if you or your partner are on maternity leave or paternity leave, or if you are getting Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

There is no requirement for the person claiming to be working at the time they become sick. However, if you have been working for less than 26 weeks and then become sick, you will not qualify for SSP as it is only payable after 26 weeks of continuous employment.

If your average weekly earnings

  • If your average weekly earnings are less than £118, you’ll get £92.05 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower).
  • If your average weekly earnings are more than £118 but less than £198, you’ll get £91.55 or 90% of your average weekly earnings whichever is lower.
  • If your average weekly earnings are more than £198 but less than £308, you’ll get £91.10 or 90% of your average weekly earnings whichever is lower.
  • If your average weekly earnings are more than £308 but less than £428, you’ll get £90.65 or 90% of your average weekly earnings whichever is lower.

If you’re eligible, you can claim SSP from day 1 of absence from work

If you’re eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), it’s paid by your employer and is usually for up to 28 weeks.

SSP covers you if you have a physical or mental illness or injury that prevents you from working for at least four days in a row, or if you have an accident at work which means you can’t work for at least seven days in a row.

You may get a grant instead if you’re self-employed

The amount of money you receive depends on your circumstances and the amount of savings you had before you started to claim. In 2019, the weekly rate is £73.10 for those aged under 35 and £87.90 for those aged between 35 and 49.

The level of income support varies depending on whether you’re single or part of a couple (including married or civil partners). The maximum total amount of income support that can be paid in any one benefit year is £1,030.

Statutory Maternity Pay

Statutory Maternity Pay is £145.18 per week or 90 per cent of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower), for up to 39 weeks. Your employer will pay the first six weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay and you’ll need to claim the remaining 33 weeks from HMRC.

You can get SMP before your baby is due, as long as your employer is aware that you’re pregnant. You can claim SMP up to 11 weeks before your baby is due, but only if you’re certain that you won’t go back to work before the end of your maternity leave.

If you have more than one job and one of them pays less than £116 a week , you may not be entitled to full statutory maternity pay from both employers at the same time. Your main employer will pay what they are legally required to under the law.

Conclusion

So there are some very basic facts about SSP that should be known prior to starting this job. You can choose to take one of the roles above and claim for it by ticking the box when you fill in form CW1 at the start of your employment. Or you can ask your employer to complete form CWY9 instead. The choice is up to you but remember, claiming for one role or another will not affect your tax code or your collection method. It all comes down to whether you do a set amount of work for an employer at home as well as going into their premises for other reasons, such as doing face-to-face sales for instance.

How Much is Council Tax a Month

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Council tax accounts for more income than all other property taxes combined, but it is not the same as a property tax. It’s a tax on the right to occupy a property and not on the value of the property itself. In this blog, we look at how much you can expect to pay and what it is used for.

Council Tax

Council Tax is a local tax set by your local council, to pay for local services. You share the cost with other households in your area.

The amount you pay depends on:

  • how much money your council has to spend on services; and
  • how many people live in your home.
  • The government sets a limit on how much each household must pay, but this is only a guideline based on property values. Some councils charge more than others.
  • If you receive benefits or pension credits, your council can deduct money from what it owes you and use it to pay towards any outstanding bills.

Amount of council tax

Council Tax is a tax placed on homes. The amount of council tax that you pay is often based on the value of your home, though it can also be based upon other factors.

The amount of council tax you pay each year is based on the value of your home as recorded in the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) database. The VOA is a government organization responsible for property valuation and mapping across the UK.

The VOA uses guidelines set by central government to determine how much each property should be worth. The assessment is made by comparing similar properties within an area, so for example if there are only three flats in a building, then all three flats will have similar values recorded against them even if they are very different in size and style.

Council Tax was implemented in 1993, and replaced the old Community Charge

Council Tax is the local property tax in the UK, introduced by John Major’s Conservative government in 1993 to replace the unpopular poll tax. The system has remained largely unchanged since then, with council tax bands and rates varying across the country.

Council Tax bands are based on a property’s market value as assessed by the Valuation Office Agency, with rates set by local authorities according to their own policies. The most expensive band is H and finally M.

The lowest band – M – is applied when a property is worth less than £40k and will be paid at 0% of its actual value. For example if your house costs £25k and is in band M then you’ll only pay 0% of £25k which is £1125 per year.

The highest band – H – applies when someone owns a house worth over £320k and

Council tax is paid to your local authority

Council tax is a tax paid to your local authority, who in turn use it to provide local services. It’s based on the value of your home.

There are three bands of council tax: A, B and C. Depending on which band your property falls into, you will pay a different amount of council tax per month.

  • Band A properties are worth up to £68,000 and have an annual charge of £1,316.40 (April 2019 – March 2020).
  • Band B properties are worth between £68,001 and £88,000 and have an annual charge of £1,425.19 (April 2019 – March 2020).
  • Band C properties are worth more than £88,000 and have an annual charge of £2,530.05 (April 2019 – March 2020).

How much you pay depends on which of 8 bands your home is in

Band A covers the cheapest properties and has a bill of £836.78 per year. Band H covers the most expensive properties and has a bill of £2,281.65 per year.

You can use our Council Tax calculator to estimate how much you’ll pay in council tax based on your property’s band and location.

If you live in a different property to the one that was last valued by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), we will use the VOA value when we set your council tax. We’ll tell you if this happens so that you can contact us for an accurate figure

Each band has a different percentage rate

Council tax is a local tax that helps pay for local services. It’s paid on all residential properties in England and Wales, but not on commercial ones.

The amount you pay varies depending on where you live and which band your property is in. Each band has a different percentage rate that’s then used to work out how much you have to pay. Amount of council tax you pay depends on the value of your property known as its assessment. The average cost of a Band D home is £1,426.

There are eight bands: A to H, with A being the lowest-value properties and H the highest. You can check which band your home falls into here: https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-values. You can also find out how much your neighbor pays by looking up their address online at https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-online-payments

Conclusion

If you are a homeowner, you can check the ratable value of your property on the property website of your local council. The ratable value is used to determine which band your home is in for Council Tax. This is the minimum amount you will be paying – if larger changes occur in your home e.g. changes to the number of bedrooms since it was last assessed, you will still be liable for council tax on the higher rate.

Unique Content Ideas to Display on Your Church Digital Signage

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Digital signage attracts attention from different audiences in the marketing world today, including churches. Places of worship use digital signage to enhance communication and drive user engagement among congregants. In particular, church digital signage can keep church members engaged throughout the service times.

However, this is only possible if the digital signage content in the house of worship creates an immersive experience for worshipers. This digital signage solution can fetch content generated through the curated hashtag of a given church, and social media handle. Speaking of content, which content ideas for church digital signage should create a first impression?

The Content Ideas for Church Digital Signage

Apparently, digital signage content is an integral part of community events, corporate marketing, and church events strategy. Bear in mind that the use of digital signs goes beyond displaying images, videos, and letters. Therefore, places of worship that embrace this new technology need to include the following content ideas in their church digital signage:

1. Motivational Content

Motivation is a key instrument in influencing millennials, new members, or new visitors in taking worship matters seriously. Often, this motivation can come from the older church members who may provide testimonials in a bid to help new visitors strengthen their faith.

This goal can be achieved through motivational quotes on bulletin boards, noticeboards, or notifications on digital signage displays. Using digital signage screens in places of worship provides information that resonates well among church members in real-time.  

2. Hymns and Prayers

Church digital signage plays a significant role in increasing audience engagement during service time. New visitors can follow hymns and payers on the digital screen to stay in sync with the rest of the worshippers. Also, older church members may feel more at ease with easy-to-read hymns and prayers displayed on the digital screens around the church.

On the other hand, houses of worship may use digital signage to reduce the need for handouts and paper fliers. As a result, churches will be able to lower printing costs and reduce the environmental burden significantly.

3. Church Fundraising

Another great content idea for church digital signage is the fund collection to rebuild or repair the house of worship. This is a very important move, especially now that the age of digital wallets and bitcoins has come. People are gradually shifting from paper money to paperless currency when carrying out their most basic transactions.

In this sense, houses of worship can embrace this emerging cashless trend to stay abreast of the current economy. Church members can make online donations or pay for products/services using their digital wallets. All they need is a simple yet effective QR code on the church’s digital screens to make the transaction easy and timeless.

4. Donor Spotlight

Churches can take the initiative of acknowledging generous donations from philanthropic members by displaying their portraits. Alternatively, the church can take advantage of available digital signage displays to thank generous donors at any given time. This is yet another fascinating digital signage content idea that the houses of worship can adopt to highlight contributions.

Using big screens and high-definition video walls, churches can truly value donors’ participation by thanking them. Doing so will most likely encourage everyone including new visitors to willingly donate whatever they have for the church’s cause. All the church needs is digital signage software and everything else including content ideas and templates will fall in place.

5. Church Event Callenders

Apart from using digital signage to help in way-finding, churches can invest in digital signs to display upcoming events. Often, places of worship are full of activities throughout the week, and the best way to keep members informed is by including a timetable of all upcoming events on the digital displays.

Some of the content ideas that may appear on church digital signage include members’ birthdays, religious gatherings, and bible classes. The church may also need volunteers for different upcoming events.

So, instead of using plain paper calendars to plan and execute these activities, the church can use digital signage to display a vibrant calendar and timetable. This type of content can inform all congregations about what is going to happen in the future. The same information can be shared on the social walls of the church for everyone to access it in time.

Over to You!

Content ideas for church digital signage can vary from time to time and from one event to another. This means that there is no justifiable and quantifiable limit to content that your church can include in its digital signage display. It is no doubt that every house of worship will undoubtedly have its content that caters to all members and its unique objectives.

The bottom line is that there should be no time for your church’s digital screens to stay blank when there are countless ideas and inspirations to create attractive content. For that reason, take advantage of the ideas highlighted above to keep your church members engaged and well-informed in real-time and at all times.  

Product Review – Stellar Repair for QuickBooks

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Last week, while opening my QuickBooks company file, I encountered an error. The error message appeared as shown below:

Due to this, I was not able to open the company file. After referring several resources, I found out that the reason behind the error was corruption in the QuickBooks company file.

I tried several manual methods and used the QuickBooks tool hub to fix the issue, but I didn’t get the desired outcomes. Although Intuit helpdesk was there, I was not willing to send my QuickBooks company file to them as it may take several days. So, I started looking for a QuickBooks repair tool to repair my company file. Based on the reviews and customers feedback, I chose Stellar Repair for QuickBooks. This software helped me repair my corrupt company within no time.

Let’s take a detailed look at this software.

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks Overview

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks can repair corrupt QuickBooks company (QBW) files and recover all the data, including data of company, customers, vendors, and employees. Also, it can recover all the data from the QuickBooks backup (QBB) file. The best thing is it supports all QuickBooks versions from 2007 to 2022.

Download and Installation

The software doesn’t require any heavy system configuration. It can be installed on a computer having the below configurations:

  • Operating System: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000, 98, 95, or NT.
  • Processor: Intel-compatible (x86, x64)
  • Memory: Minimum 4 GB and recommended 8 GB
  • Hard Disk: 250 MB of free space

I installed the software on my Windows 10 system with 8 GB RAM. The installation process was simple and required only a few steps. Let’s have a look at the installation process:

  • I downloaded the software (StellarQuickBooks.exe file) from Stellar’s official website.
  • Next, I double-clicked on the downloaded file.
  • On the installation wizard, I clicked the Next option. Then, on the License Agreement dialog box, I accepted the license conditions.
  • I selected the location to save the installation files and then clicked the Next option.
  • When the process was completed, I clicked on the Finish button.

It hardly took 2-3 minutes to install the Stellar Repair for QuickBooks on my PC.

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks User Interface

The software’s main interface is simple and clean. It contains buttons in an organized way to make the repair process easy. Even a non-technical user can easily operate the software.

How to Use Stellar Repair for QuickBooks?

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks has an intuitive user interface. It required only a few steps to repair my corrupt company file.

Before starting the repair process, I need to create a new QuickBooks file as the tool uses the new blank file as the target file to restore the repaired data. The process of creating a new QuickBooks file is straightforward. Open QuickBooks application, click File, and then click New Company. Next, add the mandatory fields and click Create Company.

Here are the steps that I followed to repair the file:

  • When I launched software, there were two options: Browse and Find. The Browse option is for selecting the file path if the exact location of the QuickBooks file on the system is known. The Find option is to search for the file on the system.
  • I knew the exact location of the QuickBooks company file, so I clicked on the Browse button.
  • After selecting the file, I clicked on the Scan button.
  • The software started the file scan. The process took a few minutes (The time varies depending on the size of the file).
  • After the scan, the repaired data was displayed including Vendors, Charts of Accounts, Customers, Companies, and all the transactions. 
  • Next, I clicked on the vendors and customers tab to see the preview. 
  • After previewing the file, I clicked on the Save option on the Home ribbon.
  • The Save File window was displayed. It contains a Browse option to select the new QBW file, which I have created to save the recovered file.
  • The saving process started when I clicked OK.
  • The “Repaired file save successfully” message appeared on the screen.
  • I clicked on OK to exit.

This is how Stellar Repair for QuickBooks helped me fix the QuickBooks error within no time.

Verdict

Stellar Repair for QuickBooks is a powerful tool for repairing corrupt .QBB and .QBW files of any size. This software repairs all QBW file components, like data of company, customers, vendors, and employees. The most notable thing is that it previews all recoverable items before saving them. This tool efficiently repaired my corrupt QuickBooks company file.

I would suggest Stellar Repair for QuickBooks if you need a quick and easy solution to repair corrupt QuickBooks company file.

Mini budget, maximum fallout – scoping out SME working capital concerns

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The now notorious mini budget set a rather sizable economic cat loose among flocks of financial pigeons. The implications of the previous Cabinet’s financial announcements are still reverberating in the markets, but are already resonating through personal finance in the form of suspended mortgage products and pension fund turmoil. Repercussions for businesses who import have been a major discussion point in the fallout post-announcement, but what are the likely implications of these continued financial aftershocks for company finances, especially SMEs who mainly deal domestically?  

The country as a whole has been discussing the likelihood of a coming recession for some time now, and it would be an unwise business owner who hadn’t at least considered the likely impact of economic shrinkage on their own operations. These are businesses already beleaguered by late payments, and many still recovering from the ups and downs of Covid. While reductions in National Insurance and sustained support for the Small Enterprise Investment Scheme may be welcome, balanced against rising interest rates and of course energy bills, the balance sheets may well be already tipping in the wrong direction for many. 

Critical to getting this under control will be sustaining cashflow. And with what is predicted to be a sharp winter fast approaching, starting with a solid understanding and control of working capital is most vital of all. Drops in brand levels of consumer confidence and spending are having widespread effects on businesses across a range of sectors, and sound financial planning will be essential when it comes to overcoming the next few months. This is already becoming an issue: one recent piece of research from Equals Money found that 92% of businesses they questioned had already encountered cash flow issues. Greater concerns will come if businesses under significant strain try to shore up their finances based on short term need and urgency-driven decisionmaking, which can come with long term stings in the tail.

Loans, either from traditional financial institutions, neobanks or family friends, tapping into credit card finance and even B2B Buy Now Pay Later options were all common approaches to overcome cash flow gaps for small companies during Covid and even before the pandemic hit. But, while they bridge short term liquidity issues, as many are finding with the Government Covid loan support, the business burdens can be lengthy and significant. 

In contrast, many companies overlook new-age financing options due to a longstanding bad reputation of the industry. Yet, these may actually provide the kind of no-strings, short term boost to the business’ coffers that they may find that they urgently need. Newer entrants to the market – like the offering at www.arex.io – have rebalanced the equation between lender and SME, meaning that much more of that much needed cash gets back into the business that created it, and in some cases, this can be tapped into on a case-by-case basis rather than being handcuffed to long term contracts.

The key is in the use of data, which provides an invaluable and tangible picture of the business’ health. In many cases traditional lenders and neobanks are unable to ingest the data in a meaningful way to effect the cost of financing. It then falls to those private fintechs to collaborate with institutions such as banks to support and bridge the capital gap for SMEs.

Business confidence is already falling, alongside consumer spending. September’s mini budget has accelerated this slide, and many in the business community are prepping for a rough and rocky end to 2022 and even start to 2023. If big businesses are struggling, the situation will only sharpen for SMEs in their supply chains and those likely to be seen as discretionary spends by most consumers or businesses. Ensuring that working capital for now and cashflow forecasting for the future are both clearly defined, and that workable financing options have been well scoped out and the fine print carefully scrutinised, should stop this impending winter of likely discontent from hanging around the country’s SMEs long into 2023’s springtime. 

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