
Beans on toast soap: Edible soap aims to highlight hygiene poverty
A beans on toast flavoured edible soap has been launched to raise awareness of the choice some families face between buying food and hygiene products.The Goodwash Company, from Barry, and The Hygiene Bank charity have produced the UK's first edible soap as part of a campaign to highlight hygiene poverty and to call for VAT on hygiene products to be cut.Hygiene poverty was found to affect an estimated 4.2 million adults in the UK last year, according to research conducted by YouGov on behalf of The Hygiene Bank.Currently, soap and other essential hygiene products are subject to a 20% VAT rate, treating them as non-essential items.
The Hygiene Bank has started a petition calling for a change in tax around this. The Treasury has been approached for comment. Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Mandy Powell, CEO and co-founder of skin care brand The Goodwash Company, said she thought she would originally make a breakfast bar with oats and seaweed as a talking point about hygiene poverty."I went back to them with the idea and they said, no, we want a proper evening meal bar of soap, something like beans on toast or a chicken tikka masala," she said."So I'm back to the team and I said I think this is going to be a little bit more difficult than I originally thought. But here we are 12 months later and we've got beans on toast soap." The soap is flavoured to taste like beans on toast, and is made out of cacao butter, organic oat flour, avocado oil and paprika as well as beans and toast flavouring.
It is also possible to buy a virtual version of the soap on The Goodwash Company's website for £15, which according to The Hygiene Bank is the average cost of soap over a year. All profits from the sale of the edible soap go directly to The Hygiene Bank."It is quite fun, but there is a serious message behind it," Ms Powell said. Speaking about the campaign to cut VAT on hygiene products, Ruth Brock, CEO of The Hygiene Bank, said soap was a necessity, "not a luxury"."This campaign is about more than just VAT reform - it's about recognising hygiene as a fundamental right," she added.
The soap has also caught the attention of Michelin star chefs in London where they have been adding shavings to the food. "There's been about eight or ten Michelin star chefs in London that have requested the soap bar," Ms Powell added.She added the chefs have been adding it to their dishes or including it on their restaurant menu to raise awareness of the campaign, describing it as "amazing".One such chef is Chantelle Nicholson, owner of Mayfair restaurant Apricity, who has paired the soap with mushrooms and wild garlic.

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Daily Record
2 hours ago
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Scotland's six best restaurants named at prestigious National Restaurant Awards
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The fine dining restaurant, which has been recognised with a Michelin star, is located on Royal Terrace in the Scottish capital. As reported by the Daily Record, Lyla champions Scotland's natural larder. It sources line-caught fish and shellfish from the Scottish islands, as well as organic meats and vegetables. The restaurant serves up a 10-course tasting menu between Wednesday and Saturday that is priced at £165 per person. It also offers a five or seven-course lunch menu, costing £65 and £95 per person respectively. The Glenturret Lalique, Crieff The Glenturret Lalique placed at number 41 on the National Restaurant Awards' list. Housed within the iconic Glenturret whisky distillery, it has received two Michelin stars. The restaurant's menu takes inspiration from The Glenturret, as well as Scotland's stunning landscapes. Its food was praised by the National Restaurant Awards for being "playful in concept but always graceful and elegant". Priced at £220 per guest, The Glenturret Lalique's sample dinner menu includes dishes such as BBQ Orkney scallop XO, line caught bream, and 'Bisque-it'. The Kinneuchar Inn Next up is The Kinneuchar Inn in the village of Kilconquhar. The 17th-century pub and restaurant came in at number 66. The Kinneuchar Inn was noted by the National Restaurant Awards for its "good-value daily-changing à la carte menu that celebrates seasonal, locally sourced ingredients". It also earned praise for its "down-to-earth" atmosphere. Guests at The Kinneuchar Inn can enjoy dishes such as tagliatelle with Trombetta courgette, basil, and pecorino and grilled Balcaskie mutton chop with Manteca beans, kale, and green sauce. Other options include roast hake with braised fennel, chickpeas, monk's beard, and aïoli and white peach with goat's curd, oak leaf, and hazelnut. Inver, Argyll and Bute Inver is a small restaurant nestled along the shores of Loch Fyne that specialises in simply prepared fresh seafood and native meat and game in season. It placed at number 78 on the National Restaurant Awards' roundup. The restaurant was noted by the experts for its commitment to sustainability. Inver previously became among the first restaurants to be awarded a Michelin Green Star—recognising sustainable gastronomy. Inver's tasting menu is priced at £115 and includes dishes such as scallop with white asparagus and argan and potato handkerchiefs springtime onions. There is also an à la carte menu available, with dishes like Arbroath smokie broth with scallop dumplings and green asparagus and spring chicken terrine with white asparagus and dandelion shoots. The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh Elsewhere, The Little Chartroom in Edinburgh came in at number 79 on the roundup. Situated in the Scottish capital's buzzy Leith district, the eatery serves up a small menu of high-end dishes. The restaurant was described as "low key", but was noted for its modern interiors. Meanwhile, the food itself was praised for its "great confidence and imagination". The Little Chartroom offers both three and five-course dinner menus, priced at £73 and £95 respectively. Dishes include St. Bride's duck breast and leg pastilla with cauliflower, courgette, and apricot and wild garlic fazzoletti with asparagus, pheasant back mushroom, and caramelised cream. The Palmerston, Edinburgh Finally, The Palmerston in Edinburgh is the last Scottish restaurant to be included on the National Restaurant Awards' list of 100. The retro restaurant and bakery is known for its old-fashioned decor and daily-changing menu of locally sourced dishes. The Palmerston was applauded for its "familiar and comforting" atmosphere, as well as its varied menu. The restaurant was also noted for its affordable prices, with a three-course set lunch menu costing less than £25. Visitors to The Palmerston can enjoy dishes such as fish stew with cod, hake, mussels, violet artichoke, fennel, and aïoli and roast turbot with asparagus, sea spinach, agretti, and hollandaise. There is also a huge variety of desserts to choose from, including everything from tarts to trifle.


North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
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Labour MPs push front bench for ‘crackdown' on ‘dodgy' vape and barber shops
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He urged Mr Thomas to say 'what steps' the Government is taking 'to crack down on these operations and create a legitimate level playing field for our small businesses'. The minister replied: 'We've been working with colleagues in the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to take action to crackdown on illegitimate businesses that threaten to undermine the legitimate ones that are on all of our high streets. 'In March, the NECC co-ordinated a three-week crackdown against barber shops and other cash-intensive businesses where there were concerns, visiting almost 400 premises, securing freezing orders over a series of bank accounts totalling more than £1 million.' In response, Ms Onn said: 'I really do need to press him because my constituents in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes are equally as fed up as (Mr Powell) of seeing high streets dominated by dodgy vape shops, unlicensed barbers.' She said 'some of them are legitimate' but asked: 'Is he working closely with the Home Office to try and tackle this blight because I think we probably need a national strategy, not a three-week operation?' Mr Thomas said he recognised 'a concern up and down the country' and added the NCA and Home Office 'are seeking to take action against illegitimate business'. He said a Government commitment to bolster police forces with 13,000 extra officers and special constables, backed by an uplift to forces' 'spending power' of 2.3% per year unveiled in Wednesday's spending review, 'will help'. In a viral video, Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick claimed 'weird Turkish barber shops' were 'chipping away at society', along with fare evasion, when he caught passengers allegedly 'bumping' London Underground ticket barriers on camera. 'The state needs to reassert itself and go after lawbreakers,' he said. Sadiq Khan is driving a proud city into the ground. Lawbreaking is out of control. He's not acting. So, I did.👇 — Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) May 29, 2025 Conservative MP Graham Stuart said that if a book which Labour MP for Central Ayrshire Alan Gemmell is writing were a 'political thriller about fighting for small business', then he was 'sure it features five heroes on the front bench opposite, doing everything they can to promote small business'. Ministers laughed and pointed at Tory MPs when Mr Stuart added: 'Readers will ask 'who is the villain of the piece?'' The Beverley and Holderness MP suggested the villain would be Rachel Reeves, 'the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is doing everything possible to undermine business – 276,000 people having lost work since the autumn statement'. He asked: 'When will the ministers, the heroes of this story, fight against the Chancellor who's getting so much so wrong?' Mr Thomas said: 'It's a little while since I've been called a hero by (Mr Stuart) but I'm glad that I've finally had some recognition from him in that regard. 'I don't think the Chancellor of the Exchequer is a villain at all. 'Indeed, I think the spending review that she announced yesterday will help to unlock investment in our high streets and in our small businesses up and down the country – the record investment in research and development, the record investment in infrastructure, and the additional capacity to the British Business Bank will help to unlock billions of pounds of new investment and many more job opportunities across the country.' Labour former minister Liam Byrne later called for 'a plan to cut industrial energy costs now'. The Commons Business and Trade Committee chairman said: 'As our committee pointed out on Friday, the success of the industrial strategy will depend on a plan to cut industrial energy costs now. 'When the industrial strategy is published, will the Secretary of State reassure us that there will be a plan to ensure that UK energy prices are internationally competitive?' Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds replied: 'The very significant increase in industrial energy prices under the terms of the last government are a significant issue for our competitiveness, and yes, that is something we're seeking to address.'

Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Labour MPs push front bench for ‘crackdown' on ‘dodgy' vape and barber shops
Melanie Onn said she 'really must press' the Government for long-term action to tackle these shops, which MPs heard had links to tax evasion and money laundering, and Joe Powell said well-known London streets such as Portobello Road and Notting Hill Gate are 'blighted'. Business and trade minister Gareth Thomas told MPs that the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) had visited almost 400 premises during a three-week operation in March, freezing several bank accounts. Mr Powell, the MP for Kensington and Bayswater, told the Commons: 'Small businesses across my constituency on our high streets from Earls Court Road to Queensway, Notting Hill Gate and Portobello Road are fed up of being blighted by candy shops, low-grade souvenir shops, Harry Potter shops and, yes, even barber shops, with accusations of VAT and business rates evasion, and even links to money laundering and serious organised crime.' He urged Mr Thomas to say 'what steps' the Government is taking 'to crack down on these operations and create a legitimate level playing field for our small businesses'. The minister replied: 'We've been working with colleagues in the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to take action to crackdown on illegitimate businesses that threaten to undermine the legitimate ones that are on all of our high streets. 'In March, the NECC co-ordinated a three-week crackdown against barber shops and other cash-intensive businesses where there were concerns, visiting almost 400 premises, securing freezing orders over a series of bank accounts totalling more than £1 million.' In response, Ms Onn said: 'I really do need to press him because my constituents in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes are equally as fed up as (Mr Powell) of seeing high streets dominated by dodgy vape shops, unlicensed barbers.' She said 'some of them are legitimate' but asked: 'Is he working closely with the Home Office to try and tackle this blight because I think we probably need a national strategy, not a three-week operation?' Mr Thomas said he recognised 'a concern up and down the country' and added the NCA and Home Office 'are seeking to take action against illegitimate business'. He said a Government commitment to bolster police forces with 13,000 extra officers and special constables, backed by an uplift to forces' 'spending power' of 2.3% per year unveiled in Wednesday's spending review, 'will help'. In a viral video, Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick claimed 'weird Turkish barber shops' were 'chipping away at society', along with fare evasion, when he caught passengers allegedly 'bumping' London Underground ticket barriers on camera. 'The state needs to reassert itself and go after lawbreakers,' he said. Sadiq Khan is driving a proud city into the ground. Lawbreaking is out of control. He's not acting. So, I did.👇 — Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) May 29, 2025 Conservative MP Graham Stuart said that if a book which Labour MP for Central Ayrshire Alan Gemmell is writing were a 'political thriller about fighting for small business', then he was 'sure it features five heroes on the front bench opposite, doing everything they can to promote small business'. Ministers laughed and pointed at Tory MPs when Mr Stuart added: 'Readers will ask 'who is the villain of the piece?'' The Beverley and Holderness MP suggested the villain would be Rachel Reeves, 'the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is doing everything possible to undermine business – 276,000 people having lost work since the autumn statement'. He asked: 'When will the ministers, the heroes of this story, fight against the Chancellor who's getting so much so wrong?' Mr Thomas said: 'It's a little while since I've been called a hero by (Mr Stuart) but I'm glad that I've finally had some recognition from him in that regard. 'I don't think the Chancellor of the Exchequer is a villain at all. 'Indeed, I think the spending review that she announced yesterday will help to unlock investment in our high streets and in our small businesses up and down the country – the record investment in research and development, the record investment in infrastructure, and the additional capacity to the British Business Bank will help to unlock billions of pounds of new investment and many more job opportunities across the country.' Labour former minister Liam Byrne later called for 'a plan to cut industrial energy costs now'. The Commons Business and Trade Committee chairman said: 'As our committee pointed out on Friday, the success of the industrial strategy will depend on a plan to cut industrial energy costs now. 'When the industrial strategy is published, will the Secretary of State reassure us that there will be a plan to ensure that UK energy prices are internationally competitive?' Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds replied: 'The very significant increase in industrial energy prices under the terms of the last government are a significant issue for our competitiveness, and yes, that is something we're seeking to address.'