The UK’s relationship with the European Union continues to hit the headlines, highlighting the debate under way on whether the EU works in the interest of its citizens. As a contribution to the discussion, the latest issue of the FSA’s Bite magazine examines the UK’s interaction with Brussels in the area of food safety.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has agreed with the food industry to publish the results of industry testing of meat products, to provide a clearer picture of standards in the food chain. The results will also be made publicly available.
The decision was taken at a meeting to address how testing can maintain consumer confidence in the accuracy of food labelling, attended by Food and Farming Minister David Heath, representatives of the FSA, and major food businesses and suppliers.
Catherine Brown, Chief Executive of the FSA, said: ‘I am pleased that we have been able to agree a way forward to maintain consumer confidence in the food that people eat. We need to move swiftly to get this work under way to reassure consumers.’
The Food Standards Agency has published its Forward Evidence Plan for 2013. The plan outlines priority science and evidence activities for the coming year, including potential areas for research funding and workshops that will help develop the Agency’s evidence base.
Posted in Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Research
Tagged evidence base, food standards agency, priority, research, science
The Food Standards Agency warned that around two thirds of all raw, shop-bought chicken in the UK is contaminated by campylobacter, which affects an estimated 500,000 people a year and kills around 100.
It said not enough was being done by manufacturers to prevent the spread of the bacteria and has called a “summit” meeting of food retail leaders at which it will ask them to plough more money into fighting the problem, rather than treating the current contamination levels as acceptable.
During the current norovirus outbreak, the FSA is reminding people what they can do when preparing food to minimise the likelihood of food contamination. Tackling foodborne norovirus is one of the priorities for the Agency, as part of its Foodborne Disease Strategy. (see link above)
Sainsbury’s is recalling its own-brand Lemon Thyme because salmonella has been detected in one pack during routine testing. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.
The product being recalled is:
Product: Sainsbury’s Lemon Thyme, 15g Date codes: All date codes up to and including 21 January 2013
If you have purchased this product, please do not eat it. You can return it to the nearest store for a full refund.
Sainsbury’s is recalling all date codes, up to and including 21 January 2013, of this product because salmonella has been detected in a pack, following routine testing. Customer notices will be displayed in stores to tell consumers why the product is being recalled.
No other Sainsbury’s products are known to be affected.
The Food Standards Agency is issuing a second updated Food Alert for Action on the Koon Yick Wah Kee rose bean curd (tofu) and chilli bean curd (tofu) originating from China via The Netherlands, because of confirmation that further tofu from the same company has high levels of Bacillus cereus.
The affected products have a best before date of 30 December 2013 but there are currently no distributions details available. The levels of the bacteria detected can cause vomiting or diarrhoea.
Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show there have been 3,877 laboratory confirmed cases of norovirus this season (from week 27 to week 51 2012). The latest figures are 72 per cent higher than the number of cases reported at this point last year, when there were 2,255 cases.
During the Christmas period there is typically a drop in the number of laboratory reports. In previous norovirus seasons the general trend is that cases increase in the New Year and we expect to see cases rise again over the next few weeks.
During the two weeks up to 30 December there were 29 hospital outbreaks reported, compared to 70 in the previous fortnight, bringing the total of outbreaks for the season to 590.
Cases of norovirus have risen earlier than expected this winter season and this is a trend that has been seen across Europe and other parts of the world. It has not yet been determined why this has been the case and activity varies significantly from year to year.
Budgens, Londis and SuperValu have recalled some of their SuperValu Salted Peanuts, because one batch of the product has been found to contain aflatoxins at levels higher than the regulatory limits. The levels of aflatoxins found are not considered a safety risk. However, if you have bought any of the product do not eat it. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.
Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Standards Agency, Microbiology, Moulds, Mycotoxin, Recall, Toxin
Tagged aflatoxins, budgens, food, londis, restaurants, salted peanuts
Heads of Environmental Health and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware of this update to Food Alert for Action 07/2012 issued on 20 December 2012 concerning the recall associated with rose bean curd tofu and chilli bean curd tofu originating from China via The Netherlands. The Agency has now received further information confirming that other lots of tofu from the same Chinese producer are contaminated with high levels of Bacillus cereus. Based on the findings, the Dutch importer Liroy B.V. is recalling all the tofu products they have imported this year from the Chinese producer.
The affected products have been distributed widely throughout the UK.
The Dutch importer will contact all their customers regarding withdrawing all other rose bean curd tofu and chilli bean curd tofu as a precaution.
Identification of the affected products:
1. Koon Yick Wah Kee – Rose Bean Curd (Tofu) 454g Best Before Date 30.06.14 Lot number 023424
2. Koon Yick Wah Kee – Chilli Bean Curd (Tofu) 454g Best Before Date 30.06.14 Lot Number 023421
(Photo Courtesy of the CDC via Wiki)
FoodWorld 