Tag Archives: food standards agency

One in Five Chickens Contaminated by Pathogenic Bacteria – Which Report

Posted on April 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

UKPA 

One in five supermarket chickens is contaminated with the food poisoning bacteria campylobacter, an investigation has found.

The study of chicken samples from nine supermarkets by the Which? consumer group found 18% were contaminated with campylobacter and 17% were contaminated with listeria, with 4% containing levels of the latter classed as “high” by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Salmonella was present in 1.5% of samples.

The watchdog tested 192 samples of whole chickens and chicken portions – standard, free range and organic and all reared in the UK – from Aldi, Asda, The Co-operative, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose in March. Bacterial contamination was found in samples from each of the retailers.

The headline in the Sun Newspaper was a little more graphic!

The Telegraph had a view as well.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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FSA Guidence on Edible Glitters and Dust

Posted on April 12, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA

The Food Standards Agency has developed guidance on edible and non-toxic glitters and dusts. This will help food businesses and consumers to safely use glitters and dusts with food.

The Agency is aware that non-edible cake decorating materials, described as dusts or glitters, are being marketed in ways that could be misleading. These include products only labelled as ‘non-toxic’, without stating they are not to be consumed.

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Posted in Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Technology

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UK – Warning – Bogus FSA Calls to Businesses

Posted on March 14, 2012 by | 1 comment

FSA 

The Food Standards Agency is warning food businesses to be on their guard following a recent spate of bogus phone calls from someone claiming to be employed by the FSA.

The Agency has been alerted to a number of incidents involving pub chains in Kensington, Chelsea, Westminster and Lincolnshire that have been contacted by someone claiming to be from the FSA. The caller says an environmental health officer (EHO) will make a visit in the next fortnight to update the pub’s manager on new food legislation and asks for their mobile phone number. They then say they will text the manager within 48 hours of the visit to confirm arrangements.

Visits to food businesses are arranged by local authorities, not the FSA, and most hygiene inspections are unannounced, with EHOs introducing themselves once they arrive at the business.

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Posted in Food Standards Agency

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Schmallenberg virus – FSA Advice to Consumers

Posted on February 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA 

The Food Standards Agency is advising the public that, based on current evidence, there is unlikely to be any risk to consumers through the food chain from the virus that is causing abnormalities in livestock.

No illness has been reported to date in humans exposed to animals infected with the Schmallenberg virus, which is thought to be carried by midges. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have stated the virus is unlikely to cause disease in humans.

Defra is actively monitoring the situation and the FSA is in contact with both Defra and the HPA to keep the issue under review.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Food Virus, Schmallenberg virus

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FSA – Salmonella Newport

Posted on February 2, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been notified by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) of an outbreak of a strain of Salmonella Newport infection that is known to have affected more than 30 people in the UK.

Although it is too soon to say for certain what the likely cause of infection is, a potential link to watermelons has been identified.

One person has died in the outbreak, although they also had serious underlying health complications. The outbreak was first detected in early December 2011 and the most recently reported illness was at the end of that month.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Microbiology, Salmonella

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