Tag Archives: fsa

UK – FSA – Campylobacter Survey Report

Posted on August 5, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSA Campylobacter

The FSA has today published the first set of quarterly results from a new survey of Campylobacter on fresh shop-bought chickens. The results show 59% of birds tested positive for the presence of Campylobacter. In 4% of samples Campylobacter was identified on the outside of the packaging.

Campylobacter is killed by thorough cooking, however, it is the most common form of food poisoning in the UK, affecting an estimated 280,000 people a year. The majority of these cases come from contaminated poultry. Advice for consumers on safe preparation and cooking of chicken can be found at the link below.

Previous studies carried out into the prevalence of Campylobacter have also shown around two thirds of raw poultry carries Campylobacter.

The 12-month survey, running from February 2014 to February 2015, is looking at the prevalence and levels of Campylobacter contamination on fresh whole chilled chickens and their packaging. The survey will test 4,000 samples of whole chickens bought from UK retail outlets and smaller independent stores and butchers. Today’s results are for the first quarter and represent 853 samples.

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UK – FSA Recall – Madras Curry Powder – Salmonella

Posted on July 30, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSA food_standards_agency_logo

Booker has withdrawn Chef’s Larder Madras Curry Powder with a ‘best before’ end date of March 2017 and batch code LEP 048771 as a precautionary measure. This is because salmonella was found during routine testing. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause food poisoning. The FSA has issued a Product Withdrawal Information Notice.

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UK and Ireland – FSA Recall – Possible Microbiological Food Safety – White Lasagne Sauce

Posted on July 8, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSA food_standards_agency_logo

Symington’s Ltd is recalling one date code of its Ragu White Lasagne Sauce, because some jars have been produced with an incorrect pH level. This may present a microbiological food safety risk to consumers. The FSA is issuing a Product Recall Information Notice.

FSAI

Symington’s Ltd. is recalling the above batch of Ragu White Lasagne Sauce, as the measured pH in some jars does not comply with food industry safety standards for pasteurised products. The affected batch was distributed to Tesco Ireland, which has removed it from sale and is issuing in-store notices. Customers are advised not to consume the implicated batch.

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UK – FSA Publishes Document on Control of E.coli O157

Posted on July 6, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSA food_standards_agency_logo

This guidance is for all types of businesses that handle both raw foods (that can be a source of E.coli) and RTE Foods.

• Manufacturers and processors

• Retailers, caterers and carers (including movable and/or temporary premises

and premises used primarily as a private house)

 

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UK – FSA Reports – Food Poisoning -Food Incidents

Posted on July 1, 2014 by | Leave a comment

I have been on annual leave so here is a summary from the UK.

FSA

New research published today by the Food Standards Agency gives the most detailed picture yet of how many people suffer from food poisoning in the UK every year and how much food poisoning can be attributed to different foods

FSA

The Food Standards Agency has today published its latest Annual Report of Food Incidents. The report highlights the wide range of incidents we have managed during 2013. Last year, a total of 1,562 food and environmental contamination incidents in the UK were reported to and investigated by us. This figure was 42 down on 2012 but higher than in many previous years.

 

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UK – FSA – Recall – Smoked Salmon – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on June 2, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSA food_standards_agency_logo

The Fine Seafood Company has recalled its ‘Whiskey Cured and Oak Smoked’ Smoked Salmon (70g, grey packs only) because of high levels of Listeria monocytogenes. This is a bacterium that can cause illness in certain groups of people, such as pregnant women, unborn and newborn babies, and anyone with reduced immunity, particularly the over-60s. The FSA has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

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UK Research- Norovirus in Food Outlets to be Mapped

Posted on April 24, 2014 by | 1 comment

Medical Press norovirus-2(1)

The University of Liverpool is leading a £2 million Food Standards Agency (FSA) project to map the occurrence of norovirus in food premises and industry workers.

Norovirus outbreaks can rapidly affect of people. In 2012 a batch of frozen strawberries infected 11,000 people in Germany, but there are significant gaps in the authorities’ understanding of which strains cause and which foods are the most likely to harbour the bacteria.

Researchers will produce data that will help the FSA to develop plans to reduce the infection by collecting swabs from work surfaces at more than 200 pubs, restaurants and hotels in the North West and South East of England.

 

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus

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UK – FSA – Recall – Organic Sultana’s – Salmonella

Posted on April 17, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSA food_standards_agency_logo

The products being recalled is:

Product: SO Organic Sultanas 500g
Pack sizes: 500g
Barcode number: 0000001205312
‘Best before’ dates: All date codes

Sainsbury’s is recalling the above product and will be displaying recall notices in store, explaining to customers why the product has been recalled.

If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store where you bought it for a full refund.

No other Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd products are known to be affected.

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UK – FSA Calls for Tender – Campylobacter in Scotland

Posted on March 31, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSA food_standards_agency_logo

Proposals are sought for research that investigates the factors affecting variations in Campylobacter disease rates in Scotland. Specifically the FSA is looking to commission research that will significantly improve our understanding whether deprivation continues to have a protective effect on the levels of Campylobacter infection and if so what factors are likely to be contributing to this effect. The FSA would like to know what factors are most likely to influence rates of Campylobacter infection in different socioeconomic groups in Scotland.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Testing, Pathogen, Research

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UK – FSA – Consultation on Virus

Posted on March 24, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSA Virusds

The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) is a scientific advisory committee that provides the FSA with independent expert advice. This helps the FSA ensure that policy development and consumer advice in relation to the microbiological safety of food are based upon sound science and relevant practical experience and expertise. The Committee’s terms of reference are to assess the risk to humans from microorganisms that are used or occur in or on food and to advise the FSA on any matters relating to the microbiological safety of food.

Since the publication of the 1998 ACMSF report on foodborne viral infections, with the exception of minor risk assessment work carried out on hepatitis E and avian influenza, no formal review has been carried out on foodborne viruses.

At the March 2010 ACMSF meeting the FSA asked the Committee to consider whether it was timely to carry out a review of foodborne viral infections, assessing the risk to consumers and highlighting any research and surveillance gaps.

The Committee agreed that an ad hoc group should be set up to revisit the issue of foodborne viruses in light of the significant developments in this area, so that an updated risk profile could be produced based on the findings.

The group met 13 times from November 2010 to July 2013 to assess the extent of viral foodborne infection in the UK.

The group considered information on all foodborne viruses including new and emerging viral pathogens and identified that the most important viruses associated with foodborne infection were norovirus, hepatitis A virus, and hepatitis E virus. These viruses are the focus of the group’s report, which concentrates mainly on viral foodborne infection in the UK. The report also gives consideration of two recent comprehensive reviews of viruses in food that have been published by WHO (2008) and EFSA (2011). The report provides key information that will be used to inform Risk Assessments and Risk Management on foodborne viruses across government.

The group’s draft report has now been approved by the full Committee and is attached for comment.

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, Laboratory, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Research, Rotavirus, Toxin, Virus

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