News Centre

Most recent news stories

• Talk Christmas cooking on Twitter with the FSA and NHS Choices

  Monday 17 December 2012

  NHS Choices, the health information website for the NHS (www.nhs.uk), and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are hosting live food safety question-and-answer sessions on Twitter on 19, 20 and 21 December to help the public avoid food poisoning this Christmas.

• FSA Board meeting available online

  Thursday 13 December 2012

  This month's open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The agenda included discussion on the update on BSE testing regime; the Annual Operations Report; the front-of-pack food labelling consultation; and the Current and Future Meat Controls Stakeholder Group.

• FSA consultation on radioactivity monitoring

  Wednesday 12 December 2012

  The FSA is reviewing the way it monitors radioactivity in food. An annual monitoring programme has been in place for more than 25 years and no food safety risks have been identified during this period.

• Jeff Rooker to step down as Food Standards Agency Chair in 2013

  Wednesday 12 December 2012

  The Food Standards Agency Chair, Jeff Rooker, has confirmed that he will step down from his post in July 2013, at the end of his four year contract.

• Risk and decision report welcomed

  Wednesday 12 December 2012

  Recommendations on the transparent use of risk assessment in decisions on food safety have been welcomed by the Food Standards Agency.

• FSA advice on BSE tests for older cattle

  Tuesday 11 December 2012

  The Food Standards Agency will advise the UK Government that testing of all healthy cattle aged over 72 months for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) can be stopped, following agreement at today’s FSA Board meeting.

• FHRS goes live in Hackney

  Monday 10 December 2012

  Health Minister Anna Soubry today attended the launch of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) by the London Borough of Hackney and presented some top rated food businesses with their certificates.

• Undeclared sulphites in Polish mushrooms

  Monday 10 December 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has been informed that three marinated mushrooms products, manufactured in Poland, do not have the correct allergen labelling. All three products contain sulphites, which are not declared on the label.

• Annual report on UK NCP published

  Tuesday 4 December 2012

  The Agency has published the fifth annual report on the implementation of the National Control Plan (UK NCP - January 2007 to March 2013), which covers progress in 2011.

• Christmas food safety tips with a twist

  Monday 3 December 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has traditionally used the festive season to remind consumers about food safety. This year, we are planning a twist on this tradition. During the run up to Christmas, we will be tweeting daily tips, hosting an online advent calender and a festive infographic with all the tips you need to make sure your Christmas meal is fit for kings.

• Food allergy research will assist businesses

  Monday 3 December 2012

  Research to find out what allergen information is currently being provided for loose foods, such as those sold in restaurants, is being undertaken by the Food Standards Agency before a new EU regulation is put in place.

• EFSA calls for toxicity and occurrence data

  Monday 3 December 2012

  The European Food safety Authority (EFSA) is calling for data on toxicity and the occurrence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in certain food and animal feed. This call forms part of a continuous data collection on chemical contaminants in food and feed.

• FSA Board meeting papers published

  Friday 30 November 2012

  The agenda and papers for the next FSA open Board meeting have been published. The meeting is being held in London on Tuesday 11 December 2012. It will begin at 12pm and will be chaired by Agency Chair Jeff Rooker. You can attend in person or watch it live online.

• Latest FSA e-News available online

  Friday 30 November 2012

  The European Union, England, Scotland and Wales – the reach of this month’s FSA e-News, which is available at the link below, is far and wide.

• Extension to National Control Plan for the UK

  Friday 30 November 2012

  The Food Standards Agency and the four Agriculture/Rural Affairs Departments have produced an updated version of the UK National Control Plan. This also extends the plan to 31 March 2013.

• Birmingham launches food hygiene ratings

  Thursday 29 November 2012

  Birmingham City Council has today launched the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS). Residents and visitors to the city will be able to check the hygiene ratings of more than 6,500 food businesses at food.gov.uk/ratings. More than 50% of Birmingham businesses have achieved the highest rating of 5.

• Welsh sheep controls revoked

  Thursday 29 November 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has today removed all remaining Chernobyl sheep control legislation in Wales. The controls had been put in place due to raised levels of radioactivity, following the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986.

• ACMSF 2011 annual report published

  Tuesday 27 November 2012

  The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) has published its 2011 annual report.

• Call for evidence on EU powers

  Tuesday 27 November 2012

  A call for evidence on EU regulations on animal health and welfare and food safety in the UK has been published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency.

• Brominated flame retardants research call*

  Friday 23 November 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders to investigate the occurrence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in food and feed.

• Salmonella warning on US peanut butter

  Wednesday 21 November 2012

  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning consumers not to eat certain peanut butter and peanut-based products, which have been imported from the US, because of possible contamination with salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that causes food poisoning. See the full story at the link below.

• New Chair appointed to expert committee

  Monday 19 November 2012

  David Lovell has been appointed to serve as Chair of the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COM).

• FSA Board meeting available online

  Thursday 15 November 2012

  Tuesday's FSA open Board meeting is now available as video on demand and as a podcast. The agenda included discussion on the future delivery of feed official controls; the update on post Pennington – food hygiene delivery programme, including the review of the reception of the E.coli guidance; and the Local Authority Enforcement Monitoring System.

• FSA Board committed to Food Hygiene Delivery Programme

  Wednesday 14 November 2012

  The FSA's Board was yesterday presented with an update on the progress of the Food Hygiene Delivery Programme (FHDP). The FHDP was established following the publication, in March 2009, of the report of the Public Inquiry into the 2005 outbreak of E.coli O157 in South Wales, which led to the death of five-year-old Mason Jones.

• Do you have expertise in foodborne viruses?

  Wednesday 14 November 2012

  The FSA is holding a conference on foodborne viruses and we are particularly interested to hear from individuals who have expertise in norovirus or foodborne viruses and can contribute to the two-day event. The conference will be held in London on 15-16 January 2013.

• Food Standards Agency Board members announcement

  Tuesday 13 November 2012

  At the Food Standards Agency’s open Board meeting today, Chair Jeff Rooker announced with regret the resignation of Board members Clive Grundy and Sharmila Nebhrajani. Their resignations are effective immediately.

• Defra launches Food Information to Consumers consultation

  Wednesday 7 November 2012

  Defra is asking businesses and consumers for their views on the Government’s plans to bring in legislation that will improve the information provided to consumers, so they are able to make informed choices about the food they buy.

• Specialist member sought for the ACMSF

  Wednesday 7 November 2012

  Are you an expert in microbiological risk assessment? Do you have experience in food manufacturing and an ability to understand the practical issues involved? If yes, you could be part of an expert committee.

• New members sought for expert novel foods committee

  Monday 5 November 2012

  Do you have experience of working in toxicology or of representing consumers? Are you interested in being on a committee that advises the Food Standards Agency on novel foods and novel food processes?

• Don't let food poisoning ruin your festive celebrations

  Friday 2 November 2012

  If there's one thing guaranteed to ruin your Christmas meal out with friends, family or colleagues, it's a nasty bout of food poisoning. But how can you find out if the restaurant owner takes food hygiene seriously before you make your booking? Our Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) can tell you!

• Wanted: Chair of the Welsh Food Advisory Committee

  Friday 2 November 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is advertising for the Chair of the Welsh Food Advisory Committee (WFAC). The successful applicant will also be a UK Board member. The position will become vacant when the current WFAC Chair, John Spence, term of office ends next March.

• Agency seeks contractors for sampling and analyses

  Thursday 1 November 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders for the sampling of food at retail and analyses of inorganic, organic environmental and process contaminants.

• Latest research published by the FSA

  Thursday 1 November 2012

  The Agency has produced a summary of its research published in August, September and October 2012. It includes food allergy and contamination studies, a survey of the diets of Scottish children and a look at the consumption of lead-shot game.

• Warning about 'fat-burner' substances containing DNP

  Thursday 1 November 2012

  Urgent advice has been issued by the Food Standards Agency to the public, and to people in the bodybuilding community in particular, following the deaths of two people believed to have taken a ‘fat-burner’ substance in tablet or powder form.

• New appointments to the General Advisory Committee on Science

  Tuesday 30 October 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is pleased to announce the new appointment of an expert member and the reappointment of two existing members of the General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS).

• FSA e-News offers an early Xmas cracker

  Friday 26 October 2012

  The latest issue of FSA e-News, which is available online, includes some cracking pre-Christmas advice on how local authorities can promote the food hygiene rating scheme during the festive season.

• Better, more effective meat plant audit reports

  Friday 26 October 2012

  The FSA is changing the way audits of meat plants are recorded. A new system, which will improve consistency and ensure the reports are simpler to understand, will come into effect on 29 October 2012.

• Reminder to food handlers with food poisoning

  Tuesday 23 October 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is reminding those who work with food and are suffering from symptoms of food poisoning, or those in close contact with someone who is, to stay away from work and see their GP. This is in light of the current outbreak of E.coli O157 in Northern Ireland.

• GACS open meeting agenda published

  Friday 19 October 2012

  The General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS) is issuing an open invitation to its tenth meeting, which will be held in London on Wednesday 31 October 2012.

• Hygiene reminder following NI E.coli outbreak

  Wednesday 17 October 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is reminding people across the UK of the importance of following good food hygiene practice, and what to do if they go down with food poisoning.

• Radioactivity report published

  Wednesday 17 October 2012

  The level of man-made radioactivity, to which people in the UK are exposed, remained below the EU legal limit during 2011, concludes the tenth Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) annual report, published today by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

• Government response to EFRA committee on DSM

  Tuesday 16 October 2012

  The Government has today responded to the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report on ‘desinewed meat’ (DSM).

• Warning on liquid nitrogen in cocktails

  Monday 8 October 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is urging people to be aware of the dangers of liquid nitrogen, following information that it may be being used in alcoholic drinks on sale in the UK.

• Advice to frequent eaters of game shot with lead

  Monday 8 October 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is advising people that eating lead-shot game on a frequent basis can expose them to potentially harmful levels of lead. The FSA’s advice is that frequent consumers of lead-shot game should eat less of this type of meat.

• Views wanted on novel carbohydrate

  Monday 8 October 2012

  The Food Standards Agency's expert Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes has considered an application from a Canadian company for approval to market a carbohydrate, known as isomalto-oligosaccharide, as a novel food ingredient for use in a range of foods. Views are wanted on the expert committee’s draft opinion that this novel food ingredient should be approved for use.

• Statement issued on ten years of EFSA

  Monday 8 October 2012

  The Food Standards Agency and other European national food safety-bodies have issued a statement on the 10th anniversary of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), recognising its contribution and re-stating their commitment to science-based policy-making.

• ACAF open meeting 19 September 2012

  Tuesday 2 October 2012

  The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs' open meeting in Aviation House, London gave stakeholders an opportunity to observe the committee at work and to ask questions.

• Improvements in food hygiene standards across Wales

  Tuesday 2 October 2012

  In the two years since the introduction of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) in Wales, hygiene standards in food businesses are improving.

• FSA issues final Play It Safe newsletter

  Monday 1 October 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is pleased to report that there were no major food safety incidents reported during the busy Olympic and Paralympics period.

• Research call: norovirus

  Monday 1 October 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders to assess the contribution made by the food chain to the burden of UK-acquired norovirus infection.

• FSA e-News reports on the Olympics' legacy

  Friday 28 September 2012

  There may have been no gold medals up for grabs for Olympics and Paralympics food safety, but the FSA's work with its partners during and prior to the Games should enable the development of a food safety template that can be used during major sporting events of the future.

• Toxicity committee looking for a new member(s)

  Friday 28 September 2012

  The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), is looking for new scientific expert member(s) with expertise in immunology/immunotoxicology, toxicological pathology, clinical practice paediatrics or early life origins of disease or statistics, in particular experimental design, mathematical and/or probabilistic modelling.

• Report highlights the FSA's use of science

  Thursday 27 September 2012

  A comprehensive description of how the Food Standards Agency planned, commissioned and used science during the past financial year is published today in the FSA Chief Scientist’s sixth Annual report.

• Warning on Czech spirits ban (update 2)

  Thursday 27 September 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is reminding visitors to the Czech Republic of the continued ban on the sale of domestic (Czech) spirits containing more than 20% alcohol. The FSA has issued a second updated list of Czech brands that may have been contaminated by methanol. This follows reports that the number of methanol poisoning-related deaths in the Czech Republic is 24.

• Attend an open meeting on social science

  Wednesday 26 September 2012

  The Social Science Research Committee (SSRC) has issued an invitation to its next meeting, which will be held at the Food Standards Agency in London on Wednesday 3 October 2012.

• Updated warning on Czech spirits ban

  Tuesday 25 September 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is reminding visitors to the Czech Republic of the continued ban on the sale of domestic (Czech) spirits containing more than 20% alcohol. This follows reports that the number of methanol poisoning-related deaths in the Czech Republic has risen to 24.

• Nanotech group agenda published

  Friday 21 September 2012

  The FSA's Nanotechnologies and Food Discussion Group is holding its next meeting on Monday 24 September 2012. The agenda of the meeting has been published.

• Research call: reuse of waste in agriculture

  Thursday 20 September 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders for research into the use of waste-derived materials in agriculture.

• FSA warning issued on drinking Czech spirits

  Wednesday 19 September 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is advising people travelling to, or recently returned from, the Czech Republic to steer clear of locally-produced hard spirits. This follows a recent spate of alcohol-related cases of methanol poisoning in the country, including 19 deaths.

• Booking reminder for Agency science lecture

  Tuesday 18 September 2012

  A few places remain for the Agency’s keynote lecture and Chief Scientist’s annual report launch next week. The event is being held at the Royal Society, London, on the evening of Thursday 27 September 2012, with registration starting from 5.30pm.

• New committee members appointed

  Tuesday 18 September 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has appointed six new members to the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP). Five members begin their three-year term of membership from September 2012 and the sixth member will commence their term in January 2013.

• Board decision on meat official controls

  Wednesday 12 September 2012

  The FSA Board today agreed the future approach to working with the industry on delivering meat official controls and how this should be paid for.

• Research call: assurance schemes

  Wednesday 12 September 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting applications to carry out an evaluation of accredited assurance schemes and the extent to which they demonstrate compliance with EU food safety requirements, specifically those relating to imported food.

• FSA open Board meeting available online

  Wednesday 12 September 2012

  The open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The meeting's agenda included discussion on the strategy on charging for meat official controls; the scheme for the rating of local authorities in Wales following audit; and a progress report on the review of the delivery of official controls.

• Breaches of SRM controls report 2012

  Thursday 6 September 2012

  Due to an oversight, four breaches of BSE controls in British beef identified last year were not publicised immediately on the Agency’s website in the normal manner.

• Accessible restaurants – and hot dogs

  Wednesday 5 September 2012

  With the Paralympics in full swing, the FSA has published a special edition of its Play it Safe newsletter for stakeholders.

• Further studies on toxoplasma needed

  Tuesday 4 September 2012

  A risk profile on toxoplasma in the food chain by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) has recommended that further studies are needed to establish the importance of foodborne routes of infection and identify the highest risks. The suggested studies include work to assess the prevalence of toxoplasma in UK livestock and in food.

• FSA Board meeting 12 September 2012

  Friday 31 August 2012

  The next FSA open Board meeting is being held at the Hilton Hotel, 4 Lanyon Place, Belfast BT1 3LP. It will begin at 9am on Wednesday 12 September 2012 and will be chaired by Agency Chair Jeff Rooker (pictured, right). You can attend in person or watch it live online.

• Ask an FSA expert on Twitter

  Thursday 30 August 2012

  If you have any burning food safety questions that you’d like to know the answer to, then you’ll have a chance to pose them to one of the FSA’s food safety experts via Twitter.

• International workshop recommends further E.coli research

  Wednesday 29 August 2012

  The FSA in Scotland has published a report identifying key knowledge gaps and recommending areas for future research on enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). The workshop helped to improve knowledge and develop strategies for tackling this group of pathogens at source – with the ultimate aim of reducing the health impact on humans.

• DMAA sports supplements now classed as unlicensed medicines

  Tuesday 28 August 2012

  Following an assessment by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), products containing the sports supplement DMAA are to be removed from sale in the UK. The MHRA has ruled that these are unlicensed medicinal products and subject to medicine controls.

• Latest issue of Bite magazine published

  Tuesday 28 August 2012

  The latest issue of Bite magazine, which is available online, looks at the contribution science can play in meeting the food safety challenges of the future.

• New tests needed for antibiotic, review says

  Tuesday 28 August 2012

  A literature review commissioned by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSAS) has recommended that an alternative test should be developed for detecting whether the antibiotic nitrofurazone has been used in the production of honey.

• Research call

  Tuesday 28 August 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting applications for three new research projects that will determine the feasibility of developing a food safety 'willingness to pay' figure, measure environmental contaminants in fish and shellfish, and measure microbiological contamination in minced meat.

• Clarification sought on 'smokies'

  Thursday 23 August 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has written to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) seeking clarification of its opinion on the production of smoked skin-on sheep meat – also known as 'smokies'.

• Acting FSA Chief Executive announced

  Wednesday 22 August 2012

  The FSA Board has agreed that until the newly appointed Chief Executive (Catherine Brown) starts on 16 October, Professor Charles Milne, Director of FSA Scotland, will be acting Chief Executive and Accounting Officer. This will take effect from 5pm, Wednesday 22 August.

• Views wanted on methylcellulose

  Thursday 16 August 2012

  The Food Standards Agency's expert Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes has considered an application from a Swiss company for approval to market a carbohydrate derivative, known as methylcellulose, as a novel food ingredient for use in a range of foods. Views are wanted on the expert committee’s draft opinion that this novel food ingredient should be approved for use.

• Consumer warning on clay reissued

  Monday 13 August 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is reminding consumers, especially pregnant women, about the dangers of ingesting clay, clay-based ‘detox’ drinks and supplements. The advice is being reissued after high levels of lead and arsenic were discovered in products being distributed by online retailers, despite the FSA warning of the potential health dangers only last year.

• Scottish botulism outbreak report published

  Friday 10 August 2012

  Health Protection Scotland, on behalf of the Incident Management Team, have today published the final report into an outbreak of foodborne botulism in Scotland in November 2011.

• Redesign live next week

  Friday 10 August 2012

  When you go on food.gov.uk next week, be prepared for a new view as the Agency is rolling out a redesign early in the week.

• The golden Games

  Thursday 9 August 2012

  The London 2012 Olympic Games are coming to a close, the Paralympic Games are just around the corner, and the Food Standards Agency has published its third Play it Safe newsletter for stakeholders, including food businesses, catering groups and tourism organisations.

• FSA warns against consuming DMAA

  Monday 6 August 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is advising people not to consume products containing the substance DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine), after a number of people across the world have reported adverse reactions linked to products containing DMAA.

• Views wanted on vitamin D-rich baker's yeast

  Monday 6 August 2012

  The Agency's expert Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) has considered an application from a Canadian company for approval to market vitamin D-rich baker's yeast as a novel food ingredient. Views are wanted on the expert committee’s draft opinion that this yeast should be approved for use.

• Harnessing technology to pinpoint foodborne disease

  Thursday 2 August 2012

  Advances in molecular biology could revolutionise the way in which foodborne disease outbreaks are investigated, according to the Food Standards Agency, enabling faster and more accurate identification of the organisms responsible.

• Latest research published by the FSA

  Wednesday 1 August 2012

  The Agency has produced a summary of its research published in July 2012. This includes a survey of public opinion and awareness of the Agency, and three healthy eating projects carried out in Northern Ireland.

• Fish freezing requirements relaxed

  Monday 30 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has announced that from today, certain farmed fish destined to be eaten raw in dishes like sushi no longer need to be frozen before use to protect consumers against parasites.

• Let the Games begin!

  Friday 27 July 2012

  With the opening ceremony of London 2012 eagerly awaited, the Agency has rounded off its food safety preparations by providing water safety testing equipment for ships berthed in London during the Olympics and Paralympics.

• The heat is on

  Thursday 26 July 2012

  As parts of the UK finally welcome some warmer weather, the Food Standards Agency is reminding people to take extra care with their food as temperatures rise.

• Eating out needn't be a risky business

  Tuesday 24 July 2012

  Almost three out of four people are prepared to take a chance with food safety when eating out, according to a survey of more than 2,000 people carried out for the Food Standards Agency.

• Food safety help during the Games stepped up

  Monday 23 July 2012

  During the Olympic period, the Food Standards Agency’s Incidents Unit will be available during extended office hours to address food safety issues, including food poisoning, food contamination and food fraud.

• Catherine Brown appointed as Chief Executive

  Wednesday 18 July 2012

  Jeff Rooker, Chair of the Food Standards Agency, has announced the appointment of Catherine Brown as the FSA's new Chief Executive. Catherine Brown is currently the Chief Executive of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

• Applications open for food safety fellowships

  Tuesday 17 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has joined forces with the British Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to fund two early-career fellowships in food safety.

• Good food hygiene made easy to spot in London

  Tuesday 17 July 2012

  The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), which provides information about hygiene standards in the places where people eat out or do their food shopping, has launched today in London.

• Annual Report and Accounts 2011/12 published

  Monday 16 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has published its Annual Report and Accounts 2011/12. The report highlights that during the past year the FSA has continued to make progress in meeting the Westminster Spending Review 2010 target of making by 2014/15 real-term savings of 33% in administration and 18% in programme expenditure.

• Survey of allergen advisory labelling

  Monday 16 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has begun a UK-wide survey to compare the level of allergens in foods that have voluntary allergen labelling with similar products not labelled in this way. No other survey of this kind has been carried out in the UK.

• Appointment of two new members to the Advisory committee on animal feedingstuffs (ACAF)

  Friday 13 July 2012

  Jeff Rooker, Chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), today announced on behalf of the FSA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and devolved administrations the appointment of Ms Ann Davison, and Mr Peter Francis as members of the independent Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF).

• Live TweetChat for food businesses

  Thursday 12 July 2012

  If you've ever had a burning question you wanted to ask about food safety during the Games, you have your chance. The Food Standards Agency is organising a TweetChat for tomorrow, Friday 13 July, to allow anyone managing or working in a food business to pose questions about food safety.

• FSA Board meeting available online

  Thursday 12 July 2012

  Yesterday's Agency open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The meeting's agenda included these science decision items: the review of science governance in the FSA, and the annual reports of the Chief Scientist and the General Advisory Committee on Science.

• Update on products free of colours associated with hyperactivity

  Wednesday 11 July 2012

  Burger King has reintroduced, in 16 of its restaurants in Greater London*, some of the food colours that have been associated with possible hyperactivity in young children. The company has reintroduced the colours as a result of trialling the Coca-Cola Freestyle drinks dispensing system for six months.

• Framework on sharing scientific data and funding

  Tuesday 10 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has published a framework that it will follow when deciding when and how to use data from, or to fund research in collaboration with, industry or non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

• Research call: Strategic Challenge 2012

  Thursday 5 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting researchers to develop innovative proposals that would improve food safety and lead to a significant leap forward in addressing the Agency’s strategic challenges.

• Warning about drinking Zam Zam water

  Thursday 5 July 2012

  With Ramadan beginning shortly, the Food Standards Agency reminds people that they should consider avoiding drinking bottled water described or labelled as Zam Zam water. This is because tests have shown Zam Zam water sold in the UK, or brought into the UK for personal consumption, may contain high levels of arsenic or nitrates.

• Bag it up

  Wednesday 4 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency in Wales is reminding consumers how they can protect their shopping when packing raw and ready-to-eat food products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

• Agency warning on chlorine solutions

  Tuesday 3 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is renewing its warning that Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) should not be consumed. A similar product, Chlorine Dioxide Solution (CDS), should also be avoided.

• Agency updates Q&A on E.coli cross-contamination control

  Tuesday 3 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has today published the third edition of the Q&A on its guidance document E.coli O157: control of cross-contamination.

• Response to EFSA poultry meat inspection opinion

  Tuesday 3 July 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has welcomed the European Food Safety Authority’s recent scientific opinion on poultry meat inspection, which suggested that traditional poultry meat inspection may not be enough to fully address the most relevant biological hazards to public health.

• Britvic recall of fruit drinks

  Tuesday 3 July 2012

  The FSA has been informed that Britvic Soft Drinks is recalling all Robinsons Fruit Shoot and Fruit Shoot Hydro packs, featuring the new design cap, due to a packaging safety issue.

• Close to the finish line

  Monday 2 July 2012

  With the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games fast approaching, the Food Standards Agency has published its second Play it Safe newsletter for stakeholders, including food businesses, catering groups and tourism organisations.

• Latest research published by the FSA

  Monday 2 July 2012

  The Agency has produced a summary of its research published in June 2012. This includes a comparison of aflatoxin levels between Brazil nut kernels and their shells, and a study evaluating the levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, copper and zinc in samples of fruit and vegetables grown in the UK.

• Latest FSA e-News available online

  Friday 29 June 2012

  The latest issue of FSA e-News has been published and is available online. The newsletter includes news and updates on some of the Agency’s activities during June.

• ACAF open meeting 15 June 2012

  Friday 29 June 2012

  The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs open meeting in Belfast gave stakeholders an opportunity to observe the committee at work and to ask questions.

• Statement on Scottish Government announcement on Food Standards Agency

  Wednesday 27 June 2012

  The Scottish Government has today announced that it will create a new Scottish body for food safety, food standards, nutrition, food labelling and meat inspection.

• Research call: human health risk from Q fever

  Wednesday 27 June 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders from researchers to carry out an assessment of the likelihood and extent of milk becoming contaminated during a Q fever outbreak or incident in UK livestock. The associated risks to humans from consumption of unpasteurised milk contaminated with Coxiella burnetii should also be assessed.

• Open meeting of Scottish Food Advisory Committee on 3 July 2012

  Tuesday 26 June 2012

  The Scottish Food Advisory Committee of the Food Standards Agency is holding an open meeting in Aberdeen on Tuesday 3 July 2012.

• Open Meeting of Welsh FAC will be held 5 July 2012

  Tuesday 26 June 2012

  The Welsh Food Advisory Committee of the Food Standards Agency is holding an open meeting in Cardiff on Thursday, 5 July 2012.

• FHRS goes live in a further seven district councils

  Monday 25 June 2012

  Seven district councils across Northern Ireland launched the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) today, bringing the number now operating the scheme up to 24. By the end of this year all Northern Ireland district councils will have joined.

• FSA Board meeting available online

  Wednesday 20 June 2012

  Yesterday's Agency open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The agenda included discussion on the Agency's preparations for London 2012, the annual report of the Advisory Committee on Consumer Engagement, and the quarterly report of the Operations Group.

• Are you prepared to challenge the FSA?

  Wednesday 20 June 2012

  There are two weeks remaining to apply to be an expert member of the General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS). GACS provides independent challenge and advice to the Chief Scientist and the FSA Board on the FSA’s governance and use of science.

• Invitation to conference: responding to marine pollution emergencies

  Tuesday 19 June 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting scientists, regulators and others with an interest in marine oil and chemical spill monitoring, to the PREMIAM conference on Wednesday July 4 2012 at SOAS, University of London.

• New appointments to the FSA Board

  Wednesday 13 June 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has announced four new appointments to the FSA Board. Sharmila Nebhrajani, Jeff Halliwell, Paul Wiles and Liz Breckenridge will serve an initial three-year term, ending in May 2015.

• Research call: levels of metals in UK-grown food

  Wednesday 13 June 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders for a research study of the levels of environmental metal contaminants in fruits, vegetables, and cereals grown in the UK.

• Meat plant found guilty of delivering over-temperature meat

  Tuesday 12 June 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has brought a successful prosecution against an Essex slaughterhouse for deliveries of over-temperature meat. A judge found Elmkirk Limited guilty on all eight charges under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations, fined the company £12,000 and ordered it to pay prosecution costs of nearly £26,000.

• Northern Ireland households could save £480 a year by making the most of food leftovers

  Monday 11 June 2012

  Northern Ireland shoppers could save around £480 a year a household by cutting down on the amount of food they waste, according to new research for this year’s Food Safety Week (June 11 to 17). These savings could be made simply through better planning when food shopping and better use of food labels.

• Latest research published by the FSA

  Thursday 7 June 2012

  The Agency has produced a summary of its research published in May 2012. This includes a project that has helped detect the transfer of chemicals from packaging to food and two projects evaluating food hygiene schemes in the UK.

• WFAC meeting cancelled

  Thursday 7 June 2012

  The Welsh Food Advisory Committee open meeting scheduled for Thursday 14 June 2012 in Cardiff has been cancelled.

• NIFAC meeting cancelled

  Thursday 7 June 2012

  The Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee open meeting scheduled for Tuesday 12 June 2012 in Belfast has been cancelled.

• Response to EFSA opinion

  Wednesday 6 June 2012

  The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has today published an opinion on mineral oils in food.

• GACS needs new expert member

  Wednesday 6 June 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is looking to appoint a new expert member to join the General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS).

• SFAC meeting cancelled

  Friday 1 June 2012

  The Scottish Food Advisory Committee (SFAC) open meeting scheduled for Monday 11 June 2012 in Edinburgh has been cancelled. The next SFAC meeting will take place on Tuesday 3 July 2012 in Aberdeen.

• Increase in cryptosporidiosis cases

  Friday 1 June 2012

  The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is currently investigating a recent increase in cases of cryptosporidiosis. No source for these has been identified although the Food Standards Agency is contributing to the HPA led multi-agency investigation.

• Latest edition of FSA e-News available online

  Thursday 31 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has entered the home straight in its aim to ensure that food bought, cooked and eaten during London 2012 is safe. You can read all about it in the May edition of FSA eNews.

• First FHRS mandatory scheme in the UK to operate in Wales

  Monday 28 May 2012

  New proposals requiring food businesses such as restaurants, takeaways and supermarkets in Wales to display food hygiene ratings at their premises, are outlined today by the Welsh Government as it introduces its Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Bill. It is designed to provide consumers with better access to information about where they eat or buy food and raise food hygiene practices among businesses.

• Report shows increase in number of food incidents

  Monday 28 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency saw an increase in the number of food incidents it investigated last year. These included reports of contaminated or illegal food entering the food chain, with some potentially harmful to the public.

• Guidance on desinewed meat moratorium

  Thursday 24 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has produced guidance to help meat processors comply with the moratorium on the production and use of 'desinewed meat' (DSM) from pig bones and poultry carcases. The moratorium comes into effect from Saturday 26 May 2012.

• Research call: Listeria control during sliced meat production

  Wednesday 23 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders to carry out a comprehensive review of current practices in the management of Listeria monocytogenes during cooked sliced meat production.

• Scholarship opportunity for veterinary graduates

  Wednesday 23 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency and the Royal Veterinary College are inviting veterinary graduates to apply for a scholarship to undertake a three-year residency programme in veterinary public health. The successful candidate will receive training in all aspects of veterinary epidemiology and its application to the study of foodborne disease and food safety.

• FSA Board meeting available online

  Wednesday 23 May 2012

  Yesterday's Agency open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The agenda included discussion on the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme/Food Hygiene Information Scheme – increasing provision of information to consumers on the hygiene standards of food premises; childminders and community halls; and a revised code of conduct for Board members.

• Street parties without red tape

  Tuesday 22 May 2012

  With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games approaching fast, it’s street party time again. The Food Standards Agency has produced some common-sense guidance to help things run smoothly and safely.

• Spar recalls its own-brand pudding rice

  Monday 21 May 2012

  Spar is recalling all of its own-brand pudding rice. The product may be contaminated with rice weevils. If you’ve bought the product, do not eat it. The Agency has issued a Product Withdrawal Information Notice.

• New members sought for expert novel foods committee

  Monday 21 May 2012

  Eight new members are needed for the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP). The Food Standards Agency intends to appoint in November 2012. The ACNFP is an independent body of experts that advises the FSA on any matters relating to novel foods and novel food processes.

• Animal testing for shellfish monitoring phased out

  Thursday 17 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency’s shellfish monitoring programme has successfully completed a move away from tests using mice for the detection of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and lipophilic toxins in commercially harvested shellfish.

• Food hygiene training videos online

  Monday 14 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has published 10 short videos to help caterers produce food safely. Each video is about a minute long and covers specific food hygiene practices.

• London 2012: we have the tools

  Monday 14 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has published a toolkit and newsletter for stakeholders to support their participation in the Agency’s Play it Safe campaign. This campaign is helping to ensure that food bought, cooked and eaten during the 2012 Olympics is safe.

• Views sought on front-of-pack labelling

  Monday 14 May 2012

  Keeping track of what we eat and choosing healthier foods could be made easier thanks to a consultation launched today on front-of-pack (FoP) nutrition labelling by the Food Standards Agency in both Northern Ireland and Scotland.

• Views wanted on vitamin D-rich baker's yeast

  Thursday 10 May 2012

  A Canadian company has applied to the Food Standards Agency for approval to market a baker’s yeast rich in vitamin D2 as a novel food ingredient. Views are wanted on this application.

• Latest research published by the FSA

  Thursday 10 May 2012

  The Agency has produced a summary of its research published in April 2012. These include three projects monitoring the levels of chemicals in food; an assessment of the method used to detect irradiated food; an investigation into the apparent loss of fumonisins during food processing; and two projects that considered the effective delivery of healthy eating messages in Scotland.

• Research published on voluntary display of hygiene ratings

  Thursday 10 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has published two pieces of research that assessed the level of voluntary display of its food hygiene schemes in the UK.

• Open meeting of the Scottish Food Advisory Committee on 15 May 2012

  Wednesday 9 May 2012

  The Scottish Food Advisory Committee of the Food Standards Agency is holding an open meeting in Dundee on Tuesday 15 May 2012.

• New appointments to the FSA

  Wednesday 9 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has announced two new appointments: Tim Bennett has been appointed Deputy Chair of the FSA Board and Jim Wildgoose is the new Chair of the Scottish Food Advisory Committee (SFAC).

• Restrictions on Dalgety Bay seafood

  Wednesday 9 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency in Scotland has placed restrictions on the gathering of seafood and bait from an area of Dalgety Bay in Fife affected by radioactive contamination. This is a precautionary measure, following recent surveys that have detected radioactive items on the beach.

• Views wanted on methylcellulose

  Friday 4 May 2012

  A Swiss company has applied to the Food Standards Agency for approval to market a carbohydrate derivative known as methylcellulose as a novel food ingredient for use in a range of foods. Views are wanted on this application.

• Reviewing the regulators

  Friday 4 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is reminding its stakeholders that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ (BIS) first review theme for the Government’s Focus on Enforcement campaign is now up and running.

• Official controls review research contract awarded

  Friday 4 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has contracted Hartley McMaster Ltd to develop an overview of the delivery of official controls for food and feed safety and standards. This research will provide a high level description of how local authorities and port health authorities across the UK monitor and secure business compliance with food and feed law.

• Welsh Food Advisory Committee meeting: 17 May 2012

  Thursday 3 May 2012

  The Welsh Food Advisory Committee of the Food Standards Agency is holding an open meeting in Cardiff on Thursday, 17 May 2012.

• Members wanted for NIFAC

  Tuesday 1 May 2012

  The Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland wants to appoint two new members to NIFAC (the Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee). NIFAC provides advice and information to the Agency.

• Latest FSA e-News available online

  Monday 30 April 2012

  The April edition of FSA e-News highlights how the Agency is making it easier than ever to eat safely and eat well in the immediate future, during the Olympics and in the longer term.

• Agency warning on certain brands of French-bought reblochon cheese

  Friday 27 April 2012

  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning people who may have bought any of three particular brands of reblochon cheese in France to discard them. The French authorities have issued an alert about potential contamination with the bacteria that causes brucellosis.

• Guidance on the moratorium on desinewed meat

  Friday 27 April 2012

  The Agency has published guidance to help meat processors comply with the moratorium on the production of 'desinewed meat' (DSM) from cattle, sheep and goat bones, which applies from 28 April 2012.

• Accurate reporting through LAEMS

  Wednesday 25 April 2012

  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today published guidance on Accurate Reporting Through LAEMS.

• Meat company fined for hygiene offence

  Wednesday 25 April 2012

  Fines and costs of over £20k have been awarded against a company found in breach of meat hygiene regulations.

• Calorie counting made easy

  Tuesday 24 April 2012

  The Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland has launched Caloriewise, a six-month pilot scheme in which local food businesses will display calorie information on menus for the first time. Caloriewise will help consumers make more informed choices when eating out.

• Fake vodka removed from Lewisham store

  Monday 23 April 2012

  Bottles of fake vodka have been removed from premises in Lewisham following a joint operation by the Food Standards Agency and Lewisham Council. Food safety officers from Lewisham Council found the bottles being sold at a convenience store in the borough earlier this month, after being alerted by the FSA’s Food Fraud Team.

• Research call: Evaluation of Caloriewise in Northern Ireland

  Thursday 19 April 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders to carry out an evaluation of Caloriewise, the six-month scheme piloting the display of calorie information in catering settings in Northern Ireland.

• Research call: delivery of official controls

  Thursday 19 April 2012

  The Agency is inviting tenders to carry out an in-depth study of the delivery of official controls for food and feed that are carried out by local authorities (LAs) and port health authorities (PHAs). The review is focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the structures and processes for delivering official controls rather than the performance of individual LAs or PHAs.

• Research call on molecular-based campylobacter surveillance

  Wednesday 18 April 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders to carry out enhanced molecular-based surveillance and source attribution of campylobacter infections in the UK.

• Acrylamide and furan survey published

  Tuesday 17 April 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has published results from its latest study looking at levels of process contaminants acrylamide and furan in a range of UK foods.

• Research call on norovirus in foods

  Thursday 12 April 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders to carry out a systematic review on the survival of norovirus in foods and on food contact surfaces.

• Guidance launched on edible glitters and dusts

  Wednesday 11 April 2012

  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.

• More than 250 local authorities have joined the FHRS

  Wednesday 11 April 2012

  Over the past few weeks a number of local authorities across England have rolled out the Food Standards Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. This includes local authorities in London, Cumbria, Kent, Oxfordshire and the Tees Valley. There are now more than 250 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland publishing more than 200,000 food hygiene ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• Listen to future food

  Thursday 5 April 2012

  The recording of presentations from the Agency’s contribution to the recent National Science and Engineering Week is now on our YouTube channel. Transcripts can also be read at the links below.

• Members reappointed to ACMSF

  Thursday 5 April 2012

  Four members have been reappointed to the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF). The ACMSF provides the Agency with independent advice on the microbiological safety of food.

• Open meeting of Social Science Research Committee

  Thursday 5 April 2012

  The Social Science Research Committee of the Food Standards Agency is holding its ninth open meeting in London, on Wednesday 18 April 2012. You are invited to attend as an observer.

• Costs of delivering meat hygiene official controls: update

  Wednesday 4 April 2012

  The FSA is today publishing additional information on the costs of delivering meat hygiene official controls in meat plants in Great Britain. This information will enable anyone with an interest in this area to see the breakdown of costs and understand how charges to industry are calculated.

• NI food standards training manual update

  Wednesday 4 April 2012

  The FSA in NI, in conjunction with district council representatives of Northern Ireland Food Liaison Group and the Public Analyst, has published Version 5 of the Food Standards Training Manual. The latest version of the manual provides updated information on food composition and labelling.

• Scudamore report published

  Wednesday 4 April 2012

  The Scottish Government’s Scudamore report, Future arrangements to secure food standards and safety in Scotland, has been published today. The report, by the independent expert panel set up by Scottish ministers, considers the future delivery of the food standards regime in Scotland.

• Moratorium on desinewed meat*

  Wednesday 4 April 2012

  The UK has been required to re-classify the process by which a very small part of its meat processing industry removes meat from animal bones.

• Northern Ireland food surveillance sampling report published

  Wednesday 4 April 2012

  The Northern Ireland Strategic Committee on Food Surveillance has published its fourth report on food sampling activity in Northern Ireland.

• Olympic food safety campaign launched

  Tuesday 3 April 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has launched the Play it Safe campaign, to raise awareness of food safety during the London 2012 Games. The Agency is working with food businesses and food safety enforcement officers to ensure all food sold, cooked and eaten during the Games is safe.

• On your marks, get set, go...

  Tuesday 3 April 2012

  The countdown to the London 2012 Olympics continues, and the latest issue of Bite provides a preview of how the FSA and other members of ‘Food Safety Team UK’ are preparing for the Games.

• Latest edition of FSA e-News available online

  Friday 30 March 2012

  With preparations for London 2012 coming in to the final stretch, the Food Standards Agency is at the front of the pack when it comes to food safety plans. This month’s edition of FSA eNews outlines some of the Olympic work the Agency is undertaking.

• Warning over Mistral Laboratory Chemicals

  Thursday 29 March 2012

  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising companies and individuals who have bought chemicals used for food production from a company called Mistral Laboratory Chemicals not to use them.

• Latest research published by the FSA

  Thursday 29 March 2012

  The Agency has produced a summary of its research published in March 2012. This includes the development of a number of new methods for screening for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and an estimation of nutrient intakes in Scotland.

• Research call: analysis of Scottish dietary data

  Thursday 29 March 2012

  The Food Standards Agency in Scotland is inviting tenders to carry out secondary analysis, for 2011 and 2012, of dietary data that was collected in the UK Living Costs and Food Survey.

• BIS reviews enforcement

  Thursday 29 March 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is reminding its stakeholders that they can give feedback on the Agency's enforcement work on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) 'Focus on Enforcement' website.

• Guidance on setting up a food stall during the Olympics

  Wednesday 28 March 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is reminding anyone who is considering setting up a stall selling refreshments during the Olympics to plan ahead. To help, the Agency has produced guidance answering the most frequently asked questions.

• FSA takes on dairy hygiene inspections

  Wednesday 28 March 2012

  From April 2012, FSA staff will be taking over the role of dairy hygiene inspectors on farms in England and Wales, continuing the work of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), which had previously undertaken this task on the FSA's behalf.

• More than 200 local authorities have joined the FHRS

  Wednesday 28 March 2012

  Over the past few days a number of local authorities in Warwickshire and other areas in England have rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. This means there are now more than 200 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland publishing more than 180,000 food hygiene ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• Latest meat plant audit reports published

  Friday 23 March 2012

  Following the Food Standards Agency’s move to regular publication of audit reports for approved meat plants in England, Scotland and Wales in January, the Agency has now published the latest batch of audits.

• FSA Board meeting available online

  Wednesday 21 March 2012

  Yesterday's Board meeting at Aviation House, London, was chaired by Agency Chair Jeff Rooker (pictured, left)

• Post Chernobyl sheep controls to be removed

  Tuesday 20 March 2012

  The Board of the Food Standards Agency has today agreed to the lifting of the last of the ‘Mark and Release’ monitoring controls on sheep introduced in 1986 as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

• Slow progress on Scots diet improvements

  Tuesday 20 March 2012

  Only slow progress is being made in reducing the population’s intake of saturated fat, total fat and added sugars, according to Scotland’s ongoing dietary monitoring programme. The most recent programme report found that the intake of these nutrients continues to be considerably higher than the Scottish dietary targets.

• Chesterfield, Derby, Knowsley and Nottingham launch the FHRS

  Monday 19 March 2012

  Chesterfield Borough Council, Derby City Council, Knowsley Council and Nottingham City Council have rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Nearly 200 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing nearly 170,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• EFSA calls for additives data

  Friday 16 March 2012

  EFSA is calling for scientific data on certain food additives to assist it in developing safety assessments. EFSA is encouraging any interested parties and stakeholders to submit relevant information (published or unpublished).

• Cow aged over 72 months enters food supply without being tested for BSE

  Thursday 15 March 2012

  The Agency has been notified that meat has entered the food supply from a cow aged over 72 months that had not been tested for BSE. A negative BSE test result is mandatory for cattle slaughtered for human consumption at over 72 months of age.

• Views sought on using lactic acid on beef carcasses

  Tuesday 13 March 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is asking businesses to provide their views on the use of lactic acid to reduce microbiological surface contamination on beef carcasses, proposed in a draft EU regulation.

• Food businesses targeted by bogus calls

  Tuesday 13 March 2012

  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.

• ACAF open meeting 7 March 2012

  Tuesday 13 March 2012

  The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs open meeting in London gave stakeholders an opportunity to observe the committee at work and to ask questions.

• Research call: support for development of new or emerging biotoxin testing regimes

  Monday 12 March 2012

  The Food Standards Agency in Scotland is inviting tenders to carry out a desk-based research study to provide evidence to support the development of a monitoring programme for emerging marine biotoxins in live bivalve mollusc (shellfish) in UK waters.

• Raw milk review

  Friday 9 March 2012

  The Board of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will decide, at its next meeting, whether the FSA should review the current rules governing the sale and marketing of unpasteurised, or raw, drinking milk and cream. This follows developments in the sale of raw milk which have seen producers using new routes of sale for their products, such as the internet and vending machines.

• Open meeting of SFAC on 13 March 2012

  Friday 9 March 2012

  The Scottish Food Advisory Committee (SFAC) of the Food Standards Agency is holding an open meeting in Aberdeen on Tuesday 13 March 2012.

• FSA launches Capability Review

  Thursday 8 March 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has launched a Capability Review to ensure the organisation is delivering on its core objective to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food and feed. The Capability Review will assess the FSA’s performance against a framework that covers strategy, delivery and leadership.

• Update on Remedial Action Notices

  Thursday 8 March 2012

  Extending the availability of Remedial Action Notices (RANs) for use in all food businesses in England has been delayed. The Food Standards Agency has today written to local authorities notifying them of the delay.

• Brighton and Hove launches the FHRS

  Wednesday 7 March 2012

  Brighton and Hove City Council has rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. More than 190 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing more than 160,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• Untested cow enters the food supply

  Wednesday 7 March 2012

  The Agency has been notified that meat from a cow that did not have the required BSE test has entered the food supply. The 62 month old cow had been slaughtered on farm for welfare reasons.

• Welsh Food Advisory Committee meeting: 15 March 2012

  Monday 5 March 2012

  The Food Standards Agency’s Welsh Food Advisory Committee (WFAC) is holding an open meeting in Cardiff on Thursday 15 March 2012.

• B&M Sausages withdraws meat products in Scotland

  Friday 2 March 2012

  B&M Sausages in Scotland is withdrawing a variety of meat products, produced up to and including 1 March 2012. Food contact surfaces were inadequately disinfected, resulting in possible contamination of the products with harmful bacteria. The Agency has issued a Product Withdrawal Information Notice.

• Update on products free of colours associated with hyperactivity

  Friday 2 March 2012

  The Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.

• Bath and North East Somerset, and West Berkshire join the FHRS

  Thursday 1 March 2012

  Bath and North East Somerset Council and West Berkshire Council have rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Nearly 190 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing more than 150,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• Attend the science committee's meeting

  Thursday 1 March 2012

  The General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS) is issuing an open invitation to its eighth meeting, which will be held in London on Wednesday 14 March 2012.

• Latest research published by the FSA

  Wednesday 29 February 2012

  The Agency has produced a summary of its research published in January and February 2012.

• Dacorum launches the FHRS

  Wednesday 29 February 2012

  Dacorum Borough Council has rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. More than 185 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing more than 150,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• Latest edition of FSA e-News available online

  Tuesday 28 February 2012

  The latest issue of FSA e-News, which is now available online, provides updates on Agency activities ranging from Food Safety Week to allergy awareness.

• Research call: effect of modified atmospheric packaging on campylobacter

  Tuesday 28 February 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders to investigate whether modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) can reduce campylobacter numbers on raw chicken.

• Views wanted on algal oil

  Tuesday 28 February 2012

  The Agency's expert Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) has considered an application from a Canadian company for approval to market oil that is produced from Schizochytrium microalgae, as a novel food ingredient. Views are wanted on the expert committee’s positive draft opinion.

• Views wanted on chia seeds

  Tuesday 28 February 2012

  The Chia Company, based in Australia, has applied to the Food Standards Agency to extend the authorisation of chia seeds, so it can market chia seeds in baked goods, breakfast cereals, and fruit, nut and seed mixes.

• Call for official controls delivery research

  Tuesday 28 February 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders to study international models for delivery of official food and feed controls.

• Consumer risk from livestock virus unlikely

  Monday 27 February 2012

  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.

• Update on meat hygiene official controls cost data 2012/2013

  Monday 27 February 2012

  The FSA has published information on the costs of delivering meat hygiene official controls in meat premises in Great Britain for the financial year 2012/13. This information will enable anyone to see the breakdown of costs and understand how charges to industry are calculated.

• Merton launches the FHRS

  Wednesday 22 February 2012

  The London Borough of Merton has rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. More than 185 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing more than 150,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• Response issued to Farming Regulation Task Force

  Tuesday 21 February 2012

  The UK Government, through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), has today published the full response to the Farming Regulation Task Force. The FSA has published an update to its response.

• Call to develop recipe database

  Friday 17 February 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders for a project to develop an electronic recipe database for the FSA to use in dietary consumption and exposure assessments.

• Invitation to future food risks conference

  Thursday 16 February 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is bringing together a range of experts on Tuesday 13 March to explore the future risks threatening food safety and the plans that are in place to tackle them.

• FSA chief executive contract extended

  Wednesday 15 February 2012

  Jeff Rooker, Chair of the Food Standards Agency, has announced that Chief Executive Tim Smith has agreed to an extension of his contract until the end of October 2012, by when a successor is expected to have been appointed. His existing contract comes to an end on 16 March 2012, after four years.

• Seafood sampling at Dalgety Bay

  Wednesday 15 February 2012

  A sampling programme for seafood from Dalgety Bay, Fife, is to be carried out after radioactive items were found on the beach. The sampling will be managed jointly by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

• Successful prosecution for over-temperature meat

  Tuesday 14 February 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has won a case in the Old Bailey, against a meat company that failed to make sure meat was kept chilled throughout the entire food chain. A C Hopkins (Taunton) Ltd was charged, and found guilty, of an offence under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.

• Views wanted on calanus oil

  Thursday 9 February 2012

  A Norwegian company has applied to the Food Standards Agency for approval to market the oil from a miniature shrimp as a novel food ingredient for use in food supplements. Views are wanted on this application.

• Welsh language DVD guide for butchers launched

  Wednesday 8 February 2012

  The FSA has produced a Welsh language version of the DVD for those working in butchers shops, to encourage them to think about the type of food safety risks they face in their business and how they should control them. It focuses on butchers talking about the steps they have taken to reduce food safety risks.

• Views wanted on probiotic

  Wednesday 8 February 2012

  A Japanese company has applied to the Food Standards Agency for approval to market a strain of the bacterium Clostridium butyricum as a novel food ingredient for use in food supplements. Views are wanted on this application.

• Allergy myth-buster tool launched

  Tuesday 7 February 2012

  An online tool aimed at dispelling myths about food allergy and intolerance has been launched on the NHS Choices website, with the help of the Food Standards Agency.

• FSA tender for crabmeat survey

  Tuesday 7 February 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders for a survey of cadmium levels in brown crabmeat and brown crabmeat products on sale in the UK.

• Crawley, St Helens and Wycombe launch the FHRS

  Tuesday 7 February 2012

  Crawley Borough Council, St Helens Council and Wycombe District Council have rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. 185 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing more than 150,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• Update on shellfish monitoring contracts

  Friday 3 February 2012

  Following on from the announcement of some shellfish monitoring contracts last month, the Food Standards Agency has now awarded contracts for shellfish sampling across nine local authority areas in Scotland.

• Agency seeks views on website

  Friday 3 February 2012

  The Food Standards Agency is currently inviting people who use its website, food.gov.uk, to complete an online survey to let us know what you think of it and how it can be improved.

• Outbreak of Salmonella Newport

  Thursday 2 February 2012

  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.

• FSA publishes priorities on science and evidence

  Wednesday 1 February 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has published its Forward Evidence Plan for 2012. 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.

• Update on products free of colours associated with hyperactivity

  Wednesday 1 February 2012

  The Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.

• ACAF seeks new members

  Wednesday 1 February 2012

  Two new members are needed for the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF). This independent committee advises the Food Standards Agency on the safety and use of animal feeds, with particular emphasis on protecting human health.

• New research opportunities

  Tuesday 31 January 2012

  The FSA is inviting researchers to tender for two new projects. The first is qualitative research to explore the public’s views on labelling of GM food and the second aims to explore how food safety is considered during the procurement of food in the UK public sector.

• Hull and South Tyneside launch the FHRS

  Tuesday 31 January 2012

  Hull City Council and South Tyneside Council have rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. More than 180 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing nearly 150,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• Update to new FBO approval process

  Monday 30 January 2012

  Food businesses approved by the Food Standards Agency that change food business operator (FBO) after 31 January 2012 will need a new approval. The new FBO can continue to trade using the existing approval until a new approval assessment is undertaken. This change follows consultation with stakeholders.

• FSA Board meeting available online

  Wednesday 25 January 2012

  Yesterday's Agency open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The agenda included discussion on the draft European Commission regulation concerning the use of lactic acid to reduce microbiological surface contamination, and an update on nanotechnologies and food.

• Food hygiene is concern when eating out

  Tuesday 24 January 2012

  The Agency’s latest public attitudes tracker shows that the main food safety issue people continue to be concerned about is food hygiene when eating out. Other issues include food poisoning and the use of additives in food.

• Views wanted on algal oil

  Monday 23 January 2012

  The Agency's expert Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP), is consulting on an application from a Canadian company to market oil that is produced from Schizochytrium microalgae, as a novel food ingredient.

• Cause for concern list published

  Monday 23 January 2012

  Starting today, the FSA is routinely publishing the full list of those meat plants that, on the basis of their audit reports, are considered 'cause for concern'.

• Trainee opportunities at EFSA

  Wednesday 18 January 2012

  The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is offering training opportunities for students or young professionals in the areas of science, communication or administration.

• Meat plants audit reports published

  Monday 16 January 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has today started the regular publication of audit reports of approved meat plants in England, Scotland and Wales. This marks the beginning of routine publication of these reports, in line with the FSA's commitment to transparency.

• Food Safety and Hygiene e-learning course for schools launched

  Monday 16 January 2012

  The Food Standards Agency in Wales has announced that it will be making available an e-learning course 'Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene (Catering)' to schools in Wales.

• Gluten advice for consumers

  Thursday 12 January 2012

  The Agency has produced a factsheet to help people who have an intolerance to gluten (a protein found in cereals) understand a new food labelling law, which came into force on 1 January 2012. Gluten intolerance is a serious illness that can result in damage to the digestive system so foods are not absorbed properly, which can lead to poor growth, anaemia and bone disease.

• Research call for official controls review

  Thursday 12 January 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has invited suppliers to tender for work gathering evidence on current official controls delivery. Applications are open to pre-qualified contractors already registered on two specific frameworks.

• New contracts for shellfish monitoring

  Tuesday 10 January 2012

  The Food Standards Agency has awarded contracts for services to support the official control shellfish monitoring programme in Scotland. The services were put out to open tender at the end of August 2011. New contracts, which will commence on 2 April 2012, are being developed with the successful bidders.

• FBO approval deadline fast approaching

  Tuesday 10 January 2012

  Food businesses approved by the Food Standards Agency are being urged to contact the Agency if they have changed operator since 1 January 2006. Important changes to the approvals process for food business operators (FBOs) take effect from the end of January 2012.

• Consumer views on targeted safety inspections

  Monday 9 January 2012

  A new report published by the FSA shows that consumers are broadly in favour of reducing inspections on compliant businesses so that resources can be focused on those which are higher risk.

• Meeting of Welsh Food Advisory Committee: 19 January 2012

  Thursday 5 January 2012

  The Welsh Food Advisory Committee of the Food Standards Agency is holding an open meeting in Cardiff on Thursday 19 January 2012.

• Colchester launches the FHRS

  Thursday 5 January 2012

  Colchester Borough Council has rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. More than 180 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing over 140,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

• Update on products free of colours associated with hyperactivity

  Thursday 5 January 2012

  The Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.