News Centre
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Our press release section contains all UK-wide media releases.
Most recent news stories
EFSA searching for scientific experts
Thursday 29 July 2010
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has invited highly qualified scientists in a wide range of scientific fields and with expertise in carrying out scientific risk assessments, to apply to join two of its Scientific Panels.
Views sought on Commission's 'TSE Roadmap 2'
Thursday 29 July 2010
The Food Standards Agency, Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government are jointly inviting people to share their views on the European Commission's 'TSE Roadmap 2' and the accompanying Commission staff working document. Although the roadmap contains no specific proposals or timetable for change, it identifies areas where changes could be made to TSE measures in the future.
Caterers warned on chicken livers
Wednesday 28 July 2010
The Food Standards Agency is reminding caterers to make sure chicken livers are handled hygienically and cooked thoroughly when used in products such as pâté or parfait. This follows a number of outbreaks of campylobacter food poisoning linked with chicken liver products where the livers may have been undercooked.
Key steps in the fight against campylobacter
Tuesday 27 July 2010
The Food Standards Agency has today published the proceedings of an international meeting it hosted to identify and prioritise key interventions to reduce campylobacter in chicken in the UK.
Asda withdraws its milk chocolate
Monday 26 July 2010
Asda has withdrawn its own-brand milk chocolate because chocolate containing nuts has been wrongly packed into milk chocolate packaging. The label does not state that the chocolate contains nuts, which means the product is a possible health risk to anyone with a nut allergy. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
Local authority audits published
Friday 23 July 2010
The Agency's local authority audit reports for Rugby and Tamworth are now available online.
Compulsory warnings on colours in food and drink
Thursday 22 July 2010
An EU-wide health warning must now be put on any food or drink that still contains the colours that are thought to cause hyperactivity in some children. This is following the Southampton Study, commissioned by the Agency, which suggested a possible link between consumption of six food colours and hyperactivity in children.
FSA publishes latest consumer attitudes tracker survey
Thursday 22 July 2010
The Food Standards Agency has released the latest results of its quarterly tracker survey, which monitors public opinion and awareness of the Food Standards Agency and key food issues.
Contractors needed to carry out foodborne disease research
Wednesday 21 July 2010
The Food Standards Agency is asking researchers to submit proposals for two separate research projects on foodborne disease. All work commissioned by the Agency will be on a contract basis.
New strategy to tackle food poisoning bug
Wednesday 21 July 2010
A new research strategy to tackle the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK has been launched today.
Board meeting available online
Wednesday 21 July 2010
Yesterday's Agency open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The agenda included discussions on 'Establishments operating pending the outcome of appeal against refusal or withdrawal of approval', and the 'FSA implementation of recommendations of the public inquiry into the September 2005 outbreak of E.coli O157 in South Wales'.
National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme local authority grants available
Wednesday 21 July 2010
The Agency has announced a second round of grant funding for local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland intending to be 'early adopters' of the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (also known as 'Scores on the doors').
Changes to the Food Standards Agency
Tuesday 20 July 2010
The Government has today announced its intention to retain the Food Standards Agency (FSA) with a renewed focus on food safety.
Asda withdraws some crisps
Tuesday 20 July 2010
Asda has withdrawn some of its own-brand Salt & Vinegar, Variety and Boxed Crisps, because the salt and vinegar flavouring used in the crisps contains trace amounts of wheat gluten. This means the products, which are available in various multi-packs, are a possible health risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to wheat or gluten. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
General Advisory Committee on Science Annual Report 2009/10
Monday 19 July 2010
The General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS) has today published its annual report, which describes the committee’s work over the past year. GACS provide independent advice to the Food Standards Agency on how it uses science.
FSA e-News is now available at the click of a mouse
Friday 16 July 2010
The Agency’s monthly newsletter, FSA e-News, has been published and is available online. The July issue contains a roundup of some of the Agency’s most recent activities on food safety and hygiene.
Annual reports and accounts 2009-2010
Friday 16 July 2010
The Annual Report and Accounts 2009-2010 for the Food Standards Agency has now been published.
Take a hint - attend a tips session
Friday 16 July 2010
The Procurement team and Social Science Research Unit are hosting ‘hints and tips’ sessions for potential suppliers. The first will be held in London on 26 July and the second in Edinburgh on 27 July 2010.
Food Standards Agency in Wales publishes summary audit report
Thursday 15 July 2010
The Food Standards Agency in Wales has published a summary report of a focused audit programme that was undertaken between September 2009 to March 2010.
Walkers recalls some crisps
Wednesday 14 July 2010
Walkers has recalled some packets of its Ready Salted Crisps and Salt & Vinegar Crisps sold in multipacks, because the packets might contain crisps with other seasonings. This means the products are a possible health risk to people with an allergy to milk, soya or barley, or an intolerance to lactose or gluten.
Agency consults on E.coli prevention
Wednesday 14 July 2010
The Food Standards Agency has today started a UK-wide consultation on the best way to help businesses protect against E. Coli O157 contamination.
Molson Coors recalls home draught beer dispensing units
Tuesday 13 July 2010
Molson Coors has recalled Carling, Grolsch and Coors Light home draught beer dispensing units because there is a small chance of the beer bottle in the unit breaking when the CO2 cartridge is activated.
Bakers' salt in bread calculator launched
Thursday 8 July 2010
Craft bakers can use a new online calculator to reduce the amount of salt in their bread which could help to improve their customers' health. A quick guide to reducing salt in bread is also available.
Northern Ireland food surveillance sampling report published
Wednesday 7 July 2010
The Northern Ireland Strategic Committee on Food Surveillance has published its second report on sampling activity in Northern Ireland. The results of sampling in 2008 show there have been few detections of food borne pathogens. However, there was a significant outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in that year. There were no other significant foodborne outbreaks reported during 2008.
FSA commissions campylobacter research
Tuesday 6 July 2010
The Food Standards Agency is commissioning a range of research to tackle the food poisoning bug campylobacter.
Local authority audits published
Tuesday 6 July 2010
The Agency's local authority audit reports for Maidstone, South Norfolk, Taunton Deane and Waveney are now available online.
Update on US GM rice
Tuesday 6 July 2010
The FSA has written to enforcement authorities, and others, to tell them that the emergency measures controlling the import of rice products from the US, which have been in place since 2006, have been revoked by the European Commission.
Morrisons recalls strawberry cheesecakes
Friday 2 July 2010
Morrisons has recalled its fresh strawberry cheesecakes because they might contain small pieces of plastic. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.
Reviewing regulations
Friday 2 July 2010
If you have any thoughts on how regulations could be removed or changed to make running your food business easier, the Government has launched the Your Freedom website to gather your views.