Food Standards Agency - Media Centre

Agency welcomes healthy pub progress Friday 19 March 2010 The Agency today welcomes progress made by companies representing more than five thousand UK pubs to help their customers make healthier choices.

Contractor needed to review food safety behaviours Friday 19 March 2010 The FSA is looking for applicants to carry out an evidence review on food safety behaviours in the home. The project will explore what is already known about food storage and handling behaviours in the home in relation to food safety, identify gaps in the existing literature and develop recommendations for further analysis and primary research.

March 2010 Scores on the Doors update Thursday 18 March 2010 The Agency's UK-wide Scores on the Doors Steering Group met today to continue its work on development of the national six-tier scheme.

Salt and sodium research published Thursday 18 March 2010 The Food Standards Agency has today published details of qualitative research exploring people's preferences and understanding of the way in which salt and sodium information is presented on food labels.

Review of Agency's nutrition research Thursday 18 March 2010 A strategic review of the Agency's nutrition research and surveys portfolio has now been completed, following consultation with external stakeholders.

FSA 'steps up' its schools work with eatwell mat Thursday 18 March 2010 School children all over Scotland will soon have a fun way of working out in the classroom what makes up a balanced diet, following the launch of the Food Standards Agency eatwell plate floor mats.

FSA e-News – available on a screen near you Wednesday 17 March 2010 The second issue of FSA e-News, the Food Standards Agency’s electronic monthly magazine, is now available online, providing a round-up of the latest Agency news. You can register to have the newsletter sent direct to your computer every month, wherever you are.

Report of specified risk material and other BSE control breaches for February 2010 Tuesday 16 March 2010 The following report from the Food Standards Agency provides an update on specified risk material (SRM) finds and related issues. These reports are posted on the Agency’s website usually during the second week of the month following any discovery of a breach in controls.

The future for meat hygiene controls Tuesday 16 March 2010 The Food Standards Agency has started a programme of work to review the current system of regulation of meat hygiene inspection activities and enforcement (known as 'meat official controls').

Scores on the Doors Steering Group agenda published Monday 15 March 2010 The Food Standards Agency has today published the agenda and papers for the sixth meeting of the UK-wide Scores on the Doors Steering Group, which will take place on Thursday 18 March. The two main items for discussion are an update on the progress of the Working Group on Consistency Issues and the development of the IT platform.

Some Butterkist Sweet Microwave Popcorn recalled Friday 12 March 2010 Tangerine Confectionary has recalled some batches of Butterkist Sweet Microwave Popcorn due to the potential presence of rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) within the product. The Agency has issued a Food Alert for Information.

Review of infant formula and follow-on formula advertising controls Thursday 11 March 2010 The Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health have today published an independent review looking at the effectiveness of controls on the advertising of follow-on formula. Such formula is only intended for babies over the age of six months.

Sainsbury's withdraws some mandarin jelly Wednesday 10 March 2010 Sainsbury's has withdrawn pots of Mandarin Jelly because of a packaging error. Pots a with a 'use by' date of 14 March 2010 actually contain Mandarin Royale (a dessert with layers of sponge, jelly and topped with cream), which contains milk, egg and wheat gluten.

Board agrees single front-of-pack label plan Wednesday 10 March 2010 The Agency's Board, at an open meeting held in Cardiff today, agreed to the implementation of a single approach to front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling that will best help consumers make healthier choices when they buy food.

Board meeting available online Wednesday 10 March 2010 Today's open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The agenda included discussions on front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling, the House of Lords Select Committee report on nanotechnologies and food, UK local authority food law enforcement, and the FSA Wales director’s report.

ACAF open meeting 3 March 2010 Monday 8 March 2010 A summary of the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) meeting held on 3 March 2010 is available. The meeting gave an opportunity for interested parties and members of the public to observe how this government advisory committee operates, and to follow the debate on a range of animal feed issues.

Scores on the Doors Working Group agenda published Monday 8 March 2010 The Food Standards Agency has published the agenda and papers for the meeting of the Scores on the Doors Working Group on Consistency Issues on Thursday 11 March.

Invitation to novel foods open event Monday 8 March 2010 The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) is holding an open event on novel foods in London on Wednesday 21 April 2010. Anyone can attend, including members of the public.

Tesco withdraws four varieties of sandwiches Friday 5 March 2010 Tesco has withdrawn four varieties of its sandwiches with 'use by' dates of 5 March 2010 and 6 March 2010, because the lettuce used in the sandwiches might be contaminated with slug pellets.

Local authority enforcement monitoring data published Friday 5 March 2010 The Agency has today published a paper on the enforcement of food law by UK local authorities in 2008/09. The paper, which includes enforcement activity data that has been collected using a new monitoring system, will be discussed by the FSA Board at its open meeting next week.

Agency publishes proposals for better labels Friday 5 March 2010 The Agency has today published a paper, which will be discussed at an open Board meeting next week, setting out proposals for front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling. The Agency is proposing a flexible approach to implementing a single front-of-pack label to help consumers make healthier choices when they buy food.

British attitudes to new food technologies Thursday 4 March 2010 The Food Standards Agency has published new research looking at people’s attitudes to emerging food technologies, including genetically modified (GM) food, high pressure treatment, gas filled packaging and hypothetical foods that have health benefits.

Waitrose recalls some natural roasted peanuts Wednesday 3 March 2010 Waitrose has recalled packets of its own brand Natural Roasted Peanuts with a 'best before' date of 3 July 2010, because they may contain small pieces of rubber. The Agency has issued a Food Alert for Information.

Morrisons recalls some toffee and pecan ice cream Wednesday 3 March 2010 Morrisons has recalled tubs of its own-brand Toffee & Pecan ice cream with a 'best before' date of April 2011, because the product may contain pieces of black rubber. The Agency has issued a Food Alert for Information.

Update on products free of colours associated with hyperactivity Monday 1 March 2010 The Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.

Mithaighar sweetened yoghurt recalled Friday 26 February 2010 Euroversal International/Mithaighar has recalled all of its Mithaighar Sweetened Yoghurt, because it was produced on premises that were served with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order and a Remedial Action Notice by the local authority for that area because of poor food hygiene.

Pro-Pak Foods recalls some sliced chicken roll Friday 26 February 2010 Pro-Pak Foods has recalled some of its two sliced chicken roll products, because they are contaminated with listeria. The products are Country Store Chicken Roll and Netto Chicken Roll. Listeria is a bacterium that causes food poisoning. The Agency has issued a Food Alert for Information.

Some Loyd Grossman Tomato and Chilli Pasta Sauce is recalled Friday 26 February 2010 Premier Foods is recalling some jars of Loyd Grossman Tomato and Chilli Pasta Sauce (350g), because the product might contain pieces of glass. The Agency has issued a Food Alert for Information.

Asda withdraws some Fresh Tastes Gammon Steaks with Pineapple Friday 26 February 2010 Asda has withdrawn some packs of its Fresh Tastes Gammon Steaks with Pineapple because of a packaging error. Packs with a 'best before' date of 1 March 2010 actually contain Fresh Tastes Gammon Steaks with Cheese, which contains wheat gluten and milk. This makes the mislabelled packs a possible health risk for anyone who is allergic or sensitive to wheat or gluten or milk.

EFSA opinion on health claims published Thursday 25 February 2010 The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its second batch of opinions on a wide variety of health claims submitted by food businesses from across the UK and other EU member states.

Advisory committee on science to meet Thursday 25 February 2010 The General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS) is issuing an open invitation to its fifth meeting, which will be held in London on 4 March 2010.

FSA reminds parents of advice on making up infant formula Thursday 25 February 2010 The Agency is reminding parents and childcarers who use powdered infant formula to use hot water to make up a feed. Formula powder isn’t sterile, so occasionally it could contain harmful bacteria, which could make babies ill. Using water that is 70°C, or higher, will kill any harmful bacteria in the powder.

Agency's conference available to view online Thursday 25 February 2010 The Agency's conference, 'FSA10: Ensuring safe food and healthy eating for all', is now available as video-on-demand and as a podcast. You can also read all of the comments that consumers and stakeholders submitted online to the conference during the live webcast.

Update on Northern Ireland 'Smoke House' alert Wednesday 24 February 2010 The Food Standards Agency has issued an updated Food Alert for Action for Northern Ireland on smoked mackerel products produced on premises in Northern Ireland not registered with or approved by the district council in that area. The food alert is for information outside Northern Ireland.

Science and evidence strategy published Wednesday 24 February 2010 The Agency has published its new Science and Evidence Strategy 2010–15 and Evidence Plan 2010. These set out how science and evidence will be used to improve food safety and the balance of people's diets.

Revised UK National Control Plan published Wednesday 24 February 2010 The Food Standards Agency and the four Agriculture and Rural Affairs Departments in the UK have recently reviewed the UK's National Control Plan for the period January 2007 to March 2011, and a revised version has been published.

Fishery products produced on unapproved Northern Ireland premises Tuesday 23 February 2010 Smoked mackerel products have been produced on premises in Northern Ireland not registered with or approved by the district council in that area. The Agency has issued a Food Alert for Action asking district councils to make sure that two smoked mackerel products are withdrawn from sale and destroyed. The products are an unwrapped cold smoked mackerel and a wrapped hot smoked mackerel.

Cow aged over 48 months enters food supply without being tested for BSE Tuesday 23 February 2010 The Agency has been notified that meat from a cow aged over 48 months has entered the food supply without being tested for BSE.

Glasgow achieves 100th Eat Safe Award Tuesday 23 February 2010 The Agency’s Eat Safe Award has reached a significant milestone in Scotland, with the presentation of Glasgow’s 100th award.

Get the 'buzz' of the latest news from the FSA Monday 22 February 2010 Anyone interested in nutrition and healthy eating can get the 'buzz' of the latest news as it is published, following the launch of a new electronic newsletter from the Food Standards Agency.

February 2010 Scores on the Doors update Monday 22 February 2010 The Agency has today published a progress update on the development of the national six-tier Scores on the Doors scheme.

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