News Centre
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Our press release section contains all UK-wide media releases.
Most recent news stories
Views wanted on honeybee venom
Thursday 2 July 2009
A New Zealand company has applied to the Food Standards Agency for approval to market the venom from the honeybee as a novel food ingredient. A novel food is a food or food ingredient that does not have a significant history of consumption within the European Union before 15 May 1997.
MHS Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09
Tuesday 30 June 2009
The fourteenth annual report and audited accounts of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) has been published and is now available online. The MHS is an Executive Agency of the Food Standards Agency.
New Food Standards Agency Scotland Director visits Royal Highland Show
Friday 26 June 2009
The new Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS) Director, Professor Charles Milne, FSA Chief Executive Tim Smith and FSA Chair Dame Deirdre Hutton visited the Royal Highland Show on its 125th anniversary.
FSA welcomes Scotland's food and drink policy
Friday 26 June 2009
At the Royal Highland Show today, Scottish Government Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead unveiled 'Recipe for Success' – the next steps in Scotland’s first ever national food and drink policy.
Update on charging for official controls
Friday 26 June 2009
The Food Standards Agency is to proceed with the introduction of regulations for a new system of calculating charges for official controls in meat plants following agreement by Ministers in all four UK countries.
Sainsbury's has recalled some sesame seeds and seed mix
Thursday 25 June 2009
Sainsbury's has recalled its own-brand sesame seed and seed mix products, because of the presence of salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that causes food poisoning. The Agency has issued a food Alert for Information.
Local authority audits published
Thursday 25 June 2009
The Agency's local authority audit reports for Calderdale, London Borough of Merton, North Dorset and Wolverhampton are now available online.
Sainsbury's withdraws some jelly and trifle
Tuesday 23 June 2009
Sainsbury's has withdrawn some of its Heritage Raspberry Jelly and Strawberry Upside Down Trifle, because there is a problem with the packaging on one batch of jelly. This means that one date code of the jelly contains the trifle, which contains milk, egg and wheat gluten, which are not mentioned on the product label.
New food packaging guide published
Tuesday 23 June 2009
The Agency has published a new guide aimed at businesses involved in food packaging and at those bodies that enforce the rules governing such businesses.
Aspartame study to begin
Monday 22 June 2009
The Food Standards Agency is to begin a new study looking at aspartame. The research will focus on people who have reported bad reactions to the artificial sweetener.
Waitrose recalls some beefburgers
Monday 22 June 2009
Waitrose has recalled some of its service counter Aberdeen Angus Beefburgers, because they possibly contain small pieces of hard white plastic. The Agency has issued a Food Alert.
Open meeting of Welsh Food Advisory Committee: 21 July 2009
Friday 19 June 2009
The Welsh Food Advisory Committee of Food Standards Agency Wales is holding an open meeting at the Royal Welsh Showground on 21 July 2009.
Untested bullock enters the food supply
Thursday 18 June 2009
The Agency has been notified that meat from a bullock aged over 48 months has entered the food supply without being tested for BSE.
ACAF open meeting 5 June 2009
Thursday 18 June 2009
The Advisory Committee On Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) held its latest open meeting in Llandudno on 5 June 2009.
Scientific consultation on iron and health launched
Wednesday 17 June 2009
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has today issued a scientific consultation on their draft report that reviews the evidence on iron and health.
Local authority audits published
Tuesday 16 June 2009
The Agency's local authority audit reports for Basildon and Nottingham are now available online.
Asda withdraws some Pick 'n' Mix Mexican Rice
Tuesday 16 June 2009
Asda has withdrawn some of its Pick ‘n’ Mix Mexican Rice because the product packaging has been packed with Mexican Paella, which means the product contains milk, shellfish, fish and wheat gluten. These allergens are not mentioned on the product label, which makes the product a possible health risk for people who are allergic to or intolerant of milk, shellfish, fish and wheat gluten.
Campaign launched to tackle rise in over 60s food poisoning
Monday 15 June 2009
As Food Safety Week kicks off today, the Agency is warning older people about the life-threatening danger of listeria food poisoning and the simple steps that can be taken to avoid it.
Older people gambling with food safety
Monday 15 June 2009
People over the age of 60 are more likely to take risks with 'use by' dates than younger people, according to new research published today by the Food Standards Agency. The research coincides with the launch of an Agency campaign to focus on this age group during Food Safety Week.
Asda withdraws some frozen Spaghetti Bolognaise
Monday 15 June 2009
Asda has withdrawn some of its frozen Spaghetti Bolognaise (400g), because some packs of the product may contain Bangers and Mash. This means the product may contain milk and barley, which are not mentioned on the label, making the product a possible health risk for anyone who is allergic to or intolerant of milk or barley. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
Eyes down for 'Beat the Bingo Bug!'
Monday 15 June 2009
To help stop the rise in food poisoning in the over 60s caused by the food bug listeria, the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland, safefood and district councils in Northern Ireland have produced a game packed with hygiene messages.
Food Safety Week partners 2009
Monday 15 June 2009
A wide range of organisations have been working together for Food Safety Week by organising local activities and promoting food safety.
Co-op withdraws Truly Irresistible Oatmeal Batch Loaf 800g
Friday 12 June 2009
The Agency is making people who are allergic to soya aware that the Co-operative Group Ltd has withdrawn its Truly Irresistible Oatmeal Batch Loaf 800g, with a ‘best before’ date of 15 June, as some of the Co-operative’s Truly Irresistible White Farmhouse Loaf products may have been wrapped in the same packaging.
Public warned not to take certain Hydroxycut supplements
Friday 12 June 2009
The Food Standards Agency is warning people not to take certain Hydroxycut food supplements following reports in North America and Finland linking the products to several serious cases of liver damage, including one death. Retailers are advised to withdraw certain Hydroxycut supplements from sale.
Update on scores on the doors
Thursday 11 June 2009
The Food Standards Agency has today published details of the first meetings of the recently established Working Groups of the UK-wide Scores on the Doors Steering Group, which is overseeing the development of the national six-tier scores on the doors scheme (and the two-tier scheme in Scotland).
Tesco recalls some lamb rogan josh
Tuesday 9 June 2009
Tesco has recalled some of its own-brand Lamb Rogan Josh products, because the products contain wheat, soya and sulphites that are not mentioned on the product labels. This means the products are a possible health risk for anyone who is allergic or sensitive to these ingredients. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
Shellfish classification for Scotland agreed
Monday 8 June 2009
The Agency has agreed the 2009/10 classification areas for shellfish production in Scotland in accordance with European Union legislation. The document listing the classifications came into effect from 1 April 2009.