Most recent news stories
Guidance on outbreaks of foodborne disease in Scotland
Friday 23 June 2006
A revision of the guidelines on the investigation and control of outbreaks of foodborne disease in Scotland was agreed by the Scottish Executive Health Department and the Food Standards Agency Scotland.
Guidance on preparing infant formula
Monday 13 February 2006
The Department of Health and Food Standards Agency have issued revised guidance on the preparation and storage of infant formula milk.
Waitrose withdraws flapjacks
Wednesday 30 November 2005
Waitrose has withdrawn its own-brand Traybake Fruity Flapjacks and Traybake Butter Flapjacks because of contamination with metal fragments.
Plant sterols application
Wednesday 30 November 2005
An application has been received by the Agency for a phytosterols ingredient to be approved as 'substantially equivalent' to one already on the market.
Benzoates and sorbates in soft drinks survey
Wednesday 30 November 2005
An Agency survey of the preservatives benzoates and sorbates in soft drinks found that the vast majority of products were within the legal limits.
Views wanted on novel food opinions
Wednesday 30 November 2005
Following consultations and discussions, the Agency's expert advisory committee on novel foods has published its draft opinions on two applications, one for a novel food supplement and the other as 'substantially equivalent' to an existing ingredient.
COT open meeting
Tuesday 29 November 2005
The next meeting of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) takes place on Tuesday 6 December at 10.00am in Aviation House, London.
Nestlé UK recalls Kit Kat promotional packs
Tuesday 29 November 2005
Nestlé UK Ltd has recalled two batches of Kit Kat promotional packs, because they could contain small metal particles.
United Biscuits recalls batch of Go Ahead! Figfuls
Tuesday 29 November 2005
United Biscuits (UK) Ltd has recalled a batch of its Go Ahead! Figfuls 150g due to a potential microbiological issue associated with the pre-bake glaze.
Willards smooth peanut butter withdrawn
Monday 28 November 2005
Certain batches of Willards smooth peanut butter, 375ml, have been withdrawn by Zambezi Foods. This is because they contain high levels of aflatoxins, a type of toxin found naturally in some foods, such as peanuts.
Local authority audits published
Friday 25 November 2005
The Agency's local authority audit reports for Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire are now available online.
No action necessary over infant formula, FSA advises parents
Friday 25 November 2005
The Food Standards Agency has been informed that the chemical ITX (Isopropylthioxanthone), a component of printing inks used on some food packaging, may be present at very low levels in some liquid infant formula products.
Changes to allergen labelling
Thursday 24 November 2005
New food labelling rules should make it easier for people with a food allergy or intolerance to choose foods that are suitable for them.
Cadbury advent calendars recalled
Thursday 24 November 2005
Cadbury Schweppes has recalled all batches of Cadbury Dairy Milk Miniatures Advent Calendars (226g), because they have not been labelled correctly, which could cause a problem for some people with food allergies.
Folate draft report published
Wednesday 23 November 2005
A draft report examining the evidence on the risks and benefits of increasing folate intakes has been issued by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.
Marks and Spencer recalls cakes
Wednesday 23 November 2005
Marks and Spencer has recalled six cake products, because coloured plastic strands from a sieve had got into them during the manufacturing process.
Consultation on European Commission guidelines on national control plans
Wednesday 23 November 2005
The Food Standards Agency is seeking views on the draft European Commission guidelines on the preparation of multi-annual national control plans for monitoring and enforcement of feed and food law animal and welfare rules as required by EU Regulation 882/2004 on official controls.
Local authority audit published
Tuesday 22 November 2005
The Agency's local authority audit report for Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, Scotland, is now available online.
Iceland recalls egg fried rice
Friday 18 November 2005
Iceland Foods Ltd has recalled a batch of its own-brand Chinese Takeaway Egg Fried Rice due to a packaging error.
McKechnie awards: don't miss the deadline
Friday 18 November 2005
The deadline for entries to this year's Sheila McKechnie Community Food Initiative awards is 5 December. Each of the two winning schemes wins £15,000 over three years.
FSA Scotland Statement of Accounts 2004/5
Friday 18 November 2005
This document is now published and available online.
FSA Wales Statement of Accounts 2004/5
Friday 18 November 2005
This document is now published and available online.
Views sought on traffic light labelling
Wednesday 16 November 2005
The Agency has today launched a consultation on a food labelling scheme providing at-a-glance information on whether a food is high, medium or low in total fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.
Traffic light labelling visuals
Wednesday 16 November 2005
See the 'multiple traffic lights' front of pack signpost labelling that the Agency is considering proposing and how it might look on ready meals.
Research underpins signposting proposals
Wednesday 16 November 2005
Extensive consumer research was carried out to underpin the current proposals on new and easier to understand food labelling.
Latest FSA News published and online
Friday 11 November 2005
The November issue of FSA News, the Agency's external newsletter, has been published and is available online.
Cutting plants licensed for OTM cattle
Thursday 10 November 2005
On 7 November 2005, BSE testing of older cattle replaced the OTM Rule, a BSE control introduced in August 1996 that operated a blanket ban on cattle aged over thirty months entering the food chain.
Local authority audits published
Thursday 10 November 2005
The Agency's local authority audit reports for West Lothian Council and South Lanarkshire Council are now available online.
New BSE information for consumers
Wednesday 9 November 2005
The Food Standards Agency has issued publications for consumers providing updated information on BSE and explaining new UK-wide testing controls.
FSA Scotland publishes new hygiene leaflets
Wednesday 9 November 2005
Food Standards Agency Scotland has published two leaflets for farmers, growers and food businesses explaining the changes in hygiene regulations being implemented on 1 January 2006.
Revised Draft Food Law Code of Practice
Wednesday 9 November 2005
The Agency has issued a further draft of the Code of Practice and Practice Guidance for England.
Guidance on imports of products of non-animal origin
Wednesday 9 November 2005
Guidance notes for feed and food businesses on the imports provisions for products of non-animal origin are now available online.
Guidance on new EU Official Feed and Food Controls Regulation
Monday 7 November 2005
The Food Standards Agency is issuing Q&As for enforcement authorities on the new EU Regulation on official feed and food controls (882/2004).
Aldi recalls Pasteria pasta
Friday 4 November 2005
Aldi Stores Ltd have recalled various Pasteria Italian Semi Fresh pasta products due to the presence of Bacillus cereus.
Ad hoc call for research
Friday 4 November 2005
The Agency is calling for proposals to design, carry out and report on the National Diet and Nutrition Survey rolling programme.
FSA Wales launches 2006 AFAL awards
Tuesday 1 November 2005
FSA Wales is launching the Awards For Food Action Locally (AFAL) scheme for 2006. This follows the success of the scheme in 2004 and 2005.
Local authority audit published
Tuesday 1 November 2005
The Agency's local authority audit report for Dundee City Council is now available online.