Food Standards Agency
Industry agrees to publish meat test results
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has agreed with the food industry to publish the results of industry testing of meat products, to provide a clearer picture of standards in the food chain. It has also declared that the results will be made publicly available. The decision was taken at a meeting to address how testing […]
FSA publishes 2013 priorities
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published its Forward Evidence Plan for 2013. 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 FSA’s evidence base. The proposed activities cover a wide range of areas within the agency’s remit, including […]
Legal threat over horsemeat burger scandal
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is reportedly considering whether legal action should be taken against companies at the centre of the scandal over horsemeat found in beef burgers. The FSA has said it will consult with relevant local authorities before making a decision about possible further action. It also said it would try to […]
Chain reaction
Dr Chris Knight, head of agriculture at Campden BRI, explains the importance of safeguarding the links in the food chain
‘Technology will help correct the imbalance between hunger and obesity’
Professor Tony Hines, head of food security and crisis management at Leatherhead Food Research, on Guy Fawkes, fireworks and feeding the world
FIR consultation launched
Defra is asking UK businesses and consumers for their views on plans for new legislation to improve the information provided to shoppers, allowing them to make informed choices about the food they buy. The updated legislation will implement the European Union food labelling legislation (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011) and will also reflect current industry practice […]
Food chain radioactivity report published
The level of man-made radioactivity to which people in the UK are exposed remained below the EU legal limit during 2011, according to the 10th Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) annual report, published this week by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The report combines results from the Agency’s monitoring programme with those of […]
Warning over liquid nitrogen in drinks
Reports that liquid nitrogen may be being used in alcoholic drinks in the UK have prompted the Food Standards Agency to issue a warning about its dangers.
FSA issues warning over Czech bootleg liquor
The Food Standards Agency is advising anyone 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. The poisonings are associated with bootleg spirits that have been tainted with industrial methanol […]
‘Further studies on toxoplasma needed’
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 […]
Using technology to fight foodborne disease
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. Some of the UK’s top public health officials have hailed DNA sequencing techniques, such as next generation sequencing, as one the most powerful laboratory […]
Fish freezing requirements relaxed
The Food Standards Agency has announced that 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. Fish parasites are mainly a problem in certain species of wild fish and can cause illness in humans if eaten. All fishery products […]
New FSA chief executive revealed
The new chief executive of the Food Standards Agency has been named as Catherine Brown. Catherine, who is currently the chief executive of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), will take up the post in October. She succeeds Tim Smith, who has been chief executive since March 2008. “The Board and I are […]
RSSL to carry out FSA allergen survey
Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) has been chosen by the Food Standards Agency to carry out a survey of allergen advisory labelling in the UK. The survey aims to provide a better understanding of whether this type of labelling relates to the actual level of allergen present in foods sold on the UK market. It […]