Food Standards Agency

 

UK conference to help beat food bug

The Food Standards Agency is this week hosting an international conference to identify new ways of reducing the levels of the food bug campylobacter in UK chicken. Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning, causing an estimated 300,000 cases of illness every year in England and Wales alone. A recent survey carried […]

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New saturated fat guidelines from FSA

Chocolate makers selling products in the UK will have to cut the saturated fat in their filled bars by 10% by the end of 2012, as a result of new recommendations from food watchdog the Food Standards Agency. The voluntary guidelines, unveiled after a public consultation with industry and health professionals last summer, also recommend […]

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FSA’s ‘traffic light label’ rethink

The Food Standards Agency has unveiled plans for new front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labelling which it says will ‘help consumers make healthier choices when they buy food’. In March 2006 the FSA recommended a set of principles for FOP labelling that would help consumers understand the levels of fat, saturated fat, salt and sugars in food […]

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Saturated fat message starts to sink in

The latest dietary survey by Food Standards Agency reveal that the UK is eating less saturated fat, trans fat and added sugar than it was 10 years ago. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is the first comprehensive survey of people’s eating patterns since 2001. Saturated fat intakes in adults have dropped slightly to […]

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Kellogg’s bows to FSA pressure

Kellogg’s has announced that it will cut the salt content of its Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and other brands by up to a third following pressure from health watchdogs. The company has previously delayed the reduction of salt levels, claiming customers enjoy the taste it offers. However, it has now bowed to pressure from the […]

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New food chain rules reminder

The Food Standards Agency is reminding slaughterhouse operators and livestock keepers that they will soon have to ensure that Food Chain Information (FCI) is provided for all cattle, sheep and goats sent for slaughter. The new requirement under European Union legislation comes into force from 1 January 2010, and will apply to all slaughter animals, […]

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Consumers want clearer GM labelling, says report

Consumers think that current labelling regulation for genetically modified (GM) foods is inadequate, according to a new report from the UK’s Food Standards Agency. The report used a combination of surveys, workshops and interviews to explore consumer attitudes to GM foods, as well as how those attitudes are formed. The general consensus was that consumers […]

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FSA seeks meat research contractors

The Food Standards Agency is seeking a contractor, or contractors, to carry out research into future meat controls in the UK. The deadline for applications is Monday, 4 January, 2010. The Agency has carried out a range of work to identify food safety hazards in connection with the production of meat and to establish effective […]

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FSA reveals open board meeting date

The next Food Standards Agency open board meeting is being held at its headquarters at Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH. It will begin at 1pm on Tuesday, 10 November 2009 and will be chaired by agency chair Jeff Rooker. You can attend in person, watch it live online or listen-in via a free […]

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Salt shocker

Over three quarters of people (77%) are not aware that bread and breakfast cereals are among the top salt-contributing foods in our diet, according to a new Food Standards Agency survey. The top three salt-contributing foods are bread, followed by meat products, then breakfast cereals. When asked to pick the top three from a list […]

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More companies say no to ‘Southampton six’

More food businesses have joined those that have already stopped using the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in children. Among those now producing product lines free of these colours are three manufacturers and a chain of restaurants. Debenhams restaurants are now ensuring that all food served on the premises will be free of […]

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Organic food not healthier, says FSA

Eating organic food does not provide any significant nutritional or health benefits, according to a study published this week. An independent review commissioned by the Food Standards Agency found there were no important differences between organic and conventionally produced food. The conclusion was reached after a team of researchers at the London School of Hygiene […]

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Meat processors welcome FSA U-turn

The British Meat Processors Association has welcomed a Food Standards Agency (FSA) decision to scrap plans for a four per cent hike in annual inspection charges in a bid to cut government subsidies to the industry. However, the FSA has said that a new system to calculate charges based on the length of time inspectors […]

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New UK salt reduction targets

The Food Standards Agency has unveiled revised salt reduction targets for the food industry, affecting 80 food categories. By 2012, the FSA is hoping to have reduced salt intake to 6g a day for adults (2.4g sodium), from around 9.5g in 2000/1. The current consumption estimate is at 8.6g, indicating that progress has been made […]

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