News Centre
Use our search function to find the news you're looking for. News stories from 2000 to 2005 have been archived on the National Archives website, see link at the bottom of the page.
Most recent news stories
NI vegetable washing campaign launched
Monday 5 December 2011
The Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland has today launched its first stage of the Agency’s campaign to remind people to wash raw vegetables to help minimise the risk of food poisoning. The focus of the campaign is to reinforce existing food safety advice about storage, handling and cooking of food, including raw vegetables.
Food poisoning risk from chicken liver pate
Friday 2 December 2011
The Food Standards Agency is reminding people to cook chicken livers thoroughly if making pate, to reduce the risk of food poisoning. New figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveal that 90% of campylobacter outbreaks at catering venues were linked to undercooked chicken liver pate. Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK.
Update on products free of colours associated with hyperactivity
Thursday 1 December 2011
The Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.
Creme d’Or recalls Felko Christmas figures and gumball machines
Thursday 1 December 2011
Creme d’Or is recalling certain batches of its Felko Christmas figures and gumball machines. The affected products contain candy, but are not labelled with a choking hazard warning for children under three years of age. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.
Waitrose recalls Belgian chocolate
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Waitrose is recalling one batch of its own-brand Belgian Plain Chocolate because of a packaging error. The chocolate contains hazelnuts, which isn’t mentioned on the packaging. If you’re allergic to nuts, specifically hazelnuts, you’re advised not to eat this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
Enotria withdraws Capriola Pinot Grigio
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Enotria is withdrawing all batches of Capriola Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2010 because of a packaging error. The wine contains sulphites, which isn’t mentioned on the label. If you’re sensitive to sulphites, you’re advised not to drink this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
New research identifies norovirus levels in oysters
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Research published today by the Food Standards Agency shows that a significant proportion (76%) of oysters tested from UK oyster growing beds contained norovirus. The virus was detected at low levels in more than half of the positive samples (52%).
The Co-op recalls roasting joint
Tuesday 29 November 2011
The Co-operative has recalled two batches of its British Beef Roasting Joint because they have been labelled with incorrect 'use by' dates of 22 December 2011 and 23 December 2011. The products should have been labelled with a ‘use by’ date of 5 December 2011. If you’ve bought the product, you can contact the Co-op for a full refund. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.
Guy Anderson Wines withdraws Church Mouse Falanghina
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Guy Anderson Wines is withdrawing all batches of Church Mouse Falanghina because of a packaging error. The wine contains sulphites, which isn’t mentioned on the label. If you’re sensitive to sulphites, you’re advised not to drink this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
Halewood recalls beaujolais
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Halewood International is recalling one batch of Julienas Cru de Beaujolais 2010 Vintage because of a packaging error. The wine contains sulphites, which isn’t mentioned on the label. If you’re allergic or sensitive to sulphites, you’re advised not to drink this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
Latest FSA e-News available online
Tuesday 29 November 2011
The November edition of FSA e-News highlights the new food hygiene media campaign running in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Keep an eye (and ear) out for the adverts, which will run in local and national press and on local radio, reminding consumers to wash vegetables before use to avoid the risk of food poisoning.
Tesco recalls banoffee tart
Friday 25 November 2011
Tesco is recalling one batch of its frozen Tesco Finest Banoffee Tart because of a packaging error. Some of the packs contain Tesco Finest New York Cheesecake, instead of banoffee tart. The cheesecake contains egg, which is not mentioned on the label. If you are allergic or intolerant to eggs, you are advised not to eat this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
Reminder on avoiding foodborne botulism
Friday 25 November 2011
The Food Standards Agency is reiterating its advice on the safe storage and use of food, after Clostridium botulinum was found in a single jar of ready-prepared sauce.
People warned not to drink Drop Vodka
Wednesday 23 November 2011
The Food Standards Agency is warning consumers not to drink an illegal brand of vodka called Drop Vodka, which has been found on sale in some shops.
Agency updates answers on cross-contamination control
Tuesday 22 November 2011
The Food Standards Agency has today published the second edition of the Q&A on its guidance document 'E.coli O157: control of cross-contamination'.
Vegetables: best served washed
Tuesday 22 November 2011
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today launched a new campaign reminding people to wash raw vegetables to help minimise the risk of food poisoning.
Survey of mycotoxins published
Tuesday 22 November 2011
The Food Standards Agency has published the results of a survey looking at levels of mycotoxins in food. Mycotoxins are chemicals produced by certain moulds.
Rushmoor launches the FHRS
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Rushmoor Borough Council has rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. More than 170 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing over 135,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.
FSA Board member recruitment
Tuesday 22 November 2011
The Food Standards Agency is advertising for a Deputy Chair, a Board member to represent Scotland, a Chair of the Scottish Food Advisory Committee, and for up to three other Board Members.
Bleiker’s recalls smoked salmon
Friday 18 November 2011
Bleiker’s is recalling one batch of its Traditional Oak Smoked Scottish Salmon because one pack in this small batch has been found to contain listeria. The batch number is ‘55x’ with a ‘use by’ date of 23 November 2011. If you have bought the product being recalled, do not eat it. The Agency has issued a Product Information Recall Notice.
Update on the Loyd Grossman Korma sauce recall
Thursday 17 November 2011
Investigations continue into the cause of the contamination with Clostridium botulinum toxin of a single jar of Loyd Grossman’s Korma sauce.
British Sandwich Association adopts the FHRS
Thursday 17 November 2011
The British Sandwich Association (BSA) has become the first trade association to use the Food Standards Agency’s national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme to set standards for its members.
Views needed on lifting of post-Chernobyl farm restrictions
Thursday 17 November 2011
The Food Standards Agency is launching a consultation to seek views about whether to remove all post-Chernobyl controls and associated regulation on sheep farms in the UK.
FSA Board meeting available online
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Yesterday's Agency open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The agenda included discussion on emerging food technologies, CCTV for monitoring animal welfare at the time of slaughter, and decisions on the Agency's response to the UK Government's Red Tape Challenge.
Stoke and Milton Keynes launch the FHRS
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Milton Keynes Council have rolled out the FSA's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. More than 170 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.
Guidance to tackle oil and chemical spills at sea
Tuesday 15 November 2011
New Government guidelines to help the UK prepare and respond to oil and chemical spills at sea have been published. The guidelines, produced by the Premiam project, provide advice on effective post-spill monitoring and impact assessment in UK waters.
New food additive regulations increase consumer protection
Tuesday 15 November 2011
Regulations published by the European Commission on 12 November should make it easier for food and drink manufacturers and enforcement officers to understand in which foods, and at what levels, additives can be used.
Loyd Grossman Korma sauce being recalled
Monday 14 November 2011
Premier Foods is recalling one date code of Loyd Grossman’s Korma sauce due to contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that can cause botulism poisoning. The affected batch code is 1218R and the ‘best before’ date is February 2013. If you have bought this product do not eat it. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.
Bullock aged over 72 months enters food supply without being tested for BSE
Monday 14 November 2011
The Agency has been notified that meat has entered the food supply from a bullock aged over 72 months that had not been tested for BSE. A negative BSE test result is mandatory for cattle slaughtered for human consumption at more than 72 months of age.
FSA warning on certain jars of Loyd Grossman Korma sauce
Sunday 13 November 2011
The Food Standards Agency is advising people not to consume specific jars of Loyd Grossman Korma sauce. This is because of the risk of botulism poisoning.
Awareness of botulism symptoms urged
Friday 11 November 2011
Health Protection Scotland has today issued a statement urging people to be aware of the symptoms of botulism. This follows the news that two members of the same family who are suspected of having the illness have been hospitalised.
Call for social science papers
Friday 11 November 2011
The Food Standards Agency UK and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), are calling for papers to be presented at the Eighth International Conference on Social Science Methodology in Sydney.
Annual report on UK National Control Plan published
Wednesday 9 November 2011
The Agency has published the fourth annual report on progress during 2010 in implementing the UK's National Control Plan (NCP) for January 2007 to March 2012.
Research call: the safety of publicly procured food
Wednesday 9 November 2011
The FSA is inviting researchers to tender for a project exploring how food safety is considered during the procurement of food in the UK public sector, for example in schools and care providers.
FSA call for research
Tuesday 8 November 2011
The FSA is inviting researchers to tender for two projects – one to develop a tool to identify good and bad aspects of the culture towards food safety in businesses, and the other to evaluate the risk of buying food through the Internet.
