Food Standards Agency - Media Centre

Waitrose recalls its Spiced King Prawn Salad Thursday 9 February 2012 Waitrose has recalled all date codes of Waitrose Spiced King Prawn Salad because the product contains sesame seeds that were not declared on the label. This makes the product a potential health risk for people who are allergic to sesame. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

Views wanted on calanus oil Thursday 9 February 2012 A Norwegian company has applied to the Food Standards Agency for approval to market the oil from a miniature shrimp as a novel food ingredient for use in food supplements. Views are wanted on this application.

Doves Farm withdraws some Chocolate and Crispy Rice Bars Thursday 9 February 2012 Doves Farm has withdrawn some of its Chocolate and Crispy Rice Bars because they contain milk, which shouldn't be in the product. This makes the bars a potential health risk for people who are allergic or intolerant to milk or milk constituents. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

Weetabix withdraws packs of Oatibix Bites Thursday 9 February 2012 Weetabix is withdrawing some packs of its Oatibix Bites Sultana and Apple breakfast cereal because of incorrect allergen labelling. The packs, only on sale at Tesco, may contain wheat, which is not mentioned on the label. If you have an allergy or intolerance to wheat you should not eat this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

Marks and Spencer recalls some of its Chinese range Thursday 9 February 2012 Marks and Spencer is recalling four products from its Chinese range with a ‘use by’ date of 9 March 2012. They should have been labelled with a ‘use by’ date of 9 February 2012. Eating products past their intended 'use by' date could present a risk to health. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

Suma recalls organic pesto batch Thursday 9 February 2012 Suma is recalling one batch of its Organic Pesto Alla Genovese with Basil, which is labelled as being suitable for vegans. The product contains milk, which isn't listed on the label. If you’re allergic or intolerant to milk or milk constituents, you're advised not to eat the product. The Agency has issued an allergy alert.

Welsh language DVD guide for butchers launched Wednesday 8 February 2012 The FSA has produced a Welsh language version of the DVD for those working in butchers shops, to encourage them to think about the type of food safety risks they face in their business and how they should control them. It focuses on butchers talking about the steps they have taken to reduce food safety risks.

Views wanted on probiotic Wednesday 8 February 2012 A Japanese company has applied to the Food Standards Agency for approval to market a strain of the bacterium Clostridium butyricum as a novel food ingredient for use in food supplements. Views are wanted on this application.

Virani withdraws gluten free gram flour Wednesday 8 February 2012 Virani is withdrawing 2kg bags of its gram flour, labelled as gluten free, with a 'best before' end date of July 2013. The product contains levels of gluten that are above the limits set for foods labelled gluten free. If you’re intolerant to gluten, don’t eat this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

Allergy myth-buster tool launched Tuesday 7 February 2012 An online tool aimed at dispelling myths about food allergy and intolerance has been launched on the NHS Choices website, with the help of the Food Standards Agency.

Natco withdraws gluten free gram flour Tuesday 7 February 2012 Natco is withdrawing one batch of its Gluten Free Gram Flour. The product contains low levels of gluten that are above the limits set for foods labelled gluten free. If you’re intolerant to gluten, don’t eat this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

FSA tender for crabmeat survey Tuesday 7 February 2012 The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders for a survey of cadmium levels in brown crabmeat and brown crabmeat products on sale in the UK.

Crawley, St Helens and Wycombe launch the FHRS Tuesday 7 February 2012 Crawley Borough Council, St Helens Council and Wycombe District Council have rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. 185 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing more than 150,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

Good food hygiene is now easier to spot in Wales Monday 6 February 2012 A second Food Hygiene Rating Scheme advertising campaign starts today in Wales to publicise the scheme with users and owners of food businesses.

Update on shellfish monitoring contracts Friday 3 February 2012 Following on from the announcement of some shellfish monitoring contracts last month, the Food Standards Agency has now awarded contracts for shellfish sampling across nine local authority areas in Scotland.

Agency seeks views on website Friday 3 February 2012 The Food Standards Agency is currently inviting people who use its website, food.gov.uk, to complete an online survey to let us know what you think of it and how it can be improved.

Outbreak of Salmonella Newport Thursday 2 February 2012 The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been notified by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) of an outbreak of a strain of Salmonella Newport infection that is known to have affected more than 30 people in the UK.

FSA publishes priorities on science and evidence Wednesday 1 February 2012 The Food Standards Agency has published its Forward Evidence Plan for 2012. 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 Agency’s evidence base.

Update on products free of colours associated with hyperactivity Wednesday 1 February 2012 The Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.

ACAF seeks new members Wednesday 1 February 2012 Two new members are needed for the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF). This independent committee advises the Food Standards Agency on the safety and use of animal feeds, with particular emphasis on protecting human health.

Asda recalls layered prawn salad Tuesday 31 January 2012 Asda is withdrawing one date code of its layered prawn salad because it's labelled incorrectly. The label on the lid states that the product is Asda tuna layered salad, and so doesn’t mention prawns. If you’re allergic or intolerant to shellfish, don’t eat this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

New research opportunities Tuesday 31 January 2012 The FSA is inviting researchers to tender for two new projects. The first is qualitative research to explore the public’s views on labelling of GM food and the second aims to explore how food safety is considered during the procurement of food in the UK public sector.

Hull and South Tyneside launch the FHRS Tuesday 31 January 2012 Hull City Council and South Tyneside Council have rolled out the Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. More than 180 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now publishing nearly 150,000 ratings at food.gov.uk/ratings.

Update to new FBO approval process Monday 30 January 2012 Food businesses approved by the Food Standards Agency that change food business operator (FBO) after 31 January 2012 will need a new approval. The new FBO can continue to trade using the existing approval until a new approval assessment is undertaken. This change follows consultation with stakeholders.

Doves Farm withdraws gluten-free buckwheat flour Friday 27 January 2012 Doves Farm is withdrawing one batch of its gluten-free buckwheat flour because the product contains gluten. Although the level of gluten is low, it is above that allowed for the flour to be labelled gluten-free. If you’re intolerant to gluten, don’t eat this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

FSA Board meeting available online Wednesday 25 January 2012 Yesterday's Agency open Board meeting is now available as a video-on-demand and as a podcast. The agenda included discussion on the draft European Commission regulation concerning the use of lactic acid to reduce microbiological surface contamination, and an update on nanotechnologies and food.

Food hygiene is concern when eating out Tuesday 24 January 2012 The Agency’s latest public attitudes tracker shows that the main food safety issue people continue to be concerned about is food hygiene when eating out. Other issues include food poisoning and the use of additives in food.

Iceland recalls frozen minced lamb Tuesday 24 January 2012 Iceland is recalling its frozen minced lamb because some batches may be contaminated with salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that causes food poisoning. The affected batches have a 'best before' date of 11 October 2012. If you have bought the product don’t eat it. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

Views wanted on algal oil Monday 23 January 2012 The Agency's expert Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP), is consulting on an application from a Canadian company to market oil that is produced from Schizochytrium microalgae, as a novel food ingredient.

Cause for concern list published Monday 23 January 2012 Starting today, the FSA is routinely publishing the full list of those meat plants that, on the basis of their audit reports, are considered 'cause for concern'.

Trainee opportunities at EFSA Wednesday 18 January 2012 The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is offering training opportunities for students or young professionals in the areas of science, communication or administration.

Giants mixed dried fruit recalled Wednesday 18 January 2012 UK Snacks has recalled Giants ‘Just Fruit’ mixed dried fruits because of incorrect allergy information. The affected products, with a ‘best before’ date of July 2012, contain sulphur dioxide not mentioned on the label. If you’re sensitive to sulphites don’t eat this product. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

Morrisons recalls smoked mackerel fillets Tuesday 17 January 2012 Morrisons is recalling all batches of certain smoked mackerel fillet products. Due to a processing error, some may be undercooked. If you have bought any of the products don’t eat them. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

Meat plants audit reports published Monday 16 January 2012 The Food Standards Agency has today started the regular publication of audit reports of approved meat plants in England, Scotland and Wales. This marks the beginning of routine publication of these reports, in line with the FSA's commitment to transparency.

Food Safety and Hygiene e-learning course for schools launched Monday 16 January 2012 The Food Standards Agency in Wales has announced that it will be making available an e-learning course 'Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene (Catering)' to schools in Wales.

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