Incidents report published

Tuesday 15 May 2007

The Agency has today published its first Annual Report of Incidents, highlighting the need for all food business operators and enforcement authorities to make reporting these incidents a top priority.

In 2006, the Agency investigated 1342 incidents in the UK and, where appropriate, took action to ensure that consumers’ interests in relation to food safety were protected and standards maintained.

Actions taken by the Agency to protect consumers’ interests in relation to food safety included the issue of 81 Food Alerts to local authorities (also published on the Agency’s website) and 478 notifications to the European Commission, through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. This system gives Member States two-way intelligence on measures taken to ensure food safety.

Notifications were received from a wide range of businesses, Government departments and organisations. However, gaps in the reporting are evident from the data. One of the main purposes of the Annual report of Incidents 2006 is to encourage reporting, in order to construct a more accurate picture of food and environmental contamination in the UK.

The Agency has dealt with food and environmental contamination incidents since its formation in 2000. However, it is only since the introduction of a new Agency-wide incidents database, in summer 2005, that it is able to carry out a detailed analysis of the incidents data.

Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers, because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect. Or if there is any other food allergy risk. This year, a new procedure was devised for dealing with the majority of allergy alerts – those where there is no action required of the enforcement authorities, but which affect food-allergic consumers. This new procedure ensures that incident information gets to those affected as fast as possible.

The Agency is the lead body for handling widespread accidental or deliberate contamination of food. It ensures that any clean up operation that follows an incident takes on board food safety issues.

Decisions are guided by the best available scientific evidence. Based on that evidence, the Agency seeks to ensure that actions are proportionate, risk-based and outcome focused, reflecting the guiding principles of good regulation.

Risk assessment, risk management and risk communication are central the Agency’s incident response procedure, as set out in the report. The Agency liaises with enforcement authorities, industry and stakeholders so as to implement an appropriate and proportionate strategy.

Andrew Wadge, FSA Chief Scientist and Director of Food Safety, said: 'This report shows in an accessible way how the FSA responded to the incident reports received in 2006 and highlights how consumer interest was protected, based on that information. It stresses the need for all stakeholders to work in partnership to improve incident handling systems and encourages more comprehensive reporting. A better information base will help us take more appropriate and proportionate action and, over time, provide a valuable resource for everyone concerned with food safety.'