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Europe: Food Safety Policy Issues 2009
Russia bans pork from 4 U.S. plants due to antibiotics
10 Dec 2009
Reuters [edited][FSNet]
Russia said on Thursday it had banned pork imports from four U.S slaughterhouses from Dec. 18, saying it had found the antibiotic oxitetracycline in their products.
Rosselkhoznadzor, the farm produce watchdog, said it had banned imports from several slaughterhouses in the U.S.
Rosselkhoznadzor has already banned seven U.S. plants this month for similar reasons.
Reuters [edited][FSNet]
Russia said on Thursday it had banned pork imports from four U.S slaughterhouses from Dec. 18, saying it had found the antibiotic oxitetracycline in their products.
Rosselkhoznadzor, the farm produce watchdog, said it had banned imports from several slaughterhouses in the U.S.
Rosselkhoznadzor has already banned seven U.S. plants this month for similar reasons.
United Kingdom:New food chain rules to help "farm to fork" safety
09 Dec 2009FSA [edited][FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency is informing 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.
This new requirement under EU legislation comes into force from 1 January 2010 and will apply to all slaughter animals, whether sent directly to a slaughterhouse or sold through a livestock market.
FCI is information about the health of the animals being sent for slaughter, and other information relevant to the safety of meat derived from them, including medicines the animals have been given. The rules already apply to pigs and calves.
The new rules are an important part of 'farm-to-fork' food safety controls and highlight the food safety responsibilities of livestock keepers in the meat production chain. The information about slaughter animals that is passed from the farm to the slaughterhouse can be used by operators and Official Veterinarians to make decisions about processing and inspection procedures.
November
United Kingdom-Revised guidelines for ready-to-eat foods27 Nov 2009
Health Protection Agency
Revised guidelines for assessing the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat foods placed on the market are being launched by the Health Protection Agency today.
They are risk based focusing on public health, consumer protection, and provide advice on actions and investigations which should be considered.
They are intended for use by food examiners and local authority enforcement officers in identifying situations requiring investigation for public health or food safety reasons. They will also help to inform other health protection and public health specialists.
The main aim of the guidelines is to assess the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat foods at any point in the retail chain, e.g. retail, catering, wholesale, and port of entry (including food components such as herbs and spices). While they do not take precedence over microbiological criteria within European or national legislation they complement legally enforceable standards and provide an indication of the microbiological safety for foods where standards currently do not exist.
Samples covered by the guidelines include:
· Samples collected during predefined sampling programmes such as the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS)/HPA national microbiological food studies
· Samples taken at or during food inspections
· Samples taken to confirm previous adverse findings in order to determine the scale of microbiological contamination
· Samples collected during investigations of suspected outbreaks of disease
· Samples submitted after complaints
United Kingdom:Thriving trade in out-of-date best-before foods
10 Nov 2009
BBC [edited][FSNet]
Tamsyn Kent
Thousands of tons of food are binned annually in the UK because of confusion over use-by dates. But those willing to overlook the labels are finding big online discounts on food past its prime.
The UK appears to be a nation of food wasters, throwing away 8.3 million tons every year. That is a mountain of leftovers, enough to fill 4,700 Olympic-sized swimming pools, says the government's anti-waste arm, Wrap.
Use-by: the key date in terms of safety. Never eat food after this date. Found on cooked meats, soft cheeses and dairy-based desserts
Best-before: is about quality not safety. Food should be safe to eat after this date, but it might not be at its best. One exception is eggs
Sell-by/Display-until: this information is for the retailer, not the customer. It is mainly used for stock control purposes
Of that, 5.3 million tons could have been eaten, it claims.
The cause of much of this waste is down to confusion over date labels. A recent survey suggests half of people do not understand the differences between them.
More than one-third believe any product past its best-before date should not be eaten and 53% never eat fruit or vegetables after they have reached that date.
10 Nov 2009
BBC [edited][FSNet]
Tamsyn Kent
Thousands of tons of food are binned annually in the UK because of confusion over use-by dates. But those willing to overlook the labels are finding big online discounts on food past its prime.
The UK appears to be a nation of food wasters, throwing away 8.3 million tons every year. That is a mountain of leftovers, enough to fill 4,700 Olympic-sized swimming pools, says the government's anti-waste arm, Wrap.
Use-by: the key date in terms of safety. Never eat food after this date. Found on cooked meats, soft cheeses and dairy-based desserts
Best-before: is about quality not safety. Food should be safe to eat after this date, but it might not be at its best. One exception is eggs
Sell-by/Display-until: this information is for the retailer, not the customer. It is mainly used for stock control purposes
Of that, 5.3 million tons could have been eaten, it claims.
The cause of much of this waste is down to confusion over date labels. A recent survey suggests half of people do not understand the differences between them.
More than one-third believe any product past its best-before date should not be eaten and 53% never eat fruit or vegetables after they have reached that date.
United Kingdom:Local butchers getE. colitraining
10 Nov 2009
Market Rasen Mail [edited][FSNet]
More than 70 staff from 20 butchers shops in the area have attended a free training session on the dangers ofE. colifollowing an outbreak in Wales which killed a five year old boy and left 118 people ill.
10 Nov 2009
Market Rasen Mail [edited][FSNet]
More than 70 staff from 20 butchers shops in the area have attended a free training session on the dangers ofE. colifollowing an outbreak in Wales which killed a five year old boy and left 118 people ill.
United Kingdom:Meat hygiene shake-up to save abattoirs millions
02 Nov 2009
Farmers Weekly Interactive [edited][FSNet]
Abattoirs could see their bills slashed by millions of pounds a year under Foods Standards Agency plans to shake up meat hygiene regulations.
The FSA's Scottish director was quoted as saying the agency would set out proposals in its upcoming strategic plan to abolish rules forcing every carcass that passes through an abattoir to be inspected.
A major shake-up of the scale envisaged by the FSA could save millions of pounds every year by reducing costs in abattoirs which are subsequently passed on to farmers
This is how Europe operates when it comes to food safety
29 Oct 2009
BfR [edited][FSNet]
The state structures of food and feed safety in 30 European states are presented in the EU Food Safety Almanac published by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).
The short, transparent country profiles in the brochure present the main public authorities and expert committees in the 27 Member States and the associated countries Iceland, Norway and Switzerland which are involved in food safety. It also indicates their functions in the state legal system. The BfR EU Food Safety Almanac contains, for instance, information on which public authorities in each of the 30 states are responsible for the assessment of pesticides, health claims or zoonoses, which ministries are responsible in the Member States for the various aspects of management, how risks are communicated and the extent to which risk assessment and risk management are separated from each other institutionally.
The brochure is intended for everyone interested in finding out more about the legal structures and institutions of food safety in Europe, more particularly experts from practice like MPs, the staff of food authorities, the media, the food industry and the sciences.
BfR, the EFSA Focal Point for Germany, was supported in the preparation of this Almanac by the Focal Points in the other Member States.Future funding of United Kingdom meat controls
10 Nov 2009
Food Standard Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency Board, at its open Board meeting held in London today, discussed future funding of UK meat controls. After a wide-ranging discussion, the Board agreed on three key principles.
The three key principles are:
1) it is not a function of the FSA to subsidise the meat industry, and if a continuing subsidy is to be provided it should come from elsewhere
2) the best possible protection for consumers from food risk should not be based on economic circumstances or the ability of the industry to pay
3) the need to consult with the meat industry and UK Government stakeholders on the future funding of UK meat controls – this concerns the costs of official inspections of abattoirs and cutting plants
At present, the FSA pays about £36m towards meat hygiene regulation in Great Britain. In Northern Ireland the controls cost £7m, of which about half is recovered from industry, the other half is paid as a subsidy.
If the Agency moves towards full recovery of the current subsidy, analysis has shown that even if the full costs were passed on to consumers the impact would be minimal – less than a penny (0.8p) on a whole chicken retailing at £4.00; less than half a penny (0.47p) on 500g of lean mince retailing at £1.92.United Kingdom-Code of Practice forSalmonellacontrol
05 Nov 2009
World Poultry [edited][FSNet]
In the UK, the revised Code of Practice for the Control of Salmonella in Animal Feeds has been published in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.
One route for Salmonella entering the food chain is through animals eating contaminated animal feed. The main purpose of the Code is to provide information on best practice, and to help those involved in the manufacture, storage and transport of feeds to minimise the risk ofSalmonellacontamination.
To assist users, the Code brings together in one document, the advice that was previously dispersed in three codes and this has been updated after an extensive consultation of stakeholders.
02 Nov 2009
Farmers Weekly Interactive [edited][FSNet]
Abattoirs could see their bills slashed by millions of pounds a year under Foods Standards Agency plans to shake up meat hygiene regulations.
The FSA's Scottish director was quoted as saying the agency would set out proposals in its upcoming strategic plan to abolish rules forcing every carcass that passes through an abattoir to be inspected.
A major shake-up of the scale envisaged by the FSA could save millions of pounds every year by reducing costs in abattoirs which are subsequently passed on to farmers
October
This is how Europe operates when it comes to food safety
29 Oct 2009
BfR [edited][FSNet]
The state structures of food and feed safety in 30 European states are presented in the EU Food Safety Almanac published by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).
The short, transparent country profiles in the brochure present the main public authorities and expert committees in the 27 Member States and the associated countries Iceland, Norway and Switzerland which are involved in food safety. It also indicates their functions in the state legal system. The BfR EU Food Safety Almanac contains, for instance, information on which public authorities in each of the 30 states are responsible for the assessment of pesticides, health claims or zoonoses, which ministries are responsible in the Member States for the various aspects of management, how risks are communicated and the extent to which risk assessment and risk management are separated from each other institutionally.
The brochure is intended for everyone interested in finding out more about the legal structures and institutions of food safety in Europe, more particularly experts from practice like MPs, the staff of food authorities, the media, the food industry and the sciences.
BfR, the EFSA Focal Point for Germany, was supported in the preparation of this Almanac by the Focal Points in the other Member States.Future funding of United Kingdom meat controls
10 Nov 2009
Food Standard Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency Board, at its open Board meeting held in London today, discussed future funding of UK meat controls. After a wide-ranging discussion, the Board agreed on three key principles.
The three key principles are:
1) it is not a function of the FSA to subsidise the meat industry, and if a continuing subsidy is to be provided it should come from elsewhere
2) the best possible protection for consumers from food risk should not be based on economic circumstances or the ability of the industry to pay
3) the need to consult with the meat industry and UK Government stakeholders on the future funding of UK meat controls – this concerns the costs of official inspections of abattoirs and cutting plants
At present, the FSA pays about £36m towards meat hygiene regulation in Great Britain. In Northern Ireland the controls cost £7m, of which about half is recovered from industry, the other half is paid as a subsidy.
If the Agency moves towards full recovery of the current subsidy, analysis has shown that even if the full costs were passed on to consumers the impact would be minimal – less than a penny (0.8p) on a whole chicken retailing at £4.00; less than half a penny (0.47p) on 500g of lean mince retailing at £1.92.United Kingdom-Code of Practice forSalmonellacontrol
05 Nov 2009
World Poultry [edited][FSNet]
In the UK, the revised Code of Practice for the Control of Salmonella in Animal Feeds has been published in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.
One route for Salmonella entering the food chain is through animals eating contaminated animal feed. The main purpose of the Code is to provide information on best practice, and to help those involved in the manufacture, storage and transport of feeds to minimise the risk ofSalmonellacontamination.
To assist users, the Code brings together in one document, the advice that was previously dispersed in three codes and this has been updated after an extensive consultation of stakeholders.
United Kingdom:Advice for caterers on handling eggs safely
15 Oct 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Agency has published online advice on the safe use of eggs in catering. The guidance covers handling, storing and cooking eggs, using pasteurised egg, and catering for vulnerable groups. It also gives tips on ‘pooling’ eggs, where caterers break lots of eggs into a bowl and use the mix throughout the day.
Eggs may containSalmonellabacteria inside or on their shells, so it is very important for caterers to prevent bacteria spreading from eggs onto other foods, hands, work surfaces or utensils, and also to cook them properly so that any bacteria are killed.
Pooling eggs is a common practice in catering and it’s important for caterers to be careful how they handle pooled eggs. They should avoid keeping large amounts of pooled liquid egg at room temperature – instead they should cover it, store it in the fridge and take out a small amount as and when needed.
Ideally, pooled liquid egg should be used on the same day, so caterers should only break the eggs they will need for the day and avoid storing the liquid egg for more than 24 hours. It’s also important never to add new eggs to a batch of liquid egg – they should use one batch up and then start another.
IRELAND:Continued team work will combat new challenges in food safety
14.oct.09
FSAI [edited][FSNet]
New emerging issues in food safety including new pathogens, technologies and food production techniques will challenge the food safety control systems. This will require increased vigilance, monitoring and sharing of scientific information to continue to ensure that consumer health is protected in relation to food in the future - delegates heard today at a conference hosted to mark the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) 10th anniversary. The two-day conference brought together international and national food safety experts to discuss the improvements in Ireland’s food safety protectorate regime over the past decade and to analyse the potential new threats in the future.
United Kingdom-FSA publishes survey ofCampylobacterandSalmonellain chicken
06 Oct 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency has published the findings of a new survey testing forCampylobacterandSalmonellain chicken on sale in the UK.
The survey showed thatCampylobacterwas present in 65% of the samples of chicken tested. Salmonella was in 6% of samples, 0.5% of these samples containedS. enteritidisandS. typhimurium.
As part of the Agency’s work to reduce levels of campylobacter in UK-produced chicken an international conference on campylobacter is being organised for 2010, where a range of options for tackling the bug will be discussed.
Campylobacteris the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning. It is responsible for around 55,000 cases of illness in the UK every year, and is therefore one of the key organisms the Agency is tackling in order to reduce levels of foodborne illness.Campylobactercan be found on meat, unpasteurised milk, and untreated water; however there is strong evidence that chicken is the most common cause of illness.
The Food Standards Agency emphasises that whileCampylobacteris still present in a significant proportion of fresh chicken sold in the UK, cooking chicken properly all the way through will kill the bug, so consumers can avoid the risk of illness.
The UK-wide survey of fresh chicken at retail was carried out between May 2007 and September 2008. During the course of the survey, 3,274 samples were tested for the presence of campylobacter and salmonella.
Malta-Inspectors clamp down on food safety violations
06 Oct 2009
Times of Malta
Seven food business operators were found contravening food safety legislation last month and will be charged accordingly, the Department for Environmental Health said today.
The department said its inspectors also found structural defects, lack of hygiene, labelling irregularities and lack of food hygiene training in 19 outlets.
The inspectors destroyed expired foodstuffs (over 200kg) seized from a wholesaler in Marsa and over 100kgs of milk and milk products which were not stored in adequate temperatures by two outlets in Qormi and Floriana. Approximately 29kgs of other items were destroyed for different reasons from various retailers.
EU:Spray notification is a key part of pesticide consulation
05 Oct 2009
Farmers Weekly Interactive [edited][FSNet]
Advanced spray notification will be one of the key discussion points as implementing controversial new European pesticides legislation begins.
Most of the measures in the directive concerning the use of pesticides, such as sprayer testing and training of operators were already being carried out on most arable farms, an official was quoted as saying.
There is, however, provision in the new directive for possibly including advance warning of spraying to residents and bystanders, and it is something in the light of the Downs case, ministers feel should be consulted on.
United Kingdom-Bid to rebuild shattered public confidence in food safety
05 Oct 2009
Wales Online [edited][FSNet]
Public bodies are coming together to rebuild shattered public confidence in food safety.
Consumer Focus Wales and the Food Standards Agency Wales are bringing together a group of experts to look at how the Welsh public can be reassured following the 2005 South Wales outbreak and one in North Wales this summer that left a mother and a toddler fighting for their lives in hospital. Five other people also became ill.
A bar near Wrexham has been identified as the likely source of the potentially-deadly bacteria.
EU food safety body delivers opinion on health claims
01 Oct 2009
Reuters [edited][FSNet]
The European Union's food safety watchdog delivered a long-awaited opinion on Thursday to the EU executive arm that will help determine whether food producers' health claims about their products are backed up by science.
The European Food Safety Authority said it had studied more than 500 claims made by companies about the nutritional value or healthiness of products, such as labeling them "low fat," "high fiber" or able to reinforce the body's natural defenses.
It said it had approved one third of the claims, but gave few details. It did not mention any of the brands concerned and did not say which had been rejected.
United Kingdom-Risk-based meat hygiene controls five years away
01 Oct 2009
MeatInfo [edited][FSNet]
More risk-based proportionate controls for meat are at least five years away, admit Food Standards Agency (FSA) scientists.
The FSA will launch research projects later this year, working towards developing a risk-based regulatory regime for food which aims to protect public health and generate confidence in food.
At its recent board meeting, the FSA endorsed the programme and confirmed it as a priority in its strategic plan for 2010–2015.
The current official controls applied to meat production are covered by EU law and pre-date the more modern approach to the control of food production hazards; they were designed to tackle the limited number of diseases which can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses) and those which were historically major public health risks from meat, such as parasites.
29 Sep 2009
Guernsey Press [edited][FSNet]
Sark would be unable to react quickly enough to an outbreak ofE. colibecause of inadequacies in its catering law.
Accusations of a slow response to the recent outbreak made against Surrey authorities have ‘refocused’ Sark’s Public Health Committee on making sure it could deal with a similar problem.
Danish action plan onSalmonellain pork
25 Sep 2009
Farmers Guardian [edited][FSNet]
Denmark is to launch a new action plan againstSalmonellain pork, according to a decision by the Parliament.
The Minister of Foods was quoted as saying the aim is to further strengthen Denmark’s position as a leader on food security.
The plan, developed by the Danish Food Authority, includes, among other things, that suppliers have to inform aboutSalmonellastatus in their farms when delivering pigs for slaughter.
United Kingdom-Fraudsters target food business
24 Sep 2009
Food Standards Agency
The Food Standards Agency is warning food business operators to be aware of fraudsters who are visiting food business premises claiming that they are from the Agency. The fraudsters claim that they are there to carry out inspections and then extract substantial amounts of money as a fixed penalty fee for the premises being allegedly unhygienic.
The Agency does not carry out food inspections and there are no fixed penalties for food safety breaches. All inspections are carried out by local authority authorised inspectors who carry relevant identification when visiting a food business.
United Kingdom-Broad band boost for Scores on the Doors
10 Sep 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency has announced further progress on the development of the national 'Scores on the Doors' scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which will provide consumers with information about hygiene standards in food businesses.
Following discussions with the UK-wide steering group that was set up to advise on the scheme, the Agency has decided to opt for a broad top band for the new six-tier rating scheme.
The UK-wide Scores on the Doors scheme steering group is made up of representatives from the food industry, local authorities and consumer groups as well as Agency officials.
26 Aug 2009
Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Vol 11, Issue 4 [edited][FSNet]
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the content and conclusions of a recent scientific colloquium onCampylobacterspp. This meeting was prompted by a growing concern regarding the burden of gastrointestinal illness caused byCampylobacterspp. Over the past yearsCampylobacterspp. have overtakenSalmonellaspp. as the most frequently reported zoonotic agent in the EU. An incidence rate of approximately 50 confirmed cases per 100,000 population over 17 European countries was reported in 2007.
Worldwide epidemiological studies indicate that campylobacteriosis is largely foodborne and that poultry-meat is a major source. However, the proportion of illness due to poultry-meat and the contribution of other potential sources remain unclear. The European Commission requested EFSA to update its 2005 Opinion onCampylobacterspp. with particular reference to the contribution of broiler meat to human campylobacteriosis, the possible control options and potential performance objectives or targets. This colloquium was organised to assist EFSA in updating its Opinion.
The meeting involved over 90 scientists and stakeholders from 30 countries including New Zealand, which had an incidence of 383.5 per 100,000 in 2006 when it implemented a national ‘CampylobacterRisk Management Strategy’. Parallel discussion groups addressed the following issues:
- the source attribution and health impact ofCampylobacterspp.
- its quantitative risk assessment in broiler meat
- its resistance to fluoroquinolones (an antimicrobial substance); and
- effective control measures in broiler meat production from farm to fork.
It was concluded that although there are many reservoirs and transmission routes forCampylobacterspp., poultry-meat remains likely to be the most important cause of human exposure. Control measures throughout the poultry food chain were identified and discussed in terms of their possible effectiveness and the likely barriers to their implementation. It was agreed that controls should focus on reducing the numbers ofCampylobacterspp. on poultry carcasses as well as a reduction in overall prevalence.
Evidence was presented that the use of fluoroquinolones in poultry flocks has led to the emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance inCampylobacterspp. in poultry and contributes to the occurrence of antibiotic-resistantCampylobacterspp. infection in humans.
Ireland-30 years of keeping consumers safe
26 Aug 2009
Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Vol 11, Issue 4 [edited][FSNet]
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) in Europe.
RASFF, which has been operating since 1979, provides a system for the swift exchange of information between member countries and the coordination of response actions to food safety threats. RASFF enables information to be shared rapidly between food and feed control authorities in Member States and the European Commission where a health risk has been identified. Countries can then act rapidly and in a coordinated manner in order to avert food safety risks before they can harm consumers. It is therefore an important tool for protecting consumer health.
European Union-EFSA issues advice on marine biotoxins
26 Aug 2009
EFSA [edited][FSNet]
Scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have concluded that eating shellfish contaminated with marine biotoxins from the yessotoxin or pectenotoxin groups at levels permitted in the European Union was not considered to pose any health risk. However, experts on the Panel on contaminants in the food chain (CONTAM) said in an opinion that people consuming shellfish contaminated with toxins from the okadaic acid, azaspiracid, saxitoxin or domoic acid groups could be at risk of ill health.
The European Commission asked EFSA to assess the current EU limits which exist for six different types of toxins in shellfish, known as marine biotoxins and the testing methods established in EU legislation. Marine biotoxins are poisonous substances produced by different algae that can accumulate in shellfish.
This EFSA opinion brings together the conclusions of six earlier risk assessments on marine biotoxins. For each type of toxin, the Panel established the amount which can be consumed within a 24-hour period without any appreciable health risk (the acute reference dose). These were then compared with shellfish consumption and occurrence data from a number of EU countries in order to assess the EU limits.
Using available consumption data, the experts identified 400g as a realistic estimate of a large portion of shellfish and used this in assessing current permitted levels of the toxins. Based on these calculations, however, people eating a smaller portion of shellfish contaminated with toxins from the okadaic acid, azaspiracid, saxitoxin or domoic acid groups could also experience ill effects, such as diarrhea and vomiting.
The Panel concluded that the mouse bioassay, an official test used for analysis of most of these toxins in shellfish, could not be sufficiently sensitive to detect specific toxins or to determine whether the levels of some of the toxins are at or below current EU limits. The Panel made recommendations for future work on alternative methods.
United Kingdom-BHA launches food safety package for pubs
17 Aug 2009
Morning Advertiser [edited][FSNet]
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has launched a new computer package to help pubs manage food safety.
The package interprets Government guidance and standards, provides guidance and downloadable check lists as well as an e-learning package and a comprehensive record system for due diligence.
United Kingdom-Retail hygiene guide published
12 Aug 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The sixth of a series of guides for the food industry has been published. The retail guide will assist shopkeepers to comply with food hygiene legislation. Produced by the retail trade and other working groups, it sets out recommendations that will help retailers meet the legal obligations to ensure food safety. The guide is recognized by the Food Standards Agency.
The guide covers activities carried out by these food retailers:
* grocers
* butchers
* fishmongers
* greengrocers
* delicatessens
* supermarkets (including in-store bakeries)
It also applies to businesses where food is only part of what they do, such as:
* department stores
* food shops and petrol stations
* newsagents
The guide will assist with applying a food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP.
The use of this guide is optional and food business operators can choose to comply in other ways. However, the Agency hopes it will prove useful to assist food retailers in meeting legal food hygiene obligations, as well as ensuring that high standards are achieved in food safety.
United Kingdom-5,000 businesses to benefit from food safety grants
10 Aug 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has awarded grants to help more than 5,000 caterers and food retailers improve food safety. This is the fourth year the FSA has given these grants as part of its ongoing commitment to helping food businesses comply with EU hygiene regulations.
Local authorities and a range of other organizations will administer the grants, to support food businesses in implementing Safer food, better business (SFBB) – an innovative and practical approach to helping small businesses put in place systems to manage food safety risks.
This year grants were awarded to projects that address one or more of our three main priorities:
preparation for the 2012 Olympics
moving to a new six-tier Scores on the Doors scheme
sustainability of SFBB implementation
In total, the Agency received 27 applications for grants, of which 18 were successful, involving 70 local authorities and a range of other organizations.
United Kingdom-Progress report on smokies research
04 Aug 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
A considerable potential domestic and export market for legal smoked skin on sheep meat, known as smokies, is identified in a report produced for FSA Wales.
The report, by Hybu Cig Cymru/ Meat Promotion Wales, is part of the Agency’s research into a possible safe and hygienic procedure for producing smokies, which, according to European legislation, are currently illegal in the European Union.
The European Commission has indicated that EU hygiene legislation could, with strong supporting evidence, be adapted to allow ‘smokies’ to be produced legally.
Other results of the hygiene, meat inspection and veterinary medicines research undertaken on behalf of the FSA have so far produced evidence that supports the view that a safe and hygienic procedure is possible. The National Sheep Association and the Association of Independent Meat
Suppliers are developing plans for an abattoir to attempt to carry out trials of the procedure suggested by the Agency.
The Commission is expected to ask the European Food Safety Authority to give an opinion on any submission before other member states are requested to give their support for the legal production of smokies in the EU.
However, the process of legalizing the production of sheep meat with skin on is likely to take a number of years and the Agency will continue to provide updates to stakeholders on this work as it progresses.
European Union:EFSA publishes data requirements for assessing food additives
03 Aug 2009
European Food Safety Authority [edited][FSNet]
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a statement adopted by its ANS Panel on 9 July 2009 specifying the type of data that industry should provide for the safety assessment of food additives.
This follows on from new EU legislation, adopted in December 2008, which sets out a common procedure for the authorization of additives, flavorings and enzymes based on scientific risk assessments by EFSA.
The data requirements indicated by the ANS Panel will be considered by the Commission when finalizing legislative measures concerning applications submitted for the evaluation and authorization of food additives. The Commission is due to complete these measures by the end of 2010 following a public consultation.
In addition to this statement defining general data requirements, the ANS Panel is also due to review the separate guidance document on specific scientific methods to be used – e.g. the type of tests which should be carried out by applicants to demonstrate safety – when preparing applications for the approval of food additives.
The revision of this guidance, which will take account of advances in risk assessment, will begin this autumn and should be completed by mid-2011. It will also be the subject of a public consultation by EFSA.
EFSA’s CEF Panel is due to publish the details of its data requirements for the safety assessment of flavorings and enzymes in the coming weeks.
United Kingdom:Credit crunch cocklers risk lives on Sussex shores
30 Jul 2009
The Argus [edited][FSNet]
Foragers are risking their health trying to beat the credit crunch by hunting for shellfish on Sussex beaches.
Health officials fear people are visiting the shores to collect the creatures to save money - despite them not being safe enough to eat.
The alert came after gangs of workers were spotted on one town's beach harvesting cockles believed to be destined for diners' plates in restaurants.
Police, immigration officials and environmental health officers were called to the beach at Littlehampton where about 30 people were spotted picking cockles.
The men and women, several of whom turned out to be suspected illegal immigrants, were being ferried to and from the beach by minibus in an apparently commercial operation.
An environmental health official explained that while picking shellfish for your own consumption was not illegal, it was against the law to pick them commercially from coastlines which were not designated as clean enough to do so.
The Sussex coast does not have any seabeds considered clean enough for the harvesting of shellfish. The nearest are in Kent and Hampshire.
That means that none of the shellfish sold as traditional seafood fare in Sussex is actually from the county.
United Kingdom:Sheep tag plans "in confusion"
29 Jul 2009
BBC News [edited][FSNet]
Plans to give Wales's nine million sheep electronic tags are in confusion say a group of assembly members.
The committee of AMs was shocked by preparations for the new system - a response to the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak - to be introduced soon.
Farmers on some 15,000 sheep farms in Wales, say the technology is untested and could be unreliable and costly.
The European Commission has argued the compulsory scheme will ensure it is easier to trace animals.
Now AMs on the assembly rural development committee say the new electronic identification system (EID) should be introduced only when the equipment is up to scratch.
United Kingdom-Change culture to avoidE. coli
15 Jul 2009
South Wales Echo [edited][FSNet]
A culture change is needed in all parts of the food supply chain if the UK is to avoid anotherE. colifood poisoning outbreak.
That is the conclusion of the Government department charged with ensuring food safety.
The board of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) yesterday approved a five-year plan that will push food businesses to adopt a food safety culture and comply with hygiene laws, and urge stricter punishments for those that do not.
The FSA will also ensure health inspectors are better trained.
Ireland:Drinking water 'was not tested enough' prior to Crypto outbreak
07 Jul 2009
Galway News [edited][FSNet]
Testing of the public drinking water supply in Galway City before theCryptosporidiumoutbreak two years ago failed to meet the required standards laid down by the Environmental Protection Agency, it was revealed last night.
And it was the vigilance of a public health doctor, rather than tests by the City Council, that first raised the alarm about the danger to public health, a report by Nuacht TG4, based on documents sought under the Freedom of Information Act, said.
The outbreak of bacteria in the water supply damaged the city’s reputation as a tourist destination and forced 72,000 city dwellers and businesses to boil water and use bottled water for five months.
Correspondence between senior engineers employed by Galway City Council subsequent to the discovery ofCryptosporidiumin the water supply reveal that raw water from the Corrib should have been tested once a week and that treated water should have been tested on a daily basis. This was especially important as the Corrib supply was categorized as ‘high risk’.
But this was not being done by the Council and the water was only tested once a month.
New Zealandand United Kingdom agree to closer links
07 Jul 2009
NZFSA [edited][FSNet]
Stronger scientific links between New Zealand and Britain will result from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) signing an agreement with its British counterpart.
NZFSA signed an arrangement with the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (UKFSA) last month. The UKFSA has a similar role to NZFSA and is responsible for protecting consumer interests in relation to food safety and food standards.
Under the arrangement, NZFSA and the Food Standards Agency will cooperate in areas of mutual interest, such as science, nutrition, and composition and labeling. We will share information and expert networks, and host study tours and staff exchanges.
Food Standards Agency’s chief executive was quoted as saying the UKFSA was delighted to have its close working relationship with NZFSA formally recognized.
24 Jun 2009
Emportal [edited] [FSNet]
Twelve companies dealing in production and processing of meat and milk were shut down because they had not had the HACCP system implemented, as informed by the director of the General Inspectorate of Serbian Ministry of Agriculture. He did not name the companies.
The owners of the closed companies say the reason for not implementing HACCP principles is a lack of funds.
Inspection found minor shortcomings in several other companies, which receives a deadline to fully implement HACCP.
European Unionupgrades stunning, slaughter methods for animals
22 Jun 2009
Reuters [edited] [FSNet]
Slaughterhouses across the European Union will have to change the way they stun and kill millions of cattle, pigs and poultry after farm ministers agreed on Monday to tighten the rules and improve animal protection. Every year, nearly 360 million pigs, sheep, goats and cattle and several billion turkeys and chickens are killed in the EU for their meat. A further 25 million animals are killed for fur and hatcheries also kill around 330 million day-old-chicks.
Welfare and safety rules governing how this may be done date from 1993 and, experts say, are in serious need of an overhaul.
From January 2013, stunning and killing criteria for slaughterhouses will be updated, and the general parameters for using electricity to knock out animals, for example, or gas for birds, more concretely defined than now.
United Kingdom-Update on scores on the doors
11 June 2009
FSA [edited] [FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency has today published details of the first meetings of the recently established Working Groups of the UK-wide Scores on the Doors Steering Group, which is overseeing the development of the national six-tier scores on the doors scheme (and the two-tier scheme in Scotland).
One of the Working Groups is considering the scope of the scheme and exemptions to this, as well as 'start-up' issues for local authorities. The other is considering the scoring system that will underpin the scheme and also the safeguards necessary to ensure businesses are treated fairly.
United Kingdom:Manures guidance published
03 Jun 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited] [FSNet]
The Agency has published guidance on managing farm manures to help reduce the number of consumers that get food poisoning from ready-to-eat crops.
Farm manures that are applied to agricultural land to meet crop nutrient requirements and improve soil fertility can contain pathogenic micro-organisms responsible for causing foodborne illness. These micro-organisms includeE. coliO157,Salmonella, ListeriaandCampylobacter.
Storage and use of farm manures must therefore be managed to reduce the risks of contaminating crops. This is particularly important for ready-to-eat fruit and vegetables that will be eaten raw.
The guidance aims to provide UK growers with practical advice on how to reduce the risk of contamination of ready-to-eat crops when using farm manures to improve soil fertility.
In summary, the main aspects of the guidance are:
* the selection of land on which ready-to-eat crops are grown
* management of manures and slurries before application to land
* timing of applications of manure and slurry, in relation to production of ready-to-eat crops
* prevention of contamination of growing crops and reduction of risks during and after harvest
The guidance was produced by a steering group, chaired by the Food Standards Agency.
The guidance provides advice on good practice to help growers in the UK develop safety plans. It takes account of FSA-funded research on the presence of pathogens in UK farm manures and their decline during storage, following application to land and direct defecation by animals on land. It complements established guidance from agriculture departments on Good Agricultural Practices.
United Kingdom:Oxford University kitchens "unacceptably dirty"
26 May 2009
Telegraph.co.uk [edited] [FSNet]
The inspectors said the rooms were "unacceptably dirty" when they carried out spot checks across the university's colleges.
At a college a mouse was found eating food from a wheelie bin and dirty work tops were identified.
Rats were discovered scurrying around the rear yard outside kitchens at other colleges.
Council workers were appalled by the dilapidated state of kitchens at many of the old buildings and said they were badly in need of a re-fit.
At another college part of the ceiling collapsed in the area where plates are washed but staff continued to carry on working around it.
The statistics were obtained from Freedom of Information requests submitted to Oxford City Council and to individual colleges at the university.
Denmark:All eggs to beSalmonella-free
22 May 2009
The Copenhagen Post [edited] [FSNet]
European Union health authorities okayed a Danish application for ‘special status’ earlier this week that will ensure all eggs imported to the country are guaranteed by their distributors as being 100 percentSalmonella-free.
According to Statens Serum Institut, the national disease control centre, 3,700 Danes suffered fromSalmonella-related illnesses last year and that four people have died ofSalmonellapoisoning since October.
United Kingdom:Change to FSA advice on botulism in sheep and goats
14 May 2009
Food Standards Agency
A change to Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice will mean healthy animals from farms with cases of botulism in sheep or goats can enter the food chain.
Animals with botulism will still be withheld. This amendment means the approach to botulism in sheep and goats will now be the same as botulism in cattle.
There have been no reports of human cases of botulism from eating meat or drinking milk and the type of botulism caught by animals has rarely been associated with disease in humans. However, as a precautionary measure, the FSA’s previous advice on botulism outbreaks stated that all animals from any farm with suspected cases of botulism cannot enter the food chain.
The science underpinning this approach was recently reviewed by the independent Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF). The committee recommended that any diseased animals should still not be able to enter the food chain, but that milk and meat from healthy goats and sheep from the same affected farm should be permitted.
The FSA has now changed its advice in line with the ACMSF recommendation but will review this approach if new evidence emerges that the botulinum toxin types that affect humans cause any outbreaks in sheep and goats.
Botulism is caused by botulinum toxin, a poison produced by the bacteriumClostridium botulinum. The organism is common in the soil and can survive in this environment as a resistant spore.
United Kingdom-Call to widen probe into superbug outbreak
09 May 2009
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon was under pressure last night to widen the scope of a superbug inquiry to include an investigation into an outbreak in Orkney which contributed to the deaths of two people. The Aberdeen-based microbiologist and opposition MSPs were quoted as saying the investigation into theClostridium difficileoutbreak at a hospital in Dumbarton, last year, which killed 18 people, should be “broadened” to help restore the public’s confidence in NHS Orkney. Seventeen people were affected, but staff failed to implement national guidance on tackling the superbug and did not have an outbreak and surveillance policy. A third person who had symptoms also died but the superbug was found not to have been directly responsible.
Russia:imposes new bans on meat imports
05 May 2009
Reuters [edited] [FSNet]
Major meat importer Russia said on Tuesday it had banned meat imports from a number of plants in several countries it said violated Russian veterinary rules.
A statement by the Rosselkhoznadzor animal and plant watchdog said the ban will be imposed on an Australian plant, which had shipped kangaroo meat containingSalmonellabacteria and an Argentine plant for exporting beef liver containing tetracycline antibiotic.
Four Brazilian plants were shipping pork and beef containing coliform and mesophilic aerobic bacteria and four U.S plants were shipping pork and poultry meat with these bacteria andSalmonella, the statement said.
Three Canadian plants and four German plants were banned for shipping pork fat and pork with either mesophilic aerobic bacteria orSalmonella.
In a separate statement Rosselkhoznadzor banned an Italian plant and a plant in Slovakia for "violating Russian veterinary rules", without providing an explanation.
The plants were identified by codes only.
United Kingdom:Chinese takeaway was a health risk, court hears
01 May 2009
EDP24
A Chinese takeaway run by just one man was a health risk to its customers because contaminated food was being prepared in filthy conditions, a court has heard.
The owner of a Chinese resaurant had previously been warned about the poor conditions, but environmental health officers detected nearly 40 offences when they investigated the premises three times last autumn.
Lowestoft Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that the most serious offences involved the use of contaminated food. Egg-coated squid and cucumber were found covered in slime and milk was contaminated with green and blue mould. Cooked rice was also stored at 11C above the recommended temperature.
Chopping boards, a wok, a washing-up bowl, knives, a cleaver and plastic food container were all greasy and covered in old food debris. The kitchen floor was also dirty and there was a hole in the ceiling.
The owner also failed to provide the required safety documentation for running a food premises.
United Kingdom -Urine spray man gets nine years
14 Apr 2009
BBC News [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that a chemist who contaminated food and wine in Gloucestershire supermarkets with his own urine and feces has been sent to prison for nine years. Sahnoun Daifallah, 42, of Bibury Road, Gloucester, was found guilty of four counts of contaminating goods at four businesses in May 2008.
Daifallah, who defended himself, had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
United Kingdom -Food Fraud Advisory Unit launched
14 Apr 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][iFSN]
The Agency today announced the launch of a new advisory resource to support local authorities in their work to tackle food fraud.
The Food Fraud Advisory Unit (FFAU) is a group of 16 officials with extensive skills and experience in carrying out food fraud investigations, most of whom are practicing local authority enforcement officers. The FFAU members have agreed, with the support of their employers, to provide advice, on request, to any UK local authority involved in investigating food fraud. This could include any illegal activity relating to food or feed.
The FFAU represents the latest development in a series of resources the Agency is making available to help combat food fraud.
Local authorities, industry and consumers have a vital role to play in tackling food fraud and the Agency encourages anyone who is aware of known, or suspected, food or feed fraud to contact the Agency.
Food fraud is committed when food is deliberately placed on the market, for financial gain, with the intention of deceiving the consumer. Although there are many kinds of food fraud the two main types are:
* the sale of food that is unfit and potentially harmful, such as:
o recycling of animal by-products back into the food chain
o packing and selling of beef and poultry with an unknown origin
o knowingly selling goods that are past their use by date
* the deliberate misdescription of food, while not necessarily unsafe, deceives the consumer as to the nature of the product, such as:
o products substituted with a cheaper alternative, for example, farmed salmon sold as wild, and Basmati rice adulterated with cheaper varities
o making false statements about the source of ingredients, i.e. their geographic, plant or animal origin.
United Kingdom -Butcher admits 'lapse' which led toE. colioutbreak
09 Apr 2009
Yorkshire Post [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that a Yorkshire butcher has been ordered to pay £2,400 in court costs for selling cooked meat linked to a food poisoning outbreak. Fifty three people, including children and the elderly, were poisoned in the outbreak in April and May 2007 which was traced to Spauls butchers in Cottingley, near Bradford. The story goes on by explaining that traces of theE. coliO157 organism were traced from samples taken at the shop which were matched to samples taken from victims.
United Kingdom -Restaurants and caterers to display calories on menus
06 Apr 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][iFSN]
Eighteen major catering companies, including many high street names, are to introduce calorie information on their menus for the first time.
The list of trailblazers, announced today by Minister for Public Health Dawn Primarolo and the Food Standards Agency, will begin displaying calorie information from the end of this month.
The list includes workplace caterers, sit-down and quick-service restaurants, theme parks and leisure attractions, pub restaurants, cafes and sandwich chains.
The move will benefit individuals and families trying to choose a healthier diet.
United Kingdom -New national genome center to underpin food security and animal health
01 Apr 2009
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council - Matt Goode [edited] [iFSN]
It is reported that a new national centre to analyze plant, animal and microbial genomes has been announced today by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) will be based on the Norwich Research Park and will provide genome sequencing to underpin advances to improve food security, to protect UK agriculture from exotic animal disease and exploit weaknesses in microbes to develop new ways to kill superbugs. It will also be a centre of excellence in bioinformatics to ensure that the data generated by its genome analysis, and that of other facilities, can be effectively collected and analyzed. TGAC will become operational over the next two months and will be formally opened in June
Ireland -FSAI launches new website - Comprehensive resource on food safety information
31 Mar 2009
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today launched its new website,www.fsai.ie, which is a comprehensive source of information for food businesses on every aspect of food safety, food hygiene management and food legislation. The FSAI website which received over 180,000 hits in 2008, representing a 58% increase on 2007, has a wide range of new features and improved navigation tools to help people access information quickly. They include an online complaint function and an automated subscription service.
The newly enhanced FSAI site now also has a dedicated ‘food businesses’ section which provides guidelines on starting a new food business; topics of interest and information and access to food-handling training procedures and materials. The ‘food businesses’ section also provides information on HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point), a legal requirement with which all food businesses must comply. Also, of interest for food businesses is the ‘legislation’ section which provides links to all the Irish and international food acts and legislation.
The homepage of the website has both a ‘feedback form’ and ‘make a complaint’ functionality, which enables the FSAI to participate in two-way interaction with users and obtain feedback from stakeholders who are observing and working in the field. All information submitted via the website is investigated and where necessary, acted upon immediately.
According to Ms Edel Conway, Information Manager, FSAI, the objective of the website is to assist food businesses to source a wide range of information quickly.
‘The website is of vital importance to food businesses, as it provides information and advice on a broad range of food safety issues, such as food safety training, HACCP, business start-up and legislation requirements. It is updated and monitored on a daily basis and is designed to provide users with all the information they need in relation to food safety in a quick and efficient manner. Last year, 71% of visits to our website were from Ireland, but we also had visits from the UK (10%), US (4%) and France, Germany, Canada, Netherlands and Belgium (1% each),’ she commented.
www.fsai.ieis structured to provide reliable data on the core areas of importance which include food legislation and consultations; monitoring and enforcement; science and health; food businesses and resources/publications.
United Kingdom -Antiobiotics in livestock 'threatens humans'
24 Mar 2009
Yorkshire Post - Chris Benfield [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that the U.K. Government's chief medical officer has warned that heavy use of antibiotics in livestock farming, as well as in general medicine, is a threat to human health, writing in his annual report that "every unnecessary prescription written by a doctor, every uncompleted course of antibiotics and every inappropriate or unnecessary use in animals or agriculture is potentially a death warrant for a future patient.But a Defra spokeswoman said yesterday: "At this stage we have no evidence which suggests that we should change our policy on national surveillance."
United Kingdom -E. coli: Report highlights serious flaws along food chain
19 Mar 2009
Wales Online - Madeleine Brindley and Abby Alford [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that an inquiry has found that serious failings at every step in the food chain allowed rogue butcher William Tudor to start the 2005E. coliO157 outbrea. Professor Hugh Pennington’s report today highlighted serious flaws in the environmental health and abattoir inspection regime and the way councils buy food for school meals. According to this story, theE. coliexpert said the responsibility for the outbreak, which killed five-year-old schoolboy Mason Jones, “falls squarely on the shoulders of Tudor.” But Prof Pennington said that there were failings further down the food chain – including at the abattoir, run by Tudor’s cousin, which in all probability supplied the contaminated meat – which contributed to the circumstances behind the 2005 outbreak. In making his recommendations, Prof Pennington, who was appointed to chair the inquiry three years ago, said: “Authorities must come down hard on businesses that present serious risks to health and those that persistently fail to comply with food hygiene and food safety requirements.” He also said there must be no more pre-arranged environmental health inspections of high-risk food businesses and called for a review of all councils’ food hygiene enforcement measures in five years’ times, to ensure that lessons from the 2005 outbreak had been learned.
Related stories
25 Mar 2009-Rhodri Morgan pledges action overE. colireport
WalesOnline - Abby Alford
First Minister yesterday pledged to do everything possible to prevent a repeat of theE. colioutbreak of 2005 – for the sake of the families affected. He told Assembly Members they “owed” it to the 150 families involved, including that of five-year-old Mason Jones who died as a result of the food poisoning bug.
19 Mar 2009- The Public inquiry into the September 2005 outbreak ofE. coliin South Wales
The Welsh Assembly Government- Professor Hugh Pennington
Ireland -Autonomy of food safety body urged
05 Mar 2009
The Irish Times - Sean Mac Connell [edited][iFSN]
The Oireachtas Committee that examined the dioxin crisis in the pig industry is to recommend a reversal of the Budget policy to amalgamate the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) with two other bodies.
A draft of the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture seen by The Irish Times has also proposed the FSAI’s remit be extended to incorporate animal feed.
“The committee considers the FSAI to be of vital importance in the maintenance of consumer confidence during crises such as the contamination incident,” said the report.
“It urges the reversal of the Budget proposal to amalgamate the FSAI with two other bodies, [The Irish Medicines Board and the Office of Tobacco Control], which would have the effect of diluting the authority’s current single focus,” it said.
It has also recommended that the animal feed chain be categorized as a higher level of risk than in the past. The crisis began when pig and cattle feed became contaminated with dioxin-laden oil which led to the total recall of all pork products from September 1st to December 6th last.
The report, which will be presented to both Houses of the Oireachtas for debate, said potential oil contamination must be incorporated into feed plants’ HACCP – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points – safety control plans.
The committee said it was a matter for concern that neither regulatory bodies carried out an inspection of the Millstream plant during 2008 but conceded that had this happened, contaminated oil would not have been identified as a potential hazard.
On the recall itself, which cost the taxpayer €180 million in compensation, the committee acknowledged that the sole concern of the FSAI, which ordered it, was food safety and this assisted consumer confidence in this regard.
United Kingdom -Chemist guilty of contamination
03 Mar 2009
BBC News [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that an Algerian chemist has been found guilty at Bristol Crown Court of contaminating food and wine by using his own urine and feces.
Italy -Nestle to pay family over contaminated milk
02 Mar 2009
Agence France Presse [edited][iFSN]
An Italian magistrate sentenced food giant Nestle and Tetra Pak packaging company to pay damages to a family after their daughters drank contaminated baby milk, ANSA news agency reported Sunday.
The judge in the Sicilian town of Giarre, near the east coast city of Catania, ruled that Nestle Italia and Tetra Pak International were responsible for the "psychological prejudice" suffered by the parents after it became known that milk given to their daughters was contaminated by a chemical from the carton.
The amount of the compensation was not given.
United Kingdom -Food scam warning for businesses
01 Mar 2009
BBC News [edited][iFSN]
According to this story, food outlets across Cumbria have been warned by Trading Standards to be on the lookout for a letter demanding they pay a £1,000 fine or face closure. The bogus letter claims to be from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), uses their logo and gives a Nottingham address.
It tells the business they have breached food hygiene regulations for providing food unfit for consumption due to high levels ofListeria. Cumbria County Council has warned businesses to ignore the letter.
United Kingdom -FSA described as 'model regulator' by independent campaigning group
26 Feb 2009
FSA - Food Standards Agency [iFSN]
The Agency's commitment to putting the consumer first has been recognized in an assessment by campaigning organization, Consumer Focus. The consumer group looked at six regulators that were set up in the interest of consumers, specifically in markets where people depend on essential goods and services, such as food.
Rating Regulators, published today, measures the Agency’s performance in a number of key areas as well as by the savings it has been able to pass on to businesses as a result of better regulation. In addition to acknowledging the Agency’s strong consumer-focused culture and recently strengthened program of consumer engagement, the report singled out the Agency as a ‘model regulator’ in respect to transparency and a regulatory style that ‘empowers consumers to make a change.’
United Kingdom -Consumers warned of illegal meat trade
24 Feb 2009
The Independent [edited][iFSN]
According to this story, rise in illegal African meat trade poses a serious threat to both native wildlife and human health across the globe British consumers risk contracting viruses such as Ebola, Foot-and-Mouth and AIDS because of a burgeoning rise in the illegal ‘bushmeat’ trade. Recent figures reveal that up to 10 tons of the illegal African meat is being imported into London markets every day. It is reported that the meat, which comes from the snaring and consumption of wild animal meat, is often sold as beef, which sells at a high price to unwitting tourists in Kenya and consumers overseas. The illicit trade is creating a serious threat to African wildlife and human health both in Kenya and the UK.
United Kingdom -Restructuring of the agency's Food Safety Group
16 Feb 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][iFSN]
At last week's open Board meeting, FSA Chief Scientist and Director of Food Safety, Andrew Wadge, spoke about the recent restructuring of the Food Safety Group. This organizational change brings together work on aspects of food safety that was previously spread across the Agency.
The new structure brings together hygiene, microbiology, contaminants and other work that had previously been divided between two different groups – the Food Safety Group and the former Consumer Protection and Enforcement Group.
The merger of these two groups has provided the opportunity to better organize the Agency’s food safety work and align resources to the new strategic plan priorities to maximize impact in improving public health in relation to food safety.
The new Food Safety Group has two divisions that address the two broad categories of agents that can cause food to become unsafe (namely microbiological and non-microbiological agents). It also has a cross-cutting division that deals with the implementation and delivery of effective controls on these two aspects of food safety. This division will work closely with the Veterinary and Technical Division in the Meat Hygiene Service, which performs a similar role in respect of MHS delivery, ensuring greater consistency of approach.
Alongside these is a division providing analytical support and advice across the whole of the Agency, as well as the Chief Scientist Team, which supports the Chief Scientist role for the whole of the Agency.
Last, but not least, is the Incident Response Team, which reports directly to the Director of Food Safety and recognizes the strategic importance of responding effectively to food safety incidents.
The Agency will be writing to external stakeholders and delivery partners to explain the changes.
Ireland-Concern over proposed merger of FSAI
09 Feb 2009
Irish Times - Paul Cullen
According to this story, concern has been expressed that the proposed merger of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) with two other bodies will dilute consumer protection. The amalgamation of the FSAI, the Office of Tobacco Control and the Irish Medicines Board into a Public Health and Medicines Safety Authority was one of 30 separate rationalisations of State agencies proposed in last year’s budget.
United Kingdom -Dioxin found in milk
05 Feb 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][Promed]
Milk from two dairy farms in Northern Ireland has been stopped from entering the food chain following test results that show dioxin levels above legal limits, the Food Standards Agency said today. Although breaching regulations, these levels of dioxin are much lower than those found in pork and beef affected by feed contamination last year. The risk to health from either drinking the affected milk or eating products made from the milk is extremely low. The milk affected was distributed locally in Northern Ireland and also to the Republic of Ireland. The milk from these farms is usually mixed with milk from other farms before sale, so any finished product on the market is likely to be diluted and well within the legal limits for dioxins. The FSA is not calling for a withdrawal of any products from the shops but will continue to test and restrict the milk until it complies with the law. The Food Standards continues to monitor the situation and is in close contact with Government bodies in Northern Ireland. Contamination of the milk is likely to be from dioxin residues in the fat of animals that had previously eaten contaminated feed. Dioxins are chemicals that get into food from the environment. Health effects from eating the affected products are only likely if people are exposed to relatively high levels of this contaminant for long periods.
Ireland -IFA establishes its own food safety taskforce
29 Jan 2009
Irish Times - Sean MacConnell [edited][iFSN]
It is reported in this story, that Professor Patrick Wall told that the consequences of non-compliance with food safety regulations would be disastrous for the reputation of food producers in Ireland. “It is essential that we continue to identify emerging trends and evaluate interventions,” he said at the announcement of the organisation’s own food safety taskforce. The taskforce will assess all risks and the necessary actions, including inspections, required to prevent the recurrence of the feed contamination, which led to the pork recall last month. Professor Wall said the taskforce was an excellent initiative and he was happy to be associated with it.
Macedoniaapplies new food safety system
27 Jan 2009
Southeast European Times - Marina Stojanovska [edited][iFSN]
Macedonia begins using the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) food protection system on January 1st. With this action, all food merchants, restaurants and food producers must comply with safety regulations governing the sale, service and preparation of food.
Besides protecting Macedonian consumers from illnesses, HACCP could help the country's food exports gain more appeal in regional and global markets.
Stores, restaurants and food producers will receive training in the new system this winter and spring. Starting on May 1st, those not complying with the HACCP rules face stiff fines.
27 Jan 2009
Southeast European Times - Marina Stojanovska [edited][iFSN]
According to this story, Macedonia begins using the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) food protection system on January 1st. With this action, all food merchants, restaurants and food producers must comply with safety regulations governing the sale, service and preparation of food. Besides protecting Macedonian consumers from illnesses, HACCP could help the country's food exports gain more appeal in regional and global markets. It is reported that restaurants and food producers will receive training in the new system this winter and spring. Starting on May 1st, those not complying with the HACCP rules face stiff fines.
Ireland -Food safety chief delayed report on adulterated water
20 Jan 2009
The Irish Times - Paul Cullen and Eithne Donnellan [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that senior executives of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) sought to soften a report showing high levels of contamination of bottled waters before its publication, according to documentation released under freedom of information legislation. According to this story, the authority’s chief executive delayed publication of the report, leading staff to conclude it had been placed “on the back burner”, the documents obtained by The Irish Times show. The story goes on by explaining that the failure of the authority to name the firms producing the adulterated water was heavily criticised.
Related stories
21 Jan 2009–Food safety boss to leave his post
Independent Online - Shane Phelan [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that the head of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will be leaving his post later this year. The FSAI chief executive has recently been embroiled in controversy over his handling of a report on contaminated bottled water.
United Kingdom -Company selling food past its best-before date thrives in economic crisis
10 Jan 2009
Telegraph.co.uk-Murray Wardrop [edited] [iFSN]
According to this story, Approved Food, an online retailer, has witnessed such a large increase in trade that it has to shut down its website for two days a month to clear order backlogs. It is reported that the Approved Food sells 750g jars of Nutella chocolate and hazelnut spread with a best-before date of January 4 for £1. The story goes on by explaining that while products past their best-before date might be past their prime, they are still safe to eat, the Food Standards Agency said. A spokesman said: "Best before is an indication of quality rather than safety. Eating food past the best-before date does not necessarily put someone at risk from food poisoning."
Ireland -Inquiry into handling of pork contamination
08 Jan 2009
RTE News [edited][iFSN]
The Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture is investigating the handling of dioxin contamination in Irish pork. Bord Bia said its not clear yet what impact the withdrawal of pig meat has had on sales and exports of Irish pork products. However, the Government has set up a contingency fund of nearly €200m to compensate processors and farmers. Last month, pork products had to be withdrawn from butchers and supermarket shelves after the discovery of dioxin contamination, which was traced to animal feed from a recycling plant in Co Carlow. The investigating committee into the contamination is made up TDs and Senators.
Ireland -FSAI welcomes decrease in food safety enforcement orders in 2008
06 Jan 2009
Food Safety Authority of Ireland [edited][iFSN]
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today stated that in 2008, a total of 45 Enforcement Orders were served for breaches in food safety legislation. This compares to 59 in 2007. In November and December 2008 alone, six Closure Orders and three Prohibition Orders were served on food businesses. The FSAI welcomed the overall reduction, but stated that food businesses must continue to adhere to best food safety practices as they are legally obliged to provide safe food.
Between 1 January and 31 December 2008, enforcement officers served 34 Closure Orders, five Improvement Orders and six Prohibition Orders on food businesses throughout the country (compared to 37 Closure Orders, six Improvement Orders and 16 Prohibition Orders in 2007). Of the 34 Closure Orders served in 2008, only five remain in place. The FSAI urges all food businesses to take the opportunity to reappraise their food safety and hygiene practices in 2009, as the FSAI and its official agencies will continue to implement a rigorous inspection programme to ensure that full compliance with food safety legislation is achieved.
United Kingdom -New slaughterhouse requirement for calves
06 Jan 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][iFSN]
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced the implementation of new regulations that require slaughterhouses to ask for information about calves received for slaughter.
The new legal requirement for Food Chain Information (FCI) applies to calves, which are defined as animals less than eight months of age. FCI includes information about the farm from which the calves came, their history of rearing and their health, including details of medicines they may have received.
The responsibility for obtaining the FCI will be with slaughterhouse operators. The FSA has worked closely with them and other stakeholders to develop guidance, which can be found at the link below, and to make them aware of the new requirements for calves, which were implemented on 1 January 2009. This follows a similar process that came into force at the beginning of 2008 where operators were required to provide FCI for pigs.
Kenneth Clarke, FSA Veterinary Adviser, said: 'Food chain information is an important element of the farm-to-fork approach to food safety and can contribute to the application of risk-based inspection systems at slaughterhouses. We wish to encourage slaughterhouse operators to use the guidance we have published to develop FCI systems that best suit their businesses. We have a bigger task ahead to implement FCI for all cattle and sheep in 2010, and will continue to work with industry to produce useful and practical solutions.'
Sources and Terms of Use
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15 Oct 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Agency has published online advice on the safe use of eggs in catering. The guidance covers handling, storing and cooking eggs, using pasteurised egg, and catering for vulnerable groups. It also gives tips on ‘pooling’ eggs, where caterers break lots of eggs into a bowl and use the mix throughout the day.
Eggs may containSalmonellabacteria inside or on their shells, so it is very important for caterers to prevent bacteria spreading from eggs onto other foods, hands, work surfaces or utensils, and also to cook them properly so that any bacteria are killed.
Pooling eggs is a common practice in catering and it’s important for caterers to be careful how they handle pooled eggs. They should avoid keeping large amounts of pooled liquid egg at room temperature – instead they should cover it, store it in the fridge and take out a small amount as and when needed.
Ideally, pooled liquid egg should be used on the same day, so caterers should only break the eggs they will need for the day and avoid storing the liquid egg for more than 24 hours. It’s also important never to add new eggs to a batch of liquid egg – they should use one batch up and then start another.
IRELAND:Continued team work will combat new challenges in food safety
14.oct.09
FSAI [edited][FSNet]
New emerging issues in food safety including new pathogens, technologies and food production techniques will challenge the food safety control systems. This will require increased vigilance, monitoring and sharing of scientific information to continue to ensure that consumer health is protected in relation to food in the future - delegates heard today at a conference hosted to mark the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) 10th anniversary. The two-day conference brought together international and national food safety experts to discuss the improvements in Ireland’s food safety protectorate regime over the past decade and to analyse the potential new threats in the future.
United Kingdom-FSA publishes survey ofCampylobacterandSalmonellain chicken
06 Oct 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency has published the findings of a new survey testing forCampylobacterandSalmonellain chicken on sale in the UK.
The survey showed thatCampylobacterwas present in 65% of the samples of chicken tested. Salmonella was in 6% of samples, 0.5% of these samples containedS. enteritidisandS. typhimurium.
As part of the Agency’s work to reduce levels of campylobacter in UK-produced chicken an international conference on campylobacter is being organised for 2010, where a range of options for tackling the bug will be discussed.
Campylobacteris the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning. It is responsible for around 55,000 cases of illness in the UK every year, and is therefore one of the key organisms the Agency is tackling in order to reduce levels of foodborne illness.Campylobactercan be found on meat, unpasteurised milk, and untreated water; however there is strong evidence that chicken is the most common cause of illness.
The Food Standards Agency emphasises that whileCampylobacteris still present in a significant proportion of fresh chicken sold in the UK, cooking chicken properly all the way through will kill the bug, so consumers can avoid the risk of illness.
The UK-wide survey of fresh chicken at retail was carried out between May 2007 and September 2008. During the course of the survey, 3,274 samples were tested for the presence of campylobacter and salmonella.
Malta-Inspectors clamp down on food safety violations
06 Oct 2009
Times of Malta
Seven food business operators were found contravening food safety legislation last month and will be charged accordingly, the Department for Environmental Health said today.
The department said its inspectors also found structural defects, lack of hygiene, labelling irregularities and lack of food hygiene training in 19 outlets.
The inspectors destroyed expired foodstuffs (over 200kg) seized from a wholesaler in Marsa and over 100kgs of milk and milk products which were not stored in adequate temperatures by two outlets in Qormi and Floriana. Approximately 29kgs of other items were destroyed for different reasons from various retailers.
EU:Spray notification is a key part of pesticide consulation
05 Oct 2009
Farmers Weekly Interactive [edited][FSNet]
Advanced spray notification will be one of the key discussion points as implementing controversial new European pesticides legislation begins.
Most of the measures in the directive concerning the use of pesticides, such as sprayer testing and training of operators were already being carried out on most arable farms, an official was quoted as saying.
There is, however, provision in the new directive for possibly including advance warning of spraying to residents and bystanders, and it is something in the light of the Downs case, ministers feel should be consulted on.
United Kingdom-Bid to rebuild shattered public confidence in food safety
05 Oct 2009
Wales Online [edited][FSNet]
Public bodies are coming together to rebuild shattered public confidence in food safety.
Consumer Focus Wales and the Food Standards Agency Wales are bringing together a group of experts to look at how the Welsh public can be reassured following the 2005 South Wales outbreak and one in North Wales this summer that left a mother and a toddler fighting for their lives in hospital. Five other people also became ill.
A bar near Wrexham has been identified as the likely source of the potentially-deadly bacteria.
EU food safety body delivers opinion on health claims
01 Oct 2009
Reuters [edited][FSNet]
The European Union's food safety watchdog delivered a long-awaited opinion on Thursday to the EU executive arm that will help determine whether food producers' health claims about their products are backed up by science.
The European Food Safety Authority said it had studied more than 500 claims made by companies about the nutritional value or healthiness of products, such as labeling them "low fat," "high fiber" or able to reinforce the body's natural defenses.
It said it had approved one third of the claims, but gave few details. It did not mention any of the brands concerned and did not say which had been rejected.
United Kingdom-Risk-based meat hygiene controls five years away
01 Oct 2009
MeatInfo [edited][FSNet]
More risk-based proportionate controls for meat are at least five years away, admit Food Standards Agency (FSA) scientists.
The FSA will launch research projects later this year, working towards developing a risk-based regulatory regime for food which aims to protect public health and generate confidence in food.
At its recent board meeting, the FSA endorsed the programme and confirmed it as a priority in its strategic plan for 2010–2015.
The current official controls applied to meat production are covered by EU law and pre-date the more modern approach to the control of food production hazards; they were designed to tackle the limited number of diseases which can be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonoses) and those which were historically major public health risks from meat, such as parasites.
September
United Kingdom-Law means it could take Sark over six weeks to close a source ofE. coli29 Sep 2009
Guernsey Press [edited][FSNet]
Sark would be unable to react quickly enough to an outbreak ofE. colibecause of inadequacies in its catering law.
Accusations of a slow response to the recent outbreak made against Surrey authorities have ‘refocused’ Sark’s Public Health Committee on making sure it could deal with a similar problem.
Danish action plan onSalmonellain pork
25 Sep 2009
Farmers Guardian [edited][FSNet]
Denmark is to launch a new action plan againstSalmonellain pork, according to a decision by the Parliament.
The Minister of Foods was quoted as saying the aim is to further strengthen Denmark’s position as a leader on food security.
The plan, developed by the Danish Food Authority, includes, among other things, that suppliers have to inform aboutSalmonellastatus in their farms when delivering pigs for slaughter.
United Kingdom-Fraudsters target food business
24 Sep 2009
Food Standards Agency
The Food Standards Agency is warning food business operators to be aware of fraudsters who are visiting food business premises claiming that they are from the Agency. The fraudsters claim that they are there to carry out inspections and then extract substantial amounts of money as a fixed penalty fee for the premises being allegedly unhygienic.
The Agency does not carry out food inspections and there are no fixed penalties for food safety breaches. All inspections are carried out by local authority authorised inspectors who carry relevant identification when visiting a food business.
United Kingdom-Broad band boost for Scores on the Doors
10 Sep 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency has announced further progress on the development of the national 'Scores on the Doors' scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which will provide consumers with information about hygiene standards in food businesses.
Following discussions with the UK-wide steering group that was set up to advise on the scheme, the Agency has decided to opt for a broad top band for the new six-tier rating scheme.
The UK-wide Scores on the Doors scheme steering group is made up of representatives from the food industry, local authorities and consumer groups as well as Agency officials.
August
ControllingCampylobacterspp. in the food chain26 Aug 2009
Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Vol 11, Issue 4 [edited][FSNet]
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the content and conclusions of a recent scientific colloquium onCampylobacterspp. This meeting was prompted by a growing concern regarding the burden of gastrointestinal illness caused byCampylobacterspp. Over the past yearsCampylobacterspp. have overtakenSalmonellaspp. as the most frequently reported zoonotic agent in the EU. An incidence rate of approximately 50 confirmed cases per 100,000 population over 17 European countries was reported in 2007.
Worldwide epidemiological studies indicate that campylobacteriosis is largely foodborne and that poultry-meat is a major source. However, the proportion of illness due to poultry-meat and the contribution of other potential sources remain unclear. The European Commission requested EFSA to update its 2005 Opinion onCampylobacterspp. with particular reference to the contribution of broiler meat to human campylobacteriosis, the possible control options and potential performance objectives or targets. This colloquium was organised to assist EFSA in updating its Opinion.
The meeting involved over 90 scientists and stakeholders from 30 countries including New Zealand, which had an incidence of 383.5 per 100,000 in 2006 when it implemented a national ‘CampylobacterRisk Management Strategy’. Parallel discussion groups addressed the following issues:
- the source attribution and health impact ofCampylobacterspp.
- its quantitative risk assessment in broiler meat
- its resistance to fluoroquinolones (an antimicrobial substance); and
- effective control measures in broiler meat production from farm to fork.
It was concluded that although there are many reservoirs and transmission routes forCampylobacterspp., poultry-meat remains likely to be the most important cause of human exposure. Control measures throughout the poultry food chain were identified and discussed in terms of their possible effectiveness and the likely barriers to their implementation. It was agreed that controls should focus on reducing the numbers ofCampylobacterspp. on poultry carcasses as well as a reduction in overall prevalence.
Evidence was presented that the use of fluoroquinolones in poultry flocks has led to the emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance inCampylobacterspp. in poultry and contributes to the occurrence of antibiotic-resistantCampylobacterspp. infection in humans.
Ireland-30 years of keeping consumers safe
26 Aug 2009
Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Vol 11, Issue 4 [edited][FSNet]
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) in Europe.
RASFF, which has been operating since 1979, provides a system for the swift exchange of information between member countries and the coordination of response actions to food safety threats. RASFF enables information to be shared rapidly between food and feed control authorities in Member States and the European Commission where a health risk has been identified. Countries can then act rapidly and in a coordinated manner in order to avert food safety risks before they can harm consumers. It is therefore an important tool for protecting consumer health.
European Union-EFSA issues advice on marine biotoxins
26 Aug 2009
EFSA [edited][FSNet]
Scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have concluded that eating shellfish contaminated with marine biotoxins from the yessotoxin or pectenotoxin groups at levels permitted in the European Union was not considered to pose any health risk. However, experts on the Panel on contaminants in the food chain (CONTAM) said in an opinion that people consuming shellfish contaminated with toxins from the okadaic acid, azaspiracid, saxitoxin or domoic acid groups could be at risk of ill health.
The European Commission asked EFSA to assess the current EU limits which exist for six different types of toxins in shellfish, known as marine biotoxins and the testing methods established in EU legislation. Marine biotoxins are poisonous substances produced by different algae that can accumulate in shellfish.
This EFSA opinion brings together the conclusions of six earlier risk assessments on marine biotoxins. For each type of toxin, the Panel established the amount which can be consumed within a 24-hour period without any appreciable health risk (the acute reference dose). These were then compared with shellfish consumption and occurrence data from a number of EU countries in order to assess the EU limits.
Using available consumption data, the experts identified 400g as a realistic estimate of a large portion of shellfish and used this in assessing current permitted levels of the toxins. Based on these calculations, however, people eating a smaller portion of shellfish contaminated with toxins from the okadaic acid, azaspiracid, saxitoxin or domoic acid groups could also experience ill effects, such as diarrhea and vomiting.
The Panel concluded that the mouse bioassay, an official test used for analysis of most of these toxins in shellfish, could not be sufficiently sensitive to detect specific toxins or to determine whether the levels of some of the toxins are at or below current EU limits. The Panel made recommendations for future work on alternative methods.
United Kingdom-BHA launches food safety package for pubs
17 Aug 2009
Morning Advertiser [edited][FSNet]
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has launched a new computer package to help pubs manage food safety.
The package interprets Government guidance and standards, provides guidance and downloadable check lists as well as an e-learning package and a comprehensive record system for due diligence.
United Kingdom-Retail hygiene guide published
12 Aug 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The sixth of a series of guides for the food industry has been published. The retail guide will assist shopkeepers to comply with food hygiene legislation. Produced by the retail trade and other working groups, it sets out recommendations that will help retailers meet the legal obligations to ensure food safety. The guide is recognized by the Food Standards Agency.
The guide covers activities carried out by these food retailers:
* grocers
* butchers
* fishmongers
* greengrocers
* delicatessens
* supermarkets (including in-store bakeries)
It also applies to businesses where food is only part of what they do, such as:
* department stores
* food shops and petrol stations
* newsagents
The guide will assist with applying a food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP.
The use of this guide is optional and food business operators can choose to comply in other ways. However, the Agency hopes it will prove useful to assist food retailers in meeting legal food hygiene obligations, as well as ensuring that high standards are achieved in food safety.
United Kingdom-5,000 businesses to benefit from food safety grants
10 Aug 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has awarded grants to help more than 5,000 caterers and food retailers improve food safety. This is the fourth year the FSA has given these grants as part of its ongoing commitment to helping food businesses comply with EU hygiene regulations.
Local authorities and a range of other organizations will administer the grants, to support food businesses in implementing Safer food, better business (SFBB) – an innovative and practical approach to helping small businesses put in place systems to manage food safety risks.
This year grants were awarded to projects that address one or more of our three main priorities:
preparation for the 2012 Olympics
moving to a new six-tier Scores on the Doors scheme
sustainability of SFBB implementation
In total, the Agency received 27 applications for grants, of which 18 were successful, involving 70 local authorities and a range of other organizations.
United Kingdom-Progress report on smokies research
04 Aug 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][FSNet]
A considerable potential domestic and export market for legal smoked skin on sheep meat, known as smokies, is identified in a report produced for FSA Wales.
The report, by Hybu Cig Cymru/ Meat Promotion Wales, is part of the Agency’s research into a possible safe and hygienic procedure for producing smokies, which, according to European legislation, are currently illegal in the European Union.
The European Commission has indicated that EU hygiene legislation could, with strong supporting evidence, be adapted to allow ‘smokies’ to be produced legally.
Other results of the hygiene, meat inspection and veterinary medicines research undertaken on behalf of the FSA have so far produced evidence that supports the view that a safe and hygienic procedure is possible. The National Sheep Association and the Association of Independent Meat
Suppliers are developing plans for an abattoir to attempt to carry out trials of the procedure suggested by the Agency.
The Commission is expected to ask the European Food Safety Authority to give an opinion on any submission before other member states are requested to give their support for the legal production of smokies in the EU.
However, the process of legalizing the production of sheep meat with skin on is likely to take a number of years and the Agency will continue to provide updates to stakeholders on this work as it progresses.
European Union:EFSA publishes data requirements for assessing food additives
03 Aug 2009
European Food Safety Authority [edited][FSNet]
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a statement adopted by its ANS Panel on 9 July 2009 specifying the type of data that industry should provide for the safety assessment of food additives.
This follows on from new EU legislation, adopted in December 2008, which sets out a common procedure for the authorization of additives, flavorings and enzymes based on scientific risk assessments by EFSA.
The data requirements indicated by the ANS Panel will be considered by the Commission when finalizing legislative measures concerning applications submitted for the evaluation and authorization of food additives. The Commission is due to complete these measures by the end of 2010 following a public consultation.
In addition to this statement defining general data requirements, the ANS Panel is also due to review the separate guidance document on specific scientific methods to be used – e.g. the type of tests which should be carried out by applicants to demonstrate safety – when preparing applications for the approval of food additives.
The revision of this guidance, which will take account of advances in risk assessment, will begin this autumn and should be completed by mid-2011. It will also be the subject of a public consultation by EFSA.
EFSA’s CEF Panel is due to publish the details of its data requirements for the safety assessment of flavorings and enzymes in the coming weeks.
July
United Kingdom:Credit crunch cocklers risk lives on Sussex shores
30 Jul 2009
The Argus [edited][FSNet]
Foragers are risking their health trying to beat the credit crunch by hunting for shellfish on Sussex beaches.
Health officials fear people are visiting the shores to collect the creatures to save money - despite them not being safe enough to eat.
The alert came after gangs of workers were spotted on one town's beach harvesting cockles believed to be destined for diners' plates in restaurants.
Police, immigration officials and environmental health officers were called to the beach at Littlehampton where about 30 people were spotted picking cockles.
The men and women, several of whom turned out to be suspected illegal immigrants, were being ferried to and from the beach by minibus in an apparently commercial operation.
An environmental health official explained that while picking shellfish for your own consumption was not illegal, it was against the law to pick them commercially from coastlines which were not designated as clean enough to do so.
The Sussex coast does not have any seabeds considered clean enough for the harvesting of shellfish. The nearest are in Kent and Hampshire.
That means that none of the shellfish sold as traditional seafood fare in Sussex is actually from the county.
United Kingdom:Sheep tag plans "in confusion"
29 Jul 2009
BBC News [edited][FSNet]
Plans to give Wales's nine million sheep electronic tags are in confusion say a group of assembly members.
The committee of AMs was shocked by preparations for the new system - a response to the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak - to be introduced soon.
Farmers on some 15,000 sheep farms in Wales, say the technology is untested and could be unreliable and costly.
The European Commission has argued the compulsory scheme will ensure it is easier to trace animals.
Now AMs on the assembly rural development committee say the new electronic identification system (EID) should be introduced only when the equipment is up to scratch.
United Kingdom-Change culture to avoidE. coli
15 Jul 2009
South Wales Echo [edited][FSNet]
A culture change is needed in all parts of the food supply chain if the UK is to avoid anotherE. colifood poisoning outbreak.
That is the conclusion of the Government department charged with ensuring food safety.
The board of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) yesterday approved a five-year plan that will push food businesses to adopt a food safety culture and comply with hygiene laws, and urge stricter punishments for those that do not.
The FSA will also ensure health inspectors are better trained.
Ireland:Drinking water 'was not tested enough' prior to Crypto outbreak
07 Jul 2009
Galway News [edited][FSNet]
Testing of the public drinking water supply in Galway City before theCryptosporidiumoutbreak two years ago failed to meet the required standards laid down by the Environmental Protection Agency, it was revealed last night.
And it was the vigilance of a public health doctor, rather than tests by the City Council, that first raised the alarm about the danger to public health, a report by Nuacht TG4, based on documents sought under the Freedom of Information Act, said.
The outbreak of bacteria in the water supply damaged the city’s reputation as a tourist destination and forced 72,000 city dwellers and businesses to boil water and use bottled water for five months.
Correspondence between senior engineers employed by Galway City Council subsequent to the discovery ofCryptosporidiumin the water supply reveal that raw water from the Corrib should have been tested once a week and that treated water should have been tested on a daily basis. This was especially important as the Corrib supply was categorized as ‘high risk’.
But this was not being done by the Council and the water was only tested once a month.
New Zealandand United Kingdom agree to closer links
07 Jul 2009
NZFSA [edited][FSNet]
Stronger scientific links between New Zealand and Britain will result from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) signing an agreement with its British counterpart.
NZFSA signed an arrangement with the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (UKFSA) last month. The UKFSA has a similar role to NZFSA and is responsible for protecting consumer interests in relation to food safety and food standards.
Under the arrangement, NZFSA and the Food Standards Agency will cooperate in areas of mutual interest, such as science, nutrition, and composition and labeling. We will share information and expert networks, and host study tours and staff exchanges.
Food Standards Agency’s chief executive was quoted as saying the UKFSA was delighted to have its close working relationship with NZFSA formally recognized.
June
Serbia-12 companies shutdown due to lack of HACCP24 Jun 2009
Emportal [edited] [FSNet]
Twelve companies dealing in production and processing of meat and milk were shut down because they had not had the HACCP system implemented, as informed by the director of the General Inspectorate of Serbian Ministry of Agriculture. He did not name the companies.
The owners of the closed companies say the reason for not implementing HACCP principles is a lack of funds.
Inspection found minor shortcomings in several other companies, which receives a deadline to fully implement HACCP.
European Unionupgrades stunning, slaughter methods for animals
22 Jun 2009
Reuters [edited] [FSNet]
Slaughterhouses across the European Union will have to change the way they stun and kill millions of cattle, pigs and poultry after farm ministers agreed on Monday to tighten the rules and improve animal protection. Every year, nearly 360 million pigs, sheep, goats and cattle and several billion turkeys and chickens are killed in the EU for their meat. A further 25 million animals are killed for fur and hatcheries also kill around 330 million day-old-chicks.
Welfare and safety rules governing how this may be done date from 1993 and, experts say, are in serious need of an overhaul.
From January 2013, stunning and killing criteria for slaughterhouses will be updated, and the general parameters for using electricity to knock out animals, for example, or gas for birds, more concretely defined than now.
United Kingdom-Update on scores on the doors
11 June 2009
FSA [edited] [FSNet]
The Food Standards Agency has today published details of the first meetings of the recently established Working Groups of the UK-wide Scores on the Doors Steering Group, which is overseeing the development of the national six-tier scores on the doors scheme (and the two-tier scheme in Scotland).
One of the Working Groups is considering the scope of the scheme and exemptions to this, as well as 'start-up' issues for local authorities. The other is considering the scoring system that will underpin the scheme and also the safeguards necessary to ensure businesses are treated fairly.
United Kingdom:Manures guidance published
03 Jun 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited] [FSNet]
The Agency has published guidance on managing farm manures to help reduce the number of consumers that get food poisoning from ready-to-eat crops.
Farm manures that are applied to agricultural land to meet crop nutrient requirements and improve soil fertility can contain pathogenic micro-organisms responsible for causing foodborne illness. These micro-organisms includeE. coliO157,Salmonella, ListeriaandCampylobacter.
Storage and use of farm manures must therefore be managed to reduce the risks of contaminating crops. This is particularly important for ready-to-eat fruit and vegetables that will be eaten raw.
The guidance aims to provide UK growers with practical advice on how to reduce the risk of contamination of ready-to-eat crops when using farm manures to improve soil fertility.
In summary, the main aspects of the guidance are:
* the selection of land on which ready-to-eat crops are grown
* management of manures and slurries before application to land
* timing of applications of manure and slurry, in relation to production of ready-to-eat crops
* prevention of contamination of growing crops and reduction of risks during and after harvest
The guidance was produced by a steering group, chaired by the Food Standards Agency.
The guidance provides advice on good practice to help growers in the UK develop safety plans. It takes account of FSA-funded research on the presence of pathogens in UK farm manures and their decline during storage, following application to land and direct defecation by animals on land. It complements established guidance from agriculture departments on Good Agricultural Practices.
May
United Kingdom:Oxford University kitchens "unacceptably dirty"
26 May 2009
Telegraph.co.uk [edited] [FSNet]
The inspectors said the rooms were "unacceptably dirty" when they carried out spot checks across the university's colleges.
At a college a mouse was found eating food from a wheelie bin and dirty work tops were identified.
Rats were discovered scurrying around the rear yard outside kitchens at other colleges.
Council workers were appalled by the dilapidated state of kitchens at many of the old buildings and said they were badly in need of a re-fit.
At another college part of the ceiling collapsed in the area where plates are washed but staff continued to carry on working around it.
The statistics were obtained from Freedom of Information requests submitted to Oxford City Council and to individual colleges at the university.
Denmark:All eggs to beSalmonella-free
22 May 2009
The Copenhagen Post [edited] [FSNet]
European Union health authorities okayed a Danish application for ‘special status’ earlier this week that will ensure all eggs imported to the country are guaranteed by their distributors as being 100 percentSalmonella-free.
According to Statens Serum Institut, the national disease control centre, 3,700 Danes suffered fromSalmonella-related illnesses last year and that four people have died ofSalmonellapoisoning since October.
United Kingdom:Change to FSA advice on botulism in sheep and goats
14 May 2009
Food Standards Agency
A change to Food Standards Agency (FSA) advice will mean healthy animals from farms with cases of botulism in sheep or goats can enter the food chain.
Animals with botulism will still be withheld. This amendment means the approach to botulism in sheep and goats will now be the same as botulism in cattle.
There have been no reports of human cases of botulism from eating meat or drinking milk and the type of botulism caught by animals has rarely been associated with disease in humans. However, as a precautionary measure, the FSA’s previous advice on botulism outbreaks stated that all animals from any farm with suspected cases of botulism cannot enter the food chain.
The science underpinning this approach was recently reviewed by the independent Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF). The committee recommended that any diseased animals should still not be able to enter the food chain, but that milk and meat from healthy goats and sheep from the same affected farm should be permitted.
The FSA has now changed its advice in line with the ACMSF recommendation but will review this approach if new evidence emerges that the botulinum toxin types that affect humans cause any outbreaks in sheep and goats.
Botulism is caused by botulinum toxin, a poison produced by the bacteriumClostridium botulinum. The organism is common in the soil and can survive in this environment as a resistant spore.
United Kingdom-Call to widen probe into superbug outbreak
09 May 2009
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon was under pressure last night to widen the scope of a superbug inquiry to include an investigation into an outbreak in Orkney which contributed to the deaths of two people. The Aberdeen-based microbiologist and opposition MSPs were quoted as saying the investigation into theClostridium difficileoutbreak at a hospital in Dumbarton, last year, which killed 18 people, should be “broadened” to help restore the public’s confidence in NHS Orkney. Seventeen people were affected, but staff failed to implement national guidance on tackling the superbug and did not have an outbreak and surveillance policy. A third person who had symptoms also died but the superbug was found not to have been directly responsible.
Russia:imposes new bans on meat imports
05 May 2009
Reuters [edited] [FSNet]
Major meat importer Russia said on Tuesday it had banned meat imports from a number of plants in several countries it said violated Russian veterinary rules.
A statement by the Rosselkhoznadzor animal and plant watchdog said the ban will be imposed on an Australian plant, which had shipped kangaroo meat containingSalmonellabacteria and an Argentine plant for exporting beef liver containing tetracycline antibiotic.
Four Brazilian plants were shipping pork and beef containing coliform and mesophilic aerobic bacteria and four U.S plants were shipping pork and poultry meat with these bacteria andSalmonella, the statement said.
Three Canadian plants and four German plants were banned for shipping pork fat and pork with either mesophilic aerobic bacteria orSalmonella.
In a separate statement Rosselkhoznadzor banned an Italian plant and a plant in Slovakia for "violating Russian veterinary rules", without providing an explanation.
The plants were identified by codes only.
United Kingdom:Chinese takeaway was a health risk, court hears
01 May 2009
EDP24
A Chinese takeaway run by just one man was a health risk to its customers because contaminated food was being prepared in filthy conditions, a court has heard.
The owner of a Chinese resaurant had previously been warned about the poor conditions, but environmental health officers detected nearly 40 offences when they investigated the premises three times last autumn.
Lowestoft Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that the most serious offences involved the use of contaminated food. Egg-coated squid and cucumber were found covered in slime and milk was contaminated with green and blue mould. Cooked rice was also stored at 11C above the recommended temperature.
Chopping boards, a wok, a washing-up bowl, knives, a cleaver and plastic food container were all greasy and covered in old food debris. The kitchen floor was also dirty and there was a hole in the ceiling.
The owner also failed to provide the required safety documentation for running a food premises.
April
United Kingdom -Urine spray man gets nine years
14 Apr 2009
BBC News [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that a chemist who contaminated food and wine in Gloucestershire supermarkets with his own urine and feces has been sent to prison for nine years. Sahnoun Daifallah, 42, of Bibury Road, Gloucester, was found guilty of four counts of contaminating goods at four businesses in May 2008.
Daifallah, who defended himself, had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
United Kingdom -Food Fraud Advisory Unit launched
14 Apr 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][iFSN]
The Agency today announced the launch of a new advisory resource to support local authorities in their work to tackle food fraud.
The Food Fraud Advisory Unit (FFAU) is a group of 16 officials with extensive skills and experience in carrying out food fraud investigations, most of whom are practicing local authority enforcement officers. The FFAU members have agreed, with the support of their employers, to provide advice, on request, to any UK local authority involved in investigating food fraud. This could include any illegal activity relating to food or feed.
The FFAU represents the latest development in a series of resources the Agency is making available to help combat food fraud.
Local authorities, industry and consumers have a vital role to play in tackling food fraud and the Agency encourages anyone who is aware of known, or suspected, food or feed fraud to contact the Agency.
Food fraud is committed when food is deliberately placed on the market, for financial gain, with the intention of deceiving the consumer. Although there are many kinds of food fraud the two main types are:
* the sale of food that is unfit and potentially harmful, such as:
o recycling of animal by-products back into the food chain
o packing and selling of beef and poultry with an unknown origin
o knowingly selling goods that are past their use by date
* the deliberate misdescription of food, while not necessarily unsafe, deceives the consumer as to the nature of the product, such as:
o products substituted with a cheaper alternative, for example, farmed salmon sold as wild, and Basmati rice adulterated with cheaper varities
o making false statements about the source of ingredients, i.e. their geographic, plant or animal origin.
United Kingdom -Butcher admits 'lapse' which led toE. colioutbreak
09 Apr 2009
Yorkshire Post [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that a Yorkshire butcher has been ordered to pay £2,400 in court costs for selling cooked meat linked to a food poisoning outbreak. Fifty three people, including children and the elderly, were poisoned in the outbreak in April and May 2007 which was traced to Spauls butchers in Cottingley, near Bradford. The story goes on by explaining that traces of theE. coliO157 organism were traced from samples taken at the shop which were matched to samples taken from victims.
United Kingdom -Restaurants and caterers to display calories on menus
06 Apr 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][iFSN]
Eighteen major catering companies, including many high street names, are to introduce calorie information on their menus for the first time.
The list of trailblazers, announced today by Minister for Public Health Dawn Primarolo and the Food Standards Agency, will begin displaying calorie information from the end of this month.
The list includes workplace caterers, sit-down and quick-service restaurants, theme parks and leisure attractions, pub restaurants, cafes and sandwich chains.
The move will benefit individuals and families trying to choose a healthier diet.
United Kingdom -New national genome center to underpin food security and animal health
01 Apr 2009
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council - Matt Goode [edited] [iFSN]
It is reported that a new national centre to analyze plant, animal and microbial genomes has been announced today by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) will be based on the Norwich Research Park and will provide genome sequencing to underpin advances to improve food security, to protect UK agriculture from exotic animal disease and exploit weaknesses in microbes to develop new ways to kill superbugs. It will also be a centre of excellence in bioinformatics to ensure that the data generated by its genome analysis, and that of other facilities, can be effectively collected and analyzed. TGAC will become operational over the next two months and will be formally opened in June
March
Ireland -FSAI launches new website - Comprehensive resource on food safety information
31 Mar 2009
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today launched its new website,www.fsai.ie, which is a comprehensive source of information for food businesses on every aspect of food safety, food hygiene management and food legislation. The FSAI website which received over 180,000 hits in 2008, representing a 58% increase on 2007, has a wide range of new features and improved navigation tools to help people access information quickly. They include an online complaint function and an automated subscription service.
The newly enhanced FSAI site now also has a dedicated ‘food businesses’ section which provides guidelines on starting a new food business; topics of interest and information and access to food-handling training procedures and materials. The ‘food businesses’ section also provides information on HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point), a legal requirement with which all food businesses must comply. Also, of interest for food businesses is the ‘legislation’ section which provides links to all the Irish and international food acts and legislation.
The homepage of the website has both a ‘feedback form’ and ‘make a complaint’ functionality, which enables the FSAI to participate in two-way interaction with users and obtain feedback from stakeholders who are observing and working in the field. All information submitted via the website is investigated and where necessary, acted upon immediately.
According to Ms Edel Conway, Information Manager, FSAI, the objective of the website is to assist food businesses to source a wide range of information quickly.
‘The website is of vital importance to food businesses, as it provides information and advice on a broad range of food safety issues, such as food safety training, HACCP, business start-up and legislation requirements. It is updated and monitored on a daily basis and is designed to provide users with all the information they need in relation to food safety in a quick and efficient manner. Last year, 71% of visits to our website were from Ireland, but we also had visits from the UK (10%), US (4%) and France, Germany, Canada, Netherlands and Belgium (1% each),’ she commented.
www.fsai.ieis structured to provide reliable data on the core areas of importance which include food legislation and consultations; monitoring and enforcement; science and health; food businesses and resources/publications.
United Kingdom -Antiobiotics in livestock 'threatens humans'
24 Mar 2009
Yorkshire Post - Chris Benfield [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that the U.K. Government's chief medical officer has warned that heavy use of antibiotics in livestock farming, as well as in general medicine, is a threat to human health, writing in his annual report that "every unnecessary prescription written by a doctor, every uncompleted course of antibiotics and every inappropriate or unnecessary use in animals or agriculture is potentially a death warrant for a future patient.But a Defra spokeswoman said yesterday: "At this stage we have no evidence which suggests that we should change our policy on national surveillance."
United Kingdom -E. coli: Report highlights serious flaws along food chain
19 Mar 2009
Wales Online - Madeleine Brindley and Abby Alford [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that an inquiry has found that serious failings at every step in the food chain allowed rogue butcher William Tudor to start the 2005E. coliO157 outbrea. Professor Hugh Pennington’s report today highlighted serious flaws in the environmental health and abattoir inspection regime and the way councils buy food for school meals. According to this story, theE. coliexpert said the responsibility for the outbreak, which killed five-year-old schoolboy Mason Jones, “falls squarely on the shoulders of Tudor.” But Prof Pennington said that there were failings further down the food chain – including at the abattoir, run by Tudor’s cousin, which in all probability supplied the contaminated meat – which contributed to the circumstances behind the 2005 outbreak. In making his recommendations, Prof Pennington, who was appointed to chair the inquiry three years ago, said: “Authorities must come down hard on businesses that present serious risks to health and those that persistently fail to comply with food hygiene and food safety requirements.” He also said there must be no more pre-arranged environmental health inspections of high-risk food businesses and called for a review of all councils’ food hygiene enforcement measures in five years’ times, to ensure that lessons from the 2005 outbreak had been learned.
Related stories
25 Mar 2009-Rhodri Morgan pledges action overE. colireport
WalesOnline - Abby Alford
First Minister yesterday pledged to do everything possible to prevent a repeat of theE. colioutbreak of 2005 – for the sake of the families affected. He told Assembly Members they “owed” it to the 150 families involved, including that of five-year-old Mason Jones who died as a result of the food poisoning bug.
19 Mar 2009- The Public inquiry into the September 2005 outbreak ofE. coliin South Wales
The Welsh Assembly Government- Professor Hugh Pennington
Ireland -Autonomy of food safety body urged
05 Mar 2009
The Irish Times - Sean Mac Connell [edited][iFSN]
The Oireachtas Committee that examined the dioxin crisis in the pig industry is to recommend a reversal of the Budget policy to amalgamate the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) with two other bodies.
A draft of the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture seen by The Irish Times has also proposed the FSAI’s remit be extended to incorporate animal feed.
“The committee considers the FSAI to be of vital importance in the maintenance of consumer confidence during crises such as the contamination incident,” said the report.
“It urges the reversal of the Budget proposal to amalgamate the FSAI with two other bodies, [The Irish Medicines Board and the Office of Tobacco Control], which would have the effect of diluting the authority’s current single focus,” it said.
It has also recommended that the animal feed chain be categorized as a higher level of risk than in the past. The crisis began when pig and cattle feed became contaminated with dioxin-laden oil which led to the total recall of all pork products from September 1st to December 6th last.
The report, which will be presented to both Houses of the Oireachtas for debate, said potential oil contamination must be incorporated into feed plants’ HACCP – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points – safety control plans.
The committee said it was a matter for concern that neither regulatory bodies carried out an inspection of the Millstream plant during 2008 but conceded that had this happened, contaminated oil would not have been identified as a potential hazard.
On the recall itself, which cost the taxpayer €180 million in compensation, the committee acknowledged that the sole concern of the FSAI, which ordered it, was food safety and this assisted consumer confidence in this regard.
United Kingdom -Chemist guilty of contamination
03 Mar 2009
BBC News [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that an Algerian chemist has been found guilty at Bristol Crown Court of contaminating food and wine by using his own urine and feces.
Italy -Nestle to pay family over contaminated milk
02 Mar 2009
Agence France Presse [edited][iFSN]
An Italian magistrate sentenced food giant Nestle and Tetra Pak packaging company to pay damages to a family after their daughters drank contaminated baby milk, ANSA news agency reported Sunday.
The judge in the Sicilian town of Giarre, near the east coast city of Catania, ruled that Nestle Italia and Tetra Pak International were responsible for the "psychological prejudice" suffered by the parents after it became known that milk given to their daughters was contaminated by a chemical from the carton.
The amount of the compensation was not given.
United Kingdom -Food scam warning for businesses
01 Mar 2009
BBC News [edited][iFSN]
According to this story, food outlets across Cumbria have been warned by Trading Standards to be on the lookout for a letter demanding they pay a £1,000 fine or face closure. The bogus letter claims to be from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), uses their logo and gives a Nottingham address.
It tells the business they have breached food hygiene regulations for providing food unfit for consumption due to high levels ofListeria. Cumbria County Council has warned businesses to ignore the letter.
February
United Kingdom -FSA described as 'model regulator' by independent campaigning group
26 Feb 2009
FSA - Food Standards Agency [iFSN]
The Agency's commitment to putting the consumer first has been recognized in an assessment by campaigning organization, Consumer Focus. The consumer group looked at six regulators that were set up in the interest of consumers, specifically in markets where people depend on essential goods and services, such as food.
Rating Regulators, published today, measures the Agency’s performance in a number of key areas as well as by the savings it has been able to pass on to businesses as a result of better regulation. In addition to acknowledging the Agency’s strong consumer-focused culture and recently strengthened program of consumer engagement, the report singled out the Agency as a ‘model regulator’ in respect to transparency and a regulatory style that ‘empowers consumers to make a change.’
United Kingdom -Consumers warned of illegal meat trade
24 Feb 2009
The Independent [edited][iFSN]
According to this story, rise in illegal African meat trade poses a serious threat to both native wildlife and human health across the globe British consumers risk contracting viruses such as Ebola, Foot-and-Mouth and AIDS because of a burgeoning rise in the illegal ‘bushmeat’ trade. Recent figures reveal that up to 10 tons of the illegal African meat is being imported into London markets every day. It is reported that the meat, which comes from the snaring and consumption of wild animal meat, is often sold as beef, which sells at a high price to unwitting tourists in Kenya and consumers overseas. The illicit trade is creating a serious threat to African wildlife and human health both in Kenya and the UK.
United Kingdom -Restructuring of the agency's Food Safety Group
16 Feb 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][iFSN]
At last week's open Board meeting, FSA Chief Scientist and Director of Food Safety, Andrew Wadge, spoke about the recent restructuring of the Food Safety Group. This organizational change brings together work on aspects of food safety that was previously spread across the Agency.
The new structure brings together hygiene, microbiology, contaminants and other work that had previously been divided between two different groups – the Food Safety Group and the former Consumer Protection and Enforcement Group.
The merger of these two groups has provided the opportunity to better organize the Agency’s food safety work and align resources to the new strategic plan priorities to maximize impact in improving public health in relation to food safety.
The new Food Safety Group has two divisions that address the two broad categories of agents that can cause food to become unsafe (namely microbiological and non-microbiological agents). It also has a cross-cutting division that deals with the implementation and delivery of effective controls on these two aspects of food safety. This division will work closely with the Veterinary and Technical Division in the Meat Hygiene Service, which performs a similar role in respect of MHS delivery, ensuring greater consistency of approach.
Alongside these is a division providing analytical support and advice across the whole of the Agency, as well as the Chief Scientist Team, which supports the Chief Scientist role for the whole of the Agency.
Last, but not least, is the Incident Response Team, which reports directly to the Director of Food Safety and recognizes the strategic importance of responding effectively to food safety incidents.
The Agency will be writing to external stakeholders and delivery partners to explain the changes.
Ireland-Concern over proposed merger of FSAI
09 Feb 2009
Irish Times - Paul Cullen
According to this story, concern has been expressed that the proposed merger of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) with two other bodies will dilute consumer protection. The amalgamation of the FSAI, the Office of Tobacco Control and the Irish Medicines Board into a Public Health and Medicines Safety Authority was one of 30 separate rationalisations of State agencies proposed in last year’s budget.
United Kingdom -Dioxin found in milk
05 Feb 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][Promed]
Milk from two dairy farms in Northern Ireland has been stopped from entering the food chain following test results that show dioxin levels above legal limits, the Food Standards Agency said today. Although breaching regulations, these levels of dioxin are much lower than those found in pork and beef affected by feed contamination last year. The risk to health from either drinking the affected milk or eating products made from the milk is extremely low. The milk affected was distributed locally in Northern Ireland and also to the Republic of Ireland. The milk from these farms is usually mixed with milk from other farms before sale, so any finished product on the market is likely to be diluted and well within the legal limits for dioxins. The FSA is not calling for a withdrawal of any products from the shops but will continue to test and restrict the milk until it complies with the law. The Food Standards continues to monitor the situation and is in close contact with Government bodies in Northern Ireland. Contamination of the milk is likely to be from dioxin residues in the fat of animals that had previously eaten contaminated feed. Dioxins are chemicals that get into food from the environment. Health effects from eating the affected products are only likely if people are exposed to relatively high levels of this contaminant for long periods.
January
Ireland -IFA establishes its own food safety taskforce
29 Jan 2009
Irish Times - Sean MacConnell [edited][iFSN]
It is reported in this story, that Professor Patrick Wall told that the consequences of non-compliance with food safety regulations would be disastrous for the reputation of food producers in Ireland. “It is essential that we continue to identify emerging trends and evaluate interventions,” he said at the announcement of the organisation’s own food safety taskforce. The taskforce will assess all risks and the necessary actions, including inspections, required to prevent the recurrence of the feed contamination, which led to the pork recall last month. Professor Wall said the taskforce was an excellent initiative and he was happy to be associated with it.
Macedoniaapplies new food safety system
27 Jan 2009
Southeast European Times - Marina Stojanovska [edited][iFSN]
Macedonia begins using the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) food protection system on January 1st. With this action, all food merchants, restaurants and food producers must comply with safety regulations governing the sale, service and preparation of food.
Besides protecting Macedonian consumers from illnesses, HACCP could help the country's food exports gain more appeal in regional and global markets.
Stores, restaurants and food producers will receive training in the new system this winter and spring. Starting on May 1st, those not complying with the HACCP rules face stiff fines.
27 Jan 2009
Southeast European Times - Marina Stojanovska [edited][iFSN]
According to this story, Macedonia begins using the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) food protection system on January 1st. With this action, all food merchants, restaurants and food producers must comply with safety regulations governing the sale, service and preparation of food. Besides protecting Macedonian consumers from illnesses, HACCP could help the country's food exports gain more appeal in regional and global markets. It is reported that restaurants and food producers will receive training in the new system this winter and spring. Starting on May 1st, those not complying with the HACCP rules face stiff fines.
Ireland -Food safety chief delayed report on adulterated water
20 Jan 2009
The Irish Times - Paul Cullen and Eithne Donnellan [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that senior executives of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) sought to soften a report showing high levels of contamination of bottled waters before its publication, according to documentation released under freedom of information legislation. According to this story, the authority’s chief executive delayed publication of the report, leading staff to conclude it had been placed “on the back burner”, the documents obtained by The Irish Times show. The story goes on by explaining that the failure of the authority to name the firms producing the adulterated water was heavily criticised.
Related stories
21 Jan 2009–Food safety boss to leave his post
Independent Online - Shane Phelan [edited][iFSN]
It is reported that the head of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will be leaving his post later this year. The FSAI chief executive has recently been embroiled in controversy over his handling of a report on contaminated bottled water.
United Kingdom -Company selling food past its best-before date thrives in economic crisis
10 Jan 2009
Telegraph.co.uk-Murray Wardrop [edited] [iFSN]
According to this story, Approved Food, an online retailer, has witnessed such a large increase in trade that it has to shut down its website for two days a month to clear order backlogs. It is reported that the Approved Food sells 750g jars of Nutella chocolate and hazelnut spread with a best-before date of January 4 for £1. The story goes on by explaining that while products past their best-before date might be past their prime, they are still safe to eat, the Food Standards Agency said. A spokesman said: "Best before is an indication of quality rather than safety. Eating food past the best-before date does not necessarily put someone at risk from food poisoning."
Ireland -Inquiry into handling of pork contamination
08 Jan 2009
RTE News [edited][iFSN]
The Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture is investigating the handling of dioxin contamination in Irish pork. Bord Bia said its not clear yet what impact the withdrawal of pig meat has had on sales and exports of Irish pork products. However, the Government has set up a contingency fund of nearly €200m to compensate processors and farmers. Last month, pork products had to be withdrawn from butchers and supermarket shelves after the discovery of dioxin contamination, which was traced to animal feed from a recycling plant in Co Carlow. The investigating committee into the contamination is made up TDs and Senators.
Ireland -FSAI welcomes decrease in food safety enforcement orders in 2008
06 Jan 2009
Food Safety Authority of Ireland [edited][iFSN]
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today stated that in 2008, a total of 45 Enforcement Orders were served for breaches in food safety legislation. This compares to 59 in 2007. In November and December 2008 alone, six Closure Orders and three Prohibition Orders were served on food businesses. The FSAI welcomed the overall reduction, but stated that food businesses must continue to adhere to best food safety practices as they are legally obliged to provide safe food.
Between 1 January and 31 December 2008, enforcement officers served 34 Closure Orders, five Improvement Orders and six Prohibition Orders on food businesses throughout the country (compared to 37 Closure Orders, six Improvement Orders and 16 Prohibition Orders in 2007). Of the 34 Closure Orders served in 2008, only five remain in place. The FSAI urges all food businesses to take the opportunity to reappraise their food safety and hygiene practices in 2009, as the FSAI and its official agencies will continue to implement a rigorous inspection programme to ensure that full compliance with food safety legislation is achieved.
United Kingdom -New slaughterhouse requirement for calves
06 Jan 2009
Food Standards Agency [edited][iFSN]
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced the implementation of new regulations that require slaughterhouses to ask for information about calves received for slaughter.
The new legal requirement for Food Chain Information (FCI) applies to calves, which are defined as animals less than eight months of age. FCI includes information about the farm from which the calves came, their history of rearing and their health, including details of medicines they may have received.
The responsibility for obtaining the FCI will be with slaughterhouse operators. The FSA has worked closely with them and other stakeholders to develop guidance, which can be found at the link below, and to make them aware of the new requirements for calves, which were implemented on 1 January 2009. This follows a similar process that came into force at the beginning of 2008 where operators were required to provide FCI for pigs.
Kenneth Clarke, FSA Veterinary Adviser, said: 'Food chain information is an important element of the farm-to-fork approach to food safety and can contribute to the application of risk-based inspection systems at slaughterhouses. We wish to encourage slaughterhouse operators to use the guidance we have published to develop FCI systems that best suit their businesses. We have a bigger task ahead to implement FCI for all cattle and sheep in 2010, and will continue to work with industry to produce useful and practical solutions.'
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