Food Standards Agency

Imported ethnic ingredients could pose a safety risk

Novel foods fall through Trading Standards' net

By Nicholas Robinson

Trading Standards (TS) don’t have the resources to check for the potentially dangerous unapproved novel foods illegally on sale on the UK market, it has emerged.

Improved information and intelligence sharing can help avert scandals

Intelligence hub to combat safety threat

By Nicholas Robinson

Better intelligence sharing between the food industry and regulators will be needed if another food fraud like last year’s horsemeat scandal is to be averted in future, experts have warned.

Social media, such as Twitter, is proving useful for investigating food poisoning outbreaks

Twitter helped probe into food poisoning outbreak

By Rick Pendrous

Social media is increasingly being used to identify the sources of food poisoning, following its use by investigators from Public Health England (PHE) to narrow down a large multiple pathogen outbreak at an outdoor food festival in Newcastle upon Tyne...

Bennett will remain as chair of the FSA until a permanent appointment is made

FSA extend Bennett’s role as chair

By Laurence Gibbons

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has extended the appointment of Tim Bennett as its chair until December 2014 or until a permanent appointment is made.

Clare Cheney, director general, Provision Trade Federation

The power of three in Elliott’s interim report

By Clare Cheney

Among the recommendations in the Elliott interim report on the horsemeat fiasco three stood out, not because they were necessarily the most important, but because they addressed issues that have long been matters of great concern to the industry. But...

The FSA has released pictures of the product under investigation

Source of killer cocaine drink still unknown

By Rod Addy

Food safety authorities are racing to trace the source of a Caribbean soft drink linked with a death in Southampton after it was found to contain dangerous levels of cocaine.

The FSA should be strengthened to combat food fraud more effectively, said Professor Chris Elliott

Stronger Food Standards Agency needed to beat fraud

By Michael Stones

A stronger Food Standards Agency (FSA) – equipped with responsibility for food compositional labelling – is a key recommendation of the interim Elliott Review, commissioned by the government to investigate the supply chain after the horsemeat crisis.

A new Food Crime Unit to tackle food fraud was a key recommendation of the Elliott Review

Breaking News

New Food Crime Unit recommended after horsemeat

By Michael Stones

A new Food Crime Unit should be set up to combat food fraud following the horsemeat crisis, recommends the government-commissioned Elliott Review.

Food safety conference – in quotes

Food Safety conference

Food safety conference captured in quotes

By Michael Stones

The effectiveness role of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in promoting food safety and detecting food fraud – such as the horsemeat crisis – plus the urgent need to tackle campylobacter food poisoning took centre stage at Food Manufacture’s Food Safety...

The illegal plant was supplying poultry to restaurants, takeaways and supermarkets

Man convicted of running £4M illegal poultry firm

By Rod Addy

Bristol Crown Court has sentenced a man running a £4M illegal poultry business at the city’s Fishponds Trading Estate to one year’s imprisonment, suspended for two years, and community service.

Canned beef contaminated with horsemeat was supplied to TJ Morris stores

Horsemeat recall ‘deeply worrying’ – McIntosh

By Rod Addy

Another horsemeat-related recall has prompted Anne McIntosh, chairwoman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee, to pile the pressure on authorities to get results from investigations.

The FSA in the firing line: consumer watchdog argued the policy changes of 2010 had weakened the agency

Food safety conference

FSA should be given back full powers: Which?

By Michael Stones

Food safety had been compromised by the government’s 2010 decision to strip the Food Standards Agency (FSA) of its responsibility for food standards, labelling and nutrition and those powers should be restored, argues consumer watchdog Which?

The need to search more effectively for food fraud along the supply chain was a key lesson of the horsemeat crisis, said Sue Davies

Food safety conference

Which? names three top lessons from horsemeat

By Michael Stones

The need to identify opportunities for fraud along Britain’s complex food supply chain was one of three key lessons to be learned from horsemeat crisis, according to consumer watchdog Which?

The horsemeat crisis could carry the seeds of the next big food fraud, said FSA boss Andrew Rhodes

Food safety conference

Horsemeat crisis to spark next food fraud, says FSA

By Michael Stones

The next major food fraud crisis may arise from the shortages of premium meat cuts sparked by the horsemeat scandal, warns the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Food manufacturers that fall short of the best food safety standards could be named and shamed in new FSA reports next year

Food safety conference

‘We’ll name and shame firms with poor food safety’: FSA

By Michael Stones

Food businesses guilty of sub-standard food safety practices will be named and shamed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in new reports to be launched next year, Foodmanufacture.co.uk can exclusively reveal.

'Earned recognition' could help regulators make the most of limited resources, said FSA boss Andrew Rhodes

Food safety conference

Fewer inspections for firms with good safety record

By Michael Stones

Food manufacturers with good food safety records and full third-party auditing procedures can expect fewer inspections, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Fewer food inspections should not compromise food safety, said the FSA's Andrew Rhodes

Food safety conference

Food safety not threatened by budget cuts: FSA

By Mike Stones

Budget cuts are leading to fewer food inspections but food safety should not be compromised, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The Food safety conference takes place on Thursday October 17 near Birmingham. For tickets, telephone Ellie Ray on 01293 610279 or email ellie.ray@wrbm.com

Food safety conference takes place on Thursday

By Michael Stones

There’s still time to book your place at Food Manufacture’s one-day Food safety conference, which takes place at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull on Thursday October 17 2013.

McIntosh: 'The committee is at odds with the government response'

Horsemeat response: row deepens

By Rod Addy

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) select committee “is at odds” with the government’s view of the handling of the horsemeat contamination scandal, according to committee head Anne McIntosh.

Tesco's pork chop blunder revealed how easy it is to lose control of supply chains, said Warwick Business School

Tesco’s Dutch pork chop blunder ‘sign of lost control’

By Mike Stones

Tesco’s blunder in labelling a pork chop British with the Red Tractor Logo when it probably came from the Netherlands reveals how easily firms can lose control of their supply chains, according to Warwick Business School.

The rat infestation at a Tesco in-store bakery in Perth was an isolated incident, said the retailer

Tesco rat infestation in Perth ‘isolated incident’

By Mike Stones

A rat infestation in Tesco’s Perth Metro store, recent complaints about a live caterpillar discovered in a sandwich at a store in Sussex and a ‘supermouse’ at its Covent Garden Metro outlet were isolated incidents, according to a spokeswoman for the retail...

The FSA ordered the recall after concerns were raised about traceability and temperature control

Food Standards Agency orders Farmbox Meats recall

By Mike Stones

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has ordered the recall of all frozen lamb, beef and mutton trim supplied by mid Wales firm Farmbox Meats – one of the firms involved in the horsemeat crisis.

Attending Food Manufacture's one-day Food Safety Conference could be your best investment of the year

Food Safety Conference: still time to book

By Mike Stones

There’s still time to book a place at Food Manufacture’s Food Safety Conference, to be staged at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull on Thursday October 17 2013.

Precision testing of foods and traceability throughout the supply chain are key themes of the Food Safety conference. For details of our early bird ticket offer, telephone Ellie Ray on 01293 610279 or email ellie.ray@wrbm.com

Food safety conference highlights precision testing

By Mike Stones

Putting precision testing and traceability firmly in the context of food safety are two key themes of Food Manufacture’s one-day Food Safety conference, suggested by its chairman Professor Colin Dennis.

Failure to hit targets for the most highly infected chickens is especially troubling the industry

Collective failure to hit campylobacter targets revealed

By Gary Scattergood

Campylobacter targets for chickens have fallen woefully short of objectives set by government agencies and representatives, the poultry industry and retailers, FoodManufacture.co.uk understands.

The horsemeat crisis led to the FSA's proposed action plan, which also aims to tackle wider issues

FSA tightens net on food fraudsters

By Rod Addy

The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) food safety director Steve Wearne has fleshed out the FSA’s proposed action plan to deal with supply chain crises such as the horsemeat scandal.

Labour's policy review cautiously acknowleged the benefits of GM and pledges to learn the lessons of the horsemeat crisis

Labour to give GM a chance and learn horsemeat lessons

By Mike Stones

The Labour Party’s food policy review document published yesterday (July 3) pledges to give genetically modified (GM) food technology a chance to flourish and to learn the lessons of the horsemeat crisis.

Don't miss the Food Safety Conference early bird ticket price offer. Telephone Ellie Ray on 01293 610279 or email ellie.ray@wrbm.com

Food Standards Agency joins Unilever at safety conference

By Mike Stones

Key speakers from the Food Standards Agency, Unilever and Which? will be joining our expert line-up at Food Manufacture’s Food Safety Conference at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull on Thursday October 17, 2013.

Top Unilever scientist René Crevel will deliver the latest thinking on allergens at Food Manufacture's Food Safety Conference on Thursday October 17 2013 at the National Motorcycle Museum, near Birmingham

Unilever joins Food Manufacture’s Food Safety Conference

By Mike Stones

The latest thinking on allergens will come under the spotlight at Food Manufacture’s Food Safety Conference on Thursday October 17 2013 at the National Motorcycle Museum, near Birmingham, courtesy of a top Unilever scientist.

The food safety watchdog slammed the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers for failing to share information

Meat suppliers group slammed for horsemeat secrecy

By Rick Pendrous

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has been criticised by the chief executive of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for refusing to share precise details about a recent incident of horsemeat contamination in a shipment of beef.

The independent horsemeat review is expected to report next spring

Breaking news

Horsemeat review launched by government

By Gary Scattergood

The government today (June 4) announced a wide-ranging, year-long independent review into the “integrity and assurance of food supply networks” in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.

Widespread use of DNA testing for horsemeat contamination would be a waste of money, delegates were told at a recent food fraud conference

Market intelligence needed to avoid next food scandal

By Rick Pendrous and Laurence Gibbons

Manufacturers need to use market intelligence and horizon scanning tools to protect themselves against the next food scandal following the horsemeat contamination incidents this year, experts have argued.

Make a date to attend our Food Safety Conference 2013 on Thursday October 17 at the National Motorcyle Museum near Birmingham

Food Safety Conference

Food safety to take centre stage at new conference

By Mike Stones

The latest thinking on food safety will take centre stage at a one-day conference organised by the Food Manufacture Group at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull on Thursday October 17 2013.

Before the horsemeat crisis many food businesses over-relied on contracts to protect their interests, said Andrew Rhodes

Horsemeat webinar

Horsemeat webinar: food industry lacks self awareness

By Mike Stones

Some parts of the food industry lacked basic understanding of how the sector operated – until the horsemeat crisis forced people to grapple with its complexities, a food safety watchdog boss told Food Manufacture’s webinar last week.

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