Findings from the testing of food products for authenticity, contaminants, and allergens have been published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
The survey is targeted to areas of potential risk and where sampling is needed to inform FSA policy and science. It took place in October 2022 and included products
Continue Reading FSA survey assesses food product compliance
According to the Scottish food agency’s annual report, a challenging economic climate has led to tough decisions about work priorities.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) mentioned the knock-on effects of leaving the European Union and a prioritization exercise following a reduced budget. The agency also flagged the “huge amount of already
Continue Reading Resource pressures force Food Standards Scotland to refocus
A European court has ruled as part of a Dutch case involving Salmonella detection in poultry and when repeat testing can be undertaken.
The request for a preliminary ruling covered the interpretation of EU law around Salmonella, exceptional cases, and routine sampling. It was made in proceedings between L. Vof
Continue Reading EU court rules in referred Dutch Salmonella case
Two sampling projects have found issues with meat substitution and undeclared allergens despite an overall high level of compliance.
Findings come from targeted surveillance sampling of products in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
In 2020, the program focused on commodities and hazards where intelligence
Continue Reading Sampling projects find adulteration and allergen issues
Changes to sampling requirements at low-throughput slaughterhouses are unlikely to result in a significant shift in the number of Campylobacter cases in the UK, according to a report.
Researchers did not detect a significant difference in the proportion of highly contaminated samples from low- and high-throughput slaughterhouses. High contamination is
Continue Reading FSA assesses Campylobacter risk from smaller slaughterhouses
Audited councils in an Australian state are not doing enough to protect public health, according to a report.
The Victorian Auditor General’s Office (VAGO) looked at whether agencies are complying with their legal responsibilities for food safety. This included the Department of Health and councils in Casey, Geelong, Hepburn, Kingston
Continue Reading Audit finds councils can do more to ensure food safety
The sampling frequency for Salmonella in breeding flocks is to be reduced in the Netherlands after the country met European targets.
As of July, mandatory sampling for the monitoring of Salmonella by owners of poultry breeding flocks will take place at least every three weeks. People with these types of
Continue Reading Sampling reduced after Netherlands meets EU target
Norwegian authorities found problems with the sampling plan of a company linked to a Listeria outbreak in 2022, according to a report.
At an inspection in October, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) discovered the fish producer’s sampling plan was not sufficient, and that environmental samples had not been taken
Continue Reading Sampling issues found at producer linked to Listeria outbreak
Guidance from the Food Standards Agency helped local authorities handle food-related work during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an assessment.
In June 2021, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) provided local authorities with a plan for running food hygiene and food standards services during the pandemic. It will apply until the end of
Continue Reading FSA assesses the impact of advice to local authorities during COVID-19
The number of food incidents, recalls and cases of four pathogens went up over a 12-month period, according to the latest published data.
The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) annual report and accounts covers performance and activities in 2021/22 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland at a cost of £130.5 million
Continue Reading FSA annual reports shows rise in incidents and recalls