The Agency is warning food business operators about bogus emails that appear to be a financial scam to extort money from companies wishing to export rice to the UK. The emails are using the FSA Scotland name as a basis for the submission of information and demand payment of £650 for a registration fee.
The Agency has published an update on progress since April 2009 on the development of the national six-tier Scores on the doors (SotD) scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Following reports in the media today that ham sandwiches should not be included in children’s lunchboxes, the Agency has offered clear advice to provide reassurance to parents.
Shutki Raja Chutney Powder has been produced on unregistered, or possibly unapproved, premises. The Agency has issued a Food Alert for Action asking local authority food law enforcement officers to make sure the chutney is withdrawn from sale and destroyed.
The Food Matters report published in July 2008 by the Cabinet Office included two parallel action points for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Defra on genetically modified (GM) food and animal feed.
The next FSA open Board meeting is being held at the the Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7AP. It will begin at 9am on Wednesday 16 September and will be chaired by the Agency’s new Chair, Lord Rooker. You can attend in person, watch it live online or listen-in via a free phone number.
Sainsbury?s has withdrawn its Taste the Difference Scotch Beef Burgers with Smoked Jalapeno Chillies (pack of two), because the product contains cheese that is not mentioned in the allergy advice box although it is correctly labelled in the ingredients list. This makes the product a possible health risk for anyone who is allergic or intolerant to milk or milk constituents.
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.
The Agency has published a new range of resources to enable young people to learn essential food-related skills and knowledge.
Tim Smith, the Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency, has written an open letter to interested parties about the independent organic review. The letter emphasises the validity of the independent study published last week that shows that there are no important differences in the nutrition content of organic food when compared with conventionally produced food.