Sulphites are used to maintain appearance, increase shelf-life, and prevent the growth of hazardous microorganisms (e.g, fungi, bacteria).
The European Commission would like to consult interested stakeholders on sulphur dioxide-sulphites (E 220-228) with respect to: a) the authorisations of E 226-228 and b) the uses of E 220-228 in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives.
Controls in EU countries on bivalve mollusks are not always adequate to protect consumer health, according to the European Commission.
Bivalve mollusks include mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops. France, Spain, Italy, and Greece make up more than 80 percent of the production in Europe, mostly from aquaculture.
Most hospitals and social care sites are aware of Listeria guidance from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) but an analysis has found several challenges around implementation.
In a 2019 outbreak associated with pre-packed sandwiches supplied to hospitals in England, seven patients died of listeriosis.
More than 70 people have fallen sick in the United Kingdom with Cyclospora infections after visiting Mexico.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it has identified an increase of Cyclospora cayetanensis in travelers returning from Mexico. The microscopic parasite is transmitted through contaminated food or drinks.
Between May 12 and Aug. 14, 74 cases were reported in England, Wales, and Scotland. Slightly more than half of patients are female and overall patients have a median age of 44.
Food agencies in the United Kingdom have advised that slush ice drinks should not be sold to children younger than age 5.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued voluntary industry guidance on glycerol in slush ice drinks after two children fell sick in Scotland in Lanarkshire in 2021 and in Edinburgh in 2022. Both required hospitalization and had symptoms consistent with glycerol intoxication.
According to a survey, there are low levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in E. coli on beef and pork meat on sale in the United Kingdom.
The report was produced by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) under contract with the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
In 2021, 105 samples of fresh beef and pork on retail sale in the UK were sampled between October and December and investigated for E. coli. In previous surveys, 300 samples were tested throughout one year. Reduced numbers were because of the delayed start following exit from the EU and because of lab capacity.
Experts have made several recommendations ahead of a potential update to guidelines relating to the control of Listeria in food.
Consumer practices deviating from the intended use of a food highlights the need for improved labeling about correct preparation and businesses need to assess the potential impacts of climate change, said scientists brought together by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO).
Almost 2,000 poisonings linked to wild mushrooms were recorded in France in 2022.
A total of 1,923 intoxications were reported to poison control centers (CAP) during the surveillance period, between July and December. The amount is usually around 1,300 cases. Levels in 2022 were similar to those in 2019.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is calling on people to help gather data which will shape future food safety messaging.
The FROST Project – which stands for Fridge Recording Over Set Time – runs from August for several months. Initial results are expected by spring or early summer next year.
Food safety and security have been identified as one of 25 strategic economic, geopolitical, social, environmental, and technological risks facing Ireland over the short, medium and long term in a new report.
The Irish government published its National Risk Assessment 2023, which according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, is a “systematic overview” of national level risks that Ireland faces as a country.
One person has died in an E. coli outbreak being investigated by health authorities in the United Kingdom.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are trying to find the source of the ongoing Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O183 outbreak with the help of other public health agencies.
FSA is looking for a Senior Intelligence Analyst who can help us effectively evaluate information received by the FSA’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU). Managing our skilled analysis team, you will provide leadership around strategic and tactical analysis, developing and allocating work packages that will enable us to better identify, disrupt and deter criminals impacting food across the country.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are advising pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system to avoid eating ready-to-eat cold-smoked or cured fish, following publication of a risk assessment showing they are at higher risk of severe illness from listeriosis. Products include smoked salmon, smoked trout and gravlax.
A LIMERICK firm which provides school meals has landed a prestigious food safety accreditation.
Carambola Kidz, located at Annacotty Business Park, was one of 19 food facilities and businesses in Ireland given a Food Safety Assurance Accreditation which highlights a commitment to excellence in food safety culture.
Food safety authorities covering England, Wales and Scotland have opened a comment period on the rates of checks for selected food and feed of non-animal origin from certain countries.
Proposed amendments would apply a temporary change to official controls or special conditions on the entry into Great Britain of the selected products. Stricter checks have been suggested for enoki mushrooms from two nations because of Listeria as well as tahini and halva from one country because of Salmonella.
Almost 250 Salmonella infections in the United Kingdom since the start of 2023 have been linked to travel to Turkey.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has shared steps to reduce the risk of common infections when going abroad in summer.
EFSA's Unit on Feed and Contaminants has launched a public consultation on the draft scientific opinion on the update of the risk assessment of inorganic arsenic in food. This document presents a re-evaluation of the toxicity of inorganic arsenic, and, using the results from an EFSA report on exposure to inorganic arsenic published in 2021, an assessment of the health risks to the EU population. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments by the indicated deadline. When submitting the comments, specific reference to the line and page numbers to which the comments relate must be made.
Additional data or files to support the comments may be submitted using the relevant function in the digital form. The name of any attached file shall include reference to the comment it refers to (e.g., comment identifier, topic, etc.). The file shall be in a searchable format and accessible to allow downloading. Scanned documents will not be considered.
Scientific Data Steward: EFSA is looking for Scientific Data Stewards who are familiar with collecting, collating and validating scientific data and are confident in... more info
Data Officer: EFSA is looking for data officers, who are familiar with working in the scientific & corporate data ecosystem and can tailor data and IT... more info
FSA and FSS are requesting data on the levels of T-2 and HT-2 toxins present in food.
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