Joe Whitworth

Editor at Food Safety News

Writing and sharing #foodfraud + #foodsafety info. Ex @FoodQualityNews editor. Now @foodsafetynews and other bits

Articles

UK food agencies voice concerns about status of inspection activities

2 days ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

Two agencies in the United Kingdom have raised concerns about local authority resources and the number of samples being taken for food safety testing. Findings come from a report by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) reviewing food safety across the UK in 2024. According to the report, local authorities do not have enough resources to address the substantial backlog of inspections or deal with the growing number of new food businesses that should be inspected.
UK food agencies voice concerns about status of inspection activities

2 days ago | buff.ly | Joe Whitworth

Two agencies in the United Kingdom have raised concerns about local authority resources and the number of samples being taken for food safety testing. Findings come from a report by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) reviewing food safety across the UK in 2024. According to the report, local authorities do not have enough resources to address the substantial backlog of inspections or deal with the growing number of new food businesses that should be inspected.
Members raise new and existing food safety topics at WTO meeting

3 days ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

Four new trade topics were discussed at the latest World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting on food safety. Attendees at the June meeting of the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures addressed trade concerns related to food safety and animal and plant health. Members raised 56 specific trade concerns (STCs), including four for the first time.
Incident levels steady for FSA but complexity increases

4 days ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

The number of incidents handled by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has remained stable but the authority has warned investigations are getting more complex. The FSA was notified of 1,825 food and feed safety incidents in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales during 2024-25. This is down slightly from 1,837 incidents in 2023-24. The agency said the type of incidents and foodborne outbreaks being managed are becoming more complex, with a rise in high and medium priority incidents.
New Zealand saw recalls rise in 2024

5 days ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

New Zealand recorded an increase in recalls in 2024 with a major incident involving Salmonella in sesame seeds. The recall of imported sesame seeds with the potential to cause salmonellosis was the biggest food safety event of the year. Salmonella was detected during routine testing by a New Zealand business. Sesame seeds were imported from India and distributed to up to 150 businesses.
Almost 100 children sick in Salmonella outbreak

6 days ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

The number of children sick in an outbreak mainly affecting Germany and Austria has increased to almost 100. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) reported illnesses were likely caused by an organic cashew butter with raspberries sold at dm drogerie markt. locations. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has identified 85 Salmonella Infantis infections largely among infants and young children. In total, 84 cases are children up to 4 years old and one patient is a 30-year-old woman.
More than 100 sick in French Salmonella outbreak

1 week ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

More than 100 people have fallen sick in France as part of a Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs. Surveillance of salmonellosis and the identification of common sources by Santé publique France is based on mandatory reporting of outbreaks, as well as the detection of genomic clusters identified by the National Reference Center for Salmonella (CNR).
More than 100 sick in French Salmonella outbreak

1 week ago | buff.ly | Joe Whitworth

More than 100 people have fallen sick in France as part of a Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs. Surveillance of salmonellosis and the identification of common sources by Santé publique France is based on mandatory reporting of outbreaks, as well as the detection of genomic clusters identified by the National Reference Center for Salmonella (CNR).
EUIPO campaign puts focus on counterfeit food

1 week ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

A European agency has started a campaign to raise awareness and protect consumers from fake food and beverages. The European Union Intellectual Property Office’s (EUIPO) “What’s on your table?” campaign covers the 27 EU member states. Recent reports indicate counterfeiting in the food and drink sector continues to pose significant risks to the health of consumers.
Difficult environments test WFP’s food safety abilities

1 week ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

The head of food safety at the World Food Programme (WFP) has shared the challenges of ensuring food is safe when working in remote areas and sourcing items locally. Virginia Siebenrok, chief of food safety and quality at WFP, said in large food safety-related operations like the WFP, the work is mostly as risk managers. “We need to find the right balance between the resources we have and how to employ them wisely.