The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently published Our Food 2022, its annual report of food standards across the nation, which was conducted in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland (FSS). Although the UK faced significant challenges that affected the food system in 2022, FSA reported that that there has not been any significant change in food safety and authenticity standards, except for a trend in food allergen labeling requirements.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a public consultation on proposals for a new framework that will regulate the use of precision-bred organisms for food and animal feed.

A protocol for the collection of honey reference samples for the creation of authenticity databases has been developed by the UK Government. Honey is one of the food commodities most subject to food fraud.

After finding that more than a third of water courses in England and Wales contain medium- to high-risk levels of per- and polyflouralkyl substances (PFAS), the Royal Society of Chemistry is calling upon the UK Government to enact stricter drinking water standards for the “forever chemicals.”

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently published the findings of a targeted surveillance sampling program conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify emerging food safety risks and increase knowledge of the food system.

At the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) September board meeting, decisions were made about certain aspects of the new process to regulate the use of precision-bred organisms intended for food and feed. A detailed proposal will be published for public consultation in November.

The UK Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) recently updated technical guidance on food allergen labeling includes changes to advice on the use of Precautionary Allergen Labeling and clarification on “vegan” versus “free-from” labeling.

The UK Government has delayed the introduction of new food import controls under the Border Target Operating Model (TOM) to the end of January 2024, postponing the requirement for the inspection and certification of medium- and high-risk animal products and produce entering the country.

A survey of non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) found on retail foods sold in the UK has shown the overall prevalence of Salmonella to be low, although there is great genetic diversity among the Salmonella that was present, which may hinder outbreak investigations and source attribution in the case of foodborne illness outbreaks. 

The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Escherichia coli found on retail beef and pork meat samples in the UK is relatively low, according to surveillance conducted by the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).