Food safety incidents and food hazard warnings

The Food Standards Agency issues 'Food Alerts'.

Food Alerts are a means of notifying the public and food authorities to serious problems concerning food, where it does not meet food safety standards.

Food Alerts are sent to Food Authorities electronically, this may be to the District Council or County Council or both as appropriate, having regard to their respective enforcement roles. Enforcing bodies liaise where there are issues that require a co-ordinated local, county or national approach.

Food Alerts were previously known as Food Hazard Warnings and were issued under four categories (A, B, C and D), but a new system took effect from 25 October 2004 and alerts were issued under two categories:

• Food Alerts: for Action (replacing A, B and C)
• Food Alerts: for Information (replacing Category D)

In June 2010 this system was changed so that Food Authorities get Food Alerts for Action requiring them to take specific action as appropriate and Product Withdrawal Information Notices or Product Recall Information Notices for information (replacing Food Alerts: for Information).

Food Alerts are also copied to Consultants in Communicable Disease Control and food trade organisations, to alert them to current food issues.

Food Alerts for action are often issued by the Food Standards Agency in conjunction with a product withdrawal or recall by a manufacturer, retailer or distributor after consultation with relevant Local Food Authorities and national co-ordination bodies. Product Withdrawal Information Notices or Product Recall Information Notices are issued to inform the public.

Tandridge District Council takes appropriate local action in response to Food Alerts (for which it has responsibilities) by making direct contact with relevant food businesses by telephone, letter, fax or e-mail, by undertaking visits, or by making indirect contact via the local media.

Affected foods will usually be withdrawn from sale or supply through the voluntary co-operation of food businesses. However, the Council may seize or detain the food, if food business proprietors refuse to co-operate with voluntary withdrawal of the product.

The Council also works with other enforcement bodies to ensure that action is effective.

In addition, the Council promptly notifies the Food Standards Agency and all other relevant agencies if any potentially serious incidents that have local or national implications are identified locally via food complaints, food sampling, notifications from General practitioners or manufacturers etc.

For information on current Food hazard warnings contact: click here (This link will open in a new window)

For further information please contact Environmental Health on 01883 732841 or e-mail eh@tandridge.gov.uk

Or write to us at:
Tandridge District Council
8 Station Road East
Oxted Surrey RH8 0BT

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