Food safety recalls surge by over a third, says FSA

Food safety recalls have surged by over a third in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, latest FSA data shows.

In total there was a 36% increase in alerts issued between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019 compared to the same period in 2017/18. Allergy alerts were up 28% over the period, while food alerts were up by 52%.

The FSA said it would respond to the increase in numbers by “continually reviewing capacity and capability”, but stressed the volume of recalled food still represented only a “tiny proportion” of the total food produced in the UK.

To mark World Food Safety Day on 7 June, the FSA is urging food businesses to download and use its recently published recalls guidance, which explains what the law requires and includes templates for food recall alert point of sale notices that businesses can use. 

“We make every effort to make sure we publish our alerts as soon as we can and with information that is both useful and clear,” said FSA chief operating officer Colin Sullivan. “Our advice to people is always based on the best science and evidence available. I’d encourage everyone to sign up for our food alerts service, to get immediate updates when product recalls and allergy alerts are published.”