Food safety incidents up by 200+ cases: FSA

27-May-2012 - Last updated on 28-May-2012 at 13:45 GMT

Cases for concern: the FSA investigated nearly 210 more food safety incidents last year than in 2010

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) investigated 1,714 food incidents last year – nearly 210 cases up on the 1,505 studied in 2010.

Improved monitoring and reporting were thought responsible for the rise in investigations, which included reports of some potentially harmful, contaminated or illegal food entering the food chain.

The three largest contributors to the total number of recorded incidents last year were: environmental factors, accounting for 21%, natural chemical contamination at 17% and microbiological contamination at 16%.

The Annual Report of Incidents 2011 published today (May 28) reveals rises across a number of categories of food incident. For example, there were 281 reports of microbiological contamination last year compared with 271 in 2010, and 147 in 2006.

Pesticide incidents

Investigation of pesticide incidents also increased. More testing of okra at border inspection posts accounted for the increase in incidents involving the use of pesticides illegal in the UK and European Union, with 102 last year compared with 55 in 2010.

Another reason for last year’s increase was the extra testing of paan leaves following concerns about salmonella contamination. During 2011, 79 incidents of contaminated paan leaves were reported to the FSA.

Tim Smith, FSA chief executive, said: “Keeping food safe is the FSA’s priority and investigating food incidents is a key part of that. Our annual report gives a real insight into the vital role we play in protecting the food chain from a wide range of risks.

Enforcement officers

“The UK has some of the most robust food safety safeguards in the world. When such incidents do occur the food industry, the FSA, other government agencies, and enforcement officers locally, work quickly to isolate any risks and remove affected products from our shelves.”

In his foreward to the report, Smith wrote: “This year there have been a number of high level incidents that have required us to be part of an international response. Incidents from abroad are a risk and in 2011, the principle sources were India, China and Bangladesh.”

Smith also pledged to work with other authorities to ensure the safety of food consumed during the London Olympics. “We want the positive impact of the Games to resonate for years to come. Throughout the Olympic Games we will work to ensure food in London and other venues is safe to eat.”

Food safety incidents on the rise