YOUR SUPPORT IS FORCING THE FSA TO TAKE ACTION
As reported in our previous update, the Food Standard Agency (FSA) appear to be taking more enforcement action against Cutting plants and Slaughterhouses/ Abattoirs.
Your comments and vote for this petition are having a serious effect on them, as I believe they do not like bad publicity in relation to their management’s previous lack of activities in trying to reduce foodborne illness from such sources.
Thank you all so much.
The four recently reported stories on their website are in the links below:
The first is about a cutting plant being obstructive to an FSA inspection.
https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/cutting-plant-fined-for-obstructing-fsa-inspections
The second is about a company breaching meat production regulations.
https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/manchester-abattoir-fined-over-ps18000-for-failings
The third is about an Abattoir failing to follow public health regulations and being fined £265,000, the highest ever fine in a case brought by the FSA.
https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/abattoir-fined-more-than-ps265000-for-failure-to-follow-public-health-regulations
The fourth is about an Abattoir breaching hygiene regulations
https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/romford-abattoir-fined-ps24000-for-hygiene-breaches
Additionally, a product recall from an Abattoir whose meat was unfit for human or animal consumption:
https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-21-2019
We hope the FSA keep up their current enforcement campaign to ensure food safety of meat for the consumer and not just do so when they are under the spotlight from the public and previously from the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee.
A recent report by the union Unison entitled “Environmental Health – how cuts are putting individuals and communities at risk and damaging local businesses and economies -The Damage” states:
“The food team is already having to outsource some food inspections to contractors. Contractors tend to complete work quickly as each inspection is charged for, so (they) tend to be less thorough. Fewer animal health inspections are a major concern as farms are not being inspected to check on feed, animal movements for disease control. The last time we had a major disease outbreak in 2001 (foot and mouth) it cost the economy millions. All those measures put in place then are no longer checked due to all the cuts. At some point, something big will happen again as systems are not being maintained.”
Finally, like many others, I responded to the consultation on amending allergen information provisions, contained within domestic food information legislation. This was for food prepacked for direct sale, that was sadly brought about by the death of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse.
This was a Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) consultation in conjunction with the FSA.
Like the majority of the public who responded, Policy option 4 was the overwhelming majority (73%). "This option however, attracted considerable opposition from businesses, Public Sector Bodies and NGOs, with only 13% of businesses, 14% of Public Sector Bodies and 13% of NGOs identifying it as their preferred option".
This was to “Mandate the name of the food and full ingredient list labelling, with allergens emphasised, on packaging of food prepacked for direct sale”.
The FSA board had to agree to accept this option as the way forward due to the amount of publicity surrounding this case and issue.
Whilst I am pleased along with others that this was the consultation outcome, I believe it shows how difficult it is to overcome the wishes of businesses over consumer protection.
I believe the FSA have a long history of not labelling products, as they should have been doing previously, to enable consumers to make an informed choice to protect their health.
Please can you keep sharing the petition?
Thank you.