The FSA sampling survey finds a high level of compliance

A food sampling exercise found limited safety concerns but problems with declared meat content and added water.

Findings come from a survey published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which helps monitor emerging food safety risks. The survey, which took place from July 2023 to January 2024, sampled 1,025 products from 31 commodities bought in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The Retail Surveillance Sampling program targets areas of known or potential risk. Samples were tested for undeclared allergens, contaminants, adulteration, inaccurate composition, or incorrect labeling.

Undeclared allergens were detected in three of the 180 foods tested. In all instances, this was due to milk protein (casein). Two undeclared milk cases were a loaf of bread and a packet of tortilla wraps.

Chicken and burger results

Composition checks on 250 meat and meat products, including pork sausages, ready meals (chicken, beef, and lamb), tinned meat, beef burgers, and raw frozen chicken, showed that 13 percent did not comply with requirements. Low meat content and undeclared or incorrectly declared added water were the most common reasons for non-compliance. 

Sixteen 16 out of 40 frozen raw chicken samples were non-compliant due to undeclared, or excess, added water and labeling issues. Ten of 24 frozen beef burgers were non-compliant, with eight having less meat content than declared and four containing higher fat levels than stated. The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) has communicated these results to industry. 

“While safety concerns were low, there were several composition non-conformities, which mean that consumers could be misled about the foods they are buying,” said the FSA.

Non-authentic products included tinned meat and a beef burger sample with low levels of a different species of meat detected, a goat’s cheese that contained sheep DNA, and an Arabica coffee sample that also contained Robusta coffee.

One of the 30 oregano samples contained olive leaves in addition to oregano. In another sample, a hard, chalky pebble was found.

Highlighted other findings

A total of 30 vegan biscuits and cereal bars, labeled vegan and without any precautionary allergen labeling, such as may contain, were tested for milk or egg. One sample was unsatisfactory due to labeling, but milk and egg protein were not found.

Pasta claiming to be made from Durum wheat was tested for authenticity. Three samples contained common wheat at a level greater than 3 percent.

From 30 olive oil samples analyzed, one extra virgin olive oil did not meet the requirements to be named as such, and one coconut oil was also non-compliant for authenticity reasons.

Sixty free-from products were tested for the presence of the relevant allergen—peanut, milk, or gluten. Undeclared milk was detected in free-from-dairy red lentils and poppy seed crackers. 

A range of 30 free-from-gluten oats and oat drink products were tested for gluten. Three samples had labeling issues.

“This annual survey is designed to help local authorities target their food safety inspections so that they can use their resources more effectively to protect consumers better. The increased compliance for some products such as olive oil are positive, and we will continue to carry out targeted surveillance programs to identify and find emerging risks within the UK food system to help ensure the safety of consumers,” said Professor Rick Mumford, deputy chief scientific advisor at the FSA.

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/10/fsa-sampling-survey-finds-high-level-of-compliance/