Archive for May, 2011

You may be aware of the outbreak of E.coli bacteria (EHEC strain) in Northern Germany. The German authorities are reported to be giving the source as imports of Spanish cucumbers.

We have been contacted by the Food Standards Agency which is monitoring the outbreak and UK implications. The FSA has asked for information about UK imports of cucumbers at this time of year, particularly regarding volumes at this time of crossover of supplies between Mediterranean and UK. If you can provide information please contact sian@freshproduce.org.uk

The UK Health Protection Agency has issued a statement with advice to travellers to Germany. This indicates other produce – tomatoes and lettuce may be implicated: http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/NationalPressReleases/2011PressReleases/110526GermanEcoli/

Subsequently, the FSA has issued a statement (26 May) which indicates that ‘an association with the consumption of contaminated raw vegetables has been suggested as being the likely cause of the outbreak, but this has not been confirmed’: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2011/may/germanyecoli

We will keep members advised of any further developments.

EU Alert - Information

EU Alert - Border rejection

Fera has published its latest edition of Plant Clinic News, which includes an article on the free online sample tracking service and the recent finding of live caterpillars of two unusual species found on cut basil imported from Thailand and Vietnam. Syngamia abruptalis is an economic pest of labiate herbs in Asia and Pyrausta panopealis a less damaging pest in both Asia and Africa that again predominantly attacks labiates. Both could cause damage in the UK in the unlikely event of either species being introduced into protected cultivation.

To register to receive Plant Clinic News visit: http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/publications/plantClinicNews.cfm

The Food Standards Agency has published the findings of over 1,505 incidents handled in 2010, nearly 300 more incidents than in 2009.

The FSA states that among the three high level incidents it dealt with was the detection of morpholine as an unauthorised ingredient in fresh fruit wax coatings. FPC will be taking up with the FSA its categorisation of the morpholine incident as ‘high level’ and that there is no mention of the fact that the FSA assessed the risk to consumer health from morpholine residues as ‘likely to be of a low risk to consumers’.

The major causes of incidents were: environmental contamination (23%); microbiological (18%); nature chemical contamination (15%) and on-farm incidents (8%).

For more information visit: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2011/may/report

The Food Standards Agency has published its strategy to reduce foodborne disease in the UK. Since 2005 there has been little significant change in the level of foodborne disease in the UK and the FSA believes that there is greater scope to reduce levels by targeting specific pathogens, in particular Campylobacter and Listeria (which cause the largest number of cases and deaths), as well as raising awareness of safer handling and preparation among industry and consumer groups.

FPC submitted comments during the consultation on the strategy, emphasising the low number of incidences involving fresh produce and the high level of industry standards in place. We also mentioned the FPC ‘Guide to Good Hygiene Practice – Fresh Produce 2009’ which provides guidance for businesses operating within the fresh produce sector, covering  compliance with legislation and information on best practice which can further improve food safety or general hygiene.

For more information visit: http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/microbiology/fds/

Proposals for the 2012 UK monitoring plan for pesticide residues in food and drink have been published for comment. The Pesticide Residues Committee will be reviewing at its July meeting the proposals to monitor the following products:

•  Apples
• Aubergines (EU survey)
• Bananas (EU survey)
• Beans with pods
• Cauliflower (EU survey)
• Grapes – table (EU survey)
• Mushroom
• Okra
• Peas without pods (EU survey)
• Pears
• Peppers – sweet (EU survey)
• Potato
• Pulses
• Speciality vegetables
• Spices
• Swede
• Sweet Potato
• Yams

 For more information see: http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/prc.asp?id=3033

If you have any comments on the proposals please send them to sian@freshproduce.org.uk by 13 June

We have received the following request for data from CRD:

‘The Chemicals Regulation Directorate of HSE and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate run the UK Government’s surveillance programmes for pesticide residues and veterinary residues respectively. This work is overseen by two different Defra expert Committees, the Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PriF) and Veterinary Residues Committee, who give the UK government independent, expert advice on the programmes. The Committees know that many programmes for pesticide or veterinary residues testing exist within the food, drink and animal feed industries.

We would therefore appreciate receiving the results of any surveillance or analysis carried out in 2010.

We would like to include a summary of this information in our respective annual reports. Publishing the results will demonstrate to the general public our commitment to maintaining and improving a comprehensive system for residues testing. It also provides vital data for Government and Industry to use when planning future checks.

We will collate and anonymise the information before we publish it. You will not be identified or identifiable as the source when we do. However contributors will be thanked by name in the annual reports, but only with their agreement. If you would prefer your data to be excluded from the published summary please also state this in your return.

Please send your information, preferably by email, to Mr Lewis Moore, Chemicals Regulation Directorate, Room 214, Mallard House, 3 Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PX. Tel: 01904 455893, Fax: 01904 455763, Email: lewis.moore@hse.gsi.gov.uk

You will not be identified or identifiable as the source when we publish the information but you should be aware that we have a duty to consider all requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations. Such requests may cover the origin of the data we publish and unpublished industry monitoring results. If we do receive such requests regarding your information, we would always discuss the request with you before responding to it.

Further information can be found on the PRC website at: http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/prc.asp?id=2992.

If you can submit your findings to us by 17^th June, so we can thoroughly evaluate the results before publishing them in our annual report. Any information received after this date is still greatly appreciated.’