The Food Standards Agency (FSA), in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), is spearheading a thorough investigation into potential contamination of mustard ingredients with peanuts within the food supply chain.
On September 20th, the FSA issued urgent allergy advice, following extensive analysis of the food chain. Ongoing investigations by both the FSA and FSS have pinpointed the contaminated mustard ingredients to three specific suppliers located in India. These suppliers have distributed their products to three spice companies in the UK, including FGS Ingredients Ltd and two other firms. Consequently, these companies have supplied the contaminated mustard ingredients to various entities across manufacturing, hospitality, and retail sectors.
In light of this situation, the FSA has mandated that all three spice companies swiftly assess whether their products have been compromised. Moreover, these companies must immediately notify any businesses that received their supplies regarding the potential contamination.
As of September 27th, the FSA has reported a total of 66 product recalls initiated by UK businesses, affecting a wide range of products. Testing has confirmed the presence of peanut contamination in multiple items across various businesses. The FSA anticipates additional recalls in the upcoming days as investigations continue.
To keep consumers informed, the FSA has committed to regularly updating its website with critical allergy alerts. This proactive approach underscores the importance of consumer safety during this investigation.
Consumer Safety: The Top Priority
Rebecca Sudworth, director of policy at the FSA, emphasized the seriousness of the issue, stating, “This investigation is complex, and the FSA and FSS are working with relevant businesses, local authorities, and agencies to put all necessary measures in place to protect consumers.”
She further advised, “For now, it remains very important that anyone with a peanut allergy avoids consuming products containing mustard as an ingredient until we are satisfied industry has identified and recalled all the specific affected products. Parents and carers of children who have a peanut allergy should take care to check the labels of food they buy and, if eating out or getting a takeaway, ask the restaurant or café about foods that might contain mustard.”
Sudworth acknowledged the challenges posed by such precautionary measures, stating, “While we understand that this advice may currently limit many people’s food choices, our priority must be to ensure consumer safety.”
Furthermore, she reassured consumers by asserting, “We will update consumers as soon as more information becomes available. We strongly encourage individuals with allergies to sign up for our allergy alerts to stay informed about future recalls.”
In parallel to these efforts, investigations aimed at identifying the root cause of the contamination are actively ongoing in both the UK and India. The FSA, along with trade associations and affected businesses, is diligently working to address this critical issue.
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