Incorrect Allergen Labelling 25th November 2025
Incorrect Food Allergen Labelling continues to be a challenge in the market. Keep abreast of the latest recalls via the FSA website. Read more......
Acrylamide target levels 22nd October 2025
The target levels for acrylamide in food and drink were published in Annex IV Regulation 2017/2158. So if your products are in the categories impacted be sure to have a monitoring system in place to understand and reduce levels as appropriate. Impacted categories include: fried potato products ; various cereal products and coffee with lower target levels set for babyfoods. Read more......
Gluten Labelling Guidance 16th September 2025
There are some excellent guides available which can easily be over looked. A quick reminder of the Food and Drink Federations resource covering gluten labelling in food and drink. Read more......
Chemicals in Food - Useful FSA resource 12th August 2025
Did you know the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have a very helpful resource available covering chemicals in food? Read more........
Allergen label errors continue.... 2nd July 2025
Food labeling errors with missed and/or incorrect allergen labeling continue to be a major source of products recalls and withdrawals.Unilever ice cream lollies involved in one of the most recent cases. Read more......
UK Government focus on reducing obesity levels 30th June 2025
The UK government is looking to Food and Drink manufacturers to support efforts to reduce obesity levels. Read more......
Food Fraud tools 14th May 2025
The Food Authenticity network has a range of tools available to support you with your Food Fraud risk assessment and prevention programs. Read more......
WHO report supports labelling on alcohol 2nd April 2025
The recent WHO report supports the need for alcohol labels to carry a cancer health warning explaining that consuming alcohol can lead to an increased risk of cancer. Read more......
HFSS advertising restrictions 12th March 2025
The High Fat Salt and Sugar (HFSS) advertising restrictions will come fully into force 1st October 2025. Read more.......
FDA Guidance Plant based foods 12th February 2025
The FDA have developed a set of draft guidance for labelling of plant based foods. Read more..........
Show More...
Call for harmonisation on EU Allergen labelling 8th January 2025
Several European countries have their own rules for allergen labelling of food products, particularly those outside of the scope of EU 1169/2011 which focused on pre-packed foods. This potentially creates confusion for people with an allergy as well as making collaboration between labs very difficult,hence the call for better harmonisation across Europe. Read more.......
Update- Peanut contamination in mustard 18th December 2024
Keep updated on the products which are impacted by the unintentional presence of peanut in mustard which is impacting a broad spectrum of products on the market via the Food Standards Agency website. Read more......
FDF Guidance published on Allergen Recalls 6th November 2024
The Food and Drink Federation have published helpful guidance for the food industry aimed at reducing the number of recalls linked with food allergens. The most common reasons for an allergen based recall is linked to : incorrectly or not declaring allergenic ingredients ; mismatch of product to packaging ; incorrect ‘free-from’ allergen claims ; not declaring unintentional allergen presence in food and drink products. Read more.....
Out of Home Allergen consultation launched 9th October 2024
Recently the Food Standards Agency has launched a consultation looking into Allergen Labelling for the Out-Of-Home Sector. Read more......
FSA publish study on Food Allergens 3rd September 2024
FSA publish research study aimed at better understanding trends in the occurrence of food hypersensitivity reactions and their consequences and the circumstances surrounding severe, life-threatening reactions to food. Read more......
Labelling requirements for food product into NI 15th August 2024
DEFRA have recently reviewed guidance on labelling requirements for certain products moving from Great Britain to retail premises in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. Read more.........
Making claims on Food Supplements 9th July 2024
When making claims on Food Supplements ensure that you use approved claims from the GB register. Recently the ASA upheld a complaint made against Drop Food Supplements where claims were made on the product which were not on the approved register. Read more.....
Advertising of high fat, salt and sugar products 26th June 2024
Both major political parties propose prohibiting the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products to children as part of the approach to tackle childhood obesity. Click on the link for the technical guidance to review where your products sit in relation to HFSS. Read more....
Natural and synthetic cannabidiol (CBD) 13th May 2024
Food Standards Agency publish response to applications for the use of natural and synthetic cannabidiol (CBD) applications as novel foods. Read more.......
Ultra-processed Foods Guidance 10th May 2024
The Food Standards Agency has published consumer information in relation to the current science and evidence around ultra-processed food and the FSA’s role.Read more.........
WHICH review of Origin labelling 30th April 2024
The recent WHICH review of origin labelling found it confusing for consumers. Read more....
Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. 5th March 2024
Under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme some food products will need individual product labels with the words ‘Not for EU’. These requirements will be brought in through 3 phases from October 2023 to July 2025. Read more.....
Confusion on Ultra Processed Foods 14th February 2024
How can consumers be supported to make healthier food choices? Packaged food and drink products must show whether a food item is high in fat, salt and sugar but not how processed it is. Would labelling foods as ultra-processed might be helpful for consumers? Read more.....
GB-wide labelling proposal 16th January 2024
The UK Governments proposal to roll out ‘not for EU’ labelling on food and drink products across the whole of the UK from October has raised concerns in Scotland related to the additional cost to businesses. Read more..........
Confusion over food date labels 20th December 2023
The recent report from the Consumer Food Insights (CFI) Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability on food-date labels, such as “use by” and “best if used by,” shows consumer confusion leading to unnecessary disposal of safe-to-eat. Read more...
NEW EU rules for Organic Pet Food Labelling 9th November 2023
EU Council adopt labelling rules for organic pet food labelling: A new EU law that will align the rules regarding the labelling of organic pet food to those governing the labelling of organic food intended for human consumption. Read more....
FSA issue new guidance on CBD levels 19th October 2023
Consumers advised to cut consumption of CBD: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland have issued new guidance for consumers advising that the maximum daily intake of Cannabidiol (CBD) should not exceed 10mg. Previous FSA advice published in February 2020 recommended healthy adults not to take more than 70mg of CBD per day. Read more....
FSA and FDF issue updated allergen labelling guidance 5th September 2023
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published new food allergen labelling and information technical guidance, as the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) reveals its own set of allergen labelling guidelines supporting the agency’s update which will support businesses in getting their food labels right for consumers.Read more FSA.... FDF....
Energy drinks recalled due to labelling issues 1st September 2023
Health Canada has recalled additional ranges of caffeinated energy drinks , including popular brands, as being potentially unsafe due to concerns related to caffeine content and labelling accuracy. High levels of caffeine can pose potential health risks, especially for children, pregnant individuals, breastfeeding individuals, and those who are particularly sensitive to caffeine. Read more...
Consultation on Nutrition and Health Claims 10th August 2023
The government wants to ensure that consumers can have confidence in the food they buy, and any health benefits promoted on the label. The nutrition and health claims regulations ensure that claims made about a food or drink are accurate and not misleading so that consumers can make informed choices to meet their lifestyle and nutritional needs. The government is proposing changes in relation to nutrition labelling, composition and standards (NLCS) retained EU law. Read more....
Show Less...
Testimonials
"During the four years to date in which Sarah Howarth has served with me on the IFST Scientific Committee (previously known as the Technical & Legislative Committee), she has made valuable contributions to its discussions and its work of drafting and approving IFST Information Statements. I have the highest regard both for her scientific knowledge and her ability to utilise it effectively."
J Ralph Blanchfield MBE, Adjunct Professor of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Michigan State University
News
Incorrect Allergen Labelling
25th November 2025
Incorrect Food Allergen Labelling continues to be a...
See more...
Acrylamide target levels
22nd October 2025
The target levels for acrylamide in food and drink...
See more...