The Food Standards Agency has released a new guidance to help food businesses carry out food safety withdrawals and recalls with greater ease and effectiveness.
The document entitled ‘Guidance on Food Traceability. Withdrawals and Recalls within the UK Food Industry’ explains what the law requires and how to comply as well as information on:
- traceability systems
- making a decision on carrying out a withdrawal or recall
- roles and responsibilities
- the key principle to effectively inform consumers of a food recall
The Agency has also created some tools to supplement the UK-wide guidance and make it easier to implement. For example, a food recall point of sale notice that will save businesses time and make sure consumers get the information they need.
The project has been delivered in partnership with representatives from the food industry, enforcement authorities and consumer allergy/patient support organisations. They are a key outcome from the FSA’s joint review with Food Standards Scotland of the UK’s current food withdrawal and recall system.