Reviews and annual reports

The Agency’s handling of a major incident is sometimes reviewed to make sure as much as possible is done to prevent a similar incident in the future. If such an incident is not prevented, the recommendations from the review help to show how the future incident is handled with the maximum efficiency and minimum risk and disruption to the public and all others concerned.

Sudan I review
In 2005, some chilli powder was found to be contaminated with an illegal red dye, Sudan I. The FSA Board initiated an independent review of how the incident was handled and what lessons were learnt. The report of the Sudan I Review Panel, which can be found via the link below, includes a number of recommendations that the Agency has taken action on.

These actions include setting up the Food Incidents Task Force, which published guidance on prevention and handling in March 2007, and developed a national food fraud database, providing local authorities with an effective resource to assist with their investigations. In 2008, intelligence gathered through this database led to hundreds of bottles of potentially dangerous counterfeit vodka being seized.

Genetically modified (GM) rice review
This 2006 incident involved US long grain rice being contaminated with an unauthorised genetically modified rice known as LLRICE601. The Agency’s Emergencies Group met in June 2008 to discuss the review of the incident.

Read the Agency’s response to the group's recommendations via the link below. These recommendations identified where changes in practice were required to improve the prevention, handling, risk management and communication of incidents.

The first annual report on food safety incidents was published in May 2007. This and later reports show how many food incidents the Agency handled in a year, and what action was taken to protect consumers.

All reports published to date can be found at the links below.