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Food Standards Agency |
The Food Standards Agency has this week co-ordinated with local authorities further inspections of companies and factories allegedly involved in the supply of foods contaminated with the illegal dye Sudan I.
Five local authorities, in areas where the key companies in the chain of supply are based, have been central to this investigation. Their food law enforcers have exercised their powers to inspect these companies and examine documentation relating to affected products.
The information will form part of the Agency’s wider investigation to establish how this failure in the industry’s legal duty to provide safe and fit food happened.
Central to this investigation, the largest ever conducted in the UK, has been action by five local authorities:
- Essex County Council
- Lincolnshire County Council
- South Holland District Council
- Rochdale District Council
- Basildon District Council
Companies and factory premises in Clacton, Essex; Long Sutton, Lincolnshire; Oldham, Lancashire; and Billericay, Essex, have been the subject of inspections and samples have been taken for further analysis.
David Statham, the FSA’s Director of Enforcement said: 'This is a major investigation. Local authorities across the country have visited a number of premises to look at records and take samples. Our advice to local authorities is that they will need to consider enforcement action on the basis of the evidence they collect. We will review the position with local authorities when the collection of evidence is complete. That may take some time.' |
