HL Deb 31 March 1999 vol 599 cc42-5WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many food hazard warnings, by category of food and type of warning, have been issued since the Food Safety Act 1990 came into effect. [HL1789]

Baroness Hayman

The current procedure for the issue of food hazard warnings from central Government to food authorities was introduced with the publication of Code of Practice No. 16 on 29 March 1993. The following table gives the information requested with effect from 29 March 1993 to and including 26 March 1999, for England and Scotland. Similar action was taken, as appropriate, in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Year FHWs issued by category* Type of food affected
1993 3 x B Apple fool
(from 29 March) Shellfish
Tonic drink
1 x C Confectionery
13 x D Margarine
Beans
Cakes
Juice
Soft drinks x 4
Lager x 2
Salami sticks x 2
Baby food
2 x D (Scotland only) Macaroon bars
Cauliflower with
lamb
1994 2 x A Frozen egg
Shellfish
1 x B Ewe's cheese
2 x C Food supplement
(plus 1 update
Milkshake syrup
13 x D Cereal
Juice x 2
Gripe mixture
(plus 1 update)
Waffles
Chicken pies
Bread
Ice cream
Fromage frais
Rice
Ham
Peanut butter
Chicken
1995 1 x A Shellfish
3 x B Kosher snack
Bean curd
Milk
4 x C Soup
Juice
Bean curd
Soft drink
1 x C (Scotland only) Milk
12 x D Cheese
Beer
Soft drinks x 2
Oil
Meat snacks
Pickle
Baby food
Yoghurt
Juice
Noodles
Ham
1996 1 x A (Scotland only) Meat: EColi 0157
6 x B Counterfeit
alcohol x 2
Musselmeat
Meat products
Chicken
Cheddar cheese (plus 1 update)
1 x B (Scotland only) Meat Ecoli O157 (plus 3 updates)

Year FHWs issued by category* Type of food affected
3 x C Herbal remedy Counterfeit alcohol x 2
8 x D Savour snack
Raisins
Alcoholic drinks x 2
Mascarpone cheese (plus 1 update)
Cream
Chips
Almonds
1 x D (Scotland only) Milk
1997 1 x A Baby milk powder
5 x B Cheddar cheese (plus 2 updates)
Sandwich filling
Custard
(plus 1 update)
Bread
Cheese
1 x B (Scotland only) Meat pies (plus 1 update)
7 x C Paracetemol
Almond powder x 2
Baby food
Chocolate
Cereal
Canned figs
4 x C (Scotland only) Scotch pies
Chocolate raisins
Cheese
Confectionery
9 x D Baby milk powder
Chocolate spread
Bread
Crackers
Fromage frais
Cereal
Milk
Spaghetti bolognese
Pistachio nuts
2 x D Egg
Soft drinks
1998 1 x A Unpasteurised cheese (plus 13 updates)
2 x B Juice
Pancakes
1 x B (Scotland only) Mushrooms
1 x C Milk (plus 2 updates)
6 x C (Scotland only) Mincemeat (plus 1 update)
Milk—pasteurisation
Plant (plus 1 update)
Milk x 2
Meat—Specific Risk
Material
Mushrooms
9 x D Soft drinks
Lager/beer
Grapes
Bottled vegetables
Canned tomatoes x 3
Spaghetti in tomato
sauce
Brazil/pistachio nuts
1 x D (Scotland only) Pancakes
1999 (to and including 26 March 2 x B Ice cream Unpasteurised cheese
1 x C (Scotland only) Milk (plus 1 update)

Year FHWs issued by category * Type of food affected
6 x D Sardines in tomato
sauce
Canned tomato
products
Spaghetti in tomato
sauce x 3
Paté
1 x D (Scotland only) Various products—
Gamma
butyrolactone
contamination
* Code of Practice 16 identified the categories as follows:
A: for immediate action.
B: for information and suggested action.
C: for information and action as deemed necessary.
D: for information only—no action necessary.

The code was revised with effect from August 1997 when the categories became:

A: for immediate action.

B: for action.

C: for action as deemed necessary.

D: for information only.