7 types of food crime
The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) tackles serious fraud and related criminality within food supply chains across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is a dedicated law enforcement capability providing national leadership on food crime.
What is food crime?
Food crime involves serious and intentional dishonesty that impacts detrimentally on the safety or authenticity of food, drink or animal feed. We have identified 7 different types of food crime:
- Theft
- Unlawful Processing
- Waste Diversion
- Adulteration
- Substitution
- Misrepresentation
- Document Fraud
Why does food crime matter?
Food crime can be seriously harmful to consumers, food businesses and the wider food industry. In cases where food provided it not what it says it is, it can cause severe risk to consumers particularly those with food allergies.
Preventing food fraud in your business
The NFCU Prevention team has developed a food fraud resilience self-assessment tool which provides free advice and support for food business operators.
Anybody can speak up about food crime by calling the food crime confidential hotline on 0800 028 1180, or use our online web form: https://www.food.gov.uk/contact/businesses/report-safety-concern/report-a-food-crime
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'Not suitable for under 4's': Updated guidance on glycerol in slush-ice drinks
The FSA recently developed industry guidance on glycerol in slush-ice drinks, advising that they should not be sold to children four years of age and under.
We are aware pre-packed slush ice products, including syrups, kits and ready-to-eat drinks, containing glycerol are now available for sale in many retailers. Businesses are advised to review these products before placing on the market and, where no warning is present on the packaging, ensure the recommended warning is displayed to inform customers: "Product contains glycerol. Not recommended for children 4 years of age and under."
Some of these products are known as grey market goods that have been manufactured for international markets. As such, they do not carry the appropriate warnings required for the UK market.
For a detailed look at the guidelines, visit our industry guidance page:
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New EU regulation on packaging
The European Commission has published new legislation Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste. This regulation covers the full life cycle of packaging, including some requirements which impact food safety.
Existing legislation governing the safety of food contact materials (FCMs) protects the public from risks associated with chemicals that might migrate onto food from materials the food comes into contact with, including packaging. The following areas of this new legislation relate to FCMs:
- Requirements for substances in packaging
- Recycled material content in plastic packaging
- Reuse and refill obligations for takeaways
All packaging that is intended to come into contact with food or already in contact with food, including compostable packaging, has to meet food safety requirements as set out in Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004. This legislation provides a harmonised legal framework for food contact materials. The new EU regulations will not change these existing safety requirements.
This new regulation applies in Northern Ireland under Windsor Framework arrangements. Transition periods and targets have been put in place which will impact the packaging industry and consumers. We welcome any feedback from industry following this latest EU announcement by emailing infofsani@food.gov.uk.
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New tolerable daily intake (TDI) for BPA set and EU ban published
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical substance used in combination with other chemicals to manufacture certain plastics and resins.
In December 2024, the European Commission adopted a ban on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials. The ban means that BPA will not be permitted in products that come into contact with food or drink, such as the coating on metal cans, reusable plastic drink bottles, water distribution coolers and other kitchenware.
Under Windsor Framework arrangements, the EU ban on BPA in food contact materials will apply in Northern Ireland. For most products, there will be an 18-month transition period in order to allow industry time to adapt to the changes. The ban also includes other bisphenols that are harmful to the reproductive and endocrine systems.
UK considerations
The UK’s scientific committee, The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer products and the Environment (COT) has agreed to adopt the TDI of 0.2 µg/kg bw (micrograms per kilogram body weight) per day, which was originally outlined in a re-evaluation of the safety of BPA set by German authorities and the EU in April 2023.
The FSA is now considering next steps including appropriate and proportionate risk management to ensure public health remains protected. We welcome any feedback from industry following this latest EU announcement by emailing infofsani@food.gov.uk
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Changes to Listeria Monocytogenes detection levels in ready-to-eat foods
The European Union has published Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2895 which amends Chapter 1, criterion 1.2.(b) of Annex 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005. It extends the scope of the current criterion 1.2 (b) so that Listeria Monocytogenes must not be detected in 25g during the entire shelf life of a ready-to- eat (RTE) product.
The amendment, which is relevant to all businesses producing RTE food in Northern Ireland, does not affect application of Chapter 1, criterion 1.2(a) of Annex 1 which is applied by the producer when they are able to demonstrate that levels of Listeria Monocytogenes in the product placed on the market will not exceed 100 cfu/g throughout its shelf-life.
The regulation came into effect on 10 December 2024 and the transition period will apply until 1 July 2026 in order to allow time for producers and operators to adapt to this change.
Food business operators (FBOs) should consider how the change will affect how they currently operate, including whether they are taking the necessary actions to ensure they will be able to demonstrate compliance with the amended regulation once it applies.
For more information, a guidance document is available to FBOs. This guidance is currently under the review of an EU working group and we will be in touch if any amendments are published. If you have any queries regarding these changes, please contact infofsani@food.gov.uk
Prohibition on certain hydroxyanthracene derivatives (HADs) overturned after legal challenge
On 13 November 2024, the EU General Court annulled significant parts of Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/468 which had prohibited or put under scrutiny the addition of certain botanicals containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives (HADs) to foods. The court’s action came after a successful legal challenge by industry stakeholders.
The ruling annulled the provisions which prohibited or placed under scrutiny all substances included in Regulation (EU) 2021/468 other than danthron. Danthron remains prohibited. Products containing the previously prohibited HADs are now permitted for use in Northern Ireland.
FSA regulated products consultation launch
Certain food and feed products, called regulated products, require authorisation before they can be sold in the UK. The FSA and FSS have published safety assessments on 10 regulated food and feed products.
A consultation on applications for authorisation of these regulated products was launched on 18 December 2024, seeking stakeholders’ views, comments and feedback in relation to these applications. This is the opportunity for stakeholders to input on the advice given to inform decision making.
The FSA welcomes the views of Northern Ireland businesses, consumers, and district councils. For more information, visit: FSA consultation on market authorisation of 10 regulated products
The deadline for responses is 19 February 2025.
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