FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY

	\| Help \| Site map \| Search \| Text links \|
	Archive - MAFF

Home

Working Party on Chemical Contaminants from Food Contact Materials and Articles

Area of Work	Objectives	Duration	Contractor	Surveys Excluded from Publication of Brand Names
Survey of packaging used for take away food.	To analyse the range of packaging materials employed for take away foods, for potential migrants and their migration levels in food.	June 1997 to June 1998	CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.
Survey of styrene in 1997 Total Diet samples.	To analyse composite food samples from the 1997 Total Diet Study for styrene.	June 1997 to May 1998	CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.	yes ^a
Survey to establish household usage of plastic packaging and storage of canned foods.	To examine the use of plastic packaging and storage of canned foods in the home.	June 1997 to May 1998	BMRB International.	yes ^d

Working Party on Dietary Surveys

No new surveys commencing in 1997

Working Party on Food Additives

Area of Work	Objectives	Duration	Contractor	Surveys Excluded from Publication of Brand Names
Method development and survey of retail foods for the food colouring material annatto E160b.	To develop and validate extraction method(s) for the analysis of annatto food colour in those foods permitted to contain annatto by Annex IV of Council Directive 95/2/EC. To survey a minimum of 200 foods expected to contain annatto using the validated method(s).	April 1997 to September 1998	CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.

Working Party on Food Authenticity

Area of Work	Objectives	Duration	Contractor	Surveys Excluded from Publication of Brand Names
Survey of added water in cured pork.	To determine the accuracy of label declarations regarding the amount of added water in cured pork products.	February 1997 to June 1997	BMRB International and Hampshire Scientific Services, Aspland and James Ltd, Tickle and Reynolds, Derbyshire County Council PA Dept, Lincolne, Sutton and Wood Ltd, Somerset Scientific Services.
Survey of orange juice authenticity.	To analyse the authenticity of retail packs of orange juice to determine if they comply with the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars Regulations 1977 (as amended).	February 1997 to March 1998	Local authorities and Leatherhead Food Research Association and CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.
Survey of meat speciation authenticity.	To investigate whether the meat species or meat type named on a product label is correct; and if not to identify, where possible, the substituting species.	November 1997 (expected) to March 1998	Not yet selected.
Survey of olive and speciality oils.	To investigate whether olive oil and speciality oils have been substituted or adulterated with cheaper vegetable oils.	November 1997 (expected) to March 1998	Not yet selected.
Survey on the issue of salmon substitution with trout.	To investigate whether salmon is being substituted with trout.	November 1997 (expected) to March 1998	Not yet selected.

Working Party on Inorganic Contaminants in Food

Area of Work	Objectives	Duration	Contractor	Surveys Excluded from Publication of Brand Names
1997/98 Monitoring programme for nitrate in lettuce and spinach.	To obtain representative data on nitrate levels in lettuce and spinach. The results will be reported to the European Commission as required by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 194/97.	May 1997 to April 1998	Norfolk Trading Standards Department.	yes ^b
Survey of the lead content of imported dried fruits.	To establish the levels of lead in imported dried fruits entering the UK.	April 1997 to September 1997	Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority, Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association.
Multi-element survey of foods consumed by vegetarians.	To determine the concentrations of aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, tin and zinc in a wide variety of vegetarian foods.	June 1997 to December 1997	Laboratory of the Government Chemist.
Multi-element survey of beverages.	To determine the concentrations of aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, tin and zinc in a wide variety of beverages.	June 1997 to December 1997	Laboratory of the Government Chemist.
Survey of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in offal.	To determine the concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in offals.	June 1997 to December 1997	Laboratory of the Government Chemist.
Survey of nitrate in vegetables.	To obtain data on the nitrate concentrations in vegetables, primarily of UK origin, by means of a survey of retail outlets.	April 1997 to March 1998	ADAS Ltd.
Multi-element survey of infant foods.	To provide data on the concentrations of aluminium, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, tin and zinc in infant foods to assess trace element intakes of infants.	April 1997 to March 1998	AEA Technology Plc.

Working Party on Natural Toxicants in Food

Area of Work	Objectives	Duration	Contractor	Surveys Excluded from Publication of Brand Names
Survey of moniliformin in maize and the effects of subsequent processing on levels in the final food.	To determine the levels of moniliformin in maize, maize commodities, products and processed foods to establish the exposure of the UK population to this mycotoxin.	April 1997 to March 1998	RHM Technology.
Survey of sterigmatocystin in cheese, cereals and maize products.	To determine the levels of sterigmatocystin in cheese, cereals and maize products to establish the exposure of the UK population to this mycotoxin.	May 1997 to May 1998	RHM Techmology.
The development of computer-simulated sampling plans for mycotoxins in cereals and cereal derived commodities.	To devise a sampling scheme for mycotoxins which will include plans for the major cereals, such as maize, wheat, rye, rice and barley and their derived commodities.	May 1997 to October 1998	RHM Technology.	yes ^d
The development of sampling plans for ochratoxin A in cereals and similar particulate commodities.	To sample consignments of barley (or wheat) and green coffee containing detectable amounts of ochratoxin A in a manner which will permit comparison of the results which would have been obtained using three sampling plans currently used for aflatoxin.	April 1997 to March 1998	CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.	yes ^d
Duplicate diet study amongst vegetarians.	To collect two batches of fifty diets samples from a group of fifty vegetarians and to subsequently analyse the samples for a range of natural toxicants to establish the exposure of vegetarians in the UK population to these toxicants.	May 1997 to February 1998	BMRB International.	yes ^{a, b}
Report on MAFF- funded research and surveillance on mycotoxins, 1993-1996.	To assess MAFF-funded work on mycotoxins carried out since the publication of Food Surveillance Paper No. 36.	July 1997 to March 1998	KAS Mycotoxins.	yes ^d

Working Party on Nutrients in Food

Area of Work	Objectives	Duration	Contractor	Surveys Excluded from Publication of Brand Names
Nutrient analysis of ethnic take-away foods.	To provide information on the nutrient composition of ethnic takeaway foods that contribute to the nutrient intakes in the UK. *	January 1997 to March 1997	RSL Research Services Ltd., Aspland and James Ltd.	yes ^a
Nutrient analysis of yoghurts, fromage frais and chilled desserts.	To provide up-to-date and reliable information on the nutrient composition of yoghurts, fromage frais and chilled desserts. *	January 1997 to March 1997	BMRB International, Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association.	yes ^a

*The results will be used in MAFF's dietary surveys to establish nutrient intakes in the population, as well as being incorporated into future food composition tables.

Working Party on Organic Environmental Contaminants in Food

Area of Work	Objectives	Duration	Contractor	Surveys Excluded from Publication of Brand Names
Dioxins and PCBs in shellfish.	To provide information on the concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in edible shellfish available in the UK.	April 1997 to September 1998	CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.	yes ^{c, e}
Dioxins and PCBs in fats and oils for food production.	To determine the concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in fats and oils used in the manufacture of foodstuffs.	May 1997 to March 1998	CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.	yes ^c
Dioxins and PCBs in milk from farms in the vicinity of industrial sites - 1997.	To provide information on the concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in cows' milk from farms in locations close to potential sources - follow-up.	April 1997 to March 1998	CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.	yes ^{b, e}
Monitoring for dioxins and PCBs in milk from the Bolsover area - 1997.	To provide information on the concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in cows' milk from farms in the Bolsover area.	April 1997 to March 1998	CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich	yes ^{b, e}
Dioxins and PCBs in infant formulae.	To provide information on the concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in infant formulae for use in intake estimates.	May 1997 to April 1998	CSL Food Science Laboratory, Norwich.

Working Party on Radionuclides in Food

Area of Work	Objectives	Duration	Contractor	Surveys Excluded from Publication of Brand Names
Assessment of the factors affecting the variability of radionuclides in terrestrial foodstuffs.	To make recommendations concerning the optimum sample sizes for analysis in routine monitoring programmes taking into account the need for statistically robust data for use in the assessment of radiation exposure.	May 1997 to April 1998	AEA Technology.	yes ^c
Communication of surveillance results.	Research into the format of the presentation and communication of complex technical data to the general public without compromising the technical excellence of the RIFE report.	May 1997 to August 1997	W S Atkins.	yes ^d
Variability of radionuclide concentrations between individual crabs and lobsters.	To make recommendations concerning the optimum sample size for analysis in routine monitoring programmes taking into account the need for statistically robust data for use in the assessment of radiation exposure.	May 1997 to February 1998	Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.	yes ^c
Determination of total uranium in samples from MAFF's 1996 TRAMP and FARM monitoring programmes.	To analyse the uranium content of specific samples by delayed neutron activation analysis.	March 1997 to April 1997	Imperial College.	yes ^b
Radioactivity analysis for Total Diet Study.	Analysis of Total Diet Study samples collected on a regional basis.	June 1997 to March 2000	National Radiological Protection Board.	yes ^a

Footnotes

1. Surveys excluded from arrangements to release brand names:
a Surveys that analyse composite samples of several different brands or foodstuffs.
b Surveys where individual people or farms are studied
c Exploratory studies aimed primarily at developing analytical methodology or assessing survey design and studies to examine the effects of processing or where intermediate products which are not obtainable at the wholesale/retail level are analysed;
d Survey related activities which do not involve analysis of samples.
eAlthough most samples in the survey will be excluded under b 'brand' names will be given where farms are selling directly to the public.

2. In general, for surveys of nutrients in foods, composite samples are analysed in order to give information at a level of detail suitable for use in dietary surveys.

3. The main routine surveillance programme on radionuclides, the results of which are published in an Annual Report, involves unbranded farm produce.

4. It is anticipated that for most surveys where no unusual or unexpected results are identified the results should be published within 2 months of receipt of the contractor's report. If there are unusual or unexpected results then publication of survey results could take up to 4 months.

Return to UK Food Surveillance Information Sheets page
Go to top of page

This page was last updated on 16 February 2000