APA News

  • Food Standards Agency Publish Results of Takeaway Survey


    Prompted by the survey by Which? published in April 2014 which showed that of the 60 lamb takeaways (lamb curry and lamb kebab) sampled in Birmingham and London, 24 contained meat of species other than lamb, the Food Standards Agency announced that it would fund an additional programme of priority local authority testing of lamb dishes from takeaway restaurants across the UK. The report  published on the 9th February covers 307 lamb based takeaway dishes taken by qualified officers and analysed at Public Analyst laboratories across the country. None of the samples in the survey were taken in Birmingham with 22 being taken in London Boroughs.

    All were tested for the presence of undeclared species of meat. Dishes with sauces were also tested for undeclared allergens and the unauthorised use of additives.

    Of the samples tested, 223 (73%) were fully compliant with food legislation, 65 samples (21%) failed because of the presence of non-declared meat, 12 samples (4%) tested positive for the presence of undeclared allergens, including peanut and almonds proteins, and 7 samples (2%) were non-compliant because of the unauthorised use of additives.

    The samples that tested positive for undeclared meat showed the presence of beef, chicken, and in one sample pork, although not sold as a halal product. Of these samples, 23 had levels of undeclared meat species below 1% which is more likely to indicate poor handling during processing rather than potential adulteration. However in 17 samples no lamb or mutton was present and the only meat detected was beef.

    One hundred and sixty four samples with sauces were bought as being free from nuts. Of these 12 contained low levels of peanut and/or almond. In all cases the levels found very sufficient to elicit an allergic reaction in a sensitive individual.

    Seven samples were found to contain the artificial colour Ponceau 4R (E124 )  and four of these also contained Sunset Yellow (E110). Since the 31st May 2013 these colours have not been permitted in sauces.