Food Hazard Alerts via SMS

30/11/19

Food enforcement officers will have the chance to receive food hazard alerts while out in the field, thanks to an innovative text messaging scheme set up by the Food Standards Agency.

The Agency is piloting a free subscription service that will send text messages containing details of Agency Food Hazard Warnings direct to Environmental Health Officers' and Trading Standards Officers' mobile phones.

Food Hazard Warnings alert local authorities to any problems associated with food and, in some cases, they provide details of any specific action which needs to be taken by a local authority.

They are often issued in conjunction with a product withdrawal or recall by a manufacturer, retailer or distributor.

The text message will highlight the urgency of the warning, the product name, and details of where the full version of the Food Hazard Warning can be found on the Agency's website.

David Statham, Director of Enforcement at the Agency, said: 'This pilot scheme is intended to allow greater convenience and accessibility for Food Enforcement Officers working out in their local communities.

By enabling information to be targeted direct to mobile phones, Food Enforcement Officers will be able to respond quickly to alerts and deal with any problems on the ground.' At present Food Enforcement Officers receive Food Hazard Warnings electronically and by fax but now they can sign up to receive this free service direct to their mobile phones by sending the text message 'FSA' to the number 07866428260.

The service is available to all 500 Local Authorities in the UK.