Alcohol sales in Scotland fall to 25 year low
- 24 June 2019
The volume of alcohol sold per adult in Scotland in 2018 has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1994. The first expert analysis of data, just over a year since Scotland became the first country in the world to introduce minimum unit pricing, shows a 3% fall in alcohol sales per adult […]
Listeria outbreak: multi-agency investigation underway
- 24 June 2019
A multi-agency investigation is being carried out into cases of listeria infection in nine seriously ill hospital patients in England, five of whom have sadly died. No infections have been found in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. On 14 June, Public Health England (PHE) announced the number of deaths related to pre-packed sandwiches and salads at hospitals […]
Shadow Chair appointed for Public Health Scotland
- 24 June 2019
With less than a year to go until the establishment of Public Health Scotland, Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman has confirmed the appointment of Professor Jim McGoldrick, as Shadow Chair of Public Health Scotland. Professor McGoldrick is current Convenor of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and a Board Member of the Care Inspectorate. He is […]
Scotland celebrates Clean Air Day with nationwide events
- 22 June 2019
Several events took place on June 20 across Scotland to celebrate Clean Air Day. Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest air pollution campaign which takes place on 20 June every year and is coordinated by Environmental Protection Scotland in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. The day, is supported by several organisations including […]
Consultation launched on adding folic acid to flour
- 17 June 2019
The UK government is consulting on plans to introduce mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid in the UK help prevent neural tube defects in foetuses. The launch of the 12-week consultation follows years of campaigns urging the Government to make the fortification of flour mandatory. Neural tube defects, such as spina bifida (abnormal development of the spine) and anencephaly, which affects the brain, […]
Food waste worse than plastic for climate change says Zero Waste Scotland
- 26 May 2019
Food waste from Scottish homes even worse for climate change than plastic waste, Zero Waste Scotland warns as it urges everyone to play their part through its new Food Waste Reduction Action Plan. The agency issued the warning as it began work to implement its new Food Waste Reduction Action Plan, launched with the Scottish […]
Scottish Water launches £30 million project for new water supply
- 26 May 2019
A £30 million project to improve services, and ensure high quality drinking water to more than 54,000 people in parts of Bearsden, Milngavie, Clydebank and Strathblane, will be carried out for Scottish Water by its partners Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA). It is expected this work will take around two years to complete. The project will […]
HPS publish annual gastrointestinal surveillance reports for 2018
- 26 May 2019
Health Protection Scotland (HPS) published the following gastrointestinal surveillance reports for 2018: Hepatitis A In 2018, there were 34 cases of Hepatitis A reported to HPS. This is lower than that reported in 2017 when 153 cases were reported. However, these reports in 2017 included 91 cases associated with a foodborne outbreak of Hepatitis A […]
Traffic-free days begin in Edinburgh
- 26 May 2019
On the Sunday 5 May roads in the centre of Edinburgh were closed to traffic for the first time as the city joined the Open Streets movement to reduce air pollution. It is the first city in the UK to join the Open Streets movement, a movement which has seen cities around the world temporarily […]
Acrylamide in food guidance
- 25 May 2019
New guidelines have been published for acrylamide in food by Food Standards Scotland in partnership with SFELC Food Safety and Food Standards Sub Committees. The guidelines are intended to help authorised officers with the implementation and interpretation of Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158. Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 was published following a full Scientific Opinion produced by […]
East Renfrewshire Council raise allergen awareness with short video
- 20 May 2019
Environmental Health at East Renfrewshire Council have created a short video in a bid to raise awareness of allergen information requirements for food businesses. The video aimed at food businesses and consumers aims to ensure that they are aware of the allergen requirements and they can trust the food they buy and are protected. The […]
Revised version of “Guidance for Local Authority Enforcement Officers on the Production of Cheese from Unpasteurised Milk”
- 20 May 2019
Following publication of the document titled ‘Guidance for Local Authority Enforcement Officers on the Production of Cheese from Unpasteurised Milk’, by the SFELC Joint Specialist Cheese & Risky Foods Short-Life Working Group in October 2018, a new Version 2 of the guidance has been produced and ratified at the SFELC meeting on Friday 26 April […]
