The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is piloting a new, roll-with-the-times, scheme designed to alert Food Enforcement Officers to potential food hazards while out in the field.
The FSA is launching a free subscription service that will send text messages containing details of Agency Food Hazard Warnings (FHW) direct to environmental health officers' and trading standards officers' mobile phones.
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 FSA's website.
David Statham, Director of Enforcement, 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."
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.