Food alerts and notices

Food Standards Scotland issues information about food alerts and notices in Scotland to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.

We issue information about food alerts and notices in Scotland to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. As well as this, we work with the Food Standards Agency to publish information about UK-wide food alerts, allergy alerts, withdrawals and recalls on this website.

COVID-19

We have updated the ‘advice to consumers’ lines in our food alerts to reflect appropriate shopping habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note that food safety alerts reflect the instructions of the food business undertaking the recall when it comes to how consumers can return products and get refunds, where applicable. The wording in these alerts is fact checked with the food business undertaking the recall as part of established procedures. Where consumers are asked to visit stores to return the product, we are currently asking food businesses to consider how consumers shop during COVID-19, and are advising consumers to try to secure a refund that does not require attending a store unnecessarily.

In light of changing consumer shopping behaviours during this pandemic, where more people are shopping online instead of visiting retail stores, we would like to also remind businesses of the importance of using a range of methods to communicate food recalls to consumers. Where online sales or advertising of the products occur, the point of sale notice (POS) should also be displayed on the website.

Types of alerts we issue

Product Recall Information Notice (PRIN)

Product Recall Information Notice (PRIN) is issued where a solution to the problem has been put in place – the product has been, or is being, recalled from consumers.

Allergy alerts (AA)

Allergy Alerts are issued when the allergy information on food labels is missing, incorrect. When issues are identified in relation to allergen information, the affected foods will need to be recalled from sale. When this happens, FSS will take action and issue an allergy alert to inform consumers via our website, text and e-mail alerts service and notices displayed in stores.

Food Alert for Action

A Food Alert for Action (FAFA) is issued where intervention by enforcement authorities is required. These notices and alerts are often issued in conjunction with a product withdrawal or recall.

View all news and alerts

Email and text alerts

We offer an email and text alert service to notify conumers when products have been recalled. This service is completely free of charge.

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News and alerts

Food Standards Scotland’s news and food alerts, including product recalls and allergy alerts.