Contaminated food recalls rise

NATIONAL food product recalls resulting from dangerous contamination have risen sharply in the past five years.

Analysis of Food Standards Agency data showed 15 national recalls in 2017. This is more than double the seven seen five years ago, according to research by insurance brokers Lockton.

The study found food contamination linked to choking hazards such as metal and glass was the cause of 22per cent of recalls over the past six years, while salmonella contamination was to blame for 14 per cent.

Lockton said 42 per cent of manufacturers surveyed blamed the increase on cost-cutting in the production process.