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Journal of Trading Standards, Online Edition - JoTS Online

Welcome to the Journal of Trading Standards online edition, JoTS Online. Browse through our latest Articles - including Analysis, Opinion Pieces, Features and a selection of articles from our acclaimed print journal.

Although many JoTS Online articles are open access (public), others are exclusive to CTSI Members - in which case, you'll need to login to access them. If you aren't a member of CTSI yet, you can join us here. And, if you'd like to contribute articles or suggest topics for us to cover, please email our Editorial Team.

Latest JoTS Online Articles : 

News Category Tags: Crime, Product Safety, Health and Safety, Counterfeit Goods, Retail, Animal Health and Welfare, Legal and Policy, Enforcement Practice, Product Recalls, Property and Housing, Automotive, Vapes, Business, CTSI Conference, CTSI Hero Awards.

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Special report: Food for thought

Posted: 10 July 2024

ANALYSIS: Food allergies can make accurate labelling a matter of life and death. This special report investigates the responsibilities of manufacturers, retailers and regulators, explores continuing weaknesses in allergen information, and considers how legislation, technology and enforcement can work together to better protect consumers.
 

Opinion: Recipes for disaster

Posted: 08 July 2024

OPINION: Every fatal allergic reaction represents a preventable tragedy. Using food allergen safety as its focus, this opinion piece argues that robust labelling, responsible food businesses and determined enforcement remain essential to protecting lives and preventing avoidable disasters.
 

UK food security in 'absolute chaos'

Posted: 01 July 2024

UPDATES: Food security expert Professor Chris Elliott warns that mounting pressures across the supply chain demand urgent government action, including dedicated ministerial leadership to strengthen the UK's food system.
 

Warwickshire TS seize muscle drugs

Posted: 11 June 2024

UPDATES: Warwickshire Trading Standards has seized illegal muscle-building drugs worth £500,000 after intercepting consignments of SARMs, warning that the unauthorised ‘novel foods’ can pose serious risks including heart, liver, fertility and mental health harms.
 

Whisky investment ads misled

Posted: 01 December 2023

UPDATES: Authorities are warning consumers about misleading whisky investment promotions after the Advertising Standards Authority ruled that social media adverts overstated likely returns, downplayed risks and failed to explain charges attached to unregulated cask investments.
 

FSA raises workforce capacity concerns

Posted: 09 November 2023

UPDATES: The Food Standards Agency's Our Food 2022 report highlights mounting workforce shortages affecting Trading Standards and Environmental Health. CTSI and CIEH say sustained investment is essential if food standards enforcement and consumer protection are to remain effective.
 

TS supports Allergy Awareness Week

Posted: 26 April 2023

UPDATES: Staffordshire Trading Standards is using Allergy Awareness Week to remind food businesses that clear allergen information is a legal duty, after local inspections found imported products with undeclared allergenic ingredients.
 

FSA launches meat fraud inquiry

Posted: 31 March 2023

UPDATES: The Food Standards Agency has opened an inquiry into reports of large-scale meat fraud, raising fresh questions about supply chain integrity, food authenticity and the systems designed to protect consumers.
 

Illegal vodka distillery discovered

Posted: 20 February 2023

UPDATES: HMRC officers, supported by Staffordshire Trading Standards, have dismantled a counterfeit vodka factory near Lichfield capable of producing 150 bottles an hour. The seizure exposed suspected fake Krackoff vodka, large storage tanks and an operation estimated to be evading £2.5m in excise duty each year.
 

Allergens: a matter of life and death

Posted: 15 February 2023

ANALYSIS: Natasha’s Law has strengthened allergen labelling for pre-packed food, but patchy awareness, supplier changes and limited local authority resources still leave consumers at risk. Through the work of David Pickering, Dilys Harris and the family of Megan Lee, the article shows why allergen compliance is a life-saving duty, not a technical formality.
 

Support for ‘robust’ allergen rules

Posted: 19 December 2022

UPDATES: Proposals for tougher allergen laws following Owen Carey's death gather further support, including mandatory hospital reporting of anaphylaxis cases, as campaigners and trading standards press for stronger protections for consumers with food allergies.
 

Family recognised for allergen work

Posted: 27 June 2022

UPDATES: The family of Megan Lee receive recognition for their work to improve allergen awareness following her death. The article reflects on their campaigning achievements and the lasting influence they have had on food safety and consumer protection.
 

Natasha's Law comes into force

Posted: 01 October 2021

UPDATES: Natasha's Law introduces mandatory ingredient labelling for pre-packed foods for direct sale, while trading standards officers and partners explain how multilingual guidance is helping businesses comply and reduce the risk of further allergy tragedies.
 

Campaign highlights allergen law

Posted: 09 September 2021

UPDATES: With new legislation on allergen labelling coming into force next month, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is hosting a campaign to inform businesses of their responsibilities to label food...
 

Doing without... food labelling

Posted: 29 July 2021

OPINION: Traipsing through a gargantuan supermarket, my eight-year-old boy-wonder Achilles in tow, searching for guacamole, is certainly not my idea of an adventure. When Achilles first asked for “quakeemolee”, there was no doubt...
 

No short measures on alcohol sales

Posted: 29 July 2021

ANALYSIS: At the time of writing the UK hospitality sector, including...
 

Restaurant fined over allergens

Posted: 23 July 2021

UPDATES: An Indian restaurant in Derby has been fined for selling a m...
 

CTSI raises concerns over Australia deal

Posted: 01 June 2021

UPDATES: CTSI has voiced concerns that the proposed UK-Australia trade agreement could allow lower-standard food products into the UK market, raising important questions about consumer protection, food standards and future regulation.
 

Pub fined for diluting drinks

Posted: 01 March 2021

UPDATES: A Cheshire village pub and its manager were fined after admitting offences involving watered-down spirits. The case reinforces consumers' right to receive products at the advertised strength while illustrating how routine regulatory checks can uncover breaches of trading standards law.
 

New Covid-19 food business guide

Posted: 15 May 2020

UPDATES: CTSI and BEIS have launched a free Business Companion guide for food and drink businesses moving into takeaway and delivery during lockdown, helping operators understand the regulatory issues that come with rapid diversification.