Retail Surveillance Survey Sampling Programme 2025/26

The Retail Surveillance Survey 2025/26 was commissioned by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to identify emerging food risks, assess compliance with food standards and provide evidence to support regulatory and policy activity across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A total of 845 food products were collected from a broad range of retail environments. Of these, 800 samples were examined for compliance with relevant legislation and guidance. A further 45 oat-based samples were assessed for research purposes.

Overall, 72% of targeted surveillance samples were satisfactory. Five key test areas were assessed: allergens, authenticity, composition, contaminants and unauthorised ingredients, alongside labelling checks. Of the samples that underwent allergen testing, 88% did not contain the undeclared allergen(s) they were assessed for. Undeclared allergen presence was predominantly found in Dubai‑style chocolates as well as in South Asian bakery and snack products. Authenticity testing showed 82% of samples were satisfactory, with most notable issues related to goat meat and processed meat products. Some ground coffee products and one cooking oil were also deemed inauthentic. Composition assessments indicated 91% of samples tested in this respect were satisfactory, though discrepancies were found in slush-ice drinks, processed meat products, prepacked milk/dark chocolate and some cooking oils. Contaminant analysis revealed concerns in Dubai‑style chocolates, ashwagandha supplements and two raw tuna samples. Low levels of mycotoxins were detected in some of the oat research samples but none were identified at levels of concern. Unauthorised additives, and permitted additives present above the allowed limits, were identified in slush-ice drinks and green powdered supplements. Labelling non‑compliances were widespread across many commodities and were often the sole reason for products being deemed unsatisfactory. These failures ranged from minor inaccuracies to significant omissions that could mislead consumers or obscure important safety information.

The percentage of satisfactory results varied by retail type, with smaller and specialist retailers showing lower compliance compared with larger retailers.

The findings highlight areas where additional oversight, clearer guidance and targeted enforcement could strengthen consumer protection. The data generated will support the FSA’s ongoing work to assess risk, inform policy and uphold food standards and safety.