Email updates, Mobile and PDA
This section explains how you can sign up for Food Standards Agency email updates and get the latest food alert details sent as a text message to your mobile phone. We also show you how to access our eatwell website, which is full of healthy eating advice for the general public, on your PDA (personal digital assistant).
Email updates
Our websites are updated many times each day, so keep yourself posted by registering for our email updates. We have 18 different categories, so you can choose to get the information that's most useful and relevant for you. Every time something new goes on the website in your chosen category, we'll let you know by email.
You can sign up for news stories, press releases issued by the Agency in each of the four UK countries, including releases from FSA Wales in Welsh, Food Alerts, Allergy Alerts, science updates, enforcement news, BSE information, board meeting agendas, consultations, and food survey information sheets. You can also sign up for emails when a job advert goes on the website in one of four different categories.
Subscribing is a two-stage process. First of all, click on the link below for the section you wish to receive email alerts about. Click on any buttons against the subject you wish to receive emails about and insert your email address before submitting your request. Then we'll send you an email asking you to confirm by clicking on a link. This is to protect you against getting unwanted emails. You can sign up to as many email alert categories as you want.
If you no longer wish to subscribe to email alerts, follow the link below that enables you to review your subscriptions and follow the instructions on that page to unsubscribe. Do make sure that you use exactly the same email address to unsubscribe, ensuring that any capital letters are included if they were used the first time. If you are unsure which email you used, follow the instructions to unsubscribe from an email we have sent you.
Get news story email updates
Get specialist info email updates
Get press release email updates
Get job vacancy email updates
SMS Food, Allergy and Colour Alerts
Get details of all the latest product recalls, withdrawals, allergy alerts, and news about EFSA's evaluation of colours in food, as soon as they're issued by getting the details sent as a SMS text message direct to your mobile phone.
To sign up to the free service for Food Alerts, simply send the text message 'START FOOD' to the number 62372. To unsubscribe, just text 'STOP FOOD' to the same number.
To sign up to the free Allergy Alert SMS service, simply send the text message 'START ALLERGY' to 62372. Texting 'STOP ALLERGY' unsubscribes you.
To sign up to the free colours SMS service, that alerts you to EFSA publishing an opinion on a colour, simply send the text message 'START COLOURS' to 62372. Texting 'STOP COLOURS' unsubscribes you.
The initial text will be charged at your network provider's rate.
Mobile/PDAs
Parts of our Eatwell website are available on mobile phones, palmtop computers and other wireless handheld devices, so you can access food safety and nutrition advice wherever you are.
To access this channel your personal digital assistant (PDA) or mobile phones will need to use Palm OS, Pocket PC, or Symbian operating system with browser software. It is available wirelessly or via providers like AvantGo.
Connect wirelessly:
If your PDA has a wireless connection you can link it by going to http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/?view=handheld which has a layout optimised for small PDA and mobile phone screens.
Synchronise:
If your PDA does not have a wireless connection, you can still get access to eatwell using the synchronisation link with your PC. For example, you can use the software provided by AvantGo.
You will need to sign up for a free account with AvantGo if you do not already have one, via the AvantGo website
If you already have an account with AvantGo you can add the eatwell channel.