Independent convenience stores and specialist food retailers are being urged to tighten supplier checks and review product labelling after a major Food Standards Agency (FSA) surveillance programme found lower compliance rates among smaller businesses than larger supermarket chains.
The year-long survey identified issues ranging from undeclared allergens and misleading labels to food authenticity concerns, particularly in imported products and specialist grocery lines.
Smaller food retailers were significantly more likely to stock products that failed food standards checks than larger retailers, according to the Food Standards Agency's latest Retail Surveillance Survey released today (July 2).
The study, which tested 845 food products purchased across England, Wales and Northern Ireland between July and October 2025, found that while 72 per cent of targeted samples met regulatory requirements overall, compliance varied sharply by retail format. Around 82 per cent of products purchased from larger retailers were satisfactory, compared with just 64 per cent from smaller food businesses.
The FSA stressed that the programme targeted products already considered higher risk, meaning the findings should not be taken as representative of the entire UK food market. Instead, the survey was designed to identify emerging risks and areas requiring greater oversightt.
For convenience retailers, one of the biggest concerns was imported specialist products.
Among 45 Dubai-style chocolates tested, only one met every legal and labelling requirement. Investigators found undeclared peanut or sesame in 18 samples, while several contained elevated levels of mycotoxins. Labelling failures, including missing ingredient information, incorrect allergen declarations, absent UK importer details and missing durability dates, were identified in 42 products.
South Asian bakery and snack products also raised concerns. Six products contained undeclared milk or egg proteins, while several others failed allergen labelling rules because allergens were not properly highlighted on packaging.
The survey also highlighted concerns around food supplements and imported grocery products increasingly stocked by independent retailers.
Only six of 40 ashwagandha supplements tested met all assessment criteria. Investigators identified elevated aflatoxin or cadmium levels in several products, alongside widespread labelling failures and unauthorised health claims.
Cooking oils also showed poor compliance, with only 11 of 40 products passing all authenticity, composition and labelling checks. Several almond, avocado and sesame oils failed composition testing, while many displayed inaccurate nutritional information.
The FSA also continued monitoring slush-ice drinks following updated industry guidance. Eight products exceeded recommended glycerol levels, while more than 70 per cent of takeaway outlets selling glycerol-containing slush drinks failed to display the recommended consumer warning notices.
Some drinks also exceeded permitted levels of additives such as saccharin and food colourings.
Despite the issues, many categories performed strongly. All gluten-free bread products, cumin samples, onion powders and ready-to-eat tuna products met the standards assessed, while 95 per cent of prepared fish products and 98 per cent of fresh chicken samples were satisfactory.
The FSA said the findings would help shape future enforcement activity, risk assessments and policy development. It added that the results underline the importance of robust supplier assurance, accurate labelling and careful sourcing, particularly for imported and specialist products commonly stocked by independent retailers.