The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a government body responsible for ensuring the safety and standards of food consumed in the country. In recent times, the FSA has been particularly concerned about preventing fraudulent activity in the food industry, especially in the meat sector. To this end, the agency has been exploring various approaches to tackle this issue and ensure that consumers are protected from harm.
Emily Miles, CEO of the FSA, has released an update regarding the meat fraud scandal, in which she stated several industry representative groups are set to work with the agency “to explore improvements to the current system”.
Following a recent “meeting with the food industry”, the FSA will review the “scope for a single telephone number or website” for whistle-blowers to contact, streamlining the process.
The agency will also try to “strengthen the role” that third-party audits can play in relaying information to regulators.
Finally, Miles stated the FSA will review the “best format and mechanism” for the agency to “share intelligence-based alerts to better warn businesses about problems in supply chains.”
In late March, it was reported that Loscoe Chilled Foods, a supplier of meat products in the UK, shut down after facing a criminal investigation over allegations of mislabeling their products.
Booths, a supermarket chain located in the north of England, reported that pre-packaged sliced meats and deli products they received were falsely labeled as British despite being sourced from South America and Europe. Following this, authorities arrested three individuals in connection to the incident.
Last month, the UK-based trade publication Farmers Weekly disclosed that a meat processor is under investigation for supposedly selling foreign pork as British and also for selling meat that has exceeded its shelf life.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC), the Food Industry Intelligence Network, the British Meat Processors Association, and several other industry groups have expressed their support for enhancing the approach to prevent fraudulent activity in the food industry. These groups are collaborating with the FSA to address the issue and ensure the safety and integrity of the food supply chain.
Andrew Opie, Director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said, “Our members are fully committed to ensuring a high level of safety, quality, and integrity in the food chain. We support the Food Standard Agency’s review to look at improvements to the current system, including exploring a simpler, more refined hotline for whistleblowing, as well as ensuring information is shared as effectively and efficiently as possible to prevent and tackle food crime.”
Helen Sisson, Director and Co-chair of the Food Industry Intelligence Network, said, “We are fully committed to working with the FSA and our partners in the food industry to strengthen the system.
“It is imperative that the public has confidence in UK food and an important part of that is ensuring food crime in supply chains is identified and dealt with quickly,” she added.