The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is celebrating National Food Safety Week in the United Kingdom by recognizing the work of FSA staff and thousands of others across the food supply chain working behind-the-scenes to ensure that food is safe and what it says it is.
Under the banner of “the people who protect your plate,” FSA is using Food Safety Week to shine a light on the people working day in, day out to make sure consumers can trust the food on their plates.
“This wide range of people includes staff in abattoirs and inspectors who visit vineyards, warehouses, cutting plants and dairies. The week will also feature staff who tackle food crime and those who help to keep people living with food allergies and intolerances safe,” the Food Safety Week announcement says.
“Much of this work is done in partnership with local authorities, who are responsible for checking food safety and hygiene in more than 600,000 food businesses across the country like restaurants and caterers, issuing hygiene ratings under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Councils also help to protect public health through their trading standards and port health work.”
Jason Feeney, Chief Executive Officer of the Food Standards Agency, praised the United Kingdom’s protocols to prevent foodborne illnesses.
‘The UK has globally respected food standards, and our food and drink are rightly regarded as some of the safest in the world. More than one billion food products are sold every week It’s the responsibility of every food business – from abattoirs to corner shops, Michelin-starred restaurants to your favorite takeaway – to comply with food regulations,” Feeney said.
“This week we want to recognize the behind-the-scenes people throughout the food chain who work hard every day of the year to make sure businesses follow the rules and our food standards remain high. This is all thanks to the work of our staff and thousands of others across the food supply chain working behind-the-scenes to ensure that food is safe and what it says it is.”
Feeney said much of FSA’s work is done in partnership with local authorities, who are responsible for checking food safety and hygiene in more than 600,000 food businesses like restaurants and caterers, issuing hygiene ratings under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.
The CEO says FSA employs 1,059 people, across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, “who work day in, day out to make sure you can trust the food on your plates.”
From the staff in abattoirs, and inspectors who visit vineyards, warehouses, cutting plants and dairies, to those who protect you against food crime and keep people living with food allergies and intolerances safe, Feeney invited the public to “meet the people who protect your plate.”
Source: Food Safety News
