UK National Food Safety Week Highlights the People Who Protect Your Plate

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched National Food Safety Week, focused on 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,” Food Safety Week will 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.

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.

“The UK has globally respected food standards, and our food and drink is rightly regarded as some of the safest in the world. More than one billion food products are sold every week,” said Food Standards Agency CEO Jason Feeney.  “It’s the responsibility of every food business – from abattoirs to corner shops, Michelin-starred restaurants to your favorite take-away – to comply with food regulations. 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.”

Visit FSA and “the people who protect your plate” for more information.