Local Authority food law staff and the Food Standards Agency work together to make sure our food is safe. They check up on businesses to make sure food is prepared safely, close down dirty kitchens, check food labels for accuracy, and help stop dangerous food bugs like E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobactor from spreading.
But after years of budget reductions, UK food law enforcers are having to do more with less, raising questions about whether they have the resources they need to keep us safe. The number of local food law enforcement staff has fallen by nearly a third since 2009, and checks on food premises have fallen by around 15%.
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One in five food samples in England, Wales and Scotland contains a hidden allergen.
Over fifty thousand food hygiene checks were missed last year by Local Authorities.
Local Authority food law staff and the Food Standards Agency work together to make sure our food is safe. They check up on businesses to make sure food is prepared safely, close down dirty kitchens, check food labels for accuracy, and help stop dangerous food bugs like E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobactor from spreading.
But after years of budget reductions, UK food law enforcers are having to do more with less, raising questions about whether they have the resources they need to keep us safe. The number of local food law enforcement staff has fallen by nearly a third since 2009, and checks on food premises have fallen by around 15%.
One in five food samples in England, Wales and Scotland contains a hidden allergen.
Over fifty thousand food hygiene checks were missed last year by Local Authorities.