Health and sustainability in sharp focus as FSA unveils five-year food plan

18 Mar 2022 --- As concerns mount around health and the impacts that global warming could have on international food production, the Food Standard Agency (FSA) has devised a five-year strategy to ensure healthier, more sustainable foods reach UK consumers.

The published plan places greater emphasis on improving food and underscores the FSA’s renewed commitment to “food you can trust.”

The agency is also stepping up its game to buffer the effects of the UK being outside the EU due to Brexit and subsequent trade adjustments.   

UK trade volumes, for example, have been suppressed by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and wider global pressures, according to the nation’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Moreover, new border arrangements under Brexit regulations add costs to food businesses trading with the EU, while border delays continue to cause concern.

“Leaving the EU has changed the FSA’s role. We have taken on new functions, like approving new types of food that come on sale here and setting rules for checks of imported food. Today the FSA, therefore, plays a more critical role than ever in supporting governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on matters relating to food, says Emily Miles, chief executive, FSA. 

Consumer interests at heart of strategyFood safety and authenticity are paramount to the FSA’s new strategy.
FSA will dedicate its resources to making consumer interests a central focus of the strategy to ensure food is safe. The FSA’s plan sets out how it will continue to lead the way on food safety and authenticity over the next five years, so consumers can be confident that the food they buy is safe and what it states it is.

“Now is also the right time for the FSA to contribute to wider government efforts to tackle diet-related disease and climate change while keeping food affordable,” says Susan Jebb, chair FSA.

“Our five-year strategy signals our intention to work with partners and other stakeholders in the food system to achieve healthier and more sustainable food. Through all of this, we will continue to uphold the interests of consumers so we can all enjoy the food we can trust,” she states.

Last year, the FSA identified 14 allergens in UK food, which led to the nation’s first food allergen labeling policy being passed. The new regulation came into play to help people suffering from food allergies, intolerances and celiac disease make safer choices when buying food.

Knowledge sharing between industry stakeholders offers significant leverage and the roadmap to decarbonization. Food businesses and agencies can help turn things around. To this end, agri-food commodities player Olam International has launched GreenPass, an end-to-end smart carbon management platform to help companies develop their climate action strategies in their decarbonization journey toward net-zero emissions. 

In other moves, the UK’s Food and Drink Federation has released its handbook to help food and drink manufacturers achieve climate neutrality.

Edited by Inga de Jong