FSA welcomes Scotland's food and drink policy

Friday 26 June 2009

At the Royal Highland Show today, Scottish Government Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead unveiled 'Recipe for Success' – the next steps in Scotland’s first ever national food and drink policy.

The Food Standards Agency welcomes the Minister's announcement today, setting out a framework that recognises the importance of safe food and healthier eating for all.

The Agency in Scotland has provided extensive support to the development of the policy and looks forward to working with the Scottish Government to deliver real benefits for consumers.

Professor Charles Milne, Director of Food Standards Agency Scotland, said: 'We very much welcome this announcement today. The policy recognises that partnership working is essential to delivering real benefits for Scottish consumers.

'Here in Scotland we have seen some success in reducing salt intakes through industry reformulation and improved labelling, and farmers have also responded to demands for leaner beef. However we are all still eating too much salt and fat.

'This policy framework provides a further opportunity for Scotland to tackle these issues by working together and we very much look forward to that challenge.

‘The policy also outlines proposals for a health and sustainability framework, as well as recognising the important role the Agency plays in working with industry and consumers, in assisting consumer choice.

'We will be engaging with consumers over the next year by investing in a series of Citizen’s Forums in Scotland to discuss the ways in which the Agency can best contribute to the new policy.'

Tim Smith, Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency, said: 'We welcome the support the policy gives to our work in these key areas of food safety and nutrition.

'We have seen easy to use nutrition information presented on front of pack. Making healthy and sustainable choices easier for consumers is an added challenge but one that we all need to tackle.

'Embedding sustainability issues in policy making is important to the Agency, and we look forward to progressing this with Scottish Government through the new Policy.'