Cleansing the Food Chain Available to Purchase

The causes of the recent increase in food contamination in the UK are examined. The scope extends beyond the normal focus on kitchen hygiene, to encompass malpractice at the supply end of the food chain. It is contended that the situation can be improved by making food policy consumer‐ rather than producer‐oriented; streamlining government responsibility for food safety, and breaking the culture of secrecy that pervades food policy; and instituting comprehensive hygiene management programmes.