Food research for the proposed Food Standards Agency

Food research for the proposed Food Standards Agency

The Government's latest food research requirements were announced recently by the Food Safety Minister, Jeff Rooker. They will form the bulk of research for the Food Standards Agency. The total research programme is approximately »25 million, around »9 million of which will be available for investment next year. The research programme will be tendered for in open competition by universities,and public and private research organisations in order to obtain value for money and make use of the wide spectrum of expertise available in the UK. The work,due to start in 2000/2001, will include work on food allergies, especially peanut allergy; safety of food production processes; safety of GM organisms in food; the chemical safety of food; food authenticity techniques to check on adulteration; and more work on meat hygiene to avoid contamination between farm and table. The programme also invites work on the area vital to the success of the Food Standards Agency, namely the communication of health-related food information to the general public.