Food Standard Agency

[brionon]

What does it cost us and what bloody good is it ??

[Gromit]

Annual Budget £159.7 million (2009-2010)

[humbersloop]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21455060

//It is surprising to learn that they can request testing by producers to be performed, but they don't currently have the powers to require testing to be performed.//

so, going by that article, not a fat lot as things stand

[mushroom25]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21468699
a group of 11 retailers have issued a letter in which they state "We will do whatever it takes to restore public confidence in the food they buy and eat."

do they really mean that? or is it code-speak for "we will lobby ministers to sweep this under the carpet as soon as possible"?

[LazyGun]

Probably the latter, Mushroom.

The powers and responsibilities have been curtailed, as has their budget and manpower by the coalition government in 2010. At least some of their responsibilities have been handed over to DEFRA.

Hindsight would suggest fragmenting the regulatory mechanism is not a good idea - nor is self- regulation. It leaves too many gaps open to the fraudsters and the criminals.

[emmie]

mushroom, i also think the latter, very disturbing photo in the paper the other day, of a horse being slaughtered, sorry if it upsets some to mention it, seeing as how a number on here keep horses.

[brionon]

So they get 160 million a year to keep our food safe but don't actually do it ? wonderful.

[LazyGun]

For those interested, This is the detailed report of the FSA, published today.

http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/meat-test-130215.pdf

[pdq1]

I think I could live with eating horse meat....its the other things that get added worries me:

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/06/29/how_many_insect_parts_and_rodent_hairs_are_allowed_in_your_food.htm