As the U.K. ushers in a new administration after its elections last month, so, too, is it welcoming new standards for nutrition and food safety regulation.
Or, rather, a lack thereof.
Andrew Lansley, the Secretary of State for Health, is abolishing the Food Standard Agency, which had previously regulated nutrition, safety and hygiene, and public health.
The agency's responsibilities will be relegated to the Department of Health and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The move has raised some red flags that the current administration is submitting to big business.
Andrew Burnham, the Labour Party's health spokesman, told The Guardian:
Getting rid of the FSA is the latest in a number of worrying steps that show Andrew Lansley caving in to the food industry. It does raise the question whether the health secretary wants to protect the public health or promote food companies.
Lansley publicly outlined a deal last week with big business whereby government would not legislate for a ban against unhealthy foods, provided the industry funds a campaign to improve the nation's eating habits.
Read more:
- UK government to eliminate pesky Food Standards Agency (Food Politics)
- Food Standards Agency to be abolished by health secretary (The Guardian)
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