Dear subscriber,
It was a pleasure to welcome parliamentarians, partners and friends of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to the House of Commons last week for our annual parliamentary reception, held to mark World Food Safety Day.
These events are always a highlight in the FSA calendar, but this year’s felt particularly vibrant. There was a real sense of shared purpose in the room, with so many people from across the food system, all committed to making sure we have food we can trust.
Food safety doesn’t happen by accident; it depends on strong systems and dedicated people working together every day. It was a great opportunity to recognise that collective effort.
We were pleased to give attendees previews of our new food hygiene campaign, which we’ve just launched, and our campaign to tackle mis- and dis-information in the food system. Keep an eye out for both campaigns on our social media channels.
In my speech I reflected on how the FSA is evolving to meet the challenges of a changing food system. We have set out an ambitious plan to reform the regulatory model for food standards and hygiene inspections and to support the development of innovative foods in a way that maintains public confidence.
At the same time, we’re thinking more broadly about the role food can play in improving people’s lives and I am looking forward to increasing our work to support healthier and more sustainable diets. You can read a full transcript of my speech on our blog.
My thanks go to Layla Moran MP for sponsoring the event, and to her and Department of Health and Social Care Minister Sharon Hodgson for their thoughtful contributions. They helped stimulate lively interactions in the room and new connections.
Conversations like this matter. They challenge and stretch our thinking and strengthen the partnerships that underpin a food system we can all trust.
Finally, a reminder that our next FSA Board meeting is on Wednesday 17 June 2026 in Newcastle. The agenda includes an annual update on the progress of the FSA's strategy, our Chief Scientific Adviser’s report, and an annual review of our work on incidents. Register to attend or view online.
Professor Susan Jebb FSA Chair |