The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has received funding from the government to develop a new system of mandatory health reporting and targets for major food companies, due to be confirmed in the next few weeks.
The agency said today the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was providing the funds after concerns were raised that the watchdog did not have the resources to take on the major new role, having been asked by ministers to police the new targets under the NHS 10-year plan.
The controversial proposals are opposed by industry bodies such as the BRC, which argues the FSA does not have the capacity to develop a mandatory reporting system that could be fairly policed across the food sector, especially with the body already swamped by the ongoing EU SPS realignment process.
However, FSA chair Susan Jebb told its board meeting in Newcastle today that the plans were moving forward, with the DHSC poised to launch a full public consultation within weeks.
“We are continuing to support the DHSC in their proposals for mandatory healthier food sales reporting and targets,” Jebb said.
“We are working with DHSC officials to provide advice to ensure that whatever policy is brought in is going to be deliverable, proportionate and enforceable.
“DHSC does intend to launch a full public consultation soon to get a view of the proposals and the potential role of the FSA will become clear after that consultation.”
Jebb added that the FSA was also in talks with the government about taking on a new role overseeing the government’s plans for healthy food standards in schools.
Labour announced a major overhaul of school food in April, which it said would create the “healthiest generation of children ever”.
The move includes a clampdown on HFSS products such as deep-fried foods, as well as the expansion of free breakfast clubs and expanding eligibility for free school meals.
Jebb added: “Both mandatory reporting/targets and the work on school meals are really important steps towards creating a healthier food system for the UK and I’m very, very keen that the FSA should support that.
”However, I also recognise that both of these would represent quite significant new functions for the FSA, and we do need to be very confident that we have the resources not just financially but the capacity and capability within the organisation.
“We are talking about what that would require.”
FSA CEO Katie Pettifer said the organisation received confirmation from the DHSC yesterday that it would receive funding to carry out the work of developing the Healthy Food Standards reporting and targets, although she also stressed that a final decision on the role of the FSA had not yet been confirmed.
“We have had confirmation from the DHSC that funding will be provided for us to do work on policy development.
“I know that was a concern of some board members. We are now in a better position to do that work.”
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