Highlights
Food Standards Agency appoints new Chief Scientific Adviser
The Food Standards Agency has appointed Professor Ian Young as its Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA).
Professor Young joins the FSA in a part-time capacity, whilst maintaining his current role of Consultant Chemical Pathologist at Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Professor of Medicine at Queen’s University in Belfast, where he previously directed the Centre for Public Health.
On joining, Professor Young said:
“I am delighted to have been offered the position of Chief Scientific Adviser with the FSA. There is nothing more important for the health of the public than ensuring that the food which we eat is safe and authentic. I look forward to working with scientists across the FSA to ensure that everything we do is led by good science and the best evidence available.”
Read our full news story.
Action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
During World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (17 to 22 November), we highlighted our recent work that aims to help increase understanding of AMR and combat this global challenge.
Antimicrobial resistance and food: what it is and why it matters
Rick Mumford, FSA Deputy Director for Science, Evidence and Research and Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, explains in a blog post why AMR matters for food safety and public health, and how the FSA is tackling it. This includes recent studies on lettuce and raw pet food, and innovations like Whole Genome Sequencing.
Uncovering the hidden burden of Infectious Intestinal Disease (IID) – and how to get involved
IID affects millions each year, yet its diversity and impact are often underestimated. The IID3 study, led by UK experts and funded by the FSA, combines large-scale surveillance with diagnostics to reveal hidden pathogens, antibiotic resistance, and mixed infections.
Early results show:
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Yersinia is an emerging concern
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Norovirus diversity makes outbreaks harder to control
- Rare Giardia types may indicate new transmission routes.
At a recent FSA roundtable, experts explored how this IID3 data can help tackle AMR - from mapping resistance hotspots, improving surveillance through genome sequencing, to understanding how climate factors influence AMR.
Get involved and use the IID3 data.
Building on PATH-SAFE: shaping the future of food surveillance at the FSA
The legacy of PATH-SAFE is shaping the future of foodborne disease management and AMR strategy at the FSA. Recently, the FSA and Microbiology Society, convened a One Health AMR Surveillance Roundtable with 16 government agencies and research partners, highlighting the need for cross-sector collaboration, better data sharing, and ongoing investment. These efforts have driven the development of a national AMR data catalogue and a more joined-up approach to safeguarding public health.
Building on this foundation, the Food Surveillance Programme (FSP) is now strengthening disease management through initiatives such as:
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Virtual STEC One Health Programme – coordinating research on Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)
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Fera Science project – mapping STEC strains in waterways near livestock farms to understand transmission routes, including via salad crops.
- A new data-sharing agreement between UKHSA, APHA, and FSA to support wider genomic surveillance.
AI and innovation at the FSA
Science Council investigates AI in food safety
A new report from the FSA Science Council explores the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence in food safety assurance, drawing on AI and industry experts to help the FSA navigate this fast-evolving area with confidence.
What is the FSA Science Council?
The Science Council is an independent committee of experts who advise the FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Board and Executive on science capability, risk assessment principles and future research priorities. Drawing on a wide range of disciplines, the Council ensures FSA regulation is grounded in robust, impartial evidence - one reason why FSA decisions are trusted by consumers and stakeholders.
Widening access to food science careers: spotlight on AI and community innovation
Two new reports from the Generation Research programme, which is designed to provide paid research studentships and widen access to STEM careers, have been published. This programme is supported by the FSA, University of York, FixOurFood and FareShare Yorkshire.
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AI Decision Support Tools in Food Systems (downloads pdf file), examines how artificial intelligence is being used to support decision-making in food safety and regulation. It outlines current applications and considers implications for both industry and regulators.
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Food Safety in Community Food Organisations (downloads pdf file), reviews food safety practices in community organisations, identifies common challenges, and offers recommendations for improvement.
First UK safety guidance published on cell-cultivated products
Cell-cultivated products are new foods that don’t involve traditional farming such as rearing livestock or growing plants and grains. They are made by taking cells from plants or animals, which are then grown into food.
The CCP Sandbox Programme, run by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), has published the UK’s first safety guidance for these products. Focusing on animal cells only, the guidance confirms they are defined as products of animal origin and must meet existing food safety regulations. The guidance also sets out requirements for allergenicity and nutritional assessments as part of the approval process, ensuring companies demonstrate their products are safe and nutritionally appropriate before authorisation.
“Our new guidance provides clarity for businesses, helping them to understand and correctly demonstrate to UK food regulators how their products are safe” said Dr Thomas Vincent, Deputy Director of Innovation at the FSA.
Read this news story in full.
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