Chemicals in food
The Government has a duty to make sure that consumers can choose a safe, healthy and nutritious diet and are not misled by the way food is described. All food is naturally made up of a mixture of chemicals. Most food also contains very small amounts of other chemicals introduced during cultivation or farming, from processing or cooking. It is the duty of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) to assess the possible harm from each of these chemicals and consider whether we need laws or other controls (codes of practice) to improve the safety of food.
Surveillance and research are important to ensure the safety and quality of food. Each year MAFF funds and manages surveys covering a wide range of chemicals in food. These surveys involve the collection and analysis of samples from various points in the food chain and subjecting them to laboratory analysis. We carry out approximately 130,000 tests on food every year. We may take samples when food is imported, on the farm, during storage, production and processing or at the shop where you buy the food.
Knowledge on food safety and quality is always developing. So we take advice on what new research or surveillance is needed from working parties of independent experts which deal with the following areas:
- Food packaging and related materials;
- Dietary surveys;
- Food additives;
- Food authenticity;
- Inorganic chemicals;
- Naturally occurring toxins;
- Nutrients;
- Organic environmental contaminant;
- Pesticides;
- Radioactivity;
- Veterinary drugs in animal products.
Each working party draws on information from many sources to advise on the most effective programme of surveys. To make sure that we use our resources effectively, surveys are targeted on areas where evidence suggests there might be a problem, or where there is a need for information, for example, for negotiations within the European Union.
Once the surveys are complete, the information obtained forms the basis for advice to Government and recommendations for any action needed.
If a survey finds that harmful levels of chemicals are present in food, we take immediate action to protect consumers, either by ensuring that the products are withdrawn or by getting the food industry to change its practices. Most surveys, however, do not show an immediate health risk, though they sometimes show a need for changes in industry practices.
The results of all our small surveys are published in brief in the monthly Food Safety Information Bulletin. More details are available in separate Food Surveillance Information Sheets which can be accessed via our Food Surveillance pages.
Food Advisory Committee
The Food Advisory Committee (FAC) is an independent non-statutory body appointed by Ministers. The FAC's main tasks are to assess the risk to humans of chemicals in food and advise Ministers on the exercise of powers under the Food Safety Act 1990 relating to labelling, composition and chemical safety of food. Its membership is drawn from academia, industry, enforcement and consumer interests.
The minutes of FAC meetings and its regular newsletter "Food for Thought" are available in a series of FAC pages.
