Food Incidents Task Force

The aims are to reduce the possibility of future contamination incidents, such as those involving Para Red and Sudan dyes, and to improve the management of such incidents if they do occur.

The task force is chaired by the Agency's Chief Executive, Dr Jon Bell, and members include senior representatives from the food industry, enforcement authorities and consumer organisations, as well as two independent members.

The task force will:

• identify practical ways of reducing the likelihood of food contamination incidents occurring
• identify ways of deciding upon the proportionality of any response
• ensure that the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in risk management of food contamination incidents are clearly agreed so that action is taken quickly, effectively and proportionately if incidents do occur
• enable the Agency and other partners to learn quick lessons
• identify ways that the Agency might champion the uptake of the measures identified

The task force is due to report back to the Board on progress in the autumn and will hold its first meeting next month.

Organisations invited to participate are:

• Association of British Insurers
• British Retail Consortium
• Food and Drink Federation
• British Hospitality Association
• Trading Standards Institute
• Small Business Council
• Which?
• National Consumer Council
• Local Authorities' Co-ordinators Of Regulatory Services (LACORS)
• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
• National Farmers Union