FSA in the frame to handle reformulation strategy

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FSA's Food Hygiene Rating

”The FSA’s rules and science-based approach might be what the reformulation programme needs,” said one source

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is being mooted as a key contender to take over responsibility for the troubled food and drink industry reformulation strategy, following the UK government’s controversial decision to scrap Public Health England (PHE).

Health secretary Matt Hancock this week announced PHE was being replaced by a new agency, The National Institute for Health Protection, after it was criticised for its slow response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Health campaigners are furious at the move, which comes three weeks after prime minister Boris Johnson announced his obesity strategy. They claim it has thrown into doubt voluntary industry programmes on sugar reduction, as well as programmes on salt and calories, all of which have been overseen by PHE since it was formed in 2013.

However, industry sources told The Grocer they expected the reformulation programme to continue, with the FSA likely to take over at the helm, as resources covering public health within the Department of Health and social care had been run down .

“We expect the reformulation work to continue,” said one industry source. “The obesity strategy itself mentioned that the work on reformulation is set to continue, although it might be backed by expertise from a different organisation.

“In Scotland and Northern Ireland that advice comes from Food Standards Scotland and the FSA, respectively.

“We believe government aspirations remain the same, although it could mean those sorts of programme face further delays.”

Another source added: “The FSA’s rules and science-based approach might be what the reformulation programme needs after the nannying approach of PHE.

“However, what with Brexit and issues like labelling, it has to be said the FSA is already pretty stretched.”

PHE’s reformulation programme has faced a series of major delays since it began in 2016, and a report on progress against sugar reduction is expected to show the industry has failed to hit its target of a 20% reduction by 2020 since the policy was launched.

Health campaigners accused the government of backing down to pressure from the industry on so-called ’nanny state’ intervention.

“I think the whole thing now is a disastrous mess,” said Tam Fry, chairman of the UK’s National Obesity Forum.

“In her last report before she stepped down, Dame Sally Davies (former chief medical officer) made it quite clear that if calories hadn’t been reduced, then there needed to be further action.

“Instead, three weeks after the obesity strategy, the main body charged with delivering it is axed - it’s crazy.

“Far from a bold health strategy, we have a situation where the government is so inept, the industry is running rings round it.”

“This news leaves us with serious concerns about how prevention will now be managed,” added Mhairi Brown, policy and public affairs manager at Action on Sugar and Action on Salt.

“While a consultation has been promised, the lack of information provided on the future of all of PHE’s vital work is very concerning.

“Who will now take on responsibility for their crucial reformulation programmes, and well-known issues with these programmes, such as a lack of transparent monitoring, a lack of ambition with the targets and a lack of engagement with industry to ensure compliance be addressed in the shuffle?

“Mandated actions have been promised if progress towards PHE’s voluntary programmes was poor. Will this commitment be honoured?”

“Whatever the structures envisaged, we will continue to work in close partnership to drive the change we all want to see,” said Tim Rycroft, chief operating officer of the Food & Drink Federation. “However, as part of these reforms, we want to see the UK government put real money behind specific, targeted measures to help those most afflicted by obesity and not put up further barriers to our ambitious reformulation programmes.”