Details have finally emerged of the Department of Health team that will head nutrition policy following the function's switch from the Food Standards Agency.
Despite announcing that it would be taking up the remit as far back as July, the DH had remained tight-lipped about who would be in the team. This week, the DH attempted to keep the staff identities secret as they started on potentially controversial projects such as reassessing targets previously set by the FSA on salt and saturated fats.
However, a letter seen by The Grocer reveals their names to key industry stakeholders and it appears to dash any hopes of a radical policy shift as the team is led by Dr Clair Baynton, former head of nutrition at the FSA, who takes up the role of deputy director, nutrition science and delivery. Alison Tedstone, who was head of nutrition science at the FSA, will take the same role at DH. And Corinne Vaughan, who worked in the FSA's nutrition team, is head of nutrition delivery. Working under Vaughan, Alette Addison will have responsibility for salt issues, while Stephen Airey will look after saturated fat and energy. In the obesity team, Claire Boville will have responsibility for nutrition labelling. They all move across from the FSA.
As well as reassessing FSA targets to reduce salt and satfat in food, the DH team will also be charged with looking at portion sizes and nutritional labelling.
The FSA's brief is now limited to food safety, while Defra is responsible for food labelling policy not related to food safety or nutrition. "We look forward to working closely with the new team at DH," said Andrea Martinez-Inchausti, deputy director of food policy at the BRC. "As with the FSA, we are confident that they will be inclusive and willing to listen."
Melanie Leech, director general of the FDF, re-iterated the trade body's desire to co-operate with the DH team. "Moving the responsibility for nutrition and other food policy issues back into government should lead to clearer and more consistent policy making," she said.
Despite announcing that it would be taking up the remit as far back as July, the DH had remained tight-lipped about who would be in the team. This week, the DH attempted to keep the staff identities secret as they started on potentially controversial projects such as reassessing targets previously set by the FSA on salt and saturated fats.
However, a letter seen by The Grocer reveals their names to key industry stakeholders and it appears to dash any hopes of a radical policy shift as the team is led by Dr Clair Baynton, former head of nutrition at the FSA, who takes up the role of deputy director, nutrition science and delivery. Alison Tedstone, who was head of nutrition science at the FSA, will take the same role at DH. And Corinne Vaughan, who worked in the FSA's nutrition team, is head of nutrition delivery. Working under Vaughan, Alette Addison will have responsibility for salt issues, while Stephen Airey will look after saturated fat and energy. In the obesity team, Claire Boville will have responsibility for nutrition labelling. They all move across from the FSA.
As well as reassessing FSA targets to reduce salt and satfat in food, the DH team will also be charged with looking at portion sizes and nutritional labelling.
The FSA's brief is now limited to food safety, while Defra is responsible for food labelling policy not related to food safety or nutrition. "We look forward to working closely with the new team at DH," said Andrea Martinez-Inchausti, deputy director of food policy at the BRC. "As with the FSA, we are confident that they will be inclusive and willing to listen."
Melanie Leech, director general of the FDF, re-iterated the trade body's desire to co-operate with the DH team. "Moving the responsibility for nutrition and other food policy issues back into government should lead to clearer and more consistent policy making," she said.
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