Food Standards Scotland (FSS), the public sector food body for Scotland, launches today, 1 April 2015 and takes over the responsibilities previously carried out in Scotland by the Food Standards Agency with an increased role in regards to healthy eating.
The body launches as a new YouGov poll reveals that when it comes to food, the Scottish public is most concerned (outside of cost) about making sure they and their families eat a healthy, balanced diet (39%). This is closely followed by worries over food authenticity, or eating food that isn’t what it says it is without knowing (27%) and concern over food safety (23%).
The poll also underlines the extent of confusion over food labelling, with nearly two-fifths (38%) of Scots citing a lack of clear information to make an informed choice. A quarter (25%) of Scottish adults don’t feel they have the clear information they need when it comes to cooking food safely and hygienically and roughly the same proportion (23%) don’t have the information they need to make an informed choice when it comes to eating a healthy diet.
The same poll showed that 85% of the population feels it is important that there is an organisation focused on protecting the interests of Scottish consumers when it comes to food safety and nutrition.
Against this backdrop, FSS has been established to provide independent information and advice on food safety and standards, nutrition and labelling to consumers in Scotland.
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