A vision for the Agency
It's a far cry from science, but my other big interest is organisational development. This is why I was asked to lead on developing a vision statement for the Agency. It's been developed with help from...
View ArticleUniversal Ethical Code for Scientists
Recently, the Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King, gave a presentation on the Universal Ethical Code for Scientists – Rigour, Respect and Responsibility. This is an initiative to...
View ArticleUnfairness can be taken to heart
Some of my colleagues are guinea pigs in an important study of stress and health led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot at University College London. They are part of the 10,308 civil servants who...
View ArticleScores on Doors
Information for consumers is once again in the news. This week the FSA Board considered proposals for a national 'scores on doors' scheme to put hygiene scores on display in food premises.The scheme...
View ArticleCPD pilot launch for FSA scientists
Getting young people into science is a constant refrain in the media, yet retaining people who have chosen scientific careers is no less important. So I was really pleased to launch a pilot for a...
View ArticleSalmonella outbreak in the US
In case anyone thought that problems of salmonella were a thing of the past, the recent outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul in the US, which caused sickness in more than 800 people, is a timely reminder...
View ArticleBlogging on blogs
Government and policy makers are among those looking to see how best to use the world of blogs, wikis, virals and so on; Web 2.0 as it's commonly called. So, at the risk of being accused of navel...
View ArticleThought for the day
Here's a quote from letter published in The Guardian on 1 December from Professor David Nutt, Chairman, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. 'It is the duty of scientific advisers to government to...
View ArticleMaking sure it all adds up
I’m often on record saying that science is fundamental to the FSA’s work – it drives our investigations and understanding of the risks to consumers. Of course, the statistics and other analytical...
View ArticleFrom science to policy
Last week’s discussion of the Agency’s Nutrient Profiling Model has stimulated some discussion of the role of science in developing policy. The Agency has a proud record of being an evidence-based...
View ArticleFSA science under the microscope
In January last year, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor John Beddington, started the independent review of the FSA';s science. The report of the review is published today and I'm...
View ArticleBeing transparent about risk and decisions
I welcome the publication today of a report agreed by the Heads of National Food Agencies in Europe (HoA) that looks at how to ensure that risk assessments are used consistently and transparently in...
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