Science, uncertainty and policy: food for thought.
The organisation and work of the Food Standards Agency are described. The Agency is a new non-Ministerial Government department with responsibility for protecting the health of the public and other interests of consumers in relation to food. Its roles encompass assessment of risk (through scientific expert committees) as well as risk communication and management. Among the many changes that the Agency has brought about is a new commitment to openness. All policy discussions and decisions take place in public. Diet and bovine spongiform encephalopathy are used as examples to illustrate the Agency's approaches to dealing with risk and uncertainty.
Krebs
J R
JR
Food Standards Agency, PO Box 30080, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6YA, London, UK. john.krebs@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004032:Diet; D016643:Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012306:Risk; D012449:Safety; D006113:United Kingdom