The Agency was created in 2001 based on a report by Professor James,[4] issued after several high-profile outbreaks and deaths from foodborne illness.
Uniquely for a UK Government department, the Food Standards Act gave the Agency the statutory right to publish the advice it gives to Ministers, and as a signal of its independence it declared that it would invariably do so.
From its inception, the Agency declared that it would take no decisions about food policy except in open board meetings accessible to the public.
[9] The Food Standards Agency offices in Scotland and Northern Ireland retained their responsibilities for nutrition policy.
The Food Standards Agency also imposed restrictions on the sheep trade because of the consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe[13] which were repealed in March 2012.
To emphasize the risk of diarrhoea and vomiting caused by food poisoning, the song "When Will I See You Again" by The Three Degrees is played in the background.
[16] Dean concluded: My overwhelming impression, having undertaken this Review, is of an organisation that has been extremely conscious of the importance of fulfilling the very serious responsibilities of changing both the perception and the reality of food safety in the UK.
Most stakeholders agreed that the Agency has made significant progress towards improving food safety, gaining public confidence in food safety, and creating a modern culture in which it is the norm for procedures, information, consultation and decision-making to be in the public domain and to involve external stakeholders.
[18] Following a meeting in Cardiff, the FSA plans to make audit reports as widely available as possible for the public, following the example of Norwich City Council.
According to Terence Collins, FSA's Director of communication, the reason behind this decision is to make ratings simple and easily understood for every single business.