I'm heading off to Belfast shortly for the Agency's open Board meeting, where I'll be presenting my Annual Report as Chief Scientist, but before I do so, I wanted to comment on last week's 'There goes the science bit...' report, exposing the misleading claims made on various products, including some foods.
Calling themselves 'early career researchers', these young scientists have published transcripts of their conversations with manufacturers and customer helplines, where the evidence to back up claims just wasn't available or came from unreliable sources.
Ensuring the information on labels is clear and not misleading is vital for the Food Standards Agency. One of our key aims is to make it easier for people to choose a healthy diet, which is why we're working hard to prevent the mislabelling or misdescription of foods.
Published by the charitable trust Sense about Science, which 'promotes public access to evidence and good science', the straightforward report presents a 'snapshot', as they call it, but it's also a call to action. They want everyone to challenge misinformation. While scientific research goes through rigorous procedures of testing and peer review, some products' labels and adverts make sweeping and unsubstantiated claims. As one chemist in the report says, those of us who can 'recognise mumbo jumbo when we see it need to speak out and set an example to others who just don't know who to believe'.
The report also mentions the removal of certain substances from food in response to 'customer concerns'. The concerns of the public are of paramount importance, but as a nutritionist in the report points out, giving 'a clear message to help consumers make informed choices should be the gold standard' for food companies. This is also the job of the Agency. It is part of our responsibility to ensure the public has the information it needs to make informed decisions and that any concerns the public has are based on accurate information.
This summer saw the introduction of a new European Regulation to help protect consumers from misleading health claims. Previously, the rules on health claims were very general. Now any claims made in relation to the nutrition and health benefits of a food will only be allowed if they have been shown to be based on science. And this science will need to have been verified by the European Food Safety Authority.
This means that foods that carry claims that they are 'good for your heart' or 'help lower cholesterol' will have scientific backing that this is indeed the case. It will take time before the process of checking the science is complete and these changes are seen on products in the shops.
As readers of this blog know, I am passionate about good science and what it can help us achieve. Here's your chance to have your say.