On 19 June 2025, the report ‘Our Food 2024’ was published by the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland.
The Report looks at the food system in the context of how well it is working, the pressures it is under and a consideration of future risks.
As it records, ‘Safe food is a primary determinant of human health’. This reflects the Authorities’ message that the food we eat must be ‘safe, trustworthy and authentic’.
It is concerning that the Report’s conclusion states, ‘Labelling issues are responsible for most non-compliances in the FSA’s retail surveillance sampling targeted survey. Failure to identify allergens on labels or to accurately list the ingredients within a product can be life threatening to consumers with food allergies. The public should be able to rely on the information on the label.’
This reflects the issues that we find in practice when reviewing food labels. We help to bring those labels into compliance and advise businesses on the best response to actual or threatened enforcement action.
The Report’s key findings come under four primary headings.
The nation’s plate – this raises ongoing concerns about food insecurity and food affordability. The Report reiterates the link between deprivation and the consumption of foods containing high levels of salt, fat and sugar, and the low rate of consumption of fruits, vegetables and oily fish. Even if there is a desire to ‘eat well’, the Report identified food prices as a significant cause for concern among consumers. Linked with the general cost of living crisis, this does not bode well for the future.
Going global – it is well-known that the food supply chain has become truly global. The Report identifies that in 2024, food and feed imports increased by 9.5%, the highest volume in a decade. Particularly notable increases in imports came from Germany, the USA and Argentina. Fifteen new commodities were added to the list of high-risk foods on non-animal origin, and which require additional border checks before entry into GB.
Keeping it clean – food business operators have a legal duty to comply with food law and most do their best to do so. Nevertheless, it is essential that there is a robust system for monitoring compliance and enforcing any non-compliance. That system exists but is under significant pressure due, in part, to a long-term decline in providing sufficient resources to undertake this important function. This has led to significant delays in carrying out inspections which could result in increased risks to consumers.
Safety and authenticity – although the number of food and feed safety incidents remained stable in 2024, many food types are foods are affected with pathogenic microorganisms being the most common hazard. Food sampling is an important part of monitoring compliance levels but the Report notes that ‘sampling levels remain substantially lower than a decade ago’. The Report also records the significant threats to the food supply chain caused by food crime and observes that a multi-agency approach to combatting the threat is crucial.
This article is provided for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Formal legal advice should always be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action.
Ian Thomas can be contacted at ian@ianthomasassociates.com
He also practises from Gough Square Chambers, London – ian.thomas@goughsq.co.uk