The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) reveals the report of a new study that assesses the level of industry compliance with its food standards guidelines.

It is described that generally, food assurance schemes are voluntary arrangements managed by the food industry. Each scheme comprises of standards for food production to assure the product quality.

The report was conducted on the main UK schemes to study whether their best practice guidance were pursued.  Examples of these schemes include meat schemes, egg schemes, feed schemes, crops scheme and niche schemes (high animal welfare standards, environment and farming as well as organic food scheme).

According to the report, the FSA found that there had been an obvious improvement across all schemes in the setting and delivery of production standards.  Most schemes have independent standard-setting boards and adopt a hazard-based approach to standard setting and ensure that standards cover the entire food chain.

However, it was noted that there were some works to do to ensure that consumers are involved in helping to set the standards by which the food is produced.  In this case, it was suggested that consumer representative could be included on their main boards.

Furthermore, the report mentioned that there are possible improvements in other areas to assure that increasing consumer demand are met.  For instance, food safety issue (such as veterinary health plans and pesticides residues) as well as animal welfare and environment.

It was also revealed that the monitoring of the standards schemes were better than in the past.  However, it was emphasized that the schemes should now focus more on compiling data to prove "substantiate scheme benefits".

In addition to the results mentioned above, the other findings and notes are shown in the following table

It was also found that consumers are introduced too many logos are introduced.

The best question of the study is “whether there is more to be done to improve transparency of the schemes with consumers”.

Source: http://www.foodqualitynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=84900&c=Pr4Rret9mBtybk9pm1UwjQ%3D%3D