Ensuring food is safe to eat depends on policing trading regulations with validated analytical techniques, says Michael Walker
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ood and animal feed must be safe, authentic and properly labelled, which is the responsibility of those who make and sell it. Reputable businesses take their responsibilities seriously – none wants to poison or mislead their customers. But to ensure consumers are protected, and that there is a level playing field for all companies, the local authority trading standards and environmental health departments ensure the day-to-day enforcement of the laws for food and feed. This requires stringent sampling techniques and methods of analysis, with public analysts providing the underpinning measurement science. In general, there is close cooperation between the vast majority of businesses and enforcement officials and clear, guiding principles. But what if there is a dispute about the results of analysis or their interpretation?
Companies can go through the courts, although this is expensive and risky. While magistrates, judges and juries have an honourable record of dealing with technical evidence, there are often grey areas and the use of expert witnesses is not always satisfactory or conclusive. Alternatively, companies can take their dispute to a technical referee, an independent body with a track record in analytical expertise. The Government Chemist Programme (GCP) at LGC provides a statutorily-based route of technical appeal to prevent or resolve measurement disputes before costly processes in the criminal courts. Funded by the National Measurement Office (NMO), GCP is independent of the Foods Standards Agency (FSA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The NMO also oversees governance of the GCP
24 Chemistry&Industry • November 2012
through an advisory group made up of industry, enforcement and academic stakeholders.
‘Beyond reasonable doubt’ The most frequent source of GCP referee casework involves disputed results on aflatoxins in consignments of imported food held at UK ports. Between 2005 and 2011 there were over 40 such incidents. Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by some fungal species, which can contaminate crops such as peanuts, spices or figs with toxins in the field or after harvest. They are associated with liver cancer and strict control measures are in place to reduce human consumption, with surveillance undertaken at ports to prevent contaminated consignments entering the UK.