News
Major shake-up at FSA
The Government’s shake-up of the NHS will see major changes at the Food Standards Agency.
The FSA was established as a non-ministerial Government department in 2000 to secure food safety and provide advice to Government and the public.
But it has now been announced that a number of its key roles will be moved away from the FSA and brought ‘in house’.
The FSA will now be a body with renewed focus on food safety while the Department of Health will become responsible for nutrition policy in England, including front of pack nutrition labelling, such as Guideline Daily Amounts. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will become responsible for country of origin labelling and various other types of food labelling not related to food safety, and food composition in England.
Around 2,000 staff will remain at the FSA, and around 70 policy posts will move to the Department of Health and a further 25 to Defra.
Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said: “Our ambition is to create a public health system that truly helps people live longer and healthier lives. To achieve it, we can’t stand still. Changes are inevitable.
“It’s absolutely crucial for the Food Standards Agency to continue providing independent expert advice to people about food safety. But bringing nutrition policy into the Department makes sense. It will enable a clear, consistent public health service to be created, as our Public Health White Paper later this year will set out.
“I believe - in the long term - we’ll have a clearer and less bureaucratic system for public health. The end result will focus on turning expert advice and support into better health.”
FSA Chair Lord Rooker added: “Food safety and hygiene have always been at the heart of what the Agency does. They are our top priorities in protecting the interests of consumers.”
Setting out the changes in a written Ministerial statement, entitled Machinery of Government changes, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote: “The Government recognises the important role of the Food Standards Agency in England, which will continue to be responsible for food safety. The Food Standards Agency will remain a non ministerial department reporting to Parliament through Health ministers.
“In England, nutrition policy will become a responsibility of the Secretary of State for Health. Food labelling and food composition policy, where not related to food safety, will become a responsibility of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.”
HFMA hits the small screen
The new chairman of the Health Food Manufacturers’ Association has wasted no time hitting the campaign trail.
Martin Last was called on recently to defend the natural health industry following TV and radio reports on EU legislation governing health food claims.
Last appeared on BBC World’s lunchtime news with George Alagiah, where he fought inaccuracies surrounding the perception of health claims in the UK media. He also appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Breakfast Show with Nicky Campbell and BBC West Midlands.
Martin explained how a lack of EU guidelines and a confusing and restrictive process had resulted in many health claims being rejected by the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA).
Appearing alongside him was Miranda Watson of Which?, who called for increased dialogue with Brussels on the subject of legislation governing the industry.
HFMA Executive Director, Graham Keen, said: “As the voice of the natural health industry, we are constantly defending our members’ interests and the reputation of the industry generally. We were delighted to have the opportunity to do just that at both a national and an international level.”
Solgar parent company sells to investment fund for more than $3bn
NBTY, the company that owns Solgar and Holland & Barrett, has agreed to be acquired by the investment group that owns Boots.
The Carlyle Group has announced it will acquire NBTY for $55 per share, a deal expected to be worth $3.4bn.
NBTY Chairman and Chief Executive, Scott Rudolph, commented: “This transaction delivers exceptional value to our shareholders. For our wholesale and retail customers, our commitment to quality and innovation will continue to be our focus. We will leverage Carlyle’s global resources and consumer sector knowledge to further drive the company’s global growth.”
NBTY acquired Solgar from Wyeth Consumer Healthcare. It also owns Holland & Barrett, Julian Graves and Met-RX. The Carlyle Group is described as a global alternative asset manager, and has more than 900 corporate and real estate investments in its portfolio, including Alliance Boots, which includes Boots the pharmacy.
Its Managing Director and Head of Consumer and Retail sector team, Sandra Horbach, added: “We are impressed with the business that has been built under the leadership of Scott Rudolph and are excited to work with him and the senior management team to drive continued growth.”
However, the transaction is not without conflict. Most recently it has been reported that the deal is being investigated.
Praise for Parliamentary support
A retiring MP has been praised for his efforts at championing the supplements industry.
Dr Brian Iddon was the Member of Parliament for Bolton South East until his recent retirement, and throughout his 12 years as an MP put pressure on Parliament in support of the campaign to avoid restrictive maximum permitted levels. He laid down Commons Motions, tabling hundreds of questions, leading delegations to Ministers, orchestrating debates, and, on behalf of Consumers for Health Choice presented in Parliament the biggest consumer petition received by the last Labour Government with over one million signatures.
Dr Brian Iddon (second from left)
Following his election as an MP in 1997, Dr Iddon picked up the vitamin B6 issue, leading a national campaign with the support of HFMA and CHC.
“Dr Brian Iddon has continued to fight our industry’s corner in the corridors of power and for that we have been extremely grateful,” said Graham Keen, HFMA Executive Director. “His personal popularity, his command of the science, and his assiduous campaigning have been great assets to the HFMA and its members.”
Reader feedback
The September issues of Health Food Business and its sister title, Natural Lifestyle, will both feature our annual reader surveys.
By regularly asking our readers for their input, suggestions, thoughts and recommendations we can ensure our magazines are tailored to our suit our readers’ needs.
Look out for the results of the surveys, which will be announced in our November issues.
We're on Twitter
Health Food Business and Natural Lifestyle magazines are now both on the social networking site, Twitter. For regular updates from each magazine, follow @HFBmagazine and @NLmagazine.
A new for FSN
The UK’s leading title for sports nutrition has been rebranded.
As well as a new look for Functional Sports Nutrition (FSN), a new website has been created at www.fsnmag.com, where you can read an online version of the magazine as well as search through an archive of back issues.
If you haven’t seen a copy of the new look magazine, simply telephone 01279 810080.
