Douglas Lumsden

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Food Standards Scotland plays in shaping Scotland-specific food safety legislation post-Brexit.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is responsible for advising the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Ministers and other stakeholders in relation to food safety and compositional standards matters in Scotland – this includes the provision of food safety advice i…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Food Standards Scotland is taking to improve people's awareness of country-of-origin labelling for meat and poultry products.

Answer · Jenni Minto: A joint UK wide public consultation on fairer food labelling ran for 8 weeks from 12 March 2024 to 7 May 2024. The purpose of this consultation was to seek opinion on specific options in respect of method of production labelling, but it also provided an oppor…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training materials Food Standards Scotland provides to food industry professionals to improve compliance with food safety standards.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The regulatory requirement relating to training is contained in Chapter XII of Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs and is a general requirement that food handlers be supervised, instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matter…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives Food Standards Scotland has launched to reduce childhood obesity rates.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland has a statutory duty to improve the extent to which the Scottish population have diets conducive to good health. Their unique position, independent from government, allows them to report and publish evidence to inform policy across a w…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many investigations into food crime have been carried out by Food Standards Scotland since 2018, broken down by type of crime.

Answer · Jenni Minto: All information/intelligence relating to food crime is assessed and, where appropriate, is subject to further investigation or referred to relevant enforcement authorities, e.g. local authorities. Since 2018, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) investigators have u…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Food Standards Scotland is taking to increase public awareness of food fraud and how to report it.

Answer · Jenni Minto: FSS has integrated food crime and fraud awareness into its core communications strategy, using the following approaches:Raising Visibility of the Scottish Food Crime Unit (SFCIU):Promotion of the Food Crime Hotline and online reporting channels to encourage t…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland monitors the use of additives and preservatives in processed foods.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Additives (including preservatives, colourings, sweeteners, emulsifiers, stabilisers, thickening and gelling agents and antioxidants) must be assessed for safety by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) before they can be used in f…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Food Standards Scotland takes to monitor and regulate imported foods to confirm that they meet safety standards.

Answer · Jenni Minto: As direct imports into Scotland are a small proportion of food placed on the market in Scotland, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) funded surveillance is undertaken on a risk basis and will include imported food when certain goods, irrespective of origin, are con…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland makes sure that the production and distribution of high-risk foods remain safe.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The responsibility for the safe production of food lies with the food business operator. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) supports food businesses with provision of guidance, tools and advice. Local authorities are also supported by way of Codes of practice, gui…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many food recalls have been issued as a result of Food Standards Scotland inspections in each year since 2018.

Answer · Jenni Minto:  Number of FSS-led Product Recall Information Notice (PRINs) issued 2018 - 2024     2018201920202021202220232024Grand TotalFSS-led PRINs561355429

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland enforces standards for nutritional claims, such as “low fat” or “high fibre,” made on food packaging.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Local Authority Environmental Health Departments have powers under the Nutrition and Health Claims (Scotland) Regulations 2007 to enforce the requirements of Regulation 1924/2006 applying to businesses making claims about the nutrition content or health benef…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research Food Standards Scotland has conducted into the impact of portion sizes on public health.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is currently undertaking research to better understand portion sizes of foods commonly sold by independent out of home businesses in Scotland. The findings will be published later in 2025 on the FSS website and accessible at the …

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance Food Standards Scotland provides to businesses regarding compliance with new food regulations.

Answer · Jenni Minto: FSS routinely develops guidance to help support businesses and enforcement authorities with implementation and compliance. An extensive suite of guidance is provided on the FSS website in relation to new food business requirements as well as more technical as…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Food Standards Scotland is taking to address the safety and labelling of plant-based and alternative protein products.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Food Information to Consumers Regulation 1169/2011 sets mandatory food labelling requirements such as a list of ingredients, allergen information and that information must be accurate and not mislead the consumer, which apply to most prepacked foods inclu…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures Food Standards Scotland has implemented to support the mental health and wellbeing of its staff in Aberdeen.

Answer · Jenni Minto: FSS’ people strategy 2022 - 2026, defines their priorities around four key pillars including the Employee Experience. FSS has been committed to employee health and wellbeing and was a Healthy Working Lives Gold award holder. FSS’ Healthy Working l…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Food Standards Scotland is taking to encourage retailers to promote healthier food choices.

Answer · Jenni Minto: FSS recommended legislation to restrict promotions in advice to Scottish Government in 2016.More specifically, the role of FSS is to provide evidence and advice to Scottish Government (SG) to inform Government decisions on improving Scottish dietary intake.FS…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland is using technology to improve food safety monitoring and enforcement.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In 2015, FSS took the decision to establish the Scottish National Database (SND). as part of its strategic commitment to address recommendations of the Scudamore Expert Advisory Group, which was established by Scottish Ministers in February 2013, to review th…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance Food Standards Scotland provides to food businesses regarding the use of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), in food production and safety monitoring.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Regardless of the technology used to produce food, the food business operator must abide by the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 on general food law and the hygiene requirements, Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 on the hy…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland collaborates with local authorities to identify and prevent food fraud.

Answer · Jenni Minto: FSS collaborates routinely with all Scottish local authorities (LA) to identify and prevent food fraud, which is formalised through various fora, including:MOU in relation to the investigation of food crime in ScotlandFSS acting as intelligence hub for all LA…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what penalties have been imposed as a result of Food Standards Scotland investigations into food fraud.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Since 2018, FSS investigations into food fraud have resulted in varying penalties being imposed including imprisonment and fines. One sentence of 4 years imprisonment was imposed with the sentence reduced to three years on appeal. in relation to the supply of…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland supports local authorities in enforcing food safety regulations.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In addition to the training provided, FSS attends and provides the Secretariat function to the Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Group. The details of this Committee can be found here: Scottish Food Enforcement Liaison Committee (SFELC) | Food Standards Scotl…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants employed by Food Standards Scotland in Aberdeen are on secondment, and what their roles are.

Answer · Jenni Minto:  RoleSecondment type'Senior Feed Offieroutward loanLead Feed OfficerTP (internal)Project ManagerTP (internal)Head of Private OfficeTP (internal)Head of Field OperationsTP (internal)Operations Manager - Area 1TP (internal)Field Operations Co-ordinatorTP (…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants at Food Standards Scotland in Aberdeen are working on issues related to food labelling and allergens.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Figures are not kept in the form requested as FSS officials will work on a range of policy areas according to priorities and workloads. Four policy officials have the necessary expertise to deal with food labelling and allergen issues

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland supports small- and medium-sized food businesses to meet regulatory requirements.

Answer · Jenni Minto: In developing policy and introducing new regulations and guidance, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) places an emphasis on engaging with stakeholders, in particular small businesses. In gathering evidence for policy changes, FSS follows the Scottish Government Bu…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many inspections have been carried out by Food Standards Scotland in each year since 2018, broken down by type of inspection.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland have undertaken three types of inspections as detailed in the following table and only hold information from 2021 onwards.YearMeat inspectionsFeed inspectionsWine standard inspectionsAnnouncedUnannounced  20217345144-20221694…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action Food Standards Scotland is taking to support food producers in rural and remote areas to meet safety and hygiene standards.

Answer · Jenni Minto: As part of its competent authority role Food Standards Scotland monitors and enforces regulations in marine waters, slaughterhouses, standalone cutting plants, game handling establishments, feed, and wine business, throughout the length and breadth of Scotlan…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Food Standards Scotland promotes public awareness of food safety issues.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland (FSS) ensures consumers have access to accurate, science-based information on food safety. FSS focusses on digital engagement, stakeholder partnerships, and incident response to maintain public awareness. FSS continues to fulfil its st…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps Food Standards Scotland is taking to address (a) food fraud and (b) counterfeit products.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland work in partnership with local authorities, other law enforcement agencies, industry and stakeholders at various strategic and tactical fora, including:Food Crime Strategic AssessmentTactical Tasking Coordinating Group (TTCG)Operationa…

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the staff budget is for Food Standards Scotland’s operations in Aberdeen, and how this compares to its other locations.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Please see the following table for a breakdown of how the staff budget contributed to the overall FSS’ baseline budget in each financial year since the establishment of FSS. FSS staff costs are not dependant on where staff are located but by pay grade, …

23 Jan 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions Food Standards Scotland takes when non-compliance with food hygiene standards is identified during inspections.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Food Standards Scotland has a range of enforcement actions detailed in food law it can use to address noncompliance. They also have enforcement polices for each sector they regulate promoting advice and best practice with a view to a graduated approach.