WHICH?
has called on the new food standards organisation for Scotland to "operate transparently as a strong, independent consumer champion".
The organisation has set out a priority list for the new Food Standards Scotland agency's first year, including ensuring it adequately tackles food fraud and misleading practices.
The FSS is launched today, taking over full operational control from the Food Standards Agency, providing Scotland with regulation and independent advice on food safety and standards, food information and nutrition.
Which? said it should act on recommendations of reports conducted in the wake of the 2013 horsemeat contamination scandals by Chris Elliott, professor of food safety and director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University, Belfast and Professor Jim Scudamore for the Scottish Government. That would mean improving intelligence gathering, stepping up surveillance and investigating and prosecuting potential breaches.
Which? research in November 2014 found haddock was being substituted for cheaper whiting in Glasgow fish and chip shops last year.
It said it should push for healthy eating by tackling irresponsible food promotions, including those targeting unhealthy food to children, developing targets to lower levels of sugar, salt and fat in foods and improving labelling in restaurants and cafes.
Which? said FSS should also look to cut food poisoning rates - by working to lower levels of campylobacter in chickens, the main type of food poisoning, as well as tackling other types, such as Listeria and E. coli.
It called on FSS to improve food law enforcement by working with local authorities to make the best use of available resources and introduce a mandatory hygiene ratings scheme. Which? research published in February found that levels of food hygiene compliance across Scotland can vary depending on where you live.
Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, said: "It's important that Food Standards Scotland builds on the work of its predecessor and operates transparently as a strong, independent consumer champion.
"It's vital that the new food agency tackles the challenges facing Scotland, including obesity rates, food poisoning and food fraud, putting the interests of Scottish consumers at its heart."
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