Wearing his Food Standards Agency (FSA) hat, Sir John Arbuthnott, former Principal at Strathclyde, promises a fascinating insight into the Agency's work since it was set up in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.

His lecture, 'Food Safety - a Challenge for Science and Society', will take place at 6.30pm on Monday 11 November 2002 in the Strathclyde Institute for Biomedical Sciences. For tickets, please contact Jane Donaghey on j.donaghey@mis.strath.ac.uk (0141 548 2115).

With outbreaks of e-coli, BSE, and an estimated 4.5 million cases of food poisoning every year in the UK, the FSA1s remit is extensive. It ranges from ensuring product labelling is accurate and informative, to commissioning research on GM foods and the possible harmful effects of chemicals in food.

Sir John will outline how and why the FSA was set up and how the Scottish Food Advisory Committee, of which he is Chair, fits into the UK-wide picture. He will also give an insight into the BSE crisis, its effect on the management of food safety issues, and highlight some of the issues addressed by the Agency's wide-ranging research programme which Sir John has reviewed for the Agency.

However, FSA1s efforts are not restricted to the high profile issues you hear about in the press. If you'd like to know how much protein, fat, carbohydrates and fibre you should include in your diet, or why soft cheeses carry the risk of listeria, don't wait to ask Sir John at his lecture, visit the Agency's website athttp://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

First published: 21 October 2002