FSS launches food crime hotline
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and independent charity Crimestoppers has launched the Scottish Food Crime Hotline to allow the industry and members of the public to report any suspicions of food crime.
Geoff Ogle, FSS chief executive: “The launch of the free Scottish Food Crime hotline is one of a number of steps FSS is taking to address the [food crime] problem in Scotland.”
The initiative has been set up to allow FSS’s Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU) to gather vital intelligence to target those involved in criminal activities, which is said to cost the UK food and drink industry an estimated £1.17 billion annually.
The SFCIU was first launched in October 2015 in response to the 2013 report from the then Minister of Public Health following the horsemeat scandal.
Geoff Ogle, chief executive of the FSS, said: “Consumers have a right to know that the food they are buying and eating is both safe and authentic. Food crime is damaging for the public and the industry, eroding trust and value.
“The launch of the free Scottish Food Crime Hotline is one of a number of steps FSS is taking to address the problem in Scotland. We hope it will raise awareness of the issue of food crime and give consumers a trusted point of contact to report concerns in complete anonymity.
“The intelligence we receive will be invaluable in advancing our work with Police Scotland and other agencies to hold to account those who put consumer safety at risk for financial gain.”
Aileen Campbell MSP, Minister for Public Health and Sport, added: “Scotland is known the world over for the quality of its food and drink. Safeguarding the integrity of our supply chain is essential to ensure consumers have absolute trust in the products they buy and that our reputation as a land of food and drink is protected.
“This initiative is a practical and powerful way to tackle the problem of food crime. I would encourage both consumers and industry to make use of the hotline or online reporting form to anonymously share any concerns and help us stamp out fraudulent practices.”
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