Which? responds to the FSA's report on food law enforcement and food safety

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Rights and Food Policy, said:

“The FSA’s latest update on local authority performance gives a stark insight into the challenges facing the UK’s food law enforcement system. 

“This year’s report stresses once again how food standards and hygiene teams have become dangerously under-resourced as the number of food businesses increases - leaving vital protections for food safety and standards at risk. 

“This reflects Which?'s own research which has shown that Trading Standards Services around the country are struggling to enforce a broad range of crucial consumer protections. The government needs to urgently reform the system so that there are effective safeguards in place to uphold food safety and food standards, as well as other vital consumer protections.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

The FSA has published a report on the performance of food safety officers in enforcing food law - linked here. 

The report found that the number of qualified food safety and hygiene inspectors is failing to keep up with growth of food businesses in the UK - putting public health at risk.  

In 2024/25, there were 96,283 new food business registrations, up from 90,613 in 2023/24. Meanwhile the overall number of Trading Standards (TS) officers remains substantially below levels seen more than a decade ago.  Local authorities continue to report ongoing resourcing challenges, which limit their ability to respond effectively to increasing demand.

The report suggests that food law enforcement may reach a tipping point where a lack of capacity and capability among enforcement officers will make the current system undeliverable.