About the FSA - 2020 Workshop Report

The UK Food Standards Agency is an independent Government department working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to protect public dietary health and consumers' wider interests in food. The FSA uses expertise and influence so that people can trust that the food they consume is safe and is what it says it is, and food is healthier and more sustainable.

The Science, Evidence and Research Division (SERD) of the FSA provides strategic analysis, insight and evidence across the FSA’s remit to underpin the development of policies, guidance and advice on food safety.

SERD is a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, risk assessors, economists, statisticians, social scientists and operational researchers which provides high quality, timely and robust evidence. We strengthen our knowledge base using a range of external science capabilities, such as our independent Scientific Advisory Committees (independent groups of experts that advise the FSA on various aspects of food safety), by commissioning research and surveys, and engaging with academia, research councils through sponsoring PhDs and post-doctorate fellowships.