Government Chemist staff behind Virtual Food Authenticity Network
A new Virtual Food Authenticity Network has been launched and will be overseen by Selvarani Elahi, the UK’s Deputy Government Chemist.
A new UK Virtual Food Authenticity Network has been launched this week for those involved in food authenticity testing. New members can join via the website - www.foodauthenticity.uk.
Members can register for news alerts and will be provided with a forum for discussion, or to ask questions about food testing, and to share information on methods and new techniques.
The network is a Defra initiative set up in response to the recommendations made by the Elliott Review into the Integrity and Assurance of Food Supply Networks.
It will be coordinated by LGC, an international life sciences measurement and testing company which has been home to the Government Chemist for more than 100 years. To ensure independence, it will be overseen by a management committee chaired by Michael Walker, Consultant Referee Analyst for the Government Chemist. Selvarani Elahi, Deputy Government Chemist, also sits on the committee and has the role of Project Manager overseeing the network.
The Virtual Food Authenticity Network will raise awareness of the tools available to check for mislabelling and food fraud and ensure that the UK has a resilient network of laboratories with fit-for-purpose testing to check for food authenticity.
It will bring all relevant materials together in one place, including research material relating to food authenticity, standard operating procedures, and authenticity surveys.
Visit the Virtual Food Authenticity Network website at www.foodauthenticity.uk and sign up to become a member.