The Food Standards Agency is an independent food safety watchdog.

Its headquarters are in London but it also has national offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It was set up by the UK government in 2000 in an effort to protect the public's interests in relation to food.

It is accountable to parliament through health ministers, and to the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for any activities within their areas.

Law enforcement

Although it is a government agency, it does not report to a specific minister and is free to publish advice to the public without first gaining consent from the government.

The Agency does however, represent the UK government on food safety and standards issues in the European Union.

According to its own mission statements, the Food Standards Agency also has several key aims.

These include reducing foodborne illness by 20% between the years 2001 and 2006, encouraging healthy eating, improving food law enforcement and promoting honest and informative labelling on food.