Today marks the start of British Food Fortnight, celebrating the diverse and delicious food produced in the UK. With food safety playing a big part in what we do, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank our colleagues for their hard work providing Official Controls which ensure our food is safe to eat.

Our Official Veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Inspectors are responsible for conducting inspections in slaughterhouses. They check meat/meat products for infectious diseases, which can be deadly to consumers.

It’s a crucial role which goes on behind the scenes, making a huge difference to public health. Here are some thoughts from our colleagues about the importance of the Official Veterinarian role and the impact this has on healthy food production…

“Official Veterinarians are on the frontline for food safety and animal welfare within the meat industry in the UK. The work done by OVs and MHIs will directly impact millions of people within the UK and the rest of the world with the food that makes its way onto supermarket shelves and is exported across the globe. This work is not only vital, but a fantastic network to be a part of.” – Eve Stockton, Official Veterinarian

“Food safety is not simply a matter of convenience; it’s a fundamental necessity for our health and wellbeing. E&J Official Veterinarians are at the forefront of ensuring food safety at every stage of the production process; ‘from farm to fork’. Our expertise in animal health, hygiene and disease control is essential in maintaining the integrity of our food.” – Ester Benguerel, National Technical Lead for Food Safety & Animal Welfare

“Official Veterinarian duties are so important for public health – our role bridges the gap between farm and fork, which is very important for society. We make sure food is safe and stop different diseases, which keeps the public healthy and ensures animal welfare is maintained.” – Silvia Trobo Villa, Official Veterinarian

To celebrate British Food Fortnight, a wide range of events will be taking place across the UK, which you can find out more about here.