World Food Day celebrates the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945, highlighting issues around access to food and food security across the globe.

We are committed to food security, with our team of professionals working in abattoirs, meat processing plants and portals across the UK, delivering official controls and certifying that all animal products are safe to enter the food chain. Without this work, consumer health would be put at significant risk and cases of foodborne illness would increase substantially.

Our colleagues bridge the gap between farm and fork, keeping the public safe and ensuring food standards are maintained. From checking meat for infectious diseases to verifying that imported products meet regulations, we work tirelessly to provide Official Controls that are crucial for the food industry.

Here are some thoughts from our colleagues about the work we do and this impact this has on food safety…

“Official Veterinarians navigate complex issues like disease control, legal compliance at domestic and international level, fraud prevention and more, and their expertise is indispensable in making informed decisions about the safety and quality of meat products.” – Alessio Motta, OV

“Through official controls delivered by OVs and wider inspection teams, public health and animal welfare are being actively and continuously protected.” – Sebastian Zorescu, Area Manager

“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.” – Eve Stockton, OV

We’re very proud of the work our colleagues do to protect public health and ensure food safety.

Find out more about our Official Controls here.