FSA targets business start-ups

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to target new catering businesses as part of its aim of improving food hygiene.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

The agency aims to cut the number of food-induced illness by 20% by 2006.

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FSA: focus on hygiene

A key element in achieving this is seen as getting good practice established in new catering companies. An estimated 20,000 catering businesses are launched in England and Wales every year, many of them by people with little or no catering experience. The FSA has produced a free information pack, focusing on food hygiene but also outlining other issues such as VAT registration and record keeping. Packs can be ordered by phoning 0845 600 1321 or downloaded from www.food.gov.uk/cleanup>by Jason Blackwood