30/10/2026
Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee (NIFAC) Get Update from FSA’s Food Fraud Team
Representatives from the FSA’s Food Fraud team, Ed McDonald and Keith Young, attended the latest NIFAC meeting in Belfast, to provide an update on the partnership work and investigations that they’ve been supporting.
Discussing the importance of keeping NIFAC informed of food crime trends, Ed McDonald said:
“The Committee initially received a presentation from Jennifer Donaghue, Deputy Head of the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), who provided an overview of the NFCU, it’s role, remit and operational priorities, as it is within this framework that the FSA’s Food Fraud team operate.
Keith and I subsequently provided an update on Northern Ireland specific food crime risks and shared case studies linked to investigations that we’ve been supporting in recent months. Providing this insight to NIFAC is important as it ensures that the committee members can reassure their industry contacts, that intelligence received is acted upon.
It is this collective effort that helps to protect industry standards and ensures that people can trust that the food they buy and eat is safe and what it says it is. Within Northern Ireland, we have a very strong, vibrant agri-food industry and it is important that everyone plays their part in maintaining its integrity.”
For anyone that has food crime-related suspicions or concerns please contact Food Crime Confidential: Freephone 0800 028 1180. For calls from non-UK mobiles or calls from overseas please use 0207 276 8787.
Picture Caption
Left to Right: Ed McDonald, Food Fraud Liaison Officer, Anthony Harbinson, FSA Board Member for Northern Ireland and Chair of the Northern Ireland Food Advisory Committee, Rebecca Sudworth, Director of Policy, Wales and Northern Ireland, FSA, Keith Young, Fraud Assistant and Andy Cole, Director, Northern Ireland FSA, pictured at the NIFAC meeting in Belfast.
