Blowing the whistle

You may have heard the BBC Today programme this morning and the story about the meat company that allegedly had been delivering rancid meat. The Agency website also has some information on this issue.

The allegations about this company were first brought to the attention of the relevant local authority by a whistleblower. Whistleblowing by employees can be an effective way of bringing dangerous and illegal practices to light.

The FSA has a whistleblowing policy, both for people who work in the Agency and those who work in the food industry.

If workers in the food industry are aware of wrongdoing they can contact the Agency.  We’ll the get in touch with the body who would most likely be responsible for enforcement in this area – usually a local authority - and urge further investigation.

We’re committed to protecting the identity of the whistleblower throughout the process.

I think it's a mark of this organisation's confidence in itself as a good employer to welcome and promote whistleblowing.