UK &#8211, Ten local authorities are to be audited by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as part of a drive to raise national food safety standards.

The authorities to be placed under scrutiny are Braintree, Broxtowe, Copeland District, Northamptonshire, Telford and Wrekin, Shrewsbury and Atcham, Darlington, Harrogate, Dudley, and Hillingdon. The FSA selected these bodies because they represent a cross section of the different local authority types in existence in the UK and offer a broad geographical spread.

Each audit will include an examination of the number of food premises inspected by the local authority every year, the arrangements it has in place to sample and analyse food, its management controls, the advice it gives to food businesses and consumers, and how it deals with complaints.

Announcing the programme of inspections, FSA chairman John Krebs said: “Taking such a close look at how local authorities operate will enable us to highlight and share best practice with other authorities, and also allow the Agency to address problem areas that might hinder effective enforcement.”

He added: “We have already, in partnership with local authorities, put in place a UK-wide standard on enforcement. It is flexible and allows innovation by local authorities, and variations to suit local needs, but we have to make sure the basics are in place.”

The audits, which could in future extend to include every local authority in England, follow the publication last year of local authority performance figures which revealed widespread variations in levels of activity.

Over four million people in the UK suffer from food poisoning each year.