A message from our Chief Scientific Adviser

Dear subscriber,

Welcome to the first edition of an occasional update from me, in which I will share what I am focusing on as Chief Scientific Adviser, alongside the usual science and research updates from the FSA.

My intention for these updates is to share what I have been doing as Chief Scientific Adviser, what I am focusing on at the moment, and the science, people and opportunities that I think deserve your attention. Science sits at the heart of everything the FSA does, and these updates are one way of making that work more visible to the people who contribute to it and rely on it.

Since taking up the role, I have spent much of my time meeting the scientists (internal and external), committee members and partners whose work underpins our advice. I wrote about those early impressions in my blog on my first 100 days in post. More recently, I spoke to national media about the national salmonella outbreak, setting out our advice that people who are very young, elderly, pregnant or otherwise vulnerable should avoid runny or under-cooked eggs when eating out unless they are certain of the source, while British eggs bought in supermarkets remain safe.

That outbreak is a reminder of why foodborne disease remains one of my central concerns, alongside making sure our advice keeps pace with new technologies in the food system, that we can respond rapidly to novel and emerging opportunities and risks, and that the FSA's scientific foundations stay strong as those challenges evolve.

The item I would most like to draw to your attention in this edition is the recruitment opportunity now open across our Scientific Advisory Committees and the Science Council. Independent expert advice is what allows the FSA to make decisions grounded in the best available evidence, and these committees are where much of that advice is formed. If you have relevant expertise, I encourage you to look at the vacancies and consider applying. Otherwise, please share these opportunities with your networks.

Professor Ian Young CBE 
Chief Scientific Adviser, Food Standards Agency

About the Chief Scientific Adviser

Professor Ian Young CBE joined the FSA as Chief Scientific Adviser in March 2026. He is Professor of Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast and a Consultant Chemical Pathologist. He previously served as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Northern Ireland Department of Health. His role is to make sure the FSA’s work continues to be underpinned by robust, independent science, while helping explain the science behind our work to consumers and other stakeholders.

Join our Scientific Advisory Committees

Help shape the future of food safety in the UK

The Food Standards Agency is recruiting to fill 23 vacancies across its Scientific Advisory Committees and the Science Council: 2 chair positions, 19 full and/or associate member positions and 2 lay member positions.

Our committees provide the independent, expert advice that informs FSA policy and decision-making on some of the most complex issues facing the UK food system, from emerging technologies and food safety risks to protecting consumers’ interests.

We are recruiting across six committees, seeking expertise in areas including toxicology and risk assessment, microbiology, genetics and novel foods, animal feed and agriculture, statistics and modelling, social science, and economics:

• Science Council

• Advisory Committee for Social Science

• Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food

• Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes

• Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs

• Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment

Whether you are an established authority in your field, an experienced chair, an emerging expert or someone able to bring an important public perspective, we want to hear from you. You do not need to have served on a committee before, and we welcome applicants based in the UK and internationally.

Members commit around 20 days a year on average, or around 10 days for the Science Council. Associate member roles are aimed at those earlier in their career who want experience of advisory committee work.

Applications close at 23:59 BST (UK time) on Monday 12 October. You can find out more about the roles and apply on GOV.UK.

Please also help us spread the word by sharing these opportunities with colleagues and professional networks.

Join our virtual information session

If you are considering applying, the FSA SAC Recruitment Team is hosting a virtual information session on Friday 18 September 2026, 11:00 to 12:00 BST (UK time). You will hear from current committee members about their experience and be able to put questions to the FSA colleagues who support the committees. The session covers current vacancies, how the committees work, and hints and tips for the application process.

You can register for the session and submit questions in advance. 

If you have questions about the vacancies or the application process, contact the SAC Recruitment Team at SACrecruitment@food.gov.uk .

Discover what committee membership is really like

Read Professor Ian Young's perspective on the value of the committees and the opportunities available.

Then hear directly from current members about their experience, the impact of their work and their advice for prospective applicants.

In case you missed it

The Annual Science Update from the FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser gives a fuller account of the FSA’s scientific priorities and how our evidence supports decision-making.

Ian spoke to the BBC in August about the national salmonella outbreak, which he described as “unusually large and rapidly increasing”, and set out who should take extra care with eggs when eating out.

Coming up

Opportunities to hear from and meet our CSA

You will have the chance to hear from Ian if you’re attending the IFST Autumn Conference, at which he will be explaining the role of the Food Standards Agency in delivering Food Strategy outcomes.

Ian will also be speaking at Science and Stormont 2026 on 5th October, where he will discuss innovation and the STEM economy.

If you're attending the Government Science and Engineering Conference on 15th October, there will also be an opportunity to meet Ian and speak with him during the event.