The Food Standards Agency (FSA) runs a UK grants scheme to encourage healthy eating and food hygiene. The scheme began in 2003 for food hygiene only, then expanded to encompass healthy eating in 2005.

The grants scheme is part of the FSA’s promotion of the safe use of food in people’s homes. FSA also works with schools to promote food hygiene and healthy eating, and gives support to local attempts to improve food safety.

Each year, FSA looks for food hygiene and healthy eating initiatives that pursue certain themes. In the past these themes have included joint working at a local level to spread the FSA message about salt and saturated fat; and ways to encourage older people to pay more attention to food hygiene issues.

In general, FSA is keen on projects that raise awareness of what everyone must do to:

  • Ensure food safety
  • Eat in a healthier way so as to reduce the incidence of diet-related diseases

Applicants

Grant applications must come from food liaison groups, trading standards regional groups and local authorities, or the equivalent bodies according to the region of the country.

Community and voluntary bodies can become involved with food hygiene and healthy eating projects. But such bodies cannot submit project proposals. These must come from the groups mentioned above.

Project Criteria

The grants available are up to £10,000. There is no minimum amount.

The projects must relate to food hygiene or healthy eating. They do not have to cover both. Projects must also be local rather than regional or national.

Applications need to address certain criteria. The FSA grant assessment panel will use such criteria to help make its decision.

Applicants should study the criteria carefully. They fall under a number of headings such as the following:

  • Who is the target audience for the project and why?
  • What is the purpose of the project, and why?
  • How will FSA know that the project has reached its aims?
  • How many people, households or organisations will the project affect?
  • What is the timetable for the project?
  • Are there any partners involved such as local community groups, and if so what do they bring to the project?
  • What makes the project unique and is it sustainable?

Successful Food Hygiene Projects

Successful projects have improved hygiene awareness by using testing kits, DVDs and teaching packs in schools. They have also promoted food hygiene qualifications, and issued information and set up training for young adults living in deprived areas.

Other projects have improved the understanding of carers and parents about the FSA’s four Cs. These are cooling, cooking, chilling and cross-contamination.

Projects have also targeted food businesses. One successful applicant made a brief film about food hygiene with voice-overs in a range of ethnic minority languages as well as English.

Successful Healthy Eating Projects

Successful healthy eating projects have included courses that teach cooking skills; competitions in schools to create healthy menus; and interactive plays for young children that spread a healthy eating message.