Why do the Food Standards Agency publish a report which contains an obvious headline-grabbing statement that over 75% of UK oysters contain the Norovirus? Hidden deeper in their report they state that they were unable to distinguish between infectious and non-infectious forms of the virus. They also state that the risk is no greater now than it was before the study. It doesn't take much common sense to realise that the media headlines will concentrate on the 75% bit, so why did the FSA act in such a manner ? They say it is their duty to alert the public of the risks which is fair enough but I say, think about the wording of your press release and understand how the media operate. The UK shellfish industry has more than its fair share of problems and doesn't need a government agency adding to them unnecessarily.
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Oysters and the Food Standards Agency
Why do the Food Standards Agency publish a report which contains an obvious headline-grabbing statement that over 75% of UK oysters contain the Norovirus? Hidden deeper in their report they state that they were unable to distinguish between infectious and non-infectious forms of the virus. They also state that the risk is no greater now than it was before the study. It doesn't take much common sense to realise that the media headlines will concentrate on the 75% bit, so why did the FSA act in such a manner ? They say it is their duty to alert the public of the risks which is fair enough but I say, think about the wording of your press release and understand how the media operate. The UK shellfish industry has more than its fair share of problems and doesn't need a government agency adding to them unnecessarily.
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