The Food Standards Agency is to be abolished by Andrew Lansley, the health secretary, it emerged last night, after the watchdog fought a running battle with industry over the introduction of colour-coded "traffic light" warnings for groceries, TV dinners and snacks. The move has sparked accusations that the government has "caved in to big business". As part of the changes Lansley will reassign the FSA's regulatory aspects - including safety and hygiene - to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - The Guardian
Food companies have been accused of worsening the child obesity epidemic by selling crisps in "supersized" bags. Over two-thirds of all crisp packets on sale in convenience stores near schools are in bags that are nearly double the traditional size, despite manufacturers' pledges to cut larger size packets - Daily Telegraph
Families throughout Wales are today finding it harder to cope financially than when the Welsh economy was still in the grip of recession a year ago, research has found. Ten months after the nation officially emerged from the downturn, half the population claim they are now struggling more with money, while a worrying 49% also have no savings, as the economic crisis continues to take its toll - Western Mail
They pull in the viewers and make celebrities out of their chefs. But one of Scotland's leading restaurant owners last night claimed television cookery programmes have damaged the other vital ingredient in top eateries - the service. Shirley Spear, who runs the five-star The Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye, said not enough young people are going into the hospitality sector willing to provide the link between customers and chefs, threatening potential growth in the industry - Scotsman
A Tory MP has apologised after getting too drunk to take part in a crucial Budget vote. Mark Reckless, 39, got so legless in a Commons bar during the late-night debate he fell over. The newly-elected Mr Reckless, who had to be helped into a cab home by colleagues, said: "I feel very embarrassed. It's a mistake I will not be repeating." - The Sun