My UK VPH career was working for the UK Government, initially on the front line then moving on to the Food Standards Agency in 2002 as a veterinary policy adviser. So getting to the point; I have inspected and audited many farms and food- producing establishments in the UK and overseas (EU and South America). During these official encounters I have met many nice, hardworking people (vets and non- vets). But let’s be honest: not all people are nice. Some of them proved to be convicted criminals as I learnt it by being an expert witness in several high profile cases where I was helping the courts to understand the concept of ‘risks’ arising from unfit meat. Since then I have had a completely different view of risk, in that there is no such thing as a risk-free activity and absolutely safe food.
