Trading Standards food safety expert wins award for preventing deaths

Posted 30/11/23

Alison Richardson from Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards wins the first Megan Lee Hero Award at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) annual Hero Awards ceremony which celebrates outstanding achievements in consumer protection.

The Hero Awards were hosted on 22 November by CTSI and Yvonne Fovargue MP in the House of Commons and recognised individuals and groups that have gone above and beyond to protect consumers and support honest businesses.

The Megan Lee Award is named in honour of Megan Lee, who tragically lost her life at the age of 15 after eating a takeaway with undisclosed allergens. CTSI created this award to recognise individuals or groups that have done something outstanding to protect the public from serious food safety breaches.

Alison Richardson was commended for leading Operation Taste which carried out food standards inspections at 2500 retail premises that are traditionally rated as low risk. Alison found multiple issues during her inspections, which resulted in multiple product recalls and notifications made to the Food Standards Agency Incidents Team.

Stephanie Young, Trading Standards Lead at Staffordshire County Council, said: “Alison is a true asset to our Trading Standards Service and is well respected by peers locally and regionally for her technical knowledge, commitment, and drive. Alison’s interventions have no doubt saved members of the public from serious food safety breaches that could have led to more tragic fatalities.”

CTSI Chief Executive John Herriman said: “The Megan Lee Hero Award is one that is close to our hearts here at CTSI as we have supported Megan’s parents in their campaign work to raise awareness about the dangers of undisclosed allergens and to help avoid another family from losing a loved one. They are an inspiration to us all.

Alison has demonstrated a dedication to ensuring food safety is a priority in Staffordshire and is such a worthy winner of this special Award.”

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) supported this Award category and Louise Hosking, Executive Director at CIEH helped to present the Award alongside Jenni Falconer the host for the evening.

ENDS
Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is a national not for profit established in 1881 which supports the UK’s Trading Standards profession and works to protect consumers and safeguard honest businesses. CTSI's members are engaged in delivering frontline Trading Standards services at local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk

Please contact CTSI Press Office: [email protected] for any queries.

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