Letter: Engineered food

Sir: You report that "the proposed Food Standards Agency has been shelved after lobbying by supermarkets and manufacturers" ("Beef on the bone hint cheers farmers", 19 October). The Food and Drink Federation, the voice of the food and drink manufacturers, has made its support for this government initiative clear all along. We do have concerns - the funding arrangements and the proposed agency's remit, which we feel is too wide - but the constructive role we played in the consultation process hardly amounts to a blocking campaign.

MARTIN PATERSON

Director of Communications

Food & Drink Federation

London WC2