The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has awarded grants of nearly a million pounds to help food caterers and food retailers improve food safety. Local authorities will administer the grants of up to �50,000, and will involve community groups, local colleges and a range of other organisations in delivery of support to businesses.

The business grants will help almost 5,000 businesses to implement Safer Food better Business (SFBB) ? an innovative and practical approach that helps small businesses put in place food safety management systems. This year the FSA grants have focussed on those caterers and retailers who are harder to reach. SFBB has been developed by the FSA in partnership with industry and local authorities with specific advice available for different cuisines and groups such as care homes.

Applications for the grants were invited in May and applications were internally appraised and considered by an external appraisal panel on 7 August. The panel had representatives from local authorities, LACORS (Local Authorities Coordinator of Regulatory Services), the British Hospitality Association and an academic from Birmingham University. The Agency received 40 applications for grants and 26 were successful, involving 69 local authorities and a range of other organisations.