Safefood


Safefood, is an all-island public body responsible for raising consumer awareness and promoting food safety and healthy eating across the island of Ireland. Founded in 1999, Safefood is one of six North-South implementation bodies established jointly by the British and Irish governments under the terms of the 1998 British-Irish Agreement Act.

History and legal basis

was established in 1999 as part of the institutions created by the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Its legal basis and functions are set out in the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 and the Order 1999. The organisation operates under the policy direction of the North/South Ministerial Council

Function

Safefood's statutory functions, as proscribed in law, are:
  • Promotion of food safety
  • Commissioning and communicating research into food safety
  • Communication of food alerts
  • Surveillance of foodborne disease
  • Promotion of scientific co-operation and laboratory linkages
  • Development of cost-effective facilities for specialised laboratory testing

Organisation structure and governance

Safefood's headquarters are in Little Island, Cork, with a second office in Dublin City centre. Funding is provided by the Oireachtas in Ireland and the Northern Ireland Assembly; in recent years, funding has been apportioned 70% from Ireland’s Department of Health and 30% from Northern Ireland’s Department of Health.
Safefood is a multi-directorate . The Chief Executive Officer leads four directorates - Communications, Corporate Operations, Nutrition, and Food Safety - with oversight from the North/South Ministerial Council, an and the Safefood . As of 2025, the CEO is Dr Gary A. Kearney.

Activities

Safefood is a multidisciplinary organisation employing expertise in both food science and nutrition. The body's research, educational, and promotional activities center on the subjects of food safety and healthy eating and are delivered via media campaigns and the publication of information resources for consumers and other stakeholders.
Examples of Safefood consumer campaigns on tackling excess weight and obesity amongst adults include Stop the Spread and Weigh-2-Live, while Safefood's If you Could see the Germs Spread campaign aims to raise awareness amongst consumers of the health risks associated with poor food hygiene practices in the home.

Website and audiences

Safefood operates a dual-audience website:
  • ': consumer-focused and advice, , and seasonal guidance.
  • ': resources for food safety, and professionals, including the , reports, training and sector events.

Campaigns

  • Building a healthier food environment : a five-year public health campaign focusing on how the food environment influences choices, with an emphasis on protecting children’s health; parallel activity in Northern Ireland.
  • Safe2Eat : Safefood represents Ireland in the EU-wide consumer education campaign led by EFSA.
  • Food safety seasonal initiatives: ongoing campaigns including “Trust the Meat Thermometer”.
  • Community and research-led initiatives: expansion of Community Food Initiatives 2025–28 ; ongoing Healthy Food Basket research series.
  • Selected 2024 research/news: kitchen smart device hygiene study and related advice.