Lowering our food standards

Sir, – I listened with interest to Scottish Questions, where the Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr David Mundell, assured Scottish MPs there would be no dilution of EU/UK Food Standards due to Brexit or transatlantic trade deals.

I have no doubt that, if a trade deal with Trump’s USA was on offer after Brexit, our UK Government, which has often stated that the EU exerts too much control over our food and fisheries, would grab it with both hands.

I read an article comparing food safety standards in the EU and US, specifically referring to food-borne illness rates. It stated one in seven people in the US are affected, whereas in the EU it is only one in 70. So if our food standards were lowered to US levels this could mean 10 times the current numbers at surgeries or hospitals seeking treatment. Alistair Ballantyne. Hillpark Drive, Birkhill, Dundee.

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