Professor Hugh Pennington is expressing his concerns at any future cuts in local government affecting food enforcement. At the annual Food Update course for food enforcers held by REHIS, Professor Pennington highlights the need for a robust force of environmental health officers and food safety officers to help minimise food poisoning outbreaks. His presentation covers the lessons to be learned for the outbreak of E coli O157 in South Wales in 2005 and the previous Central Scotland outbreak.