When a new topic in science hits the news, it can be frustrating for journalists when they don’t have access to all the relevant facts. The SMC’s Factsheets give brief, digestible summaries on new areas of emerging science when issues that have had little media attention are suddenly in the spotlight. Often Factsheets come as a supplement to a Briefing or Roundup the SMC has put together, and have included topics like the chemical bisphenol-A, emerging livestock diseases, shale gas extraction and ‘legal’ highs. Designed to be an overview rather than a comprehensive account of a topic, Factsheets are also a pointer towards sources of authoritative scientific information.
This Factsheet accompanied a Briefing with a number of food science and equine experts, who came to talk about the scientific aspects of the horsemeat scandal, including issues around food safety, traceability, toxicology and DNA testing. read more