IFR, Norwich, is a center for research of international excellence based on the Norwich Research Park in East Anglia and sponsored by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The mission is to carry out independent basic and strategic research on food safety, quality, nutrition and health. The Institute web site, www.ifr.bbsrc.ac.uk has information about activities and includes a number of pages relating to projects and members of staff. The laboratory has about 300 employees. The work package leader is a principal scientist who has worked in food safety science and food materials science at IFR for more than 20 years. (Gary Barker)