The government is to abolish the Food Standards Agency (FSA) today as plans over the UK’s health policy are unveiled.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will confirm the consumer watchdog is being scrapped when he sets out plans to overhaul the NHS.

The FSA, which has an annual budget of £135 million and 2,000, will be transferred to the Department for Health and DEFRA.

Lansley is currently at the heart of a debate over junk food with criticisms he has been lenient on companies targeting junk food at families while doctors have called for "fat taxes" on unhealthy food.

The abolition is part of a drive to cut the number of quangos. The NHS reform plans will be set out in a white paper. Lansley said they would cut the cost of NHS bureaucracy by £1 billion.

NI Chest Heart & Stroke said the Lansley, was giving in the junk food giants.

The charity's chief executive Andrew Dougal told the BBC: "It makes no sense to abolish a major line of defence against unhealthy eating.

"It's like asking the tobacco manufacturers to run No Smoking Day."

The charity is also critical of the move to allow manufacturers to fund the Change4Life healthy eating campaign.

Dougal added: "At the same time appoint the crisp and chocolate manufacturers as guardians of dietary advice to the nation."