Agenda item

To be advised of performance and achievements in the food safety service in 2017/18

The Panel reviewed the performance of the food safety service over the last year, as set out in their service review report.

The service had maintained its programme of premises inspections, with the frequency of inspection tailored to the risk presented by the premises.  In addition, new premises, or premises that had come under new management, needed to be inspected.

The National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme was continuing to encourage food businesses to improve their standards and 97% of food businesses in the District were now rated at 3 (generally satisfactory) or better.  Re-inspection in advance of the normal programmed inspection period was a source of income for the service, as a fee of £162 was charged.  Many businesses considered this was a sound investment to gain recognition of improved standards.

Where standards were poor the service took enforcement action as necessary.  For lesser concerns an advisory letter was sufficient, but 45 hygiene improvement notices had been served on 16 businesses, and 2 had voluntarily closed as they represented a serious risk to health.  One business had been prosecuted and another given a sample caution for serious food hygiene offences.

The service had investigated 528 reports related to food or infectious diseases, about half of these relating to food premises where complaints were received from members of the public.  Public Health England had referred 280 cases of infection or food poisoning for investigation.  This work was considered a high priority in the service’s workload.

Food sampling was an important part of the service, with the Food Standards Agency placing considerable emphasis on the importance of sampling as part of a high quality food safety service.  Sampling was carried out particularly at high risk businesses, normally food producers carrying out specific processes such as sous vide or fermentation.

Members debated the “Eat out, Eat well” scheme which recognised those businesses offering healthier eating options to their customers.  This Council had piloted the scheme through 5 businesses, including 1 theme park and 2 large schools, where there was high footfall and high profile.  In addition, it was understood that other schools in the area, supplied through Hampshire County Council’s catering service, were taking part in the scheme, in recognition of the importance of diet in tackling childhood obesity.  Members considered that it would be interesting to get some feedback from the businesses on the uptake of the healthy options.  It would however be impossible to follow through to measure any effect on obesity, which was a multi-factorial problem.  The scheme would be gradually rolled out to other businesses, focussing initially on those with good food hygiene ratings, as they would be more in tune with the ethos of the scheme.

Members also noted that consideration was being given to taking part in the Primary Authority scheme, which allowed businesses to form a statutory partnership with a local authority or group of authorities to secure assured, robust and reliable advice on food safety.

In answer to questions, members were advised that mobile food businesses were subject to inspection, normally by the local authority in which the trailer was stored.  There was close co-operation between authorities to ensure effective cover.