Food and Health & Safety 2025 - V4 - Flipbook - Page 71
Appendix 9
Food Sampling Policy - Food and Safety Team.
This food sampling policy is made available to businesses and consumers in accordance with the Food Law
Code of Practice. We recognise the contribution sampling can make to the protection of public health and food
law enforcement functions. We are committed to providing the resources necessary to carry out a sampling
programme. Trained Authorised O昀케cers are responsible for undertaking our food sampling functions and we
have a food sampling programme for microbiological and algal toxin purposes. Food sampling is prioritised to
concentrate upon one or more of the following criteria:
• foods which are produced within East Su昀昀olk
• the risk ratings of the premises
• any local, regional or national coordinated sampling studies
• shell昀椀sh classi昀椀cation and algal toxin monitoring.
The majority of samples taken are for the purpose of monitoring, surveillance and intelligence gathering. Samples
may be formal, informal or both according to circumstances. They are taken in compliance with the relevant Code
of Practice and consideration of our Compliance and Enforcement Policy. O昀케cial laboratories as designated by
the FSA are used for samples obtained during the sampling programme.
The UKHSA laboratory, London, the Council’s Public Analyst(s), CEFAS laboratories at Lowestoft and Weymouth
and other accredited laboratories are used for the analysis of samples.
The FSA funds sampling credits used for the analysis of food samples submitted to the Food, Water &
Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (UKHSA), London. Algal toxin examinations are carried out by CEFAS are
carried out at no charge to the local authority. The local authority has a budget to fund the analysis of shell昀椀sh
classi昀椀cation samples as this is not funded by the FSA.
Samples may be taken during manufacturing/production processes, for the purposes of ensuring food safety
and for ensuring the e昀昀ectiveness of the critical controls in the process. Sampling may include swabs taken from
surfaces where they are sent to an o昀케cial control/accredited laboratory. The food business operator will be
noti昀椀ed of the result of any such sample analysis or examination.
We do not currently act as the Primary Authority for any food business, but we act as the home authority for
businesses where the relevant decision-making base of an enterprise is located within East Su昀昀olk’s area. Where
sampling identi昀椀es a problem with food manufactured outside the districts, the relevant primary, home or
originating authority will be noti昀椀ed, and a copy of the certi昀椀cate of analysis or examination forwarded to them.
Food sampling will not normally be undertaken as a constituent part of a food safety intervention. It may
take place if, during the intervention, the authorised o昀케cer identi昀椀es a particular problem that needs further
investigation.
Samples of food received as a food complaint may require microbiological examination, chemical analysis or
expert identi昀椀cation.
Where a particular premises or food produced in the District is implicated with a case or cases of food borne
disease, food samples may be taken and submitted for examination, for the purpose of identifying any likely
source of infection and controlling any risk to public health.
Food samples may be taken and submitted as part of a special investigation e.g., in response to a food hazard
warning, or to other intelligence received about potential food safety issues.
The sampling of shell昀椀sh and river water in commercial shell昀椀sh production areas is conducted in coordination
with the FSA and CEFAS for the purpose of maintaining the necessary classi昀椀cations for those areas and for
monitoring the risk of algal toxins. Shell昀椀sh and river water is sampled from shell昀椀sh beds and their associated
depuration plants.
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East Suffolk Food and Health & Safety Service Plan 2023/24
