Sampling Food and Drinks

Derry City Council’s Environmental Health Department undertakes sampling of food premises throughout the district. A sampling programme is drawn up at the start of each financial year giving details of the type of samples to be taken that year.

A food sample is taken to ensure that food and drink intended for human consumption is safe. The samples are purchased anonymously or taken with the owners consent by an authorised officer and then submitted for analysis by the Public Health Laboratory in Belfast City Hospital or the Public Analyst in Belfast.

When food samples are examined the results are interpreted as one of the four grades of microbiological quality and are detailed below:

• Satisfactory – The term applied to food which is of good microbiological quality and therefore the numbers of bacteria found were relatively low or not detected in the food.

• Acceptable – The term applied to foods that reflect a borderline limit of microbiological quality and therefore the numbers of bacteria detected were higher that expected. A review of food handling procedures is necessary to ensure that safe food is produced.

• Unsatisfactory – The term applied to foods with relatively high numbers of bacteria and indicates a problem with food hygiene and handling procedures. A review of working procedures must be conducted and Environmental Health Officers may take additional food samples together with further inspection of the food premises to determine the possible cause of contamination.

• Unacceptable/Potentially Hazardous – These results indicate that immediate action is required to locate the source of the problem and consumption of such foods may cause illness. Such results may also form basis for prosecution by the Environmental Health Department, especially if the results occur in more than one sample.

Authorised officers of the Environmental Health Department take samples of food and drink to check that they are safe and fit for human consumption.
The samples are taken to:

• Identify potential problems with specific types of food or types of food businesses as part of national or regional studies; 
• Investigate food poisoning outbreaks and food contamination incidents; 
• Investigate complaints; 
• Assess food suspected of being sub-standard; 
• Reassure the public about food safety; or deliver a more effective food inspection service.
   

Food samples are usually taken in the following situations:

• Food Standards Agency co-ordinated sampling programmes; 
• LACORS (Local Authority Co-ordinating body on Regulatory Services) / HPA (Health Protection Agency) co-ordinated sampling programmes; 
• Staffordshire Food Sampling Group surveys; 
• As part of routine food hygiene inspections to aid assessment of food safety management; or 
• Investigation of complaints.

For further information on food sampling see the Food Standards Agency websites:
www.eatwell.gov.uk
www.food.gov.uk

 

Contact

Karen Phillips
Senior Environmental Health Officer
Food Control/Infectious Diseases

Genevieve McWilliams
Senior Environmental Health Officer
Food Control/Infectious Diseases