Food inspections

We inspect food businesses regularly to ensure that food for sale is safe to eat. How often these inspections take place depends on the type of business and its previous record. Some premises might be inspected every six months and others may be less often.

Officers do not have to make appointments; they visit businesses on a regular basis or as part of a complaint investigation.

What we do during an inspection
When we inspect a food business, we:

• Look at the risk for food poisoning or injury as a result of eating food
• Make sure that food-handling staff are trained in food hygiene
• Examine the condition of equipment and the premises
• Make sure there are precautions to prevent pest infestation
• Make sure that staff are aware of the importance of personal hygiene
• Look at the how the business is run and identify possible problems
• Ensure the business is following the law

 

If we find problems, we can take enforcement action to protect the public. We may:

• Take samples and photographs of food
• Examine business records
• Write to the business owner asking them to rectify problems
• Send an 'improvement notice' if the owner is breaking the law. The notice states the problem, what must be done to put it right and the deadline for this. If the work is not done on time, it is an offence that may lead to prosecution.
• Send an 'emergency prohibition notice' to stop the business from using the premises or equipment
• Recommend a prosecution in serious cases

 

A conviction leads to either a fine or imprisonment.