Poole
Wednesday 25 September 2002
29 January-1 February 2002
The Authority was particularly strong on investigative work relating to complaints about food items or food premises and notifications of food related infectious disease. A proactive approach was also demonstrated in assisting businesses to comply with food law.
Although the Authority was focusing its inspection programme on high risk premises, inspections had not been carried out at the required frequencies according to risk. The Authority also needs to review its approach to enforcement of the hazard analysis requirement and to ensure that detailed records of inspection activity are maintained.
The Authority's Strengths
Food Complaint Investigations
The Authority had carried out very thorough investigations of food complaints and had taken appropriate follow-up action in all cases examined.
Advice to Business
The Authority was particularly active in working with businesses to help them comply with food law. Regular consultation exercises on food safety and standards issues were carried out with a local 'Business Panel', a wide range of advisory leaflets were published to help businesses comply with food legislation and the advice provided in follow-up letters on food hygiene was clear and helpful.
Investigation of Individual Cases of Food Related Infectious Disease
All notifications had been thoroughly investigated.
Key Areas for Improvement
Frequency of Food Premises Inspections
Food standards and food hygiene inspections were not being carried out at the minimum frequencies according to risk as required by the relevant Food Safety Act Codes of Practice. The minimum frequencies determined by the Code of Practice risk rating schemes are devised to ensure that enforcement authorities are regularly monitoring food safety standards in businesses and to enable timely interventions to be made when necessary.
Records
Inspection records were inadequate in a number of areas and were particularly limited in relation to food standards inspections. Accurate records are important to provide information for subsequent inspecting officers, to enable appropriate enforcement decisions to be made and to permit effective internal monitoring to be undertaken.
Follow-up Action Relating to the Requirement for Hazard Analysis
The Authority’s approach to enforcement did not take account of the need for a graduated response to securing compliance with the requirement for hazard analysis. Businesses were seen to have repeatedly failed to meet legal hazard analysis requirements, without effective remedial enforcement action being taken.
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