Inspections
We carry out regular checks on all food premises to ensure you are protected and that high standards are maintained.
Visits to premises are carried out, as far as possible, without prior notification and are priority programmed according to the degree of potential risk. This ensures that higher risk premises are visited more frequently than those in lower risk categories.
During an inspection of a food premises we make observations and may also carry out tests, take samples and ask to see documents. This is so that we can establish whether the manager has identified the potential food safety risk and that there are adequate controls in place to prevent any problems. We also check to see that the level of food safety knowledge and hygiene practices of the food handlers and manager is adequate, and that the condition of the premises and equipment is satisfactory.
Where practices or conditions are not satisfactory, every attempt will be made to resolve the situation by informal means, but where poor conditions persist, or where there is a risk to public health it may be necessary to resort to formal action. This could involve either the service of legal notice, prosecution, or in extreme cases closure of the business. The Food Standards Agency provides further information on Food Law Inspections and Your Business.
Please see our Food Safety Service Plan for more information