Food Sampling
 
Enforcement Strategy
 

The City Council has adopted the principles of good enforcement in respect of standards, openness, helpfulness, complaints, proportionality and consistency.

 

These include:

 

  • confidentiality, courtesy and advice on compliance
  • clear distinction between requirements and recommendations
  • statement of the legal basis for any requirements
  • information re appeal and complaints procedures
     

 

 

Food Sampling in terms of the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Weights and Measures Act 1985

 

The Service has a responsibility to carry out food sampling.

 

Food samples may be taken or purchased for a number of reasons, these include:

 

 

  • Routine Food Samples:  For information gathering purposes with regard to sale or production of food to ensure that it is safe for consumers and that the composition is as claimed by the seller or producer.

 

  • Official Food Samples:  Taken or purchased when there is the possibility that prosecution may follow as a result of the samples failing to meet the required standards.

 

  • Samples may be taken or purchased as part of an investigation following a consumer complaint.

 

  • Samples may be taken during an investigation of a food poisoning outbreak or incident.

 

 

 

Actions that are likely to follow a visit from a Sampling Officer:

 

 

Routine Food Samples
 
  • many samples are taken anonymously and if the samples are satisfactory no further action will be taken
  • if sample results are unsatisfactory, the seller or producer will be contacted and they will be advised of actions that are required or recommended to be taken to remedy the fault
  • follow-up samples will be taken in due course to confirm that appropriate actions have been taken, such follow-up samples may be purchased as official samples

 

 

Official Food Samples

 

  • if the samples are found to be satisfactory the the seller or producer will be advised accordingly
  • if results of analysis are unsatisfactory the seller or producer will be advised of the course of action to be taken, such action may include prosecution 

 

 

Sampling Following Consumer Complaint

 

The complainant and the seller or producer will be advised of the results of the investigation of which sampling was a part.  Depending on the nature and seriousness of the complaint, prosecution may follow. 

 

 

 

Sampling Following Food Poisoning Incidents

 

The seller or producer of the food will be advised of the sampling results and any further actions to be taken by the Service.

 

 

Prosecution

 

In general terms prosecution is not the preferred action of Environmental Protection Services and is only considered appropriate when:

 

  • sellers or producers fail to act on advice or requirements issued by this Service which results in a potential risk to the public or a flagrant breach of the law
  • unsatisfactory food results in a food poisoning incident
  • the seller or producer has a history of similar failures to meet required standards

 

 

 

Advice

 

Advice regarding sampling and sampling procedures is freely available from Officers.

 

By following the links below you can view leaflets and guidance which will help explain what the results of analysis of samples mean, in addition to this, further information can be found on the Food Standards Agency Website.

 

Butchers Guide

 

Bakers Guide

 

Food Sampling Information Leaflet

 

Sandwich Information Leaflet

 

For further information and advice please contact:

 

Land and Environmental Services

231 George Street

Glasgow

G1 1RX

 

Phone: 0141 287 6539/40

E-mail: food.safety@eps.glasgow.gov.uk

 

Office hours:

Monday - Thursday: 9.00am - 5.00pm                    
Friday: 9.00am - 4.00pm

 

 

Food Sampling Leaflet