Food Business - Food Safety

Description

 

The Food Safety Service is made up of Environmental Health Officers and Enforcement/Technical Officers responsible for food safety throughout the Borough. The duties of the team fall into the following categories:

• Enforcement of the Food Safety Hygiene Regulations
• Inspection of all food businesses
• Investigation of food complaints and complaints against food premises
• Investigation of food poisoning outbreaks
• The microbiological sampling of food
• Inspection, detention and seizure of suspect food
• Provision of advice and assistance to food businesses, other services within the Council and the general public
• Registration of all food businesses
• Approval of meat/dairy/ fish product premises

 

Eligibility

 

This service is available to everyone.

 

Procedure

 

Regulatory Services carries out regular checks on all food premises in the Borough to ensure the public is 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 inspection, Officers will want to reassure themselves that potential food safety risks have been identified by the business, and that there are adequate controls in place to prevent any problems. They will also look at the training of managers and food handlers to ensure that it is suitable, and they will check 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.

If you have a Food Safety enquiry and require further information or advice, please contact the Food Hygiene/Health and Safety Team using the contact details provided.

 

Helplines

 

Regulatory Services, Food Hygiene/Health and Safety Team: (01226) 773860

 

Opening Times/Locations

 

Opening times and location map, click link for further information.

 

How the customer can help

 

Please contact the helpline with any concerns you have regarding food safety

 

Leaflets

 

• Assured Safe Catering
• Guide to Food Hygiene
• Food Safety Regulations
• Starting Up - Your First Steps to Running a Catering Business

 

Distribution Points

 

Leaflets are available from our offices (see Opening Times/Locations)

 

Legislation

 

• Food Hygiene (England) Regulations, 2006
• The General Food Regulations, 2004

 

Response Times/Next Steps

 

We will endeavour to provide an initial response to queries within 2 days

We will endeavour to provide a full response to enquiries, or at least a progress report, within 10 working days

 

Owner Officer Contact Details

 

Unit Manager, Food Hygiene and Health & Safety
3rd Floor,
Central Offices,
Kendray Street,
Barnsley,
S70 2TN.

 

Additional Notes

 

Food Complaints

The investigation of complaints concerning standards in premises, unfit or contaminated food is a further aspect of the Section's work. These are usually resolved by giving advice to the proprietor or manufacturer, but in certain circumstances formal action can be taken, either in the form of a formal caution or prosecution.

Registration of Food Premises

All food businesses are required to be registered with the Local Authority. Information on how to register can be obtained by contacting the Food Safety Section.

Investigation of Food Poisoning and Food-Borne Illnesses

The Section is involved in the investigation of outbreaks of food poisoning and other infectious diseases, which are notified by GP's, hospitals etc. The work is aimed at controlling and preventing the spread of these illnesses.

Food Sampling

The section undertakes a comprehensive programme of microbiological and analytical food sampling. Any unsatisfactory sample results are carefully investigated with the intention of giving advice on improvements to manufacturing techniques, or systems of handling and storage.

Courses run on a regular basis include:

• CIEH Level 2 Award in Food Safety and Catering

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q. How often will I be inspected?

A. It depends on the risk rating of the business. This is determined by the nature of food produced etc., and the standards of hygiene at the time of inspection.

Frequencies are:

• 6 months
• 1 year
• 18 months
• 2 years

You can also complete our online form to request advice on Food Safety

 

Related Links:

• Food Safety Inspections