We aim to
ensure that, in the Waveney District, safe food is produced,
food poisoning and infectious diseases are kept to a minimum
and places of work are safe.
We do this by:
Registration of Food Premises
Registration of premises used for a food business (including
market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures) is
required by law. Find out
more about registration here.
Inspection
of Food
Premises
During
an 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.
How often are premises inspected?
We
routinely inspect (as far as possible, without prior notification)
all food premises in the district to ensure that they are clean and
hygienic. The frequency with which a premises is inspected depends
on the level of risk posed by the food business. Each premises is
given a risk score every time it is inspected. High-risk premises
are inspected at least every six months. There is a sliding scale
for all other premises ranging from being inspected every one to
every five years.
Investigation of Food Complaints
We investigate complaints about unsafe food that has been bought
in the district. Examples would include glass or mould in food.
During the investigation we try to ensure that none of the
contaminated food is still on sale. We then investigate further in
order to discover whether the law has been broken and what action,
advice or enforcement should be taken.
Food Sampling
Food for sale in the district is routinely sampled and sent away
for laboratory analysis to ensure that it is safe to eat. We will
also send food that is the subject of a complaint for analysis
where this can assist in identifying the problem.
Investigation of Food Poisoning and Other Infectious
Diseases
Which food poisoning cases
are investigated?
All cases of food
poisoning and certain other cases of infectious diseases are
notified to the Food & Safety Team by either local GP's or
hospital laboratories.
What exactly does the
Council do?
The Council carries out
investigations into possible sources of and reasons for the
infection. Infections such as salmonella and e.coli are
investigated by contacting the affected person and information
gathered about foods consumed and activities prior to the onset of
illness. The investigation aims to prevent others from being
affected and to determine whether the law has been broken.
Food and Safety Training
Waveney will soon be providing food hygiene training courses e.g.
the Chartered Institute Of Environmental Health Level II. This
level of training is recognised as meeting the legal requirements
of food regulations for most food handlers. The current cost is £57
per candidate.
Waveney are operating training courses in partnership with Suffolk
Coastal District Council, offering food businesses greater
opportunities and access to training in the East Suffolk area.
Trainers will be from Waveney’s Food Team for the courses operating
in this area. However the booking arrangements are with Suffolk
Coastal DC. For more information, or to book places on a course,
please visit:
http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourbusiness/foodsafety/training or
telephone 01502 562111 or email
environment@waveney.gov.uk
Enforcing the Law
- we provide free help and advice, on request, to assist
businesses in complying with legal requirements
- we use legal notices where appropriate to raise standards in
commercial premises
- where appropriate, prosecute those who do not comply with food
or health and safety legislation
- The Council aims to carry out its enforcement activities in a
fair and proportionate way. The Environmental Services have an
Enforcement Policy that describes how enforcement decisions are
made.
You can obtain a copy of the Enforcement Policy by contacting
us:
Telephone: (01502) 562111
Email:
food@waveney.gov.uk
Help Us to Help You
Please:-
Notify us quickly (by e-mail if you wish) when you have a
problem with food hygiene or safety and bring all food which is the
subject of a complaint to us as soon as possible.