Food Safety

Food sampling

The Food Team is responsible for the sampling of foods from retailers within Westminster. They continually check for labeling irregularities, misleading descriptions and adulteration. Public houses are regularly visited and formal samples of beer and spirits are purchased to check for watering and false description. All formal samples taken for chemical analysis are submitted to the Public Analyst.

The Food Team work closely with the Food Standards Agency and in the event of a food hazard warning will immediately visit implicated premises to seize or destroy dangerous foods.

Types of Sampling

Chemical Analysis

Beers and Spirits - to check for adulteration and substitution.

Minced Beef - to check that only beef is used and also to check for the addition of non permitted preservatives.

Sausages - to check that the declared meat content is correct and also for the presence of non permitted preservatives.

Bacteriological Analysis

These samples are submitted to the Public Health Analysis (PHA) for examination. They check and carry out investigations for presence of pathogens in the food. Types of samples include:

• water/ice,
• illegal meats (e.g. smokies, imported foods without health markings or correct labeling,etc.)
• ready to eat meats
• hot buffet foods/ rice, dried fish
• cooked duck
• sandwiches (e.g. pre-packed and loose)

Requests for Sampling from the Public

The Food Team receives samples from members of the public which they feel is not fit for consumption. We organise for samples to be sent to the analysis to be investigated who give us feedback on the results.