Food Sampling

The Commercial Team take food samples from food businesses for a variety of reasons. We may take samples as part of an investigation in to a complaint, to monitor how effective a manufacturing process is, following a food poisoning outbreak, or as part of a national sampling programme, which usually looks at a particular problem which is recognized across the country.

We are part of a County-wide Food Liaison Group, and wherever possible we take part in all food sampling surveys they ask us to participate in. On occasions surveys may have limited relevance our area as they involve foods not available locally (or in limited supply) or refer to types of food premises we don't have many of.

Food Sampling Programmes

Our food sampling programme is determined by the following:

National Programmes

National surveys may be organised by the:

  • Food Standards Agency, as part of the EC co-ordinated sampling programme;
  • Local Authority Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards (LACORS);

Regional Sampling Programme

The Devon Food Liaison Group includes members from the local food microbiology laboratory, Trading Standards, Health Protection Agency and all Environmental Health Departments in Devon. As a group we co-ordinate many sampling programmes looking at products of particular local significance. Recent studies have included cooked meat from farmers markets, local cooked crab, hogs pudding and rice from local takeaways.
All the members agree recommendations and ideas for sampling surveys. Suggestions for future surveys are made either by the food liaison meetings or as a result of outbreaks/ incidents involving certain foods, where an extended survey could establish whether there could be a more widespread problem.
Wherever possible the surveys will usually include a questionnaire where additional information is gathered which may indicate reasons for poor sample results and help determine whether advice or enforcement action would be appropriate.

Local Sampling Programmes

May be generated for various reasons, including:

  • a follow up to a food poisoning incident;
  • local problems highlighted as a result of taking part in national or regional surveys;
  • local sampling initiatives.

Scope of Sampling

The Commercial Team sample foods to look at mainly the bacterial growth in the food, - will the food make you ill; or is there something in there which shouldn't be - a foreign body such as a screw or insect?

Devon County Council Trading Standards Department, are responsible for Food Standards issues such as food composition or labelling, - are there damaging chemicals or allergens such as nuts? This usually requires chemical analysis of the samples, very different to the analysis the Commercial Team carry out.

Food Complaints

Samples of food received as a food complaint may require either microbiological examination or chemical analysis.
All food complaints are taken seriously and the results of an examination or analysis may generate the need for more controlled sampling of the food product or from the food premises.

Reviewed 3rd January 2008