Food Sampling
Sampling of food from shops and businesses
About this service
Pendle Borough Council recognises the importance contribution food sampling makes to the protection of Public Health and the Food Law Enforcement functions of the Authority.
The food safety officers are responsible for carrying out the food sampling functions of the Council. A regional sampling programme determines the number of samples required and the sampling frequency.
Random samples of fresh produce are taken from food premises i.e. shops, supermarkets and take aways and then sent away to the HPA-FEMS (Health Protection Agency - Food and Environmental Microbiology Services) for analysis. We are then notified of the microbiological quality of the sample tested. Further action is taken if the result is unsatisfactory.
Milk from farm processing (heat treatment) dairies are also sampled every 3 months to confirm that food safety is being maintained.
Special circumstances may arise that require samples to be taken. These samples will most likely be generated during the investigation of food poisoning incidents. Samples may unclude environmental samples in addition to food samples.
