Our food safety team do not carry out sampling for the quality,
composition or labelling of food products. This work is done by
Trading Standards officers based at Somerset County Council.
There is an extensive food sampling programme which covers a wide variety
of products.
In any year around 200 samples are taken from approximately
120 premises and sent for analysis.
The type of product selected for sampling and what it is sampled
for will reflect both the European Union's sampling programme and
any national sampling programmes.
Food products sampled by officers are examined for the presence
of organisms that could give rise to food poisoning. These organisms include:
salmonella, campylobacter, staphylococcus, E coli 0157 and listeria
monocytogenes.
Ready-to-eat foods which would be eaten by the consumer without
further preparation or cooking have featured prominently in our
sampling programme because any contamination of the product will
have a direct effect on the person consuming it.
Where problems are identified with a product, follow-up action
will be taken. This will generally be in the form of advice on
production methods, practices, controls and staff training. If it
is necessary, products can be withdrawn from sale or formal action
taken to enforce food safety law.
A guide for food businesses as to why samples are
taken and the interpretation of the test results
For further information please contact the Food Safety Team