How are food safety and hygiene inspections carried out?
Environmental health officers and other qualified food safety enforcement officers carry out regular inspections at food premises to ensure that standards of hygiene and food safety are being maintained and that there is no risk to public safety. Inspections are mainly unannounced and take place during trading hours, including evening inspections for premises that predominantly trade out of normal hours. All inspections are carried out in accordance with the Food Safety Act 1990, the European Communities Act 1972 and their regulations and in accordance with national guidance issued by the Food Standards Agency in a Code of Practice and associated guidance.
