Food Safety - Communicable DiseaseNew food hygiene legislation has applied in the UK from 1 January 2006
This affects all food businesses, including caterers, primary producers (farmers), manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
The legislation was changed within the EC to set out more clearly the duty of food businesses to produce food safely. A key requirement is for businesses to show they understand what food hazards exist in their business and what action they are taking to ensure their methods of food production/service are safe. This is sometimes referred to as hazard analysis. The law now requires for this food safety management system to be written down in many small businesses, eg caterers.
To assist small businesses, such as caterers, set up a food safety management system that meets the requirements of the law, the Food Standards Agency, in partnership with the catering sector, have produced guidance packs called ‘Safer Food Better Business’. Based upon the Food Standards Agency’s campaign of the 4C’s, the guidance focuses on the themes of cross-contamination, chilling, cooking and cleaning, and includes an important section on the types of checks management should be carrying out to ensure their safe methods of working are being put into action. Further guidance packs are also being developed which will assist other sectors of food businesses comply, eg retailers.
Other key changes relate to requirements concerning trace ability of food, product recall of unsafe food and microbiological criteria of foodstuffs.
If you have not already done so, you will need to put into place a food safety management system for your business. ‘Safer Food Better Business’ is one example of a system which could be used or adapted to suit your business.
The benefits of having such a system in place are numerous, eg
For more information on the main changes in the legislation you can visit the FSA Web site www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/regulation/europeleg/eufoodhygieneleg/ or contact the Food Team.
If you wish to order a copy of the ‘Safer Food Better Business’ pack then please contact the Food Standards Agency’s publication line on 0845 606 0667 or by email at food standards@eclogistics.co.uk
Further information in respect of the new legislation and the ‘Safer Food Better Business’ guidance will be rolled out by the Food Team in due course and officers will discuss this with individual businesses during their next planned inspection.
