Food businesses must meet legal standards relating to the quality, composition, labelling, presentation and advertising of food and of materials or articles in contact with food in order to ensure consumer health is protected.
However, it is becoming increasingly the case for food fraudsters to use highly sophisticated techniques that make it very difficult, if not impossible, for the public to detect that food fraud has occurred. Therefore we have appointed a Public Analyst who can support our food standards enforcement work. The Public Analyst is capable of carrying out a wide range of tests to ensure that samples submitted meet complex food law requirements, including proper presentation, labelling and advertising, compositional standards, and the absence of harmful additives, contaminants and residues.
Some examples of food standards:
Quality standards – for example:
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Cheaper foodstuffs falsely described as more expensive
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rabbit sold as chicken
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braising steak sold as fillet steak
Compositional standards – for example:
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The percentage of fruit in jam
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The percentage of ‘meat’ in a savoury pastry
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Use of preservatives.
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Chemicals in food and water
Labelling and advertising claims – for example:
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“Locally sourced”
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Improved health and nutrition claims
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“Suitable for vegan/vegetarian”
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Dietary information
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“Organic”
The council Food Team carries out risk rated inspections of premises (rated according to the risk presented to health) and has agreed an annual food standards sampling programme that considers regional, national and local needs.
The food fraudster can apply highly sophisticated techniques and make it very difficult, if not impossible, for the public to detect that food fraud has occurred. Thus, as part of food fraud control enforcement, there must be an equally sophisticated analytical service to support the food enforcement officer in the field.
The analyst must also be capable of carrying out a wide range of tests to ensure that samples submitted meet complex food law requirements, including proper presentation, labelling and advertising, compositional standards, and the absence of harmful additives, contaminants and residues.