Food Safety and Hygiene

Listeria - Keeping food safe

In the UK illness from Listeria is not common, however it has increased amongst vulnerable groups, particularly those people over 60 who have weakened immune systems. The illness it causes has sometimes been linked to eating a range of chilled ready to eat foods such as cooked meats, pate, soft cheeses etc and controls are needed to minimise any risk.

We have produced a Listeria Advice Note which gives more guidance and highlights some key control measures that can help reduce any risk. This note can be viewed by clicking on the link.

If you need any further information on this or any other food safety matter please do not hesitate to contact any member of the team.

The Team

The Food Safety Team's job is to ensure compliance with food safety legislation. The team are also prepared to offer advice and provide information to appropriate persons who are involved in the preparation, production and sale of food.

In Chester there are currently some 1,150 food businesses registered under food safety legislation and the Team endeavours to offer a quick response service in order to meet the needs of the residents, visitors, employees and proprietors of food businesses.

More specifically, the Food Team carries out:

• The risk assessment and inspection of all food premises within the city to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and to take the appropriate enforcement action.
• Offers advice and guidance on all aspects of food safety to the business community.
• The investigation of cases and suspected cases of food poisoning and food borne illness
• The investigation of food complaints together with formal action where appropriate. See our Enforcement Policy (below)
• Inspection of food manufacturing plants and acting as Home or Originating Authority where appropriate.
• The taking of informal and formal samples of food produced, prepared, distributed or sold within the district. This may be as a part of national, regional or local sampling programmes, following inspection of food premises, complaints received, notification of suspected or confirmed food poisoning incidents or as a result of emergencies or Food Alerts for Action.  See our Sampling Policy (below).
• Offers regular licensing, control and enforcement of licensed street traders, street artists and street trading consent holders and the control of illegal traders in the city centre.
• For further information try:- International Food Information Council Foundation  (external link) or alternatively the Food Standards Agency  (external link)

 

Fees

Details are available on our fees page

Food Safety Newsletter

Latest Food Safety Newsletter now available

The Food team have produced their latest food safety newsletter which has been distributed to all 1150 food businesses in the district and similar versions have been sent to nearly 10,000 businesses across Cheshire. The newsletters are an annual event and contain latest news and information together with feedback and guidance on various food related topics. Businesses are also asked to feedback their views on the service the food team provide.

You can view the latest newsletter here

Food Safety in the Summer

Eat Well - be well - Barbeques

This is the time of year when many of us enjoy Al Fresco eating with barbeques in the garden. Unfortunately it can also be the time when the risk of food poisoning looms greater!

The Food Safety team has produced some helpful advice notes to help you ensure that you get the best from your barbie without any nasty side effects. If you'd would like any further advice or guidance on these or any other food safety related matters, please contact any mamber of the food safety team.

• BBQ Safety
• Salads, Vegetables and Fruit

Downloads

• Food Enforcement Policy (48kb)
• Food Sampling Policy 2005-6 (20kb)
• Food Sampling Article Summary (19kb)
• Registration of food premises (53kb)
• Food hygiene newsletter (900kb)
  
• E.coli 0157 outbreak linked to Chester Nursery - September-October 2007. Copy of Summary Report from Outbreak Control Group now available