Food business - food sampling

Information about food sampling.

We sample to ensure that the food and water that you consume is safe, in accordance with the appropriate legislation. We also sample to ensure that the products you purchase are correctly labelled and that they contain the ingredients they are supposed to (e.g. manufacturers claims).

There are 2 main types of sampling;

• Informal sampling (surveillance)
• Formal sampling

The majority of samples are informal. Informal sampling is mainly a surveillance exercise where samples are either purchased anonymously or by agreement with the proprietor. No formal action can be taken if the informal samples are found to be incorrect. Where informal sampling reveals a problem, this can be followed up either by giving advice to the proprietor and re-sampling informally or by sampling formally. Formal sampling can result in legal action been taken.

The amount of sampling undertaken is based upon World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines which states 2.5 samples per 1000 head of population should be taken. The population of Solihull MBC is approximately 200,000 and therefore, 500 samples should be taken per year. The average number of samples taken per year at Solihull is 540.

More details about the sampling undertaken at Solihull is given below.

Private Water Supplies

A private water supply is any water supply which is not provided by a water company. It is not a "mains" supply. About 1% of the population of England have private water supplies to their homes. Currently, approximately 25 private supplies are tested within Solihull Borough. Most private water supplies are situated in the more remote, rural parts of the country. The source of the supply may be a well, borehole, spring, stream, river, lake or pond. The supply may serve just one property or several properties through a network of pipes.

However, all private water supplies can pose a threat to health unless they are properly protected and treated. They may become contaminated with bacteria, protozoa, parasites and viruses (micro-organisms) or other substances. Many of these are harmless, but some may cause serious illness or even death in vulnerable people. You may not be able to tell whether your water is safe as contamination may not show by smell, taste or colour of the water. Unlike public supplies many private supplies are not treated to remove contamination.

You need to keep your water supply safe. Make sure you inspect all parts of your supply, including the catchment area regularly to check that it is good order and has not been interfered with or damaged. Any defects should be put right as quickly as possible. If your supply is from:

Springs, Wells or Boreholes

Check that the source is adequately protected to stop surface water getting into your supply, particularly at times of heavy rain

Streams, Rivers, Lakes or Ponds

The collection arrangement should include a settlement pond to allow larger particles to settle out before the water flows into the supply and should also include a sand or gravel filter after the settlement pond to remove organic material and small animals. These filters may not remove all micro-organisms and will not remove chemical contamination. It must be ensured that the water being collected is not contaminated by discharges from a septic tank, any sewage discharge upstream or run-off from farmland.

If You Supply Water to Others

If you supply water to other people in the course of a business, for example by renting out holiday accommodation or using water for food production, you have a duty of care towards customers for the safety of water you supply. If you ever suspect that the water that you are providing is not safe you may have to:

• Advise boiling all water for drinking and water production and / or
• Use or suggest others use bottled water

Sources of Contamination

A number of serious illnesses can be contracted from water that is contaminated with particular micro-organisms. The most likely source of contamination of the water will be animal droppings. Water supplies which are close to farmed land where animals graze or where manure is spread are at most risk. The risk is particularly high at times of heavy rainfall when water may run directly off farmland and carry micro-organisms into private water supplies. Discharges from cesspits or septic tanks could also be sources of contamination.

All those who drink contaminated water can be at risk of infection. However, the risk of infection is even higher for those people who do not drink the water regularly or are not used to the water. In such instances, it may be advisable that they drink only bottled or boiled water.

Should I Get my Water Supply Treated to Prevent the Risk of Contamination?

If your water supply is contaminated or may become contaminated, you can and it is recommended that you install treatment for your private water supply. Many different forms of treatment are available and its recommended that you contact us, to enable us to advise you on treatment methods.

Should I Get My Water Supply Checked?

Solihull MBC monitor the quality of all of the private water supplies that we are aware of on a rolling programme. You can also contact Solihull MBC if:

• You would like to have an additional test done where a charge may be made
• You are the sole user of a supply and you would like to have your water tested for the first time

Milk

Producers of milk and milk products within the Borough have their products sampled on a regular basis. Solihull has one 'on-farm' dairy within the Borough and milk produced by that dairy is sampled and microbiologically examined every month to ensure that it is safe to drink and that it has been adequately pasteurised. This is in addition to the sampling carried out by the proprietor.

Food

Food sampled by officers is submitted to a laboratory to either be microbiologically examined or analysed for chemical composition and adequacy of labelling.

Composition and Labelling

Samples of food are sent to the Public Analyst in accordance with a programme agreed annually. This type of sampling is to ensure that food contains the ingredients it should, that it doesn't contain any prohibited substances and also to ensure that the labelling on the product is adequate and correct.

Provisional Sampling Programme - 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008

* Quantitative Ingredients Declaration

In addition to the above sampling programme, this authority participates in;

• National sampling exercises organised by Local Authority Co-ordination of Food and Trading Standards (LACORS) and the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS)
• West Midlands Food Liaison Group (WMFLG) and 'Central England Trading Standards Authority (CENTSA) sampling exercises.
• The Food Standards Agency may also conduct sampling exercises

Food may also need to microbiologically examined as a result of a complaint. All samples which need to microbiologically examined are submitted to the PHLS at Heartland's Hospital.

Swimming Pools

Swimming pool water from Council owned pools in schools and leisure centres and privately owned pools is routinely tested to ensure that the chlorine and pH levels within the pools are correct. This ensures that the pools contain the correct amount of disinfectant. Lower chlorine levels might not be adequate to destroy pathogenic bacteria whereas higher chlorine levels can lead to skin and eye irritation.

School Meals

At the request of the School Meals Service, samples of school meals are taken for compositional analysis. Samples are taken from 4 schools within the Borough, once a term.

Contact Details

For more information please contact Environmental Health

Telephone: 0121 704 6833

Email: environmentalhealth@solihull.gov.uk