Sampling work is undertaken within the City boundary as part of pre-arranged sampling programmes or as a response to new or emerging potential problems with foodstuffs.

Our sampling programmes include local plans, which we devise as a City; regional plans, which are drawn up by representatives from across Lancashire at their routine sampling sub-committee meetings (Preston is directly represented by Officers from the Environmental Health Department here) and nationally. National sampling programmes are influenced by the regional groups, so Preston officers also contribute towards the direction of national sampling programmes.

We work closely with the microbiology lab at the Royal Preston Hospital to make sure the sampling protocol is appropriate and foods can be sampled in-line with requirements.

Sampling is also carried out if officers have concerns over hygiene standards at food premises, and if national data from other Local Authorities suggests there could be a problem with a particular food. See also the FSA's Food Alerts page.

The lab is UKAS accredited, which is essential when food samples are to be used in formal proceedings.

Once all the food has been collected and sampled, the results are brought together and where appropriate, guidance leaflets are drawn up and sent directly to those premises where the information will be of most use.

Document links

Document downloads	File Size
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Cooked Meat Sampling - Local authority coordinated sampling for the examination of cooked meat food samples from butchers premises. (PDF)	288KB
Cooked Meat Sampling - Local authority coordinated sampling for the examination of salads from takeaway premises. (PDF)	288KB
Sampling policy 2007-2008 (PDF)	21KB

Date Published: 10/12/08