CARDIFF COUNCIL CYNGOR CAERDYDD Agenda No. PUPLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE: 30 October 2012 Report of the Head of Regulatory and Supporting Services UPDATE ON FOOD SAMPLING ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE FOOD SAFETY SERVICE, TRADING STANDARDS AND CARDIFF SCIENTIFIC SERVICES 1. Background 1.1 Regulatory and Support Services identifies strongly and contributes directly to the Cardiff Council s outcome that the People in Cardiff are healthy. One way this is achieved is by taking food samples. 1.2 The Food Safety Act 1990 and Regulation (EC) Number 178/2002 states that it is an offence for any food premises to sell and supply food which is unfit for human consumption due to being contaminated with extraneous matter or putrefaction, deterioration or decay injurious to health is not of the quality or substance demanded by the purchaser 1.3 There is considerable additional food legislation that covers the labelling of food, what ingredients and additives are used as well as materials and articles that come into contact with food such as kitchen utensils. 1.4 It is the Food Safety Services and Trading Standards role to ensure that food being sold in the City is safe to eat. Both teams do this by taking routine samples. Cardiff Scientific Services, as the Authority s Public Analyst, are responsible for testing the majority of these samples. 1.5 Cardiff Scientific Services is an EU official food law enforcement laboratory and is accredited by the United Kingdom Accredited Service (UKAS) to the International and British Standard ISO BS EN 17025. By law all local authorities are required to appoint a public analyst and there is a statutory qualification requirement for public analysts, known as the Mastership in Chemical Analysis (MChemA), awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This is a specialist postgraduate qualification by examination that verifies knowledge and understanding of food and its potential defects, interpretation of food law and the application and interpretation of chemical analysis for food law enforcement. 2. Introduction 1
2.1. The Food Safety Team and Trading Standards take part in various national and local food sampling programmes, along with colleagues in other local authorities. In addition the Teams also sample foods that food officers identify during routine food inspections as being particularly high risk, or where there are concerns about the way they are made, handled or labelled. 2.2 Some foods are bought under cover i.e. over the counter in the same way as a member of the public would buy them. This is so that the standards at the point of sale can be tested. On other occasions the Sampling Officer will make himself known to the person selling the food particularly when it is important to sample one part of a food product before other ingredients are added. For example we may want to examine a sandwich filling before it had been subject to handling during the sandwich making process. 2.3 Once the Sampling Officer has taken a sample it is transported under temperature controlled conditions to the laboratory. 2.4 Once received there are various types of microbiological criteria against which the laboratory can judge the quality and safety of the food. The type of microorganism the laboratory will look for in a sample will depend upon the type of food being tested and how it was processed. There are a range of tests used for ready to eat foods which have to meet certain microbiological standards. 2.5 Microbiological guidelines are used by the Food Safety Service to monitor the effectiveness of a food process or system, and may be used to assess the microbiological quality of the end product, or an ingredient, or even the cleanliness of a food contact surface. 3. Overview of Sampling Activity 2011/2012 The Food Safety Team took part in a number of national and local food sampling surveys in 2011/2012, in addition to routine sampling activities. A number of the surveys were co-ordinated by the Food Safety Team 3.1 Welsh Food Microbiological Forum (WFMF) of which Cardiff Council Food Safety Team are members. 3.1.1 Shopping Basket Survey. The main objective of this on-going WFMF programme is to sample a range of pre-identified ready-to-eat foods from randomly selected premises across Wales in order to estimate the normal microbiological quality of those foods. In addition, because the sampling is randomised, it is possible that hot spots selling or producing foods of poor microbiological quality can be identified and investigated. 2
3.1.1.1 In Cardiff, 309 ready to eat food samples were collected across the City including cooked meats, sandwiches and fresh cream desserts and 57 samples were found to be unsatisfactory. 3.1.2 Survey of Ready to Eat Supermarket Foods. This targeted WFMF survey had the dual aim of assessing the overall microbiological quality of ready to eat supermarket foods at the end of their shelf life and the suitability of the shelf life given to such products. 3.1.2.1 In Cardiff, 242 samples were collected including cooked sliced meats, cream cakes, pate and other delicatessen items, which were available for purchase in the reduced price or bargain bin sections/aisles of premises, as a result of their expiring shelf life/use by date. 18 samples were found to be unsatisfactory. 3.1.3 Survey of Locally Produced Sandwiches and Fillings. This targeted survey had a number of aims:- to assess the microbiological quality of individual sandwich ingredients; the microbiological quality of locally produced sandwiches; the hygiene of surfaces and utensils in sandwich producing premises; record the training of staff in the premises visited; record the food safety management system in premises visited; and record the cleaning and disinfection practices in the premises visited. 3.1.3.1 Samples included finished sandwiches, a main filling such as ham, a secondary filling such as cheese, salad, a swab from preparation surfaces and a swab from utensils. 59 samples were taken and 5 were found to be unsatisfactory. 3.1.4 Survey of Raw Fresh Chicken. The aim of the survey was to estimate Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination in whole raw chickens available to consumers in Wales. 3.1.4.1 Locally 58 samples of raw fresh chicken were taken from a variety of food businesses across Cardiff. Salmonella and/or Campylobacter were detected in 18 samples. 3.1.4.2 Nationally, across Wales 587 samples were collected with 2% testing positive for Salmonella and 37% for Campylobacter. The results were communicated to the Food Standards Agency who are planning to follow up with the producers of chicken sampled. 3.1.5 Survey of Vacuum Packed and Modified Atmosphere Packed (MAP) Meats. The aim of this survey was to assess the overall microbiological quality of ready to eat MAP and vac-packed cooked meats available to the consumer in smaller convenience stores and mini-market type outlets, i.e. those typically situated in villages, petrol stations, etc., rather than the major supermarket chains. 3.1.5.1 Locally 19 samples were collected and 7 of those samples were found to be unsatisfactory. 3
3.1.5.2 Nationally, across Wales 248 samples were collected. Unsatisfactory levels of Listeria were not identified in any samples but 37 samples were found to be of unsatisfactory microbiological quality for high aerobic colony counts and 24 for Enterobacteriaceae. 3.1.6 Identification of pathogenic bacteria at unacceptable levels was rarely the cause of unsatisfactory results for sampled food. Most unsatisfactory results were related to the unsatisfactory microbiological quality of food samples rather than safety. Where samples were found to be unsatisfactory follow up action was taken. Action varied depending on the type and nature of food concerned and the microbiological criteria for which the sample was found to be unsatisfactory but included re-sampling of the food, investigation by the area food officer, and formal action to address deficiencies in food hygiene practices and procedures to prevent and reduce the incidence and consequences of infection to help safeguard consumer health. Trading Standards 3.2 Trading Standards took part in a number of national and local food sampling surveys in 2011/2012, in addition to routine sampling activities. A number of the surveys were coordinated by the Glamorgan Food Group of which Trading Standards are a member and chair. 3.2.1 Trading Standards were also successful in bidding for a grant from the Food Standards Agency to sample imported foods as well as the transfer of plastics from kitchen utensils and picnic wear. 3.2.2 Notable findings from 2011/12 included dangerous levels of a highly carcinogenic toxin called Aflatoxin B1 were found in spices on sale in a Cardiff wholesale. This resulted in the team applying and obtaining a destruction order from Cardiff Magistrates Court and a national recall. 3.2.3 A one-off sample of a lamb donor kebab led to suspicion of a misleading industry practice of describing what are effectively beef donor kebabs as being lamb. This is currently being investigated and appropriate action will be taken to rectify this. 3.2.4 The team sampled kitchen utensils and melamine and these were tested for transfer of Primary Aromatic Amines (PAAs) and melamine into food. PAAs are believed to cause cancer while melamine, toxic anyway, can cause renal failure. Very high levels of PAAs and Melamine were found, resulting in product withdrawals and as a consequence the sampling is being repeated this year. 3.2.5 A food incident was reported to Trading Standards by the Food Standards Agency regarding lamb reared on Flatholm that was found to have unacceptably high levels of lead. A substantial investigation was undertaken resulting in changing practices regarding animal husbandry, animal feed as well as food the staff were growing on the island. 4
3.2.6 Surveys conducted where no significant problems were found included fat content of milk, colours in takeaway food, levels of heavy metals in grains and composition of soft drinks. Additional sampling concentrated on imported food and manufacturers based in Cardiff. Cardiff Scientific Services 3.3 Cardiff city council possess their own appointed public analyst (Alastair Low) in their Cardiff Scientific Services laboratory which itself benefits from a stable (low turnover) experienced and professional workforce of ten people in total and serves Cardiff council's public protection, trading standards and pollution control departments by providing internal chargeable analytical services. 3.4 Cardiff's public analyst has also been appointed by seven other local authorities as their public analyst and provides the same chargeable services to each one. Some authorities pay per sample and some pay a lump sum up front for the financial year. A monthly spend statement is provided to all eight authorities. Over the last two financial years, the laboratory has analysed in the region of 3600 samples per annum and this is anticipated again from the number of reported samples after seven months in 2012/13 financial year. 3.5 Additional services at the laboratory range from independent road traffic act (drink driving) cases, agricultural feed and fertilisers, consumer goods, cosmetics, nitrogen oxides and private food companies. Furthermore, labelling compliance with legislation is carried out on every packaged food sample submitted. 3.6 The laboratory supports the (Public Protection) Food Safety Team and Trading Standards in keeping the citizens of Cardiff both safe (dangerous issues/occurrences and being mislead) and healthy by providing a service all the way through from advice to analysis to appearance in court prosecutions. Subsequently this allows the city of Cardiff to be in a valuable position of possessing its own fast response resource vital for public safety. Diet influences health and therefore the facility allows the council procurement department to check the accuracy of school and institutional food from approved suppliers against the requested standards/specifications. This may also have additional financial consequences. 3.7 Chemical analysis of food & drink (statutory function of a public analyst laboratory) include the following nutrient analyses for energy (calories), protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins measuring levels of additives such as sweeteners, preservatives and artificial colours identification of illegal use of otherwise permitted additives (eg. artificial colours in egg noodles) 5
nutrition and health claims (eg. omega 3 fatty acids) testing for the presence of illegal ingredients (eg. sudan 1, melamine) authenticity of premium foods (eg. heather honey, extra virgin olive oil, basmati rice) undeclared addition of water to meats, milk, etc counterfeit foods (eg. diluted industrial alcohol sold as vodka) identification and measurement of allergenic ingredients (eg. nuts, milk, soya) detection an measurement of toxic metal contaminants (lead, cadmium, mercury, tin) measurement of amount of meat and fish in complex foods (eg. meat content of sausages) identification of meat and fish species 3.7 Examples of fast response in local issues have been: 1. confirming dangerously high levels of methanol in counterfeit vodka within the same day that an illicit production factory was discovered in the city 2. confirming that lamb doner kebab meat from a takeaway establishment in an E Coli outbreak was in fact beef allowing the source reason to be explained 3. analysis of teeth whitening treatments and provision of the laboratory report within four hours to show that the products contained illegally high levels of hydrogen peroxide 4. identifying whether the petrol leak from a garage in the city was the unleaded or leaded tank by analysis within two hours of receiving the sample 5. identification of high levels of neurotoxic lead in vegetable produce grown on Flat Holm Island from an investigation of sheep poisoning on the same island 6. identification of the source of lead in soil, wallpaper and paint scrapings in relation to high blood lead levels in two cases of children with a 'Pica' disorder (eating non food items) 7. confirmation of fake sterling silver jewellery to allow the products to be removed from the shop selling them 3.8 Recent years have also seen instances of deliberate contamination food scares worldwide which can also impinge the citizens of Cardiff such as melamine in milk products of Chinese origin and the cancer-causing Sudan 1 dye from chilli powder used in Worcester sauce (manufactured in England) contained in 600 different foods at the time. 3.9 Recent samples of dried dates (& figs) from a shop in the city were found by the laboratory to be contaminated with dead insects (on average 20% in each of the four packets examined) and hence unfit for human consumption and this resulted in a national recall of certain batches of the product brands affected by the UK Government body Food Standards Agency 6
3.10 Therefore, the laboratory can support each department in keeping citizens of Cardiff safe and healthy either on its own such as Public Protection with food complaints of objects such as glass, animals, insects, hair, mould, etc allegedly found in food by citizens of Cardiff or Trading Standards with food, consumer goods, cosmetics, etc or in supporting the latter by analysing 'fresh' labelled chicken to determine if it has been previously frozen (by an enzyme level) can inadvertently impact on the former through increased microbiological counts if indeed found to be the case. 5. Achievability 5.1 This report contains no equality personnel or property implications. 6. Legal Implications 6.1 There are no legal implications other than those that appear in the text of this Report. 7. Financial Implications. 7.1 There are no additional budget implications associated with this report. 8. Recommendation Committee is asked to :- 8.1 Take note of the information provided in this report and recognise the role food sampling programmes play in ensuring the food sold in the City is safe. David Holland 10 October 2012 HEAD OF REGULATORY AND SUPPORTING SERVICES This report has been prepared in accordance with procedures approved by Corporate Managers. Background Papers: None 7