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Food sampling provides useful information to help effective enforcement of food law and contribute to improved safety standards. We sample food and water as one of a number of means of ensuring it is safe for you to consume.

We aim to carry out routine sampling six times per year, following the national food sampling programme, from higher risk food producers and from newly-establishing businesses in order to help them achieve compliance and to verify their procedures.

We also carry out sampling where necessary as part of investigating food poisoning outbreaks. Food is generally analysed for food poisoning bacteria – the bacteria tested for depends on the type of food being sampled.

Food is sent to independent UKAS-accredited laboratories for analysis. Further information on the national co-ordinated food sampling programme can be found on the FSA website.

For further information, please contact the Food & Safety team:

Contact: The Environmental Health team

Last updated on 16/08/2018