Agenda item

The Official Food Standards and Feed Controls Service Plan (known as the ‘FSA Plan’) is a statutory plan required to be produced annually by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The overall structure follows guidance from the FSA and includes the necessary facts and statistics to ensure the document is valid as a statutory plan.

This ‘statutory’ Plan is required to be submitted to the ‘relevant Member Forum for approval’. In approving this Plan, the Committee will be establishing a framework that will meet the expectations of the Food Standards Agency.

Declarations of interest:

None

Witnesses:

David Pickering, Public Health and Compliance Manager

Steve Ruddy, Head of Trading Standards

Amanda Poole, Deputy Head of Trading Standards

Key points from the discussion:

1.    The officer introduced the report, explaining that this was a statutory plan to comply with Food Standards Agency (FSA) guidance and that it had been published on the service website.

2.    A Member suggested that as this was an annual plan, with minimal changes from year to year, any changes should be highlighted to make it easier for the Committee to see what has been amended or added.  Officers noted the suggestion.

3.    Members noted that there was nothing hygiene-related in the plan as this was predominantly managed by the districts and boroughs, whilst the plan contained a lot of information about animal feed.

4.    There was some discussion around the Eat Out, Eat Well scheme which encouraged catering establishments to provide healthier meal options.  Members learned that officers were working to adapt the Eat Out, Eat Well scheme for Early Years settings to help achieve the healthy weight strategy.

5.    Members noted that the Eat Out, Eat Well scheme was funding through Public Health rather than through the service’s main funding stream. 

6.    Members enquired about the relationship between both Councils working on the Eat Out, Eat Well scheme.  Officers explained that currently, due to funding cuts, the scheme was not funded by BCC and therefore, last year, further work and promotion focussed on SCC rather than BCC.  The Public Health lead from SCC had however, invited BCC representatives onto the scheme’s steering group.

7.    Members noted that Public Health England advocate the Eat Out, Eat Well scheme and that given the links to obesity, it should be a higher priority.  Officers agreed that they could provide a separate briefing on this subject at a future Board meeting or through circulating a written update.

8.    Officers explained that whilst the animal feed areas were dealt with by a project approach, food premises were managed by a combination of using the risk based assessment and through complaints where officers are alerted to an incident.  Factors such as language, cultural barriers and allergens not being recognised as such were discussed.

9.    Officers explained that whilst food hygiene was a district and borough focus, there were links to incidents of allergen cases.  An example of this would be if a premises used peanut oil to cook food and didn’t clean the pan properly, traces of peanut oil could cause issues to a customer with a peanut allergy.

10.  Members noted that the environment was changing and there was more awareness of allergens, but that there was still work to do.  Officers explained that they had been working with Coeliac UK to promote awareness and diagnosis of intolerances and allergies.

11.  Officers explained that they identify high risk businesses and focus on them rather than taking a blanket approach as this made the service more efficient.

12.  Members noted Officer plans to create a simplified, shorter document with pictures and key information in a leaflet format to be more accessible to residents.

RESOLVED

Members noted the report and approved the plan.