E. Coli improvements are continuing, say councils
07 July 2009
Councils are today highlighting the progress they have made in reinforcing their arrangements for ensuring food safety since the E. Coli outbreak in South Wales in 2005.
Cllr Keith Evans (Ceredigion), WLGA Regulatory Spokesperson and LACORS Vice Chair, said:
“Protecting communities from harm is of paramount importance to councils. We were pleased that Professor Pennington recognised some of the improvements already made by councils in the Inquiry report published earlier this year. Councils are committed to using Professor Pennington’s findings as a platform for further improvement.”
“Since the Outbreak, the WLGA and LACORS have been working with councils to make sure the lessons learned in Wales are shared throughout the UK. All councils in Wales have nominated a senior officer to be responsible for reviewing food safety and procurement arrangements. We have a plan of activities to achieve this and will be liaising closely with our partners in the Welsh Assembly Government and Food Standards Agency.”
“Much of the improvement work to date has been contained within existing resources. However, council budgets are under significant financial pressure and for councils to deliver sustainable additional support to businesses, further funding will be required.”
Welsh councils have been carrying out additional visits and providing extra support to butchers premises to ensure food safety management best practice is understood and implemented. A review of the 22 Welsh councils’ Enforcement Policies is also being undertaken to promote a consistent approach. The Directors of Public Protection in Wales (DPPW), responsible for Environmental Health services, has nominated a lead officer to ensure improvement actions across the 22 services are co-ordinated.
Further improvements include changes to the way in which food suppliers to schools are selected and monitored, to make better use of the professional expertise of Environmental Health and independent third party auditors and developments in the way complaints against existing suppliers are recorded, collated and reviewed to ensure appropriate action is taken against any supplier not meeting the required standards.
Local authorities are also working with the Food Standards Agency to review issues around Training and Competency of officers at a national UK level.
Work is also ongoing with the Welsh Assembly Government to develop a Welsh ‘best practice’ framework for ‘Buying Safe Food’ with additional training for procurement officers and food buyers in both councils and the wider public sector.
Since the Inquiry Report was published in March, councils across the UK have been proactively surveying and collecting food samples from butchers’ shops. Once collated, the results from this food sampling initiative will be used to support the development of guidance and training for both councils and food businesses.
Cllr Keith Evans continues:
“Professor Pennington’s report outlines a number of recommendations for councils, all of which are being given proper consideration. However, one of the report’s most fundamental conclusions is that ultimate responsibility for the E. Coli outbreak fell squarely on the shoulders of the butcher, the supplier, who had a significant disregard for food safety.”
“Sadly, local authorities can never totally guarantee to protect the public from such an individual as William Tudor who was acting in a criminal way and took steps to cover his tracks and deceive his customers as well as those monitoring officers and inspectors seeking to ensure his compliance with food safety law. No system can guarantee detecting someone determined to circumvent the law.”
“The majority of visits being conducted by EHOs are unannounced with no prior warning being given, in accordance with Food Standards Agency guidance.”
“Should Government decide to conduct a further review of food safety in five year’s time, as recommended by Professor Pennington, we are confident that this will provide the opportunity for councils to highlight even further their sustained and co-ordinated efforts to deliver improvements across their systems, as well as their dedication to putting in place the best measures for protecting people from harm and minimising risk.”
Ends
For further information contact:
WLGA Press office: Natasha Weeks, WLGA Press and PR officer, Tel: 029 2046 8673, mob: 07747 535388 or e-mail Natasha.Weeks@wlga.gov.uk
Notes
1. The WLGA is the representative body for the 22 council in Wales. The three combined Fire Authorities, three National Park Authorities and the four Police authorities are also associate members of the WLGA.
2. LACORS (the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services) is the local government central body responsible for overseeing local authority regulatory and related services. Regulatory services is the name given to a group of services which exist to ensure public, consumer, environmental and worker protection. These range from protecting consumers against illegal doorstop selling to checking hygiene standards in restaurants and food factories.
3. Although they did not play a part in the outbreak, new standards for school toilets have also been drafted by the Welsh Assembly Government in consultation with the WLGA and local authorities in Wales. Once finalised, these will assist in setting clear guidance to help schools further improve the cleanliness and condition of school toilet facilities.
4. The butcher in this outbreak was jailed for one year following a case brought by Bridgend, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf councils. He pleaded guilty to seven offences relating to the supply of meat contaminated with E.coli O157 to schools.
5. Background information on unannounced visits: In the majority of cases inspections are carried out unannounced - prior warning is not given. There may be occasions when advance notification of inspection is unavoidable e.g. when dealing with high security establishments such as prison kitchens or catering units situated within the curtilage of industrial complexes, or large manufacturers.
6. The Food Law Code of Practice (Section 4.2.2) recognises that for certain types of premises where audits are required to be undertaken, it may be appropriate on occasion to visit by arrangement with the business management. These prearranged visits will then usually be supplemented with unannounced inspections.