Food Factory Inspections

There is an increasing emphasis placed on food factory inspection since regulating compliance with many compositional, labelling and additives issues is best carried out by a combination of in-factory inspection, sampling and analysis. A series of one-day update training courses on this topic has been organised by the Food Standards Agency for local authority enforcement officers. Therefore at the request of the APA Training Committee the Training Officer and the APA Educational Trust have arranged for a similar one day intensive seminar on food factory inspections to be made available to Public Analysts and their staff.

It will be facilitated by Harold Metsoja, of Integra Training & Consultancy Ltd. It is intended to be a more intensive day than the introduction to food factory inspections course and will be of most benefit to those having some previous experience in carrying out factory inspections. The subject matter will include more technical and legal aspects relating to complex factory scenarios. It will be extremely helpful for most of the delegates to be currently involved in carrying out food factory inspections in small – medium sized factories (or, of course, larger plant if applicable). This is so that they can rely on and share their past experiences. Delegates who have no previous experience are also welcome but should try to seek some grounding in the subject matter from a colleague prior to the seminar. If in doubt please e-mail Michael.walker@lgc.co.uk for advice.

The aims of the seminar are:

• To confirm attendees basic skills in inspecting food factories.
• To gain an overview of the latest food law requirements.
• To be able to identify the key technical and legal requirements in a food operation.
• To gain, through practical experience, the skills in preparing for, and conducting, an inspection of a comprehensive food operation.
• To be able to report an inspection in a comprehensive and systematic manner.

Programme:

09:30 Legal updates in food law enforcement Group work: Current issues, legal, technical and fraud. Case study – review and using above during the workshop. 11:00 Break 11:15 Case Study 1 – Design and Development – the inspection issues. Case Study 2 – Purchasing and Incoming Product – from ordering to storage and segregation. 13:00 Lunch (will be provided in Aviation House). 14:00 Case Study 3 – Mixing and Processing – from composition to the right product in the right container with the right information. 15:45 Break 16:00 Case Study 4 – Non-Compliances, Complaints, Recall and Withdrawal – completing the loop Plenary Session – reporting the inspection and second visits. Seminar Review 18:00 Close and depart