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Oldham Council is committed to ensuring that food and drink within the borough is safe to consume and food safety inspections are an important tool in ensuring that the public is protected and that high standards are maintained.

When are inspections carried out?

Inspections are carried out according to a specific programme which is based on the food safety risk within the premises.

Inspections are carried out without prior notice and afterwards the officer assesses the food safety risk and the premises are programmed for the next inspection accordingly. This ensures that higher risk premises are visited more frequently than those in lower risk categories.

During an inspection

During an inspection the food safety officers will check that food safety risks have been identified by the business, and that there are adequate controls in place to prevent any problems.

They will also look at the training of managers and food handlers to ensure that it is suitable, and they will check that the condition of the premises and equipment is satisfactory.

Unsatisfactory results

Where practices or conditions are not satisfactory, every attempt will be made to resolve the situation by informal means, but where poor conditions persist, or where there is a risk to public health it may be necessary to resort to formal action.

After an inspection, officers can:

  • Have an informal discussion with the owner
  • Take formal action, or
  • Use statutory notices and/or issue formal cautions, or
  • Prosecute and/or close the premises

Regular food testing

In addition to inspections, the Food Safety team take food samples from a range of food businesses every week.

The sampling is part of Public Health England's surveys of the North West.