06/07/2023: Breckland food inspections keeping residents safe

Breckland Council has removed a significant quantity of unsafe food from sale in the district, following routine inspections of local food businesses.

The meat, voluntarily surrendered to the council's Environmental Health Officers, was found to have been stored inappropriately or, in some cases, past its use-by date.

This is the second significant voluntary surrender this year, the other having been imported meat that was potentially infected with Swine Fever.

Breckland Council Environmental Health Officers carry out hundreds of unannounced food safety inspections every year, to ensure communities are protected and that residents can continue to have confidence when shopping and eating out in the district. The Food Standards Agency estimate that around 2.4 million cases of food borne illness occur every year.

Cllr Helen Crane, Breckland Council's Executive Member for Environmental Health, commented: "We carry out hundreds of routine inspections each year and while instances like this are rare, it does show just how important it is that we help intercept unsafe food from ending up on a resident's plate.

"Our Environmental Health & Licensing teams are working tirelessly, on a daily basis, to protect public health.  This latest inspection demonstrates just how vital a service they provide for our residents."