Councils hit food inspection targets

The majority of local authorities are meeting the targets for inspections of food premises set by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), but the agency may be about to move the goalposts.

There are 499 local authorities, and only 20 of them failed to achieve the minimum requirement of carrying out 50% or more planned inspections of high-risk food businesses during 2001.

Fourteen of the 20 have said they have taken steps to remedy the situation, while the other six are drawing up action plans.

But the FSA also found a 6% reduction in the total number of food inspections and a fall of 8% in food sampling.

David Statham, director of enforcement and food standards at the FSA, praised local authorities, saying: "2001 was a difficult year, with resources stretched by foot-and-mouth."

But he added: "There are no grounds for complacency." The FSA board will now consider raising the targets by 5% every year.

by Jason Blackwood