Inspections of food premises to be slashed

The number of council inspections of food premises is to be slashed from over 1000 to around 700 a year.

For the past five years, Rochdale Borough Council has inspected all premises due for a food safety inspection, however, following a change in a national performance indicator, the council is now going to inspect those “broadly compliant” with food hygiene legislation less frequently.

A recent council report recognises that inspections play an important part in ensuring that the hygiene, composition and labelling of food produced and sold in the Borough is of a high standard and goes on to say that the proposed food service plan “adopts a balanced, risk-based approach… ensuring compliance with food hygiene legislation”.