TC981 Public Analyst Services

The contract is for laboratory sampling of food samples undertaken by a public analyst (as required by the Food Safety Act 1990). Not all laboratories have a public analyst. The Food & Health & Safety & Airport Team take a range of food samples across a variety of businesses.

Food samples may become evidence in legal cases against food businesses. 90% of samples taken by the team are from food items located at Manchester Airport. The teamwork at a facility called a 'Border Control Post', which is located at the airport freight terminal. Samples are taken from food items imported from around the world that are high-risk. The imported food items are sampled at the point of entry at the airport. If a food sample fails, then it is detained and destroyed. The costs are met by the importer or import agent. An example of a sample failure would be if we test for pesticides, which at high levels are carcinogenic.