Dorset Food Safety News August 2024

Summer update for food businesses
Dorset Council
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August 2024
Summer update
Welcome to our Summer edition which gives guidance to help your food business. In this edition we cover free digital resources, waste disposal, E.coli, litter free awards and new glue trap laws.
We continue to work closely with our local traders during these challenging financial times.
A laptop, tablet and smartphone side by side on a table
Going digital for free!
Thinking about going digital with your food safety records and policy?
Both paper based and digital systems have their benefits, however, going digital might be a lot easier, cheaper and less daunting than you thought. Are you looking to make the digital jump? Then how about going digital for free and with no subscription, contracts or expensive software needed?
Going digital is as easy as saving the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA's) digital version of the Safer Food Better Business pack
on the computer, phone, tablet you use for work. Or going a little more sophisticated with a file sharing service to allow multiple staff to access and contribute to the documents. Just remember to keep a blank template/master copy of the 4 week diary and save/archive your completed records each month.
However, you and your organisation may want to use a more detailed set of food safety records with specific checks. You could digitalise your own templates by saving an editable version on your device or use the many templates
is full of free business resources and guidance.
And if you are a little more adventurous and looking for a more sophisticated approach with bespoke digital records and audits all accessible through a single phone/tablet app, you may wish to explore some apps that offer free plans to access pre-made and editable food safety template records and audits. You can search these apps online. If you can’t find anything that suits your needs, you can build your own.
When we come to inspect your business you need to ensure that you have the digital records available for us to view on a laptop/tablet or phone as you would paper records. Going digital doesn’t need to have additional costs involved.
Legal duties for waste disposal
During food inspections officers will be considering the systems you have in place to manage food waste both inside and outside your business. We will be looking to make sure that it; doesn’t pose a contamination risk, cause odours, or attract pests such as rats, mice and flies. We will expect both internal and external bins to be emptied regularly and kept clean. Ideally, the bins used inside your kitchen will have a foot operated lid, to keep smells in, flies out and minimise food handlers having to touch it. External bins should also be clean, tidy and lidded. Large bins should have bungs in place, to prevent rodents gaining access but to also allow for water to be drained from the bin following cleaning. A range of information on the safe disposal of catering waste, including cooking oil, can be found here
.
Many businesses store their waste cooking oil outside, whilst they produce enough to warrant a collection. Please make sure that this area stays clean and tidy. Oil spillages and dirty drums can become a food source for pests. It is good practice to store your waste oil in the empty containers that it came in, as these are usually robust containers, and many oil collection companies will provide funnels to enable you to easily pour the waste oil back in. Be sure to check the Health and Safety Executive website for the latest advice on changing oil safely
.
It is also good practice to store your containers on plastic trays or similar, which can be easily cleaned. We have been made aware of businesses having their waste cooking oil stolen from outside their premises. Make sure that your staff know who the usual collection company is, and when they are due to uplift your oil. If your oil is stored in an open area, consider marking your collection containers with your business name. Ensuring the area is well lit may also put off potential thieves.
If you are a food manufacturer or retailer, the rules on food waste will be different. Here is a link
to take you to more detailed guidance.
a graphic illustration of E. Coli
E.coli guidance
You might have seen in the news recently about an Escherichia Coli (E. coli)
on how to control and reduce the risk of E.coli O157 cross-contamination in your business.
Sustainable business awards for Single use plastic, water quality, recycling and waste management, community engagement/action, staff awareness and nature recovery.
Sustainable business award
Dorset businesses of any type or size can achieve a Sustainable Business Award by making small but impactful changes to the way they operate. Full details are available on the Litter Free Dorset Website (Sustainable Business Network – Litter Free Dorset
This Summer a new ‘nature recovery’ category has been added to celebrate businesses who are going the extra mile to help recover nature in Dorset. Whether you have a large outside space or not there are plenty of actions you can take from leaving a wild patch for pollinators, installing a water butt, or donating a tree.
A new Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is being created in Dorset to identify the best opportunities to restore, grow and connect nature across the county. Find out more about Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy
All you need to do to achieve an award level is to complete 3 actions from any one category. For example, if you’re just starting out on your sustainability journey, you could just complete the nature recovery category and gain a level 1 award. Download the award checklist from the Litter Free Dorset website
to see what changes you could make in your business. When you’re ready, email your completed checklist to:
litterfreedorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
to let us know how you got on.
And finally....
Glue Trap (Offences) Act 2022
Under this act .
The Act will be enforced by the police, with Natural England responsible for issuing licences for exceptional circumstances, and where all alternative methods of rodent control are ineffective or impractical. Exceptional circumstances are those with a large-scale risk to public health & safety; for example, sites accommodating large numbers of vulnerable people (care homes, hospitals), food manufacturing facilities with national distribution. They have said that restaurants, takeaways, dwelling houses are not considered as exceptional circumstances.
Only professional pest controllers involved in rodent control management will be able to hold a licence for glue trapping. We know that glue traps are available to buy and that you maybe unaware of this change so wanted to bring it to your attention for action if required.
Wishing you all a successful Summer!
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