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  • Major council IT system maintenance from 27 May (for around one week): we are carrying out planned essential maintenance work on the council’s IT systems. During this time, many of our online services are unavailable. Where relevant, planning consultations will be extended by 14 days. We will update this banner message as the work progresses. − During this time you can still contact us for other enquiries via our enquiry form or by phone. We apologise for any inconvenience. Find out more information on this work.

Food Sampling

Sampling is a routine part of our work. We carry out a range of food and environmental samples every year and on average we take around 100 samples from across the district.

Sampling carried out is usually as part of a regional or national sampling programme to aid further investigation of safety risk of certain products or it is used as part of more detailed premises investigations or routine validation checks. It also proves to be an effective method of promoting food safety and can highlight problems, which, if not identified and resolved, may result in serious food poisoning outbreaks.

Recent samples we have taken include:

  • Sandwich fillings
  • Sushi
  • Vegan products
  • Pork scratchings
  • General hygiene checks including swabbing of food equipment and surfaces
  • Ready to eat smoked fish

These samples are taken to a UKHSA, (UK Health Security Agency) laboratory where they are analysed for a range of hygiene indicator organisms and pathogens.

Depending on the results received, we will carry out suitable follow up interventions, this can include education and advice, formal enforcement and resampling.

Contact us

If you have any questions or queries please get in contact by using our our online enquiry form.

Contact us - Food and Workplace Safety

01235 422403
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)

South Oxfordshire District Council
Food and Workplace Safety Team
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE