Food Act 1990 Most people working in the food industry are aware of this wide ranging law which strengthens and updates previous regulations concerned with consumer protection and food safety. Most of the provisions of the Act came into force on January 1st 1991 and they apply to any business or
organization involved in the production, processing, preparation or handling of food. This involves the whole length of the food chain:-
 | Farmers and Growers
| Manufacturers and Caterers
| Wholesalers and Retailers
| Hotels, Pubs and Restaurants
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The main offences under the act can be
summarized:-
| Offering for sale food which does not comply with food safety requirements
| Rendering food injurious to health.
| Offering for sale food which is not of the nature or quality demanded.
| Misleadingly describing or presenting food.
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The Act will be enforced by EHO's and TSO's. Maximum penalties for some offences can be fines of £20,000 and/or up to two years imprisonment. Action can be taken against individuals as well as business
organizations and companies. To comply with the Act food businesses will need to register with their local authority and establish appropriate training for people handling food. More importantly, supervisors and managers must demonstrate that they take all reasonable precautions and exercise all due diligence to avoid committing an offence. Norpath Laboratories offers a comprehensive range of analytical and consultancy services to assist food producers, processors and retailers in meeting the provisions of the Act. These include:-
| Microbiological Analysis
| Chemical Analysis
| Sampling Programme
| Hygiene Audits
| Staff Training Programmes
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For further information contact
Norpath Laboratories.
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