Food Inspections

All food premises registered within the South Cambridgeshire District are subject to the inspection and enforcement of hygiene standards by authorised officers.

Routine visits are made to premises, most often on an unannounced basis, ranging from the smallest individual trader to large multinationals, from mobile food hawkers to national suppliers of manufactured foods.

The frequency of our inspections depends on the level of risk associated with the type of premises and their past record.

'High risk' - premises include restaurants, take-away's, cafes, public houses serving food, nursing and residential care homes, schools, bakeries, butchers, supermarkets, hospitals and mobile caterers.

'Other risk' - premises include newsagents, small grocery stores, pharmacies, small post offices, off-licences and garages.

If you have any queries about inspections or visits by our officers, please contact the Environmental Health team.

The purpose of an inspection:

to ensure that food is being handled and produced hygienically
to ensure that food is safe to eat
to look at the potential risk for food poisoning or injury as a result of food consumption
to ensure that the food handling staff are trained in food hygiene and handling practices
to inspect the condition of equipment and the premises
to ensure there are precautions to prevent pest infestation
to ensure that staff are aware of the importance of personal hygiene

If we find an establishment or producer providing food which does not meet the basic safety guidelines or unsatisfactory conditions are found, action is taken through the issue of written warnings, service of legal notices, prosecution of offenders or the closure of part, or the whole of food premises, where there is an imminent risk to health.