Food Safety

In the Isle of Man, "An Act for preventing the Adulteration of Articles of Food and Drink, and for the Appointment of Public Analysts" was promulgated in 1869 and "The Adulteration Act, 1874" lead to the appointment of a Public Analyst who was also an Inspector in 1874.

The reports of the early Public Analysts and newspaper reports clearly show the high level of food adulteration compared to food provided today. These improvements are in no small way due to the testing carried out by Public Analysts.

The Government Laboratory today still carries out food examination but deliberate adulteration is rare. Of greater concern is the contamination of food with substances such as metals or pesticides.

Microbiology is now an important part of food testing and is recognised in the role of Food Examiner who is an expert in the microbiology of food.

Food Monitoring

A food sample may be submitted by a member of the public or more often than not by Environmental Health Officers who conduct random sampling at retail outlets.

Following examination of the food or drinking water, the Government Analyst will produce a report on the quality and compositional nature of the sample submitted, normally in the form of a "certificate of analysis", which may be used in enforcement action under Food Safety or Hygiene Regulations.

Routine samples submitted by Environmental Health Officers are for compositional analysis, microbiological quality and inspection of labelling. Samples submitted as "food complaints" may be the result of the presence of a foreign-body, or visible mould or the quality of the foodstuff may be suspect.

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