Defining Food Safety Inspection.

Jason Barnes,Kirstin Ross,James Smith,Harriet Whiley

doi:10.3390/ijerph19020789

Jason Barnes, Kirstin Ross + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020789

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Abstract

Food safety inspections are a key health protection measure applied by governments to prevent foodborne illness, yet they remain the subject of sustained criticism. These criticisms include inconsistency and inadequacy of methods applied to inspection, and ineffectiveness in preventing foodborne illness. Investigating the validity of these criticisms represent important areas for further research. However, a defined construct around the meanings society attributes to food safety inspection must first be established. Through critical examination of available literature, this review identified meanings attributed to food safety inspection and explicates some of the key elements that compose food safety inspection as a social construct. A total of 18 meanings were found to be attributed to food safety inspection. Variation in meanings were found between consumers, food business associates and food safety inspectors. For some, inspection meant a source of assurance, for others a threat to fairness, while most view inspection as a product of resources and inspector training. The meanings were then examined in light of common criticisms directed at food safety inspection, to expound their influence in how food safety inspection is realized, shaped, and rationalized. This review highlights the influence of sociological factors in defining food safety inspection.

Highlights

Foodborne illness presents a significant public health challenge worldwide [1]
This review examined what food safety inspection means to society, what society expects to gain from inspection, and determines whether the understanding and experience of food safety inspection differs amongst those engaged in the process
This review identified six meanings that consumers attribute to food safety inspection, five attributed by food business associates, and seven attributed by inspectors

Summary

Introduction

Foodborne illness presents a significant public health challenge worldwide [1]. Quantifying the impact of foodborne illness is difficult due to the varying effectiveness of public health surveillance systems between countries, the influence of co-morbidities, the uncertainty that comes with under-reporting and diagnosis, access to health care, and the individual experience of illness [1,2]. Food safety inspection involves the direct analysis of a sample of food to establish details on its composition, level of contamination or quality. This form of food safety inspection is often applied where foods are being imported, or prior to foods entering a consumer market [5]. Food safety inspection involves assessment of food handling practices and the condition of food production environments [6] This style of inspection is common to the food retail sector, but it can be applied to food manufacturing and primary production environments such as farms and slaughterhouses [7]. To undertake this style of inspection, often inspectors will attend food production premises and apply

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