The European Commission is to step up food hygiene controls this year by subjecting health boards to special audits to ensure they are fully implementing stringent new EU directives, the conference was told.
Mr Raymond Ellard, chief environmental health officer of the Department of Health, said the audits were indicative of the Commission's much more proactive role in monitoring national food hygiene control systems. The emphasis would be on risk analysis and in ensuring EU law was properly implemented, he said.
In line with a move to standardise and strengthen food hygiene regulation in Europe, Ireland would be expected to adopt new legislation on additives, contaminants, infant feed formula and bottled waters, Mr Ellard said.
Research showing a substantial difference in the quality of food practices among those handling chilled ready-to-eat foods in retail outlets in Dublin was presented at the conference. Standards were found to be inadequate in many outlets, according to the Dublin Institute of Technology study.
It found that 58 per cent of managers of independent outlets, including delicatessens, said they did not know the temperature at which their food display cabinet was set. One retailer said he was able to tell the temperature "by feeling the coldness of the air with my hands".
