Welsh Food Microbiological Forum

What is the Welsh Food Microbiological Forum?

Unique to Wales. the Welsh Food Microbiological Forum (WFMF) was established in 1993 in response to an identified need to improve food sampling across Wales.

The WFMF is a collaboration of public health organisations and local authorities in Wales. The aim is to improve the microbiological quality of food available to Welsh consumers. This is achieved by using the innovative "shopping basket" protocol with a nominated list of foods of interest and by completing targeted surveys that address current food related issues.

The role of the WFMF

The main achievement of the WFMF has been to co-ordinate the food sampling activities of Welsh local authorities, so that the same ready-to-eat foods are taken in the same way across the whole country. This scheme is called a “shopping basket".

The shopping basket study has been running since 1995 and is a unique resource of data and information on the quality of ready to eat food in Wales.

The WFMF also takes part in national food surveys and also food surveys unique to Wales. This enables the WFMF to investigate issues that are can be either unique to Wales or UK wide. Reports are generated of all the survey work to help inform the activities of the Local Authorities and other relevant organisations such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Membership of the WFMF

Membership of the Forum has evolved since its inception to reflect changes in local and national government in Wales and is drawn from:

Society of Directors for Public Protection (Wales) Food Safety Technical Panel
Public Health Wales
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Wales)
Local Authorities in Wales
Local Government Regulation
Food Standards Agency, Wales
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Welsh Government (Observer)

The WFMF is currently chaired by Dr Philip Mannion, Public Health Wales and the secretary is Helen Roberts, Flintshire County Council.

Articles of Association - 5th revision, 2011

Membership

All members of the Food Technical Panel of the Society of Directors of Public Protection, Wales.
One representative of each laboratory engaged in microbiological testing of food, on behalf of the local authorities in Wales.
One representative of the Society of Directors of Public Protection, Wales (SODPPW).
One representative of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Wales.
Representatives of those local authorities in Wales with a particular interest in the microbiological quality of food.
Local Government Regulation food examination focus group advisers in Wales.
One representative of the Food Standards Agency in Wales.
One representative of the Welsh Government (observer status).
Co-opted members, as may be from time to time required.
In the event of a member being unable to attend a meeting of the Forum, a deputy should be nominated.

Officers

Chair, who will act as the Forums' co-ordinator
Secretary, who will make a record of the proceedings and will be Chair designate

Meetings

Meetings of the Forum will be held at intervals of no longer than seven months (usually two meetings per year)

Reporting arrangements

Notices of meetings, minutes and other appropriate papers will be circulated to Directors of Public Protection in Wales and members of the Forum.
It will be the responsibility of the Secretary to ensure circulation of the minutes to appropriate persons.
Every effort will be made to disseminate the results of the Forum's activities to a wider audience using all appropriate media.
The Forum will also liaise with other agencies and organisations as deemed appropriate.

Last updated: 05/04/2013

Links from this page

About the Welsh Food Forum

Findings of the Welsh Food Forum

Shopping Baskets and Sampling Guidance

Reports by WFMF

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