Dundee Faces Food Safety Inspection Challenges Amid Staffing Issues

In Dundee, the surge in food safety inspections is being hampered by persistent staff shortages and growing demand for services. The local food safety team plays a crucial role in protecting public health by ensuring that food and beverages for sale meet safety standards.

Responsibilities of the Food Safety Team

The Dundee council's food safety unit is tasked with preventing foodborne illnesses by overseeing approximately 1,500 food establishments across the city. This group includes a diverse range of businesses:

• 300 retailers
• 291 restaurants and cafes
• 206 takeaways
• 171 pubs and clubs

Each year, the team plans a sequence of inspections, termed ‘interventions’, to assess compliance with food safety laws.

Inspection Challenges and Delays

Last year, the food safety team aimed to conduct nearly 1,000 inspections. Unfortunately, only 91% of these inspections were completed on schedule, reflecting a significant decrease from 97% in the prior year. This shortfall resulted in 67 scheduled inspections not being conducted during the year spanning 2025-26.

According to reports, the team was one member short, forcing existing staff to take on extra hours in an attempt to manage their workload effectively.

Increased Demand for Services

The report underscores a rising demand for food safety services, with the unit receiving 162 food-related complaints over the last year. Notably, 146 of these complaints pertained specifically to hygiene conditions in various businesses.

Additionally, nearly 400 inquiries for safety guidance were logged, highlighting the expanding scope of the food safety team's responsibilities.

Rising Food Poisoning Cases

Interestingly, there has been a noticeable uptick in reported food poisoning cases over the past three years. This rise is primarily attributed to enhanced detection efforts rather than a direct increase in incidents. The statistics for reported cases of food poisoning are as follows:

• 2020 – 170 cases
• 2021 – 124 cases
• 2022 – 167 cases
• 2023 – 265 cases
• 2024 – 262 cases
• 2025 – 261 cases

These figures indicate a concerning trend that the food safety team will need to address in the coming years.

Future Workforce Planning

Another critical concern raised by the report is the age demographics of the current food safety staff, all of whom are over 50. This situation prompts the council to reconsider its workforce strategy in the upcoming years to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of food safety services.

This report will soon be presented to Dundee's councillors, necessitating review and action to bolster the food safety efforts amid these rising challenges.