Public analyst

Public Analysts are specialized scientists primarily based in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Their primary responsibility revolves around ensuring that food products are safe and are described accurately, in line with the legal regulations.

Responsibilities

• Testing and Verification: Public Analysts test food products to confirm they adhere to existing legislation. Most Public Analysts also serve as Agricultural Analysts, examining animal feed and fertilizers.
• Legal Accountability: Even though a significant portion of the laboratory work is conducted by other scientists and technicians, it's the Public Analyst who bears the legal responsibility for the accuracy and validity of results and any consequent opinions.

The Association of Public Analysts is an organization that connects professionals with similar responsibilities, even if they have different job titles, across various countries.

History and Origins

The role of a Public Analyst came into existence in 1860 with the "Act for Preventing the Adulteration of Articles of Food and Drink." The inaugural appointments were made in cities like London, Birmingham, and Dublin. Though both the UK and Ireland have since established separate legislative measures, the duties and designation of the Public Analyst have remained consistent. Originally, their work was primarily chemical testing, but now they also engage in the microbiological examination of food, especially in Scotland, where they also perform the role of statutory Food Examiners.

Role in the UK

• Legislation: The primary governing legislation in the UK is the Food Safety Act 1990. All local authorities are mandated to appoint a Public Analyst.
• Qualifications: There's a statutory qualification for Public Analysts called the Mastership in Chemical Analysis (MChemA), granted by the Royal Society of Chemistry. It's a specialized qualification that confirms the recipient's knowledge of food safety, food law interpretation, and chemical analysis in the context of food law enforcement.
• Laboratory Standards: Public Analysts' labs must conform to the British Standard ISO 17025, ensuring the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

Over the years, the number of Public Analyst Laboratories and appointed Public Analysts in the UK has seen a decline. In the 1980s, there were about 40 labs with over 100 analysts. By 2010, this number had dwindled to 22 labs with approximately 26 Public Analysts.

The enforcement of food law in the UK primarily falls under local authorities, especially their environmental health officers and trading standards officers. While these officers can collect food samples, the detailed chemical or microbiological analysis, and subsequent interpretations to ascertain if a food product complies with legislation, are performed by Public Analysts and Food Examiners.

Role in Ireland

In Ireland, Public Analyst Laboratories situated in cities like Cork, Dublin, and Galway offer their analytical services to the Food Safety Authority.

General Practices

Public Analysts oversee laboratories that:

• Analyze food for composition, additives, contamination, label accuracy, and public complaints.
• Interpret laws established by the EU, UK, or Ireland.
• Serve as an expert witness during legal proceedings.

Apart from their core responsibilities related to food law enforcement, Public Analysts also provide scientific expertise in areas like water analysis, environmental product and process evaluations, waste management advisory, air pollution monitoring, consumer safety evaluations, and toxicological assistance.

Sampling Procedures

The sampling of products for analysis is typically not directly controlled by the Public Analyst. Local authorities, tasked with ensuring food safety and consumer protection, devise detailed sampling plans. These plans aim to monitor food products, balancing the need to ensure safety against resource constraints. A standard sampling plan might encompass:

• Products from specific sources such as supermarkets, manufacturers, or certain countries.
• Specific food products like meat for composition checking.
• Verification of product marketing claims or undeclared ingredients.
• Assessment of contamination levels.
• Evaluating the nutritional content of prepared meals.

See Also

• Royal Society of Chemistry
• Chartered Chemist
• Food Safety Act 1990

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