We studied the prerequisites for official food control and their relation to the quality of controls by using 17 Finnish municipal food control units as our sample.

Based on our results, units invest in creating adequate working conditions through the provision of guidance papers, pre forma templates and possibilities for staff to collectively hold discussions. However, poor orientation, tacit knowledge and incomplete commitment among staff to quality systems remain as challenges in the units. Insufficient human resources and the inability of heads of food control units to recognize problems in the workplace setting may impair the functional capacity of units. Poor workplace atmosphere and weaknesses in organization of work may also be reflected in food businesses operators’ lesser appreciation toward official food controls.

Food Control, Volume 61, March 2016, Pages 172–179

Tiina Läikkö-Rotoa, Janne Lundén, Jaakko Heikkilä, Mari Nevas

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713515302218