Contracting out your due diligence program

Brian McLean, Eurofins Food Testing, UK

Eurofins often acts on behalf of retailers and manufacturers to carry out their “own brand” due diligence sampling and testing program. In the UK, the defence of due diligence means that a company has taken all reasonable precautions to ensure that an offence has not been committed. In some instances, the retailer will contract Eurofins to carry out a full program allowing access to their databases in order to properly plan the approach.

Staff travel to stores, supermarkets and distribution depots to carry out sampling and shopping for specified samples. This can involve nationwide coverage to ensure representative samples are taken where local suppliers are used. A good knowledge of sampling, statistical protocols and the requirements for specific foods are also required.

Shopping for samples sounds idyllic but there are often difficulties in trying to find the correct coded products and ensuring they are identical to that required. Once the samples have been transported to the laboratory, under controlled conditions, information can be extracted from the labels, and the samples can be prepared and subsampled ready for analyses. Such programs are often supplemented with hot food temperature monitoring, and smaller sampling and testing projects on non routine emerging issues, topical matters, food emergencies and complaints that arise outside of the planned program.

With over 20 years of experience in implementing testing schemes and due diligence programs with retailers and industrial groups, Eurofins’ experts are well qualified to be your partner for implementing your control scheme in all countries where Eurofins is present.

Contact: BrianMcLean@eurofins.co.uk