About Public Analysts
The Role Of The Public Analyst
Public Analysts are highly trained scientists who protect the public particularly in relation to food. They are qualified to MChemA (Mastership in Chemical Analysis) and oversee analysis to support, interpret and enforce the Food Safety Act 1990. The Public Analyst will decide if food sent for analysis (by Trading Standards Officers) is safe and legal.
Public Analysts may also oversee testing for health and safety reasons in the consumer goods, water, environmental and agricultural sectors. This testing may originate from businesses themselves, keen to protect their people and products, or be the result of a query from a regulatory official such as an Environmental Health Officer
The History Of Public Analysts
The fight against food adulteration originated in around the 1820’s. The professional association for Public Analysts was one of the key foundation blocks of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Fascinating early copies of the Society of Public Analysts journal (from 1876) can be found on the Royal Society of Chemistry’s website.
The Future of Public Analysts
The Association of Public Analysts have submitted a memorandum to government to highlight the importance of protecting the role of the Public Analyst. For the full text, visit the article on our 'News' page.
Following the submission of the memorandum, a debate took place in the House of Commons on 2 June 2009 on the Future of the Public Analyst in the UK. More details are available on the Association of Public Analysts website. A link to the full text of the debate can be found on the News page.
A briefing paper on the role of the Public Analysts, published by the APA can be found here.
Our Credentials
Staffordshire Scientific Services is an efficient and reliable scientific service offering testing and analysis, advice and support to customers in the public and private sector.
We have two Public Analysts, twenty well-qualified, experienced staff, based in our Stafford laboratory which is accredited to UKAS Quality Standard ISO/IEC 17025 and is an Official UK Food Enforcement Laboratory.
View UKAS accreditation schedule for Staffordshire.
Getting In Touch
Staffordshire Scientific Services
14 Martin Street
Stafford ST16 2LG
T: 01785 277 825 F: 01785 277 812Email: county.analysts@staffordshire.gov.uk
Staffordshire County Council website
