Food bank site in Dumfries and Galloway closed after 'breaches of food hygiene regulations'

A Dumfries foodbank distribution point has been closed following what the council described as “significant breaches of food hygiene regulations“.

The First Base Agency’s Buccleuch Street site was shut after an inspection by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s environmental health team.

The issues with the premises were uncovered during a routine spot check of the facility.

“Following an inspection by the council’s environmental health team, the First Base Agency foodbank at Buccleuch Street, Dumfries, was closed due to significant breaches of food hygiene regulations,” the local authority said.

“Our Community Protection, Environmental Health and Tackling Poverty and Inequalities teams have worked with the First Base Agency to ensure they were able to continue to provide support to those who need it from facilities that meet the required food hygiene standards.”

Despite the closure, First Base Agency said its wider service remains largely unaffected.

Mark Frankland of the charity stressed that only one of their many collection points was impacted.

“Our food parcels are available at 23 collection points in Dumfries and Galloway; this is the only one affected, so services remain as usual during all this,” he said.

“We have a replacement location in the town of Dumfries, so our food parcel system has been largely unaffected.”

Frankland added that the charity was disappointed by the development and said the inspection had not been prompted by any complaint.

“We’re obviously disappointed. At no point was there any complaint; it was just a spot check,” he said.

The organisation continues to operate its food parcel network while working with the council on compliance at the affected site.