Help with Food Complaints

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The aim of this leaflet is to make it easier for you contact the right service in your area.

Food Complaints and the Law

If you have a complaint about any food or drink there may be two ways of sorting out the problem.

Dealing with the complaint yourself

When you buy food, you enter into a contract with the seller. If the food is unsatisfactory the seller may be in breach of contract and you may be entitled in CIVIL LAW to compensation. You should take up your complaint yourself with the seller. Further information on this is available from Regulatory Services Advice Centre.

Getting the Complaint investigated by an Enforcement Officer

You may feel that your complaint is serious or worrying enough to require investigation by an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or Trading Standards Officer (TSO). EHOs and TSOs are Enforcement Officers, who will investigate breaches of the Food Safety Act 1990 and take enforcement action were appropriate. To enable enforcement officers to prosecute a trader you may be required to make a formal witness statement and to give evidence in court. However, not all investigations will lead to prosecution. Sometimes, the offender will receive a written warning instead, or there may be insufficient evidence to take the matter to court.

Not sure what to do?

If you are not sure what to do, just contact your local Environment Health Department or Trading Standards Service and ask for their advice. If you wish to make an anonymous complaint you are welcome to do so.

Where to get free advice?

EHOs and TSOs share responsibility for enforcement of the Food Safety Act 1990. The information below will help you to decide who best to contact.

Who Do I Contact?

If your food complaint concerns:

• Food poisoning
• Unfit food through contamination
• Poor hygiene in storage or preparation
• Food which poses a risk to public health
• Mouldy food
• Foreign objects in food e.g. glass, metal, human or animal debris
• Dirt in milk bottles

Then contact the Environmental Health Department of your Local District Council:

• Environmental Health Contacts in Hampshire

 

This advice is designed to provide basic guidance to Consumers. It is not a complete or authoritative statement of the law.
We will be pleased to offer this information in larger print or translated into any language on request.

C/foo/104/003 Jan 2005