How to report a complaint
We will assess each complaint to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Food complaints we will investigate
Not all of the following pose a risk to public health or safety.
- Food poisoning outbreaks or any food which may have caused food poisoning
- Unfit or grossly contaminated food
- Foods containing foreign objects, for example, metal or glass. Please see the page on 'foreign bodies in food'.
- Foods that have passed their 'use by date'
- Dirty conditions
- Evidence of pests, for example, rats, mice, cockroaches
- Poor food handling practices
- Build-up of rubbish
Handling your food complaint
Please note we can't negotiate compensation for complaints on your behalf. Our investigations only cover the criminal aspect of each case and not civil liabilities.
In cases where your food hygiene complaint is not a risk to public health or safety, you may be able to resolve it by contacting the owner of the food business yourself and discussing your concerns with them directly. They may not be aware of the issue and may be prepared to carry out their own internal investigation.
Remember the following when dealing with food complaints:
- Avoid handling foreign objects. If they're embedded in the food, don't move them.
- Keep the food in its original container where possible.
- Keep any wrappings and labels.
- If the food is perishable, keep it in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Keep any receipts as proof of purchase.
Make a food hygiene complaint
You can use our online form to report a food complaint or an issue with a premises that serves food.
If there is an imminent risk to health and safety, we can close a premises until the issues are resolved.