When to contact the council about food safety
If you have been sold food that is unsafe to eat, are concerned about poor hygiene in a food business, or have become unwell after eating at a local restaurant, you may need to report your concerns to the council’s Food and Safety team.
How complaints are prioritised
The Food and Safety team focuses its resources on the most serious public health risks. This means only food complaints that pose a genuine risk to health will be investigated. Lower‑risk issues will not be looked into immediately but may be checked during the business’s next routine inspection.
When to contact the business instead
If you bought food that you are unhappy with but the issue is minor, it is usually best to contact the shop, supplier, caterer or manufacturer directly. This allows them to investigate quickly, offer a refund if appropriate and recall the product if needed. Examples of minor issues include finding a pea pod in a can of peas or receiving a fizzy drink that is flat.
A list of common low‑risk food complaints the council does not investigate is available, along with advice on what action you can take.
If you are unsure where or when you bought the product, you should contact the manufacturer.
When to report a food complaint to the council
If your complaint does not fall into the low‑risk examples, you should report it to the Food and Safety team. They will assess whether it poses a public health risk and decide whether an investigation is needed. The council does not handle compensation claims; these must be taken up with the business or through the civil courts.
Issues the council will investigate
The Food and Safety team investigates public health matters such as:
- food poisoning confirmed by laboratory testing
- contaminated food posing a health risk, including pest contamination
- pests such as rodents or insects found inside a food premises
- unhygienic food handling or poor cleaning in food businesses
- food sold past its use‑by date
- food businesses operating from unsuitable premises
If you think you have food poisoning, guidance is available on what steps to take.
What happens during an investigation
If an investigation is required, you may be asked to provide a written statement under the Criminal Justice Act 1967 or Magistrates' Courts Act 1980.
How to make a complaint
To report a food safety concern, you can submit a complaint online.