Make a complaint about food

If you have any complaints about food safety, we are here to help you. We deal with complaints where there may be a public health risk. This could be any food in Torbay that has been:

• sold
• served
• manufactured
• prepared

Things we can investigate are:

• contaminated food
• food that might have caused food poisoning
• food that contains 'foreign bodies' eg: insects, glass, hair, metal or might be mouldy
• poor hygiene in food outlets
• food that is being sold past its 'use-by' date

Things we can't investigate are:

• claims for compensation or refunds - that is between you and the seller
• complaints about poor quality food. ie, sour milk or over-ripe fruit/vegetables
• food that is beyond its 'best-before' date
• problems caused when you did not follow the manufacturer’s instructions
• products returned before you have contacted us

Contact Trading Standards if you want to complain about:

• false descriptions
• incorrect labelling
• quantities or weight not as stated

What information we need to know

When you make your complaint you will need to tell us:

• when and where you bought the food - a receipt helps
• who found the problem and how
• details of ill effects
• whether you will help in taking legal action. This may involve giving a statement or evidence in court.

What to do with the food

It would help if you could:

• keep all food and packaging
• keep perishable food refrigerated or frozen
• don’t put the food in a place where more contamination could take place (e.g. near other foods)
• leave any ‘foreign object’ in the food and do not handle it