Food Safety Complaints
How we provide this service
Complaining about food and food premises is supported by Community & Neighbourhood Services, Food Safety & Licensing.
If you have a complaint about food or a food business we will investigate it for you or be able to give advice.
The Food Safety team investigate the following types of complaints:
- complaints about food premises
- complaints about items of food containing foreign bodies, food that is mouldy or unfit to eat
- allegations that food has caused food poisoning symptoms or food that may have been maliciously tampered with.
Complaints help to identify problems and raise hygiene standards.
Further Information on this service
Some types of complaints that relate to quality issues are dealt with by Trading Standards they can be contacted at Trading Standards, County Offices, Newlands, Lincoln LN1 1YL.
For minor complaints which do not pose a health risk it may be worth contacting the company who sold you the food direct.
How long will I have to wait for a response?
We will respond to your complaint within 5 working days.
How long will the whole process take?
The time taken to investigate your complaint will depend on it's complexity.
As a guide, simple complaints will usually taken 14 days or less. When the food needs to be sent to another local authority, food manufacturer and/or requires a detailed report, it may take longer. Your investigating officer will advise and update you on this.
Common Questions
Q. I have bought some food and it has a foreign body in it. What should I do?
A. Keep it safe, enclosed, and if possible in a fridge. It is useful to keep the packaging and receipt.
Contact the Council's Customer Services Section as soon as possible, who will pass on your details to an officer of the Food Team. They will contact you and make arrangements to investigate.
Q. I visited a food business and have concerns about their hygiene.
A. Report the matter to the Customer Services Team. They will ask for your contact details and also the details of the business concerned, they will pass these details to the Food Team who will contact you.
Q. I think I may have food poisoning. What should I do?
A. Symptoms of food poisoning may include:
- Headache
- Fever
- Stomach Cramps
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
If you are suffering from any of these, it is important to contact your doctor who will tell you if they think it is food poisoning, quite often there may be another cause for the illness.
You may also contact a member of the Food Team who will be able to give advice.
If the officer thinks it is necessary they may investigate further.
Q. I work as a food handler and I think I may be suffering from food poisioning. Who should I report this to?
A. If your work involves the handling of food in any way and you have symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting you may be suffering from food poisoning.
You must notify your employer immediately of your illness and stop working.
You should also contact your doctor who may ask you to submit a faecal specimen to check whether you have a food related illness and identify the food poisoning bacteria.
You should not return to work until your symptoms have cleared for at least 48 hours for some illness a longer clearance period may be required. You should also contact the Food Safety Team for further advice.
How do you rate this information / service?
Contact Details
If you have any queries about the information provided above, or require further information, please contact Customer Services on 01775 761161 or email info@sholland.gov.uk.
Food business - food safety regulations
