Make a food complaint
What we can and can't investigate
We will investigate (dependent on public health risk):
- Food hygiene in food premises (e.g. dirty conditions, unhygienic food handling by staff etc.)
- Food that may be linked to confirmed food poisoning or has become contaminated.
- Food that is unfit and forms part of a larger batch or consignment.
- Food containing foreign bodies that has caused injury or has the potential to cause injury to a person e.g. glass or metal.
- Food that is unfit for human consumption.
- Purchased food that has expired its 'use by' date.
- An allergen-free meal that has been requested but has caused an allergic reaction.
We will not investigate:
- Food purchased or manufactured outside the district of St Helens Borough Council.
- Any claims for compensation or refunds. This is a matter between the purchaser and the manufacturer.
- Complaints about food quality e.g. over-ripe vegetables and fruits.
It is not illegal to sell food after its 'best before' date. 'Best before' relates to the taste, texture and quality of a product. After the best before date the food may not be as the manufacturer intended but will not be unfit for consumption.