Food standards and hygiene

Food business requirements

Food businesses must ensure that consumers receive accurate information and that all legal requirements relating to the labelling, composition, and quality of food are met. Labelling rules vary depending on how the food is sold, such as whether it is prepacked, prepacked for direct sale, or non-prepacked.

General labelling requirements

Food labels must provide sufficient information to allow consumers to make informed decisions. As a minimum, where foods are prepacked labels should include:

• the name of the food
• a ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date
• a full list of ingredients, including allergen information and quantities where particular ingredients are emphasised
• any special storage conditions
• cooking or preparation instructions (where necessary)
• a contact address within Great Britain for consumer enquiries or complaints

More detailed information is required for certain foodstuffs, eg - food supplements, and less information may be needed where foods are sold non-prepacked or prepacked for direct sale.

Food date marking requirements

Businesses that sell or produce pre-packaged food are responsible for ensuring that all products are clearly marked with either a ‘use by’ date or a ‘best before’ date.

Use by date

A ‘use by’ date applies to highly perishable foods, such as meat and dairy products, which may pose a risk to health if consumed after this date.

• storage conditions must be clearly indicated on the packaging
• these conditions must be followed to maintain the safety of the product up to the stated date

Best before date

A ‘best before’ date is used for less perishable foods, including:

• biscuits
• cereals
• tinned foods

This date indicates the period during which the manufacturer guarantees the product’s quality. After this date:

• the quality may deteriorate
• the product is unlikely to present a health risk if consumed

Legal implications

• it is a strict offence to sell food after its ‘use by’ date
• selling food past its ‘best before’ date may also constitute an offence if the quality has significantly deteriorated

Accuracy of food descriptions and claims

Any claims regarding the nature, substance, or quality of food must be accurate and not misleading. For example:

• products described as ‘fresh’ should not have been previously frozen
• products labelled as ‘pure orange’ should not be artificially flavoured substitutes

Enforcement and consumer protection

Environmental Health Officers are responsible for:

• inspecting food premises
• investigating consumer complaints
• ensuring compliance with legislation relating to:
  • food labelling
  • date marking
  • nature, substance, and quality of food

Advice and complaints

If you have concerns regarding food quality or standards, you should contact Environmental Services for advice.

When making a complaint, it is helpful to provide:

• proof of purchase
• details of the issue
• a witness, where available