Food labelling and allergens
The Council deal with complaints concerning the purchase of food including:
- Hygiene
- Unfit to be eaten
- Foreign Bodies
- Food labelling
- Food composition and description
- Food contamination
Inspections are undertaken of food premises where product labels and packaging are examined to ensure they are complying with their legal requirements.
Samples are also taken to establish that consumers are getting what they pay for. We check that substitution of premium brand spirits with a cheaper alternative do not take place. Samples of meat products are made to ascertain that the product has the required minimum meat content.
We also aim to help educate consumers on understanding food labels and nutrition. The Food Standards Agency have a website aimed at providing guidance on these issues.
We also ensure that pet and animal feed meet the required standards. Checks are carried out and labels examined to determine whether products display the correct nutritional information for the animal.
If you have a complaint or enquiry concerning any food or animal feed product please contact us using the contact details at the bottom of this page.
Food Warnings
The Environmental Health Department receives Food Alerts from the Food Standards Agency. Dependant on the type of alert the Service will carry out inspections or issue information to trade on the specific alert.
To view the latest food alerts visit the Food Standards Agency Food Alert web page.
Allergy Alerts
Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk.
In such situations the Food Standards Agency will issue an Allergy Alert. It is possible to subscribe to an email alert system to receive automatic messages whenever such Allergy Alerts are issued. For more information visit the Food Standards Agency website.
Text Alerts
You can also get details of all the latest allergy alerts as soon as they're issued by getting the details sent as a SMS text message direct to your mobile phone.
To sign up to this free service, simply send the text message 'START ALLERGY' to the number 62372. To unsubscribe, just text 'STOP ALLERGY' to the same number.