Food Safety Complaints Policy

Making a Complaint

Complaints may be made in person at the Council Offices, an officer of the Council personally, by telephone, post or e-mail or via a third party such as a District Councillor.

The complaint will be referred, as soon as is reasonably possible to the investigating officer. They will make an initial assessment of the issues and contact the complainant with the preliminary findings. An indication as to the proposed action will be provided within 3 working days or as soon as possible thereafter.

Ordinarily, at the time of making a complaint about any article of food, the complainant will be invited to agree the process for dealing with the complaint. This may involve any of the following:

  1. The article complained of may be retained and disposed of as the Council thinks fit;
  2. To accept the Council's decision as regards any action taken;
  3. To provide witness statements and, if necessary, give evidence in Court should legal proceedings be instituted;
  4. The Council may/may not release the complainant's name and address to the vendor/manufacturer/producer etc of the article subject to complaint;
  5. The Council will not be seeking or negotiating compensation on behalf of the complainant.