Complain about food you have bought

Finding a foreign object in food, or other problems with food can be a very unpleasant experience. However, not all pose a public or serious health risk. Most problems can be dealt with by contacting the Manufacturer, Retailer or Supplier directly.

We can investigate complaints about:

• foreign objects found in food
• unfit, mouldy or rotten food
• food sold past its use-by date (it is not an offence to sell food past its best-before date unless there is something else wrong with it)

Some common food complaints

The following, whilst unpleasant or unsightly pose no public health risk. You should contact the Manufacturer or the place where you bought the item from directly.

Canned Foods

• field insects and fruit flies
• stones
• larvae/grubs
• white spots
• mould - dented and damaged cans may allow mould growth to occur. It is difficult to establish who is responsible.
• Struvite crystals

Fish

• glowing fish – luminous marine bacteria
• cod worms
• fish bones

Vegetables and Fruit

• greenfly
• mould
• mushroom fibres / hair

Fruit and vegetables commonly have soil, stones or small slugs. This is quite normal.

All fruit and vegetables should be washed thoroughly before eating.

Meat and Poultry

Some meat and/or poultry products may contain skin, small bones, or parts of blood vessels. Whilst unsightly, they are rarely a health hazard but are normal parts of the original animal.

For marketing and food quality issues, such as incorrect labelling and ingredients, contamination with chemicals or strange tastes, you should report the problem to Trading Standards.

Reporting to Trading Standards - Citizens Advice