Food complaints
If you bought food from a shop, or had a meal at a restaurant or café and found it contained something that shouldn’t be there, for example plastic or hair, then this can be classed as a food complaint.
Our responsibilities
North Devon Council deals with investigating food complaints such as:
If you bought food from a shop, or had a meal at a restaurant or café and found it contained something that shouldn’t be there, for example plastic or hair, then this can be classed as a food complaint.
Our responsibilities
North Devon Council deals with investigating food complaints such as:
- food containing foreign bodies e.g. insects, metal or glass
- food that is mouldy
- food that is contaminated or unfit to eat
- hygiene standards in food businesses
Devon County Council deals with complaints such as:
- food that is past its use by date
- complaints about the quality of food
- labelling and false description of food
Making a complaint
If you wish to make a complaint use the contact details below.
Once the officer investigating your complaint has collected the relevant information, the most appropriate action will be determined by reference to national and local guidance on food safety. Your complaint may be referred to Devon County Council or the Meat Hygiene Service
.
In many cases, action taken will be informal. The investigating officer will give you an explanation of the outcome of the investigation and with your agreement disclose your details - name, address etc - to the food business concerned.
Most major food companies like to contact customers to provide assurance of the quality of their products. In other cases, the investigating authority may wish to deal with matters in a more formal manner and take legal action. When this is necessary you will be requested to produce formal statements and further details may be requested from yourself.
It may take several weeks for the investigation to collect all the necessary evidence on which to decide what action is appropriate. You will always be kept informed of the outcome of the investigation and this is normally done in writing.
NDC will not attempt to gain compensation on your behalf, as this is a matter between you and the retailer or the manufacturer.
If you wish to make a complaint use the contact details below.
Once the officer investigating your complaint has collected the relevant information, the most appropriate action will be determined by reference to national and local guidance on food safety. Your complaint may be referred to Devon County Council or the Meat Hygiene Service
.In many cases, action taken will be informal. The investigating officer will give you an explanation of the outcome of the investigation and with your agreement disclose your details - name, address etc - to the food business concerned.
Most major food companies like to contact customers to provide assurance of the quality of their products. In other cases, the investigating authority may wish to deal with matters in a more formal manner and take legal action. When this is necessary you will be requested to produce formal statements and further details may be requested from yourself.
It may take several weeks for the investigation to collect all the necessary evidence on which to decide what action is appropriate. You will always be kept informed of the outcome of the investigation and this is normally done in writing.
NDC will not attempt to gain compensation on your behalf, as this is a matter between you and the retailer or the manufacturer.
To contact the Customer Service Centre:
Telephone: 01271 388870
For Typetalk: precede with 18001
Fax: 01271 388451
Email: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk
Textphone (callers must have Typetalk compatible equipment; this number does not support voice communication or SMS): 01271 388786 (during our normal working hours)
Web form: send us a web enquiry
Our office hours are 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.
For further information see the Environmental Health service contact page
