Food Complaints

If you buy some food from a shop within Taunton Deane that you later discover has a problem with it, then Taunton Deane Borough Council Food Safety Team may be able to investigate it.

Various 'problems' with the food can include

• If its mouldy
• If it contains a foreign object such as glass, plastic or remains of an insect or mouse for example.
  

Both these items were found in food bought within the Borough of Taunton Deane

You also have the option of returning it to the shop where you bought it, as Taunton Deane Borough Council cannot get involved with any compensation claims, or with getting a refund on the affected food item. For more advice on compensation, contact the Citizens Advice Bureau (external link).
If you wish the Food Safety Team to investigate it then bring it in to the Council Offices on Belvedere Road, Taunton where a member of the Team will meet you. However, before you bring it to us then you must ensure that you have the following information in order for us to carry out any necessary investigations:

• All relevant packaging
• Any remaining food
• Till receipts
• Details of where the item was bought and when.
• Details of any contact you have had with the vendor and any response they made to you.
• Details of who discovered the problems and any after effects of eating it, if any.

There are certain complaints that the Food Safety Team doesn't investigate. These include:

• Soil/dirt on greengrocery items
• Live caterpillars/grubs in greengrocery items
• Struvite crystals in canned fish (often mistaken for glass, an easy test is to see if the crystal dissolves in vinegar or hot water)
• Complaints where there is no food remaining-just a foreign body with or without packaging.
• Complaints regarding labelling issues, ingredients listings etc. These complaints are dealt with by Somerset Trading Standards (external link).

However, this list is not exhaustive and if you are in any doubt as to whether your food complaint can be investigated then please contact the Food Safety Team.

Contact details

Food Safety Team

Tele: 01823 356342
Email: food.safety@tauntondeane.gov.uk