FAQs - Food
Our most frequently asked questions about food are below.
If your question hasn't been answered, then telephone Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit their website at www.direct.gov.uk/consumer (opens in a new window).
Q What's the difference between a use-by and best before date on food?
A A Use-by date is applied to food that goes off quickly, such as milk, soft cheeses and fresh meat. Usually such food has instructions for storage that must be followed to keep the food safe until the expiry date. Selling food after its Use-by date has expired is an offence and eating such food is highly likely to cause food poisoning.
A Best before date is usually found on food that has a long shelf life, such as frozen or dried food. It is generally safe to eat such food but it will no longer be at its best. It is not an offence to sell food past its Best before date.
Eggs are a special case and are marked with a Best before date. You should not eat eggs after the date specified.
Any other date mark, such as Display until or Sell by are there purely for the shop as a guide and not for any other reason.
Q Who do I complain to about a food problem I have?
A Initially you should raise the matter with the trader. If this does not resolve the problem or you feel the matter is serious, you should make a complaint.
If it relates to the quality, description, composition or labelling of the food, the matter will be dealt with by Trading Standards. If it is about a premise outside the County, we will take details of your complaint and pass it on to the relevant council.
If the matter relates to food poisoning, poor hygiene in a food premise, mouldy food or foreign objects in food (such as glass or metal) then it is a matter for Environmental Health Officers. These are based at the local district, borough or unitary council. This is usually the same council that collects council tax and empties refuse bins in your area.
Q Can traders sell in Imperial measures?
A Almost everything being sold by weight or measure must be sold in metric units.
It is possible to give an equivalent in imperial units as an extra indication but metric are the units that are to be used. These units are grams, kilograms, litre and metre. A leaflet with a conversion chart is available from us.
The only things that may be sold in imperial measures are beer, lager and cider in capacity measures ('pub glasses') as well as milk and orange juice sold using returnable bottles.
Q How can I be confident that the amount in a packet or tin is the amount written on it?
A Pre-packed items, such as a tin of beans or a carton of juice, are packed to the average contents system.
A group of packages, such as an hour or days production is identified as a batch and the average contents must equal or exceed that amount stated on the pack. Each pack may vary around the contents stated but the range is restricted and if any pack is below a certain amount then it is illegal to sell that pack even if average of the batch equals that marked on the pack.
Weights and Measures Inspectors from Trading Standards visit packers on a programmed basis to test equipment and check batches of products to ensure packers adhere to the required rules. This can include food such as soup, coffee or bread and non-food items such as soap, aerosol lubricant sprays or paint.
Q I went into a cafe and the menu said 'Home made pies and cakes' but the food was not, is there anything that can be done?
A Yes. The food should be as described and there could be both an offence under criminal law which Derbyshire Trading Standards may be able to take up and also a breach of contract, which you could take up with the trader using the civil law.