Food hygiene and safety

Food safety inspections

We have a statutory duty to inspect food businesses to ensure food safety legislation is met.

Food businesses include restaurants, takeaways, manufacturers, food mobiles and canteens and more. If you are in any doubt whether your activity is classed as a food business, please contact us.

The inspection

A food safety inspection will ensure that food handled, processed and sold is safe. The food safety officer will check what food safety hazards exist and ensure that adequate control measures, monitoring procedures and corrective actions are in place to minimise potential food safety hazards.

Inspectors do not have to make an appointment, and will usually come without notice.

At the end of each inspection, the business will be risk-rated which determines the frequency of future inspections.

You can find out more about the inspection by reading our Food safety and your business (PDF 341.7KB) leaflet.