Our objectives are to detect, rectify and deter trading standards practices concerned with foodstuffs to maintain standards.

We work with manufacturers, packers and caterers by providing advice and guidance to ensure that their products comply with food standards laws that are in place to ensure that consumers can be confident in the quality of the food in our stores and catering establishments.

We do this by visiting manufacturers, producers and caterers to carry out inspections covering manufacture, production, labelling, storage and distribution. Many food samples are routinely taken from food producers and retailers across the county. These are analysed to ensure that food labels correctly describe ingredients and nutrients and that any health claims are substantiated. Food samples are also regularly tested for prohibited additives such as the colour Sudan 1.

Our duties also include investigating complaints made by members of the public about such matters as: 

• quality and description of food
• shops selling out of date foods
• substituted and watered down spirits
• meat products standards
• labelling of slimming foods and supplements

These complaints are investigated using a variety of methods available to us and may result in action being taken in the criminal courts.

The principal statute covering this area of work is the Food Safety Act 1990.