Food safety and standards

At Cheshire West and Chester Regulatory services we aim to protect consumers and assist businesses by carrying out a variety of food-related activities.  We are responsible for the enforcement of the Food Safety Act. The role is split into 2 areas - food safety and food standards.

Food hygiene and safety

We are responsible for ensuring that all food produced and sold in Cheshire West and Chester is safe for human consumption and that all cases of food poisoning are investigated thoroughly to prevent spread and recurrence.

For information on food safety go the Environmental Health pages.

Food standards

We ensure compliance with the provisions of the legislation in terms of the labelling, composition and quality of food. We also check food is not being sold out of date and is accurately described.

What we do

• Registration and inspection of food premises
• Investigating food hygiene and food standards complaints
• Providing advice to food businesses on food safety and standards matters
• Food Sampling
• Health promotion through Food Awards
• Licensing of butcher's shops
• Food poisoning and infectious diseases
• Scores on the doors

A review of previous years activity and planned activity is contained in the Food Service Plan (PDF 1.29MB). 

Registration of a food business

For information on registering a Food Business go to the Environmental Health pages.

Scores on the doors

See the Council's hygiene ratings for food businesses with Scores on the Doors.

Advice

If you are a food business within Cheshire West and Chester and you need advice on Food Standards please contact Trading Standards on 01244 973708.

If you need advice on a food safety or hygiene matter please go the Environmental Health pages.

Further information

The Food Standards Agency has developed a website with a wealth of material on Food Safety and Food Standards. As well as reading about the latest food hazard warnings, you can view guidance documents and current food news.

As from January 1st 2006 there is a new requirement for food businesses to have documented food safety management procedures based on HACCP ( Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) principles. The Food Standards Agency have published an information pack "Safer Food Better Business" designed to help caterers comply with this legislation (Regulation (EU) 852/2004).