Journey
Respond to a food safety incident
Immediate steps when unsafe food is discovered or a customer reports illness. Stop selling, withdraw the product, notify the FSA, and cooperate with enforcement.
A food safety problem has occurred
If you have discovered that food you sold or supplied may be unsafe, you must act immediately. The law requires you to withdraw unsafe food from sale and, where it has reached consumers, consider a recall. Speed matters. Prompt action limits harm and is treated favourably by enforcement officers.
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Stop selling the affected food immediately
Remove the product from sale, display, and storage. Segregate it clearly and label it 'do not use'. If you supply other businesses, contact them now and tell them to do the same. Do not destroy the food yet as it may be needed as evidence.
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Withdraw or recall the product
Withdrawal means removing food from the supply chain before it reaches consumers. Recall means retrieving food that has already been sold to consumers. If the food has reached consumers and there is a risk to health, you must recall it.
Food traceability, withdrawal, and recall
Step-by-step procedures for withdrawing and recalling food, traceability requirements, and how to notify the FSA.
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Notify the FSA and your local authority
Contact your local authority Environmental Health team immediately. If the food may have been distributed beyond your local area, also notify the FSA directly. For allergen incidents, the FSA operates an allergy alert system that can issue rapid public warnings.
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Cooperate with the investigation
Environmental health officers may visit your premises, take food samples, inspect your records, and interview staff. Provide full access and answer questions honestly. Keep a written record of everything you have done since discovering the problem. This demonstrates your due diligence.
Prepare for a food hygiene inspection
What inspectors assess, documentation they check, and how to demonstrate compliance.
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Prevent it happening again
Once the immediate incident is resolved, review your food safety management system. Identify the root cause and update your HACCP procedures. Document the changes. If your food hygiene rating has been affected, you can request a re-inspection after making improvements.
Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
Understanding your rating, how to request a re-rating after improvements, and the appeal process.