How to make a complaint about food - advice about the most common complaints we receive about foreign objects in food, with the action you should take.
This advice can also be downloaded as a leaflet in PDF format below.
Tinned Foods
Field Insects
Insects that live naturally in fields may be harvested along with fruit and vegetables. Whilst food companies take steps to remove these insects, some will slip through the net. These insects and grubs are killed and sterilised by the canning process. As the use of pesticides decreases, the incidence of these pests will increase.
No public health risk
Action: Contact retailer
Wasps and Fruit Flies
These are common in tins of fruit. They are naturally associated with ripe fruit and do not carry disease.
No public health risk
Action: Contact retailer
Mould
Dented, damaged or incorrectly processed tins may allow mould growth to occur. This could indicate an error in production or storage.
Possible public health risk
Action: Contact Environmental Health
Dried Foods
Insects
Insects like beetles and weevils may infest dried products such as flour, sugar and pulses if these foods are stored for too long. These do not carry disease, but they breed very quickly in warm, humid conditions, and so spread into uncontaminated food very quickly.
No public health risk
Action: Do not use an insecticide because of the danger of contaminating your food. Dispose of all visibly infested packages in an outside waste bin and thoroughly clean the cupboards using a vacuum cleaner, paying particular attention to crevices. Immediately after use, dispose of the cleaner contents in an outside waste bin. Store new dried goods in airtight containers and ensure good ventilation in storage areas.
