Food which is sold for human consumption must be safe to eat, free from contamination and must have been prepared in a clean and hygienic manner.

Complaints: if you are a customer, you are entitled to expect the highest standards.  If you would like to make a complaint about food or a food business, please contact the Council as soon as possible. Any complaint will be dealt with in confidence but we are not able to assist in any compensation claim.

Click here to make an online complaint 

Risk assessment: food businesses are inspected by authorised Council officers.  Following an inspection, the officer will carry out an assessment of risk.  Businesses with a higher risk rating are inspected more frequently than those with a lower risk rating.  Businesses will fall into one of the following categories and will be inspected at the frequency specified:

Category	Points Range		Minimum frequency of inspection
	Min.	Max.
A	92	196	Every 6 months
B	72	91	Every 12 months
C	42	71	Every 18 months
D	31	41	Every 24 months
E	0	30	Alternative enforcement

Other activities: the Council also undertakes the following:-

• food hygiene training courses for food handlers
• sampling of shellfish beds within the Maldon district
• sampling of pther food stuffs within the district

Food Sampling Policy: a copy of the Council's Food Sampling Policy can found in the download area.  If you have any comments you would like to make about the Policy, please use the online form. 

Food register: the Council holds a register of all food safety notices served under the Food Safety Act 1990 which is available for public viewing.

Click here if you require more information 

The Environment Services Enforcement Policy can be viewed by clicking here.