You can report a food problem in a restaurant, a food shop or with food ordered online to our Environmental Health team.
Examples of issues you may wish to report:
- food that has a foreign matter in it
- food with visible signs of mould or decay
- food sold past its use-by date
- unavailable or incorrect allergen information
- dirty premises
- poor hand hygiene
- poor food handling
Our food safety team will investigate complaints concerning food products sold within the Lisburn and Castlereagh area.
Please note: if the food item was not bought in premises within our area, then you should contact the council in which the food item was purchased and they will investigate the matter.
Steps we will take
If your GP confirms a food poisoning, our environmental health team will be notified and an investigation will be carried out.
The foreign object, food, its packaging and proof of purchase should all be retained and produced for the investigating officer as it may be sent for analysis. Please place it in an airtight container and store it in a freezer until contact is made.
This investigation will include a face to face/telephone interview with you during which the following details will be asked:
- occupation (as further advice may be provided for example to food handlers)
- details of the symptoms
- information on any recent travel history
- whether anyone else in the household has symptoms
- information on contact with animals
- a history of what and where you have eaten before the illness
The investigating officer will contact the retailer, supplier, manufacturer or the local authority in whose area the product was made. We will also inspect premises where appropriate.
The food complaint procedure may take several months to complete. Any subsequent action taken by environmental health will relate to food safety issues and not to attaining compensation for the complainant. This is a matter that can be dealt with through your own solicitor.
For more information on food-related illnesses, visit the Health Protection Agency's website.
What food safety or hygiene issues can be reported to the council?
If you think you are suffering from food poisoning
Food poisoning is a common, usually mild, but sometimes deadly illness, which occurs when a person eats food or drink that is contaminated with bacteria.
Symptoms include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal cramps
- diarrhoea
- sometimes fever
Treatment
The incubation period (time taken from eating the food to feeling unwell) varies with each type of organism and in some cases can be up to 10-15 days after consumption of the food. It's important to realise that the last meal you ate may not be the cause of your symptoms.
If you suspect you have food poisoning you must initially contact your GP and submit a faecal or vomit sample.
Contact details
To contact our environmental health team please phone 028 9244 7397 or email: ehealth@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk