The Food and Safety team - Print version

The Food and Safety Team is part of Regulatory Services at Coventry City Council. We work together with other regulatory teams such as Business Compliance, Environmental Protection and Licensing. 

The team carry out a wide range of statutory and advisory functions to ensure that all food produced, prepared and sold in the City is safe and without risks to health.

Who we provide services to

• Residents of the City of Coventry who have a problem with food they have purchased or food they have eaten from a Coventry business.
• Food businesses based in the City.

The role of the Food and Safety team

• Offer food safety advice to businesses and members of the public.
• Carry out food safety inspections at food businesses in Coventry.
• Enforce legislation to ensure legal compliance.
• Work with partner organisations such as the Food Standards Agency.
• Investigate food complaints, take appropriate enforcement action (which may include prosecution) in accordance with our Enforcement Policy.
• Investigate cases of foodborne illness.

What the food and safety team deals with

• Investigate food complaints including foreign bodies found in food.
• Complaints regarding cleanliness/hygiene in food businesses.
• Investigation of food poisoning cases/outbreaks and instances of food borne/water borne illness. Help to prevent the spread of infection.
• Carry out routine food safety inspections and rate businesses under the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.
• Carry out food sampling in the City.
• Give advice to people setting up new food businesses, including those run from home.
• Approve food manufacturers and issue approval certification.
• Advise food businesses regarding new legislation and changes to legislation/guidance.
• Advise businesses and consumers regarding food alerts issued by the Government.

What we can do

• Give up to 30 minutes free advice to local businesses about what food safety laws apply to them and how they can comply with the law.
• Provide advice/information to members of the public regarding food safety.
• Provide up to 30 minutes free advice to people importing food from abroad, and produce export health certificates for exporters.
• Deal with complaints regarding food safety and hygiene/cleanliness.
• Target our limited resources effectively using a “risk based approach"

What we can't do

• Deal with anonymous complaints. Rest assured that any contact details you give to us remain completely confidential.
• Demand compensation or apologies from businesses or take enforcement action on your behalf.
• Deal with complaints regarding poor customer service or food quality.
• Insist on businesses taking action that does not form part of food safety legislation.
• Submit samples of food from members of the public for microbiological testing.
• Take action in relation to food businesses that are not within the City boundary. Please contact the relevant Local Authority.