Our Trading Standards officers are responsible for enforcing food standards within the county borough. They inspect and advise food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, ensuring compliance with the Food Safety Act 1990 and associated regulations.
We can also warn, or, if necessary, prosecute, businesses that breach food regulations. This ensures that only food of the correct composition is sold and the labelling is accurate and truthful.
Food Composition
Many of the foods we take for granted have to meet compositional requirements if they are given certain names. For example:
- Pork Sausages must have a minimum Pork content of 42%
- Chocolate must contain a minimum amount of cocoa
- Honey must come from honey bees
We sample foods to make sure these compositional requirements are met as well as checking the authenticity of the food. We will also check the declared nutrition, the amount of additives or contaminants, and whether adulteration and substitution of alcoholic drinks in pubs and clubs in the area has taken place.
Food labelling
Food labels are there to sell the product and to keep it hygienically safe. However, they must provide the required information.
The food label must specify:
- What the food is
- What it is made from
- How long the food lasts
- The manufacturer name and address
- If there is anything in the food, which may cause an allergic reaction
- Some products also have specific additional labelling requirements, for example: Baby foods, Infant Formulae, Chocolate, Jams, and Fruit Juices etc.
Failure to provide us with this and other required information or misleading us into buying it is an offence.
Remember, The food you eat has to be correctly described and may have to meet a compositional standard. If it doesn't not only are you being ripped off but also reputable businesses are losing out and face unfair competition.
Further information
If you have been sold food that you feel does not meet the food composition and labelling requirements or require further information please email call Trading Standards on 01495 235291 or email tradingstandards@caerphilly.gov.uk.