Your City Council
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should I do if I am planning to open a food business in Lisburn City Council?
It is a legal requirement that all food businesses including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures must be registered with the Environmental Health Department at least 28 days prior to opening.
You register by completing a Food Registration Form which should be forwarded to the council offices. There is no charge for registration, and you will be provided with specific guidance regarding your food business.
Registration will allow the local council to keep an up-to-date list of all those premises in their area so they can visit them when they need to.
A Register with the name of the food business operator, name of the food business, address of the food business establishment and particulars and nature of the food business will be open to inspection by the general public.
Further information on the hygiene requirements when opening a food business can be obtained on the web page Guidance for Food Businesses.
What should I do if I have a food complaint?
If you have bought an item of food that has a foreign matter in it, has mould growth, an unusual odour or something in it that you did not expect, the Environmental Health Department will investigate your complaint.
The foreign object, food matter, its packaging and proof of purchase should all be retained and produced for the investigating officer. The complaint may be sent for analysis to identify the foreign object. The investigating officer will contact the retailer, supplier, manufacturer and the local authority in whose area the product was made.
The food complaint procedure may take several months to complete. Any subsequent action taken by the Environmental Health Department 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.
Please note that if the food item was not bought in premises within the Lisburn City Council area, then you should contact the council in which the food item was purchased and they will investigate the matter.
Below are examples of food complaints recently investigated by Lisburn City Council.
What should I do if I think I am suffering from food poisoning?
Food poisoning is caused by bacteria (or germs) in our food, and these bacteria may still be alive if food is not cooked properly or if food is contaminated after cooking. Common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhoea and sometimes fever.
Other illnesses, medicines and excessive alcohol can cause similar symptoms to food poisoning.
If you suspect you have food poisoning you must initially contact your GP and he/she will arrange for you to submit a faecal or vomit sample. This is the only way to confirm whether or not you have food poisoning.
If the sample is positive and is confirmed as food poisoning, the environmental health department will carry out an investigation and will require the following details:
- date and time of onset of symptoms
- nature of symptoms
- occupation details i.e. if you are a food handler
- travel outside GB
- contact with animals/pets
- foods eaten two weeks prior to onset of symptoms
- any contacts affected e.g. family members.
If you are a food handler or if you work with the young or elderly you should notify your employer as you may be excluded from work until you have been given clearance by your GP.
If you have any remaining suspect food matter this should be provided at the time of making the complaint.
If you are unable to make contact with the Environmental Health Department, suspect food should be placed in an airtight container and placed in a freezer until contact is made.
Further information on common food poisoning bacteria can be found on http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/
What is the difference between “use by” and “best before” date marks on food?
Use by dates appear on foods that can go off within a few days such as meat products, ready-prepared salads, dairy products and chilled convenience meals.
It is an offence for shops to sell food past its use by date, and you should not use any food after this date as it could put your health at risk. For the use by date to be a valid guide, you must carefully follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
As a general rule, eat it, cook it, freeze it before the use by date or else throw the food out.
Best before dates appear on a wide range of frozen, dried, canned and other foods that can safely be kept for a long time. When the date runs out it doesn't mean that the food is dangerous, but it may no longer be at its best.
It is not an offence for shops to sell food past its best before date.
Other dates can appear on food such as “display until”. These dates are used by shops in stock control and are guides for shop staff not customers. The term “sell by” is no longer in use.
