We ensure food businesses in Harrow keep high food safety standards. We also ensure that people are protected from harm at work. Our environmental health and licensing team does this by:
- Supporting businesses to achieve the best standards of safety and hygiene.
- Investigating and enforcing incidents reported to us. Identifying the reasons for their cause.
- Identifying sources of food poisoning outbreaks.
- Enforcing waste is properly handled.
- Ensuring compliance with licensing and smoke-free laws.
- Making sure that businesses are good neighbours. Ensuring that licensed premises do not cause a nuisance in the community.
You must have a food safety management system to meet food safety rules. You can buy a hard copy of Safer Food Better Business and diary packs. You can also download and print a copy from the FSA website.
Submitting a food safety complaint
You can let us know if you have a concern or have had a bad experience in a food business in Harrow. We will not investigate cases caused by cooking in a victim's home. We can only review complaints where there is an enforceable offence. You will need to provide:
- Contact details of the food premises in Harrow.
- Detailed information about the incident (date/time).
- Photos (if applicable).
If you have symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea, you should contact your doctor. They can arrange faecal testing to confirm if it is food poisoning and its type.
How we investigate complaints
We investigate complaints to protect public health. If an officer discovers an offence, action will be taken under policy and government guidance. An example of an offence is if a restaurant is selling unsatisfactory food.
To claim compensation, you must take this up with the seller. You may be able to take civil action for compensation. When you buy food, you enter a contract with the seller. If the food is unsatisfactory, the seller may be in breach of contract.
For more information, see Citizens Advice Bureau (Harrow). You can call them on their consumer helpline at 03454 04 05 06.
Examining the evidence
When we receive your report, an officer will review it and any evidence. The officer will then notify the following bodies that we have received a complaint:
- The premises where you bought the food, or their head office.
- The manufacturer or importer of the food.
- The local authority in the area that manufacturer or importer is based.
We will ask them for information on the food. We will listen to the precautions they took to prevent food complaints. If a faecal sample is present, the evidence is likely to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. These tests may result in the destruction of the evidence.
You may need to provide a written statement. It should detail where you bought the food and how you discovered the complaint. We cannot take legal action on your behalf without it.
Officers must consider any legal defences of the food business before taking action. This includes the 'due diligence' defence. If the food business can prove it took all reasonable precautions, it can use this legal defence. This is even if the food was unsatisfactory when it was sold to you.
In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate to take formal action. If the business can't show it took precautions, legal action may result.
Investigation outcomes
We aim to resolve food complaints within 120 days. We will inform you if this period may be exceeded. Once all this evidence is collected, it will be clear whether to:
- warn the offender
- caution the offender
- prosecute the offender
- or take no further action.
We will inform you of this decision as soon as possible. The officer will also contact the retailer and manufacturer to let them know of the outcome. If legal action is recommended and your evidence is key, we will consult you about attending court.
If you have given permission, we will disclose your name and address to the manufacturer or retailer. This is so that they can contact you if they wish to for the purposes of good customer relations.
If you do not want us to share your name and address with the manufacturer and retailer, it may prevent any legal action later.
Food hygiene ratings
Food hygiene ratings let customers know about the safety and cleanliness of places that serve food. These include:
- Restaurants and pubs
- Cafés, takeaways and canteens
- Hotels,
- Supermarkets and schools
- Sports venues.
All rated premises will get a sticker. They can display it in their window to show customers their score. Businesses get a hygiene rating from 0 to 5. 0 means urgent improvement is needed, and 5 means it's very good.
The scores are given by an environmental health officer. The rating is also listed on the Food Standards Agency website. This is available as a page or an app so that everyone can access it.
The rating reflects the standards of hygiene at the time of their latest inspection. We accept that things change, hopefully for the better. But, sometimes, things can go downhill quickly.
Businesses with a score below 5 can request a rescore. They must prove they have made the necessary improvements and cover the £270.00 cost of the visit. Officers inspect premises regularly. This is based on their risk rating. High risk premises are inspected at least every six months.
New businesses must register with their food authority. All businesses must take reasonable care to ensure food is safe at all stages of production.
Appealing a hygiene rating
Food businesses can appeal their rating if they believe it is unfair or unjust. They can submit a response to the rating. The appeal should outline their commitments to improving.
The business owner has 21 days from the date of the notification letter to make an appeal. This includes weekends and bank holidays. We will review the rating and inform you of the appeal's outcome within seven days.
Request a revisit
You have the right to request a revisit if you want your establishment re-rated. You can request a re-rating after you fix the issues found in your last inspection. You can make one request for a re-rating for each revisit.
Once you submit a request proving your improvements, a revisit will be done within three months. A revisit currently costs £270.00. You must detail the improvements made. This includes any evidence where appropriate.
An officer will give you a new rating based on the compliance found at the time of the revisit. Please be aware that your rating could go up, down, or remain the same.
Right to reply
The business owner has a right to reply to a food hygiene rating. This lets the business owner explain actions taken to improve. The right to reply is not for complaints or criticism of the scheme or food safety officer.
The food safety officer will review your comments. They may edit them to remove offensive remarks. They will then publish it online with your food hygiene rating on the Food Standards Agency website.
Submitting an appeal, a revisit request, or a right to reply
To submit an appeal, request a revisit, or exercise your right to reply, you will need to:
- State whether you are appealing, requesting a revisit, or right to reply.
- Provide your business contact details.
- Include details of your inspection.
- Outline any improvements you have made.
We can provide a support service. It will give advice tailored to your business needs. This will help you to develop the skills and systems needed to raise standards. To take advantage of this support please contact us.
Responsible waste management
Fats, oils and grease (FOG) come from cooking and cleaning food in the kitchen. FOG in your drains cools, hardens, and causes blockages. The best way to prevent blockages is to keep FOG out of drains. The Water Industry Act 1991 makes it a crime to discharge FOG into the public sewer.
Your business is at risk if you allow FOG to enter our sewer network through your drains.
Some of the problems include:
- Loss of profit if you are forced to close while a blockage is cleared.
- Damage to reputation if you harm the environment.
- Bad smells leading to poor hygiene.
- Fines or prosecution.
Everyone who works for you must know how to manage your kitchen's waste.
- Scrape any leftover food into the bin. Wipe pots, pans, and utensils with paper towels before washing up.
- Use sink strainers in plug holes.
- Install a grease removal unit or grease separator to manage grease. This will prevent FOG from reaching your waste pipes.
- Collect leftover FOG in an airtight container. Arrange for a licensed waste contractor to collect it.
For more information, see Thames Water.
Children in employment
No child under the age of 13 years can be employed to work. The law sets the hours and types of work for school-aged children. It requires employers to apply for a permit to employ them.
The Local Authority has made byelaws. They regulate what work young people can do and their allowed working hours. These byelaws help ensure young people work safely. Their work must not affect their wellbeing or education. For more information see Children in employment.