Trading standards & Food Safety
Recent high-profile cases have underlined the importance of food safety, and the implications for a business that fails to meet the tough regulatory obligations. Managing the allergen matrix of your menu or knowing when to recall a product where there is a safety concern, are just two of the issues that traders may face.
It is important that organisations seek assistance and guidance, both with their ongoing and day-to-day regulatory obligations and compliance, but also following any adverse incidents which may arise. Early intervention and assistance can often have a significant impact on the future course of any regulatory investigation, including whether enforcement action is ultimately taken.
Our expertise
We work with clients to understand and manage their regulatory risks and impacts across the full spectrum of food production and delivery, including:
- product creation and launch;
- labelling;
- marketing, including advertising standards;
- traceability; and
- safety and hygiene.
Where a breach arises, we advise on the regulatory investigative process including:
instructing and guiding internal investigations (subject to legal privilege);
preparing an early case assessment of potential liabilities and strategy setting;
advice and representation at police and regulator-led interviews under caution; and
representation in the criminal courts, including advocacy.
Our track record
Our lawyers have a wealth of experience of advising businesses across the full spectrum of food safety and hygiene investigation and prosecution, including:
- Representing the head chef of Manchester’s Almost Famous restaurant in connection with the Police and Environmental Health investigations that followed the death of a customer who had an allergic reaction to the food served;
- Supporting an entrepreneurial businesses seeking to launch new food products containing cannabidiol (CBD), a naturally occurring compound found within cannabis plants;
- Defending a high-profile food outlet prosecuted following large-scale salmonella poisoning traced back to its food service;
- Defending a leading supermarket in prosecution cases arising from the presence of rodents in stores;
- Representing an abattoir in connection with an Food Standards Agency investigation into potential cross-contamination of animal by-products and food for human consumption;
- Advising a butchery wholesaler in respect of a Trading Standards investigation concerning the potential adulteration and mislabelling of foods;
- Advising a leading food retailer charged with offences relating to the offer of sale of products beyond their “use by” and “best before” dates;
- Representing a wholesale food supplier following allegations of adulteration and mislabelling of meat products; and
- Advising a multi-national food business on the legal implication of creating new selling channels within the UK.