Common Food Safety Enquiries

How do I find out about setting-up a new food business?

Visit our Opening a New Food Business page for full details.

When and how do I need to register a food business?

You should register your food business at least 28 days before opening. There is no charge for registration, but it is a legal requirement that you complete the form and notify the us that you intend to operate a food business.

You can download a registration form below. You should complete the form and return it to us at the address on the form:

 Registration of Food Business Establishment Guidance and Application Form (119kB DOC) 

What level of food hygiene training do staff need?

Visit our Food Hygiene Training page for full details.

I have a complaint with food I bought locally - what can I do about it?

Visit our Food Complaints page for full details.

What do I do if I find a foreign object in a food product?

Visit our Food Complaints page for full details.

I have a complaint about the standards of hygiene in a food premises - what can I do about it?

Visit our Complaints about Food Premises page for full details.

Does the Council take samples of food?

Yes, the Council has a policy on food sampling. Every year a new sampling plan is drafted in accordance with our policy, detailing what food samples are to be taken.

Is it illegal for a shop to have out-of-date food on display?

Not necessarily - what matters is the condition of the food when it is sold. Some date marking is only for guidance (best before) but food which is past its use by date should not be eaten. The best advice is if food is out of date, don't buy it and if a shop consistently displays out of date food, shop elsewhere.

What do 'use-by' and 'best before' dates mean? 

Best before dates are used on food with a long shelf life (for example, biscuits) and are for guidance only. A use-by date is used on foods with a short shelf life (for example, packaged sandwiches). It is illegal to sell food after its use-by date.

What temperature should you store food at?

Foods that need to be kept hot should be kept at 63°C or above.  Foods that need to be kept cold should be kept at 8°C or below (preferably at 5°C or below).  Foods that need to be kept frozen should be kept between -18°C to -24°C.

What is food poisoning and how can I avoid the spread of it?

Visit our Food Poisoning page for full details.

I have become ill after eating at a local restaurant - what should I do?

Visit our Food Poisoning page for full details.

How can I avoid becoming ill when preparing food?

• Always cook meat (especially poultry) thoroughly - this is particularly important at BBQs;
• Don't let raw meat or poultry come into contact with other foods;
• Store raw meat and poultry at the bottom of your fridge and never above any foods that are ready-to-eat (e.g. cooked meats, desserts etc.);
• After cutting raw meat and poultry - thoroughly wash (with hot soapy water) and then disinfect chopping boards, utensils and worktops - better still would be to use a separate knife and chopping board when using raw meats and poultry;
• Make sure meat and poultry is fully defrosted before cooking - it's best to plan ahead and let it defrost at the bottom of your fridge;
• Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly before eating; 
• Don't drink unpasteurised milk or untreated water; and
• WASH YOUR HANDS thoroughly with soap (preferably antibacterial) and running warm water after handling raw meat and poultry, contact with animals, using the toilet and/or changing nappies, gardening and before handling or preparing food.

Where can I eat in Oxford?

Oxford City Council operates a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme which provides information to the public about hygiene ratings for food businesses. This allows consumers to check how many stars certain types of premises such as takeaways, clubs, pubs restaurants have been awarded.