Food Safety & Hygiene prosecutions (FSA)

Food safety offences arise where food is rendered injurious to health, not of the nature or quality demanded, falsely described, or where hygiene regulations are breached. Prosecutions are commonly brought under the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

Penalties can include unlimited fines, prohibition orders, director disqualification and, in the most serious cases involving risk to public health, imprisonment. Sentences depend on culpability, harm risk and the size and turnover of the business.

Our experienced team provides comprehensive legal support, from advising during interviews under caution and responding to enforcement notices, to building a robust defence strategy for court. We work to protect your business, reputation and livelihood.

Seek legal advice immediately. Do not provide written statements or attend a formal interview without your solicitor present. Early legal intervention can significantly influence the direction of an investigation.

Yes. A prosecution can proceed where there is a risk to public health, even if no actual harm occurred. The court will assess the level of risk created and the steps taken to prevent it.

This is a notice served by authorised officers where there is an imminent risk to health. It can require immediate closure of part or all of your business, subject to confirmation by a magistrates’ court.

Yes. Where an offence is committed with the consent, connivance or neglect of a director, manager or similar officer, they can be prosecuted personally alongside the company.

A conviction can impact your Food Hygiene Rating, damage your reputation, affect contracts with suppliers or customers and create long-term commercial consequences. Early, strategic defence is crucial to minimise this risk.