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

Before taking any further steps, contact our Planning Team on 01865 249811 to ensure that you do not require planning permission for the type of food business you intend to operate from the premises.

If you intend to make any structural, plumbing, electrical alterations etc. contact Building Control on 01865 249811 to discuss any building regulations.

There are a number of Food Standard Agency (FSA) publications that you might find helpful (and are free). These can be found on the Food Standards Agency website and include:

• Starting up - Your first Steps to running a catering Business
• Food Hygiene - A guide for Businesses
• Food Law inspections and your Business

Please check our Licensing pages to see if you are required to have a late night refreshment licence.

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 Food Safety team 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?

Staff who handle food must receive written or verbal instructions in the essentials of food hygiene before starting work. This should cover:

• personal hygiene
• fitness to work
• temperature control
• cross contamination
• cleaning procedures
• labelling and other safety instructions

Staff who prepare open high risk foods, or handle foods and have a supervisory role, must have training to a level equivalent to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene within three months of starting work. This is a six hour course followed by a short multiple choice paper and you will be provided with an accredited certificate on successful completion of the exam.

A full programme of courses accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health are offered by the Council. Visit our Food Hygiene Training page for full details.

Other accredited courses are run by the:

• Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene (Telephone: 0207 5802731)
• Royal Society of Health (Telephone: 0207 6300121)
• Society of Food Hygiene Technology (Telephone: 01590 671979)

These organisations can also provide details of trainers who run courses in languages other than English.

You are advised to keep records of training completed by members of your staff. Written evidence of hygiene training may be very important in demonstrating compliance with food safety requirements.

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

If you have a complaint about any food which you have bought in the Oxford City Council area please contact us on 01865 249811 or email our Food Safety Team.

The following details are necessary for our investigations:

• full name of the food including any brand name
• a receipt for the purchase price if possible
• manufacturer's name and address
• batch number and/or durability date
• where the food was bought
• date when the food was bought
• when the defect was noticed
• details of the defect
• state if you will be handing the food in to us or if you want it to be collected and
• if you have any objections to your name being released to the manufacturer.

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

If you find a foreign object in your food please keep all packaging and the receipt. If it is a perishable food, it is best to freeze the food with the object in place. Contact us on 01865 249811 or email our Food Safety Team for advice about your food complaint.

In some cases, the complaint can be dealt with by returning the food to the store where it was purchased. However some complaints need further investigation and, in this case, we can investigate your complaint if the food was purchased within Oxford.

You will usually have to bring the subject of your complaint - namely the foreign object, food packaging and the receipt for your payment for the food product into our offices.

If the food was purchased outside Oxford then we will endeavour to give you the contact details of the enforcing authority in the area where the food was purchased.

Oxford City Council cannot act on your behalf to seek compensation, so if you feel that you are entitled to compensation from a food manufacturer or supplier you should seek legal advice.

Complaints about labelling, misleading food sales and quality issues should be made to Oxfordshire County Council's Trading Standards team by phone on 0845 051 0845 or by email at trading.standards@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

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 BBQ’s;
• 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 Scores on the Doors 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 take-aways, clubs, pubs restaurants have been awarded.