Coronavirus update

Our Food & Safety team is still working as normal and if any businesses proving food services have questions or need advice while operating they should get in touch via the following contact details:

Email: ehealth@havant.gov.uk

Telephone: 023 9244 6654

For more information, please visit our food business guidance page.

Food Safety

The Commercial Team at Havant Borough Council undertake food inspections and enforce food legislation. We investigate food safety complaints, food poisoning incidents, undertake sampling and provide food safety advice.

Food allergies

Allergies are life changing and can be fatal. Although there are no cures for food allergies, having the information to eat, order food and shop wisely can make a great difference.

People with food allergies have to be extremely careful about what they eat. Food labelling is therefore very important to those with food allergies as there can be potentially serious consequences from eating food that they are allergic to.

Allergen labelling changes

From 1 October 2021, the requirements for prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) food labelling will change in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland. The new labelling will help protect consumers by providing potentially life-saving allergen information on the packaging. For further information visit the Food Standards Agency website.

Food poisoning

Did you know that if you suffer from diarrhoea and vomiting together it is extremely unlikely to be caused by the last thing you ate? It may have been caused by something you ate 48 hours earlier or in some cases what you ate last week.

Sometimes diarrhoea or vomiting is caused by other illnesses and not food poisoning.

If a number of people are ill after a gathering such as a wedding we need to know as soon as possible so that we can try to take samples of the food eaten.

If you suspect you have food poisoning, contact your doctor first as Environmental Health Officers will need the results from the tests by your doctor to confirm what type of food poisoning it is.

Workers such as food handlers, nurses and nursery workers will be unable to return to work until they have been well for 48 hours. Contact your employer if you work in a high risk area.

National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

Havant Borough Council participates in the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

When food businesses are inspected they are rated according to what is seen on the day of the inspection. Businesses are sent dated certificates and a sticker to display their rating at their premises.

To see if our team can help you, please complete our online contact us form or call 023 9244 6654.