Food Safety - Consumer Complaint

In an era of globalised markets and transcontinental trade routes, safeguarding food safety is an essential component of the Hessian Consumer Protection Strategy. By monitoring goods produced and traded locally, as well as those imported from abroad, we can protect consumers from sources of danger whilst ensuring the highest possible safety standards.

The comprehensive ‘from farm to fork’ monitoring principle is a holistic approach to greater food safety, encompassing all elements that may affect the safety of food at every stage of the food chain.

One of the main tasks of the Hessian Food Inspection Authority is to protect consumers from health risks arising from food and feed, as well as from consumer goods and cosmetics, and to counteract the misleading or deceptive practices directed at consumers.

If you have noticed a breach of food law or have come into contact with a consumer product or cosmetic product that gives cause for concern, you should always first raise your complaint with the retailer or restaurant owner. As a general rule, in the case of justified complaints, the business itself will provide compensation or rectify the problem.

However, you should involve the food safety authorities in particular if your complaint is ignored, if such incidents become frequent, or if you experience health problems.
In such cases, the complaint form available on the ‘Verbraucherfenster Hessen’ website can be used to report your findings.

Your reports will be processed immediately and, where necessary, forwarded to the relevant food safety authority for further action to be taken.

If you experience health problems after consuming a food product, using a cosmetic product or handling consumer goods, or if you feel misled by their composition, presentation or advertising claims, you can submit a sample for investigation to the food safety authority responsible for your place of residence.

Note: The consumer complaint should be made as soon as possible so that any adverse changes to the sample can be ruled out as far as possible.

In the case of foodstuffs requiring refrigeration, care should be taken to ensure they are transported in a refrigerated vehicle.
 

• Hesse Consumer Advice Centre