FI16117

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information as two separate requests from two different departments:

  1. How many complaints have been received by Trading Standards in 2023, 2024 and 2025 (to date) relating to supermarkets selling food past its Use By Date, including any complaints received via Consumer line.
  2. For each complaint, please provide:
    1. The month and year the complaint was received
    2. The name of the supermarket involved (if recorded)
    3. A brief description or category of the issue
    4. Details of any enforcement or investigative action taken as a result of the complaint

If you are unable to provide all the requested details due to time/cost limits, please prioritise providing a summary count of complaints by supermarket and year.

Environmental Health Department:

  1. How many complaints were received in 2023, 2024 and 2025 (to date) about supermarkets selling food past its Use By Date?
  2. For each complaint, please provide:
    1. The month and year it was received
    2. The name of the supermarket (if available)
    3. A short description or category of the issue
    4. Any enforcement or follow-up action taken
  3. How many food poisoning complaints were received in relation to supermarkets in 2023, 2024 and 2025 (to date)?
  4. For each report of food poisoning, please provide:
    1. The date of the complaint
    2. The supermarket involved
    3. The product in question (if known)
    4. Any outcome or action taken, including whether the case was confirmed as food poisoning

Response

Trading Standards

Dover District Council does not hold the information you are seeking. The trading standards authority within our District is Kent County Council, who should be able to assist you and can be contacted at the following address: freedomofinformation@kent.gov.uk.

Environmental Health Department

1. As follows:

2023     Zero

2024     One

2025     Zero

2. As follows:

2.1 September 2024

2.2 Aldi

2.3 Out of date clotted cream

2.4 An inspection was undertaken, and the food hygiene rating was reviewed. During the investigation some 'food to go' products were found past their use by date and were removed from sale. Discussion was had with management as to how this issue with monitoring of use by dates had occurred and further visits identified improvements had been made. 

3. Zero for all years.

4. Not applicable.