Food Safety and Food Hygiene

Our day-to-day support helps you build a compliance culture that gives you an effective ‘all reasonable precautions and all due diligence’ strategy. If a crisis does happen, we’re the expert legal team you need by your side.

A high street showing a restaurant

Key contacts

Aled Owen

Partner, Agriculture, Environment and Regulatory

I understand the pressures and demands on the agricultural community, working with farmers, food companies, cattle dealers, waste businesses and many more to handle the regulations that affect them and keep them on track.

View profile

Kathryn Gilbertson

Partner

I have over 30 years’ experience advising and defending businesses on regulatory compliance matters, specialising in environment, health and safety, fire safety, food and more.

View profile
2 people sitting at a table facing each other having coffee in front of brick wall

Practical prevention

Our practical food safety and food hygiene advice means we’re a valuable partner to help you build a culture of compliance that prioritises prevention.

Our support includes:

  • Applying for consents, licences and permits
  • Reviewing and drafting your food safety manual and protocols
  • Reviewing allergen management protocols and risk assessments
  • Advising on food labelling and the steps needed to ensure any claims can be substantiated
  • Ensuring allergens are labelled correctly on pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) foods and signposted on menus to ensure compliance with Natasha’s Law and the proposed Owen’s Law
  • Helping you to understand your duties
  • Providing training to your directors on food safety strategy and environmental obligations.

Proactive crisis support

In a crisis, our ability to respond rapidly and effectively helps you manage and mitigate the situation.

Our expertise includes advising on allegations of food poisoning and complaints, and breaches of food safety, food hygiene and labelling laws including issues such as the levels of lead in food.

We also help you navigate civil sanctions and penalties – the alternative to prosecution and fines – and provide support for closure of food businesses due to pest infestation.

Alongside this we provide incident response, investigating and advising on critical next steps in an emergency or crisis and represent clients at inquests following fatal food related incidents.

 

 

Our experts will also defend prosecutions taken by the FSA, local councils and others at UK courts and tribunals and appeal against decisions made by an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Likewise, we can undertake appeals against notices and provide representation at Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) interviews. We’ll also apply for judicial reviews where needed.

In all our work, we bring an extensive background in enforcement and compliance, giving us a level of real-life insight that adds value to your business.

Services from our Insurance, Risk and Regulatory team

Recognition of our work

Investors in People

Investors in People

Recommended for Quality

Recommended for Quality

Times Best Law Firm

Times Best Law Firm

Legal updates and thought leadership

View All

Hear what our clients say about us

Thank you for your advice, council and everything else

M Shepherd Client testimonial

As well as being incredibly professional and conscientious, Ruth was also incredibly kind and reassuring. This was a very difficult time for me, which had gone on for a long time.

Ruth reassured me with her knowledge of the law but was also a caring and empathetic person to be around. I honestly would not have got through it without her. Thank you so much Ruth.

Client An inquest and with insurance difficulties

As someone who practices at the Bar almost exclusively in the area of health and safety and regulatory law … I can say that Jonathan (Edwards) has a well-deserved reputation for being at the top of his professional tree.

He has a vast array of legal knowledge and also possesses considerable tactical and strategic acumen in relation to whether or not cases should be defended….

James Leonard, Barrister Outer Temple Chambers

I have worked with Jonathan Edwards as my ‘go-to’ legal specialist for over two decades. His strong technical skills backed up by an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the insurance market make him unique and he adds genuine value off the back of this. He has a calm and friendly nature, always taking time to understand us as a business and I am truly grateful for the invaluable support he has provided me over the years.

 

Jamie Lewis, Managing Director Jensten Group Ltd

I have instructed Jonathan over many years, because he quickly grasps and focuses on the key issues of an assignment, provides strong technical advice and delivers excellent outcomes. I know he is very well regarded in the insurance market. Just as importantly, he has a really positive manner that puts clients at their complete ease. He is someone I would thoroughly recommend.

Strong technical advice

Jonathan Edwards is a tremendous asset to have on your side. He combines a forensic eye for detail with astute tactical and practical advice derived from his many years of experience. His case analysis, judgment and ability to master complicated factual and technical details with ease mark him out as an outstanding lawyer. Jonathan is always approachable and calm in even the most highly pressurised situations and he adds real value to every case in which he is instructed.

Angus Withington QC Henderson Chambers

Hear what our clients say about us

Thank you for your advice, council and everything else

M Shepherd Client testimonial

As well as being incredibly professional and conscientious, Ruth was also incredibly kind and reassuring. This was a very difficult time for me, which had gone on for a long time.

Ruth reassured me with her knowledge of the law but was also a caring and empathetic person to be around. I honestly would not have got through it without her. Thank you so much Ruth.

Client An inquest and with insurance difficulties

As someone who practices at the Bar almost exclusively in the area of health and safety and regulatory law … I can say that Jonathan (Edwards) has a well-deserved reputation for being at the top of his professional tree.

He has a vast array of legal knowledge and also possesses considerable tactical and strategic acumen in relation to whether or not cases should be defended….

James Leonard, Barrister Outer Temple Chambers

I have worked with Jonathan Edwards as my ‘go-to’ legal specialist for over two decades. His strong technical skills backed up by an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the insurance market make him unique and he adds genuine value off the back of this. He has a calm and friendly nature, always taking time to understand us as a business and I am truly grateful for the invaluable support he has provided me over the years.

 

Jamie Lewis, Managing Director Jensten Group Ltd

I have instructed Jonathan over many years, because he quickly grasps and focuses on the key issues of an assignment, provides strong technical advice and delivers excellent outcomes. I know he is very well regarded in the insurance market. Just as importantly, he has a really positive manner that puts clients at their complete ease. He is someone I would thoroughly recommend.

Strong technical advice

Jonathan Edwards is a tremendous asset to have on your side. He combines a forensic eye for detail with astute tactical and practical advice derived from his many years of experience. His case analysis, judgment and ability to master complicated factual and technical details with ease mark him out as an outstanding lawyer. Jonathan is always approachable and calm in even the most highly pressurised situations and he adds real value to every case in which he is instructed.

Angus Withington QC Henderson Chambers

How can we help you?

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.