North Somerset Council is joining the Food Standards
Agency to warn food businesses in the district about bogus letters
claiming to be from the Food Standards Agency demanding payment for
supposed breaches of food safety regulations.
One letter that has been drawn to the agency's attention demands
payment of £1,000.
Food business operators are being warned that if they receive
any such letters claiming to be from the agency they should not
send the money and instead report the letter to the police.
The agency is not the national enforcement authority for food
law and would not be sending any such letters demanding payment.
Any breaches of food hygiene regulations would be dealt with by
North Somerset Council.
A council officer would officially identify themselves to the
business owner before any inspection or legal action was
considered. Formal action is only a last resort. The business owner
would have spoken to the inspector face to face and have been
advised of any legal action, before this action was
considered.