Food complaints and enquiries

  • Food enquiries and complaints form

  •  If you are unwell or it is an emergency

    • In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).
    • For non-urgent medical advice, contact HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 (available 24 hours, 7 days a week).

    In Western Australia, food safety regulation is a shared responsibility between local government, the Department of Health, and other government agencies.

    Local government are responsible for regulating and monitoring most food businesses within their districts under the Food Act 2008 (WA). Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) from local councils investigate food safety complaints, including reports of suspected food poisoning, poor hygiene, and unsafe food handling practices.


    How to make a complaint?
    For concerns about a food business such as a café, restaurant, takeaway or supermarket, contact the local government where the business is located.
    You can find your local council by visiting the Local Government Directory (WA) and ask to speak to an Environmental Health Officer.

     
    The Department of Health is responsible for:

    • Dairy food businesses (dairy farms and dairy processors)
    • Bivalve mollusc (shellfish) food businesses and harvesting areas
    • Food served to patients in public hospitals
    • Food businesses located within Kings Park and Rottnest Island

    Enquiries and complaints relating to these types of food businesses should be directed to the Department of Health by completing this form.

     

    Best before and use by dates

    • Foods past their best before date can still be sold, although their quality may be reduced.
    • Foods past their use by date must not be sold and should be reported to the relevant local government.

     

    Other food-related issues
    Please complete this form if you would like to report:

    • Food contamination or foreign matter
    • Incorrect or misleading labelling
    • Suspected foodborne illness
    • General food safety concerns or enquiries

     

    Important notes

    • The form may take approximately 5–10 minutes to complete.
    • All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.
    • Please provide as much detail as possible to assist in assessing your complaint. Insufficient information may limit the ability to investigate.
    • Information provided is confidential however may be shared with local government or other enforcement agencies if required. Personal details will not be disclosed to the food business unless required by law.

     

  • Select one of the following*

  • More information about registration of a food business

  • Have you contacted the local council?*

  • Complaints and/or enquiries of this nature are investigated by the local council Environmental Health Officers. Please use this link to find and contact the council that the business is located in to lodge your complaint/concern.

  • Please describe the food labelling issue with as much detail as possible including when and where the issue was observed, and the nature of the concern.

  • What food do you think made you ill?

    The incubation period (time between becoming infected and developing symptoms) varies depending on the pathogen and can range from a few hours to a few days or weeks. Although many people blame the last food they ate before they got ill, experience indicates that this food is usually not the cause of the illness.

  • Please describe the circumstances that lead to the allergen complaint/concern/incident including what food was ordered/purchased/consumed, what occurred, when the issue occurred, conversations between staff and/or any other relevant information.)

  • Please provide details regarding your enquiry around food business registration.

  • What day did this occur?*
     - -
  • Illness symptom(s)*
  • Date symptom(s) started*
     - -
  • Did you seek medical attention?*
  • Date of visit*
     - -
  • Are you still symptomatic at the time of completing this form?*

  • Food product details

  • Is the product packaged?*
  • Have you contacted the manufacturer?
  • Date mark type*
  • Is a purchase receipt available?*
  • Do you still have any of the implicated food, packaging or contaminant remaining?*
  • Browse Files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof

  • Business details

  • Date of purchase*
     - -
  • Place of purchase or type of sale*

  • Your details

  • Important information

    Please note that complaint details may be provided to other regulatory agencies where required.

    All food complaints and enquiries are considered carefully by the Department of Health. Complaints that will, or have the potential to, cause serious harm to public health, or that indicate widespread issues are given priority. 

    A phone number or email address is required to ensure you can be contacted if needed as part of any investigation.

  • By clicking ‘Submit’, you declare that the information you have provided is true and accurate, and you acknowledge and agree to the contents of this form.

  • Should be Empty: