FSA warning over bogus inspectors
The Food Standards Agency has said that businesses in the food supply chain are being visited by fraudsters and demanding on-the-spot fines for what they claim to be poor hygiene.
They say that the fraudsters have been visiting food businesses saying that they are from the Agency wanting to carry in-promptu inspections. On-the-spot fines are then demanded which is claimed to be a fixed penalty fee for the premises allegedly being unhygienic.
The FSA did not say how much money was being demanded, but, did say that "The Agency does not carry out food inspections and there are no fixed penalties for food safety breaches. "All inspections are carried out by local authority authorised inspectors who carry relevant identification when visiting a food business."
Anyone receiving such a visit should refuse to give any cash and should contact their local police station, the FSA urged.
Incidents can also be reported to the FSA's Food Fraud Hotline on 0207 276 8527 or foodfraud@foodstandards.gci.gov.uk
