Food Safety Act

1990 UK legislation that re-enacts and expands the consumer protection given in the Food Act 1984. It imposes liability on producers and importers, authorizes environmental health officers to inspect and seize any food for sale except primary agricultural produce, and empowers courts and ministers to close premises and make emergency control orders in case of health risk. All hot food must be kept at or above 63°C, cold foods in controlled categories at or below 8°C, and certain foods below 5°C.

The maximum fine for a summary conviction is £20,000, a significant increase on previous legislation. The act also made it unlawful for a supplier to sell food to the consumer that is not of the nature, substance, or quality demanded – for example, if the consumer asks for a diet cola and an ordinary cola is served, the supplier is guilty of an offence.