Food safety

From eating out and the risks of food allergies to preparing and cooking food at home, our advice helps you to learn more about food safety and hygiene from Food Standards Scotland

A waiter in an apron taking a food order from a customer seated at a table in a restaurant, while another customer looks at a menu

Food safety at home and when you’re eating out

Good hygiene practices are key to help avoid the spread of bacteria when preparing food at home. It’s also important to be careful if someone has a food allergy, intolerance or is more at risk from food poisoning. Follow our food safety advice to help protect yourself and your family, whether you’re eating at home or out.

Food allergies

Many different foods across all the food groups can cause mild and serious food allergies. We can help you identify risks and give you tips to keep you and your family safe, both at home and when eating out.

All about food allergies

Small cakes with nuts on top, made with dairy

Preparing and cooking food safely at home

Knowing how to prepare and cook food helps keep the food you and your family eat safe. We have simple tips that will help make sure the food you cook and eat won’t do you any harm.

Food safety at home

Person cooking coluorful vegetables in a frying pan on a modern stovetop.

Eating out

We can help you make an informed choice about where you eat out or buy food with the Food Hygiene Information Scheme and Eat safe awards. Find out the hygiene rating of restaurants, cafes and takeaways near you.

Search for a food businesses’ hygiene rating

Mum, dad and toddler sitting at a restaurant table.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning isn’t just something you get outside your home – the meals you prepare can be a source of food poisoning too. We’ve got tips and advice to make sure you’re not nibbling on any nasties.

What causes food poisoning

Digital illustration depicting bacteria against a dark background.

Contaminants in food

Contaminants are things that accidently get into food. They can come from the way the food is produced packaged or stored.

Preventing food contaminants

Shopper pushing a trolley down a supermarket aisle lined with shelves of boxed and canned food

Food incidents

A food incident is where there are concerns about food or drinks being unsafe and needs something needs to be done to protect people. This could be things like poor food hygiene, a foreign object in your food, allergy risks or incorrect labels. All food incidents should be reported to your local authority environmental health department

Find out more about food incidents

Food processing line in a factory with conveyor belts transporting and sorting raspberries and blackberries via metal chutes.

Food crime

It sounds serious and it is. Food crime refers to serious fraud and illegal activity in the production, processing or sale of food, feed or drink. Find out how to spot it and report it.

Find out about food crime