Starting Up A Food Business

[LDC134]

Hi, I am looking into starting up a small, homemade food business - selling at local markets / county shows etc.
Can anyone point me in the right direction to find out the basics like the legal criteria I need (I have heard of the food hygiene certificate, but do I also need any insurance etc ? ) I am not sure if this is council regulated, or something UK wide.
Any assistance would be very much appreciated.

[VHG]

Of course you need insurance.

Suppose someone got ill after eating your food (or a group of people got ill), or there was a piece of glass in your food and someone cut themselves badly.

You need insurance to cover yourself against any of these things happening.

I am not saying things like this WILL happen because of your food, but you have to be ready with insurance just in case.

[vodkancoke]

Hiya, I run a food business from home and I had to register with my local coucil so that environmental health could come out and inspect my kitchen, I had to do an food hygiene course (which you can do online) and I had to get public liability insurance to be able to sell at markets.

[mosesg]

Try the Food Standards Agency website they would probably have some guidlines on there

[vodkancoke]

Sorry meant to say contact both your local council and FSA. The FSA will send you a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) pack which explains most of what you need to know. Good luck! :)

[LDC134]

Thanks you very much, this was exactly the first point of direction I needed, much appreciated

[society]

What foods are you planning on selling? Home-made baked goodies - jams, chutneys, pickles?

[LDC134]

Hi society, no I was thinking of individual meals to be re-heated, like cottage pie, lamb hot pot, chilli etc

[society]

Do you have a 'market' for pre-cooked meals? You'd need to have a steady flow of customers in order to make a profit. All the best, hope everything work out. Good luck!