Whistleblowing in the food industry
How whistleblowers are protected from victimisation by their employer if they make a qualifying disclosure.
Whistleblowing allows workers to report wrongdoing in the public interest. The Public Interest Disclosure Act protects workers from unfair treatment or victimisation by their employer if they make a 'qualifying disclosure'.
Qualifying disclosures for whistleblowing
A disclosure is protected if it relates to:
- a criminal offence
- a breach of a legal obligation
- a miscarriage of justice
- a danger to the health and safety of any individual
- damage to the environment
- a deliberate attempt to cover up any one of the above
The worker must reasonably believe that this wrongdoing is happening now, happened before, or is likely to happen in the future. Read more on qualifying disclosures for whistleblowing.
Qualifying disclosures to the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
Disclosures to the FSA are protected where the worker:
- makes the report in good faith
- reasonably believes the food issue affects public health or consumer issues
- considers the information/allegation substantially true
The FSA will make every effort to protect the whistleblower’s identity and make sure they don't face any retaliation for raising a valid food safety concern.
Making a disclosure
If you work in the food industry and you want to make a disclosure about food safety, you can:
- call the Food Crime Confidential hotline on Tel 0800 028 11 80
- report a food crime online
- contact the FSA Food Fraud Liaison Officer on Tel 028 9041 7700
The FSA's policy on whistleblowing explains how you will be protected from detrimental treatment or victimisation by your employer under the Public Interest Disclosures Act.
Other ways to make a disclosure
The whistleblowing charity Protect provides free confidential advice to workers who have concerns about wrongdoing in the workplace.