Are you selling cakes or other food items from home?

The rise of online marketplace services that allow direct selling of items online has become a valuable resource for many.

Especially for those looking to earn money flexibly from home or to turn their hobbies into paying work. However, if the products you are making or selling online are food or drink for other people, then it is likely that your activity will be legally considered as a food business.

It has become common for individuals to sell food products online through sites like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Nextdoor, although it is believed that many do so without understanding the legal requirements surrounding the supply of food to the public, including the checks that councils do to make sure that the food and drink is safe to eat.

How to register your business

In the UK, anyone producing, storing or distributing food to the public (generally meaning anyone who is not your immediate family or friends) is required to register with their local authority. This is a straightforward process that does not involve any cost, and it can be done by completing a short form online at: https://register.food.gov.uk.

Following registration of a local business, our food safety officers will contact you to offer advice about food safety specific to your food and undertake simple checks to ensure that it is being handled hygienically.

Buy with confidence

You can ask a seller to see their food hygiene rating or search for them on the online register at: https://ratings.food.gov.uk