How do I check a cheese shop’s labelling of allergens and milk types?

Pick several cheeses and trace each one. Start from the supplier’s box or invoice, then look at the shop’s sign, the wrap label and the price tag. Do the milk type and any allergen statement agree at every step? Mismatches usually come from a supplier change that nobody carried through to the signs. A handful of errors would suggest the routine is weak.

Ask who writes the labels and who checks them. Ask how new cheeses get labelled, how a change in supplier is handled, and how pre-wrapped pieces are dated and described. For flavoured or blended cheeses, ask how ingredients are verified. Notice how cut cheeses and other products are handled to limit cross-contact, and ask staff how they would answer a customer with an allergy.

Ask about complaints or corrections in the past. Ask your lawyer which questions to raise about labelling responsibilities. If the shop sells to restaurants or online, ask whether those buyers get the same information. A shop with a clear process is easier to take over than one relying on a long-serving employee’s memory. Keep notes of every mismatch you find and show them to the seller, then ask how each would be corrected.

Key takeaways

• Trace several cheeses from supplier packaging to the shop sign and wrap label.
• Ask who updates labels when a supplier or product changes.
• Listen to how staff answer an allergy question at the counter.
• Show the seller each mismatch you found and ask how it would be fixed.