Shopping for food in local shops
Köpa mat i butik - Engelska
You have the right to make a complaint if a food product is off or otherwise faulty. Be sure to contact the shop straight away with your complaint, especially with fresh food.
Translated page: This text has been translated from Swedish. The text and appearance of the page may look different from the original page.
Important to know
The agreed price for an item isn’t finalised until you pay at the checkout.
You have the right to make a complaint if a food product is off or otherwise faulty.
There is a difference between the “best before” date and the “use by” date.
Can I make a complaint about foodstuff?
You have the right to lodge a consumer complaint regarding problems with food products. Lodging a consumer complaint means going to the shop to complain about a problem. Usually you can enforce the statutory guarantee within three-year after the purchase. However, you must contact the company with your complaint within two months of detecting the defect or problem. Bear in mind that many food products are fresh and perishable, and therefore the time for lodging a complaint is much shorter. Therefore, check the goods at once and contact the shop straight away if anything is wrong or if the packaging seal is broken.
If the shop agrees your complaint is valid, they will rectify the issue, which usually means replacing the damaged or spoiled food. If it is not possible to provide a replacement food product, you are entitled to a refund.
Do I have a satisfaction guarantee on food products I have purchased?
A satisfaction guarantee with a right to return a product within a certain period of time for exchange or refund, is something that is voluntarily to offer by a merchant. Each merchant can determine the returns policy they want to adopt. This means that some merchants offer a satisfaction guarantee with the possibility of returning the item for a refund within 30 days, while others do not accept any returns. To find out the return policy of the merchant, simply enquire at the shop before you make your purchase.
If the price charged is not the advertised price
You have no statutory right to obtain a product at the price shown on the shelf or in an advertisement. Sometimes mistakes happens and it is not until you get to the checkout that you and the merchant come to an agreement as to the price. If when you get to the checkout you find out that the price marked on the product is incorrect, you can choose not to buy it.
Your right to compensation
You cannot insist on buying a product at the price stated in an advertisement from the company. Errors in advertising can occur and the company is not bound by the price stated in the advertisement. In certain circumstances you may however be entitled to compensation for costs you have incurred as a result of the incorrect price in the advertisement. For example, this could be the cost of an unnecessary trip to the shop. Contact the shop, preferably in writing, and explain what you would like to be compensated for. You must be able to show receipts or similar proof of the costs you want to be reimbursed for.
Best before date and use by date
It is permissible to sell food that has passed its “best before” date, as long as the product being sold is not spoiled or otherwise unsafe or harmful to health. Foodstuffs can usually be eaten after the best before date has passed. It is the responsibility of the retailer selling the foodstuff to ensure that the products sold are indeed safe.
It is not permissible to sell food products that have passed its use by date. This label is used for foods that can spoil quickly and can make someone sick if eaten after the expiry date.
The Swedish National Food Agency is the principal public authority responsible for food labelling.
Further information about date labelling is available on the Swedish National Food Agency website (in Swedish)
Rounding off – what is the rule?
When you pay by credit or debit card, the shop can choose whether to round up or round down to the nearest kronor, or charge the exact amount. There is a statute that governs how this rounding-off may be done. The legislation states that amounts in öre are to be rounded off to the nearest hundred. This means that amounts with a final digit of 1 to 49 are to be rounded downwards and amounts with a final digit of 50 to 99 are to be rounded upwards to the nearest kronor. This rounding-off may only be done on the total amount, not on each individual item.
The legal rules governing rounding are optional, which means that they can be waived by agreement. The shop can therefore choose to follow the provisions of the statute or it alternatively can choose to charge the exact amount.
Right to compensation for damages or a loss or injury
If you have suffered an adverse reaction or harm from a food product consumed, you have the right to claim compensation for the additional costs incurred by you as a result of the incident. For example, this could be financial compensation for dental treatment if you have damaged a tooth on something that is not supposed to be in the food.
Keep in mind that your claims for compensation must be reasonable. You must be able to provide evidence of the harm you have suffered. You will also need to be able to provide evidence of the expenses incurred, such as receipts.
Store your food properly
If you store your food properly, it will stay fresh longer and have a longer shelf life. This can reduce your food waste. A simple rule of thumb is that the colder the food is kept, the longer it will stay edible. A recommended temperature is +4°C in the refrigerator and -18°C in the freezer.
Read about the best way to store different foods, such as meat, dairy products and fruits and vegetables, on the Swedish National Food Agency’s website.
Information on how to store your food properly is available on the website of the Swedish National Food Agency (In Swedish)
Food poisoning
If you suspect that you have been poisoned, you should contact the Environment and Health Protection Office or the equivalent in your local government as soon as possible.
When you suspect that you have contracted food poisoning, it is important that you also inform the seller of the food item what has happened. The seller is responsible for ensuring that the food they sell is not spoilt and that it is safe to eat.
Further information and tips are available on the website of the Swedish National Food Agency (in Swedish)
Store must indicate the country of origin for certain foods
As a consumer, you should be able to find information about, for example, the country of origin on the packaging of certain foods.
Some of the foods that must be labeled are fruit and vegetables, fish, and certain types of beef.
The requirement for labeling exists so that traders can identify and compare products, but also so that you can receive information about the goods.
If the packaging is missing it is up to the store to provide the information.
Government inspection of fruits and vegetables
In general, the Swedish National Food Agency deals with the labelling of foodstuffs, however the Swedish Board of Agriculture is responsible for compliance with the labelling regulations for fresh fruit and vegetables.
Read more about labelling (in Swedish)
If you do not reach an agreement with the company
In the event of dispute where you and the shop are unable to arrive at an agreeable resolution, and the value of the dispute is at least SEK 500, you can submit a request for assistance to the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN). ARN can review and assess your case at no cost to you. It will then make a recommendation as to how the dispute should be resolved. Most parties will comply with ARN’s recommendations. It usually takes about 6 months for ARN to issue its opinion and recommendation.
When you contact ARN, you can provide support for your case by presenting supporting documentation as evidence. Therefore retain your receipt and copies of any written contact you have with the merchant.
Submit an application on ARN’s website
If you are unsure what to do, you can always contact us at Hallå Konsument for advice and assistance.
Many municipalities also offer consumer advice and can give you support in your case
Submit a complaint to the Swedish Consumer Agency
The Swedish Consumer Agency is the regulatory authority for marketing and price information. If you suspect that a company is breaking the rules on marketing or providing false or misleading price information, you can report it to the Swedish Consumer Agency. Filing a report does not mean that we can assist you in your specific case, however it may lead to an investigation being opened.
Source: Konsumentverket
Proofread: 9 February 2023