Shopping for food in local shops
Handla mat i butik - Engelska
You have the right to make a complaint if there is something wrong with the food item you bought. 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 price at the checkout is the one that applies.
You have the right to make a complaint about food items.
There is a difference between the best-before date and the use-by date.
What applies when you buy food in a store
When you see an item in a store, the price should be indicated on the packaging, on the shelf edge, or in a price list. If the item is not marked with the price, there should be a price inquiry terminal where you can easily check the price.
The price of the item should be indicated in writing. VAT and other taxes should be included in the price. If there are any fees or other costs, they should be clearly stated.
In some cases, it may be sufficient for the price to be indicated verbally. This can be, for example, in smaller stores with manual service or if you buy an item directly over the counter.
Comparison Price
Stores should indicate a comparison price for an item when appropriate. The comparison price should be indicated in the unit used for the item, such as kilo, liter, meter, or something else.
The comparison price is intended to make it easier for you as a consumer to compare prices. For example, between different stores, packages, or brands. But there are some exceptions. Comparison prices do not need to be provided for:
- packages containing 50 grams, 50 ml, or less
- packages containing several different items, such as ready-made meals
- packages where the sales price is the same as the comparison price
If a comparison price is not relevant for the product, the item does not need to have a comparison price.
You cannot demand to buy an item at the price displayed on the shelf edge or in an advertisement. Sometimes mistakes happens and it is not until you get to the checkout that you and the shop come to an agreement as to the price.You can always choose not to buy the item.
Right to Compensation
In some cases, you may be entitled to compensation for costs incurred due to the incorrect price in the advertisement. This can include costs for an unnecessary trip to the store. Contact the store, preferably in writing, and explain what you want compensation for. You must be able to prove with receipts or similar documentation the costs you want compensation for.
When paying by card, the store can choose whether they want to rounding or charge for the exact amount.
There is a law that governs how rounding in öre may be done. The law states that amounts in öre must be rounded to the nearest hundred. This means that amounts with the final number 1 to 49 must be rounded down and amounts with the final number 50 to 99 up.
The rounding may only be done on the total amount, not on each individual item.
The law governing rounding in öre is dispositive, which means that it can be agreed away. The store can therefore choose to follow the provisions of the law but can also choose to charge the exact amount.
A purchase with a right to return or refund, is something that is voluntarily to offer by a store. Each store can determine if the want do offer a right to return or refund.
This means that some shops offer a right to return within 30 days, while others do not accept any returns. To find out the return policy of the shop, ask at the shop before you make your purchase.
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 packaging is missing, the store sholuld instead provide the information.
Inspection of labeling
It is the Swedish Food Agency that handles the rules on how food should be labeled. However, the Swedish Board of Agriculture is responsible for labeling fresh fruit and vegetables.
Read more on the Swedish Food Agency's website (in Swedish)
Read more about labeling of fruit and vegetables on the Swedish Board of Agriculture's website (in Swedish)
It is allowed to sell food items that have passed their best-before date. The food is often still edible after the best-before date has passed. The store is responsible for ensuring that the products sold are safe.
Selling products that have passed their use-by date is not allowed. This labeling is used for food items that can quickly spoil and may make you sick if consumed after the use-by date.
About date labelling on the Swedish National Food Agency website (in Swedish)
You have the right to complaint about food items. .Lodging a complaint means that you turn to the shop to complain.
Usually, you have a three-year right to make a complaint, but you should report the item no later than two months after discovering the fault. Keep in mind that many food items are perishable. The time to make a complaint is therefore significantly shorter. Check the items immediately and contact the store right away if something is wrong or if a package is broken.
The store should in first hand fix the fault. This usually means that you get the faulty food replaced. If they cannot replace the food, you are entitled to a refund.
Making a complaint should not cost you anything.
Compensation for extra costs
The company should compensate you for any additional costs incurred due to a faulty item. For example, you can receive compensation for travel expenses if you need to make an extra trip to the store to exchange the item. You need to be able to show the costs you have incurred.
You cannot claim compensation for the inconvenience or the time spent.
If you have been harmed due to a faulty food product, you have the right to claim damages, i.e. compensation, for the additional costs you suffered. It could, for example, be compensation for dental care if you damaged a tooth on something that is not supposed be in the food. Your claims for compensation must be reasonable.
You must be able to prove the damage you have suffered. You also need to show that you incurred the cost, for example, with a receipt.
More information
If you store food correctly, it will last longer. A simple rule 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.
How to store food properly on the Swedish National Food Agency website (in Swedish)
Do you suspect that you have been food poisoned? Then you should contact the Environmental and Health Protection Office or the equivalent in the municipality where the store is located as soon as possible to prevent others from being affected.
It is also important that you inform the seller of the food item. The responsibility for ensuring the food is safe to eat lies with the store.
About food poisoning on the Swedish Food Agency’s website (in Swedish)
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.
Proofread: 9 February 2023