For consumers
Assistance in a dispute with a shop, seller, manufacturer, delivery service or another organisation when a food product needs professional examination and its condition needs to be documented.
Situations people contact us about
Quality and spoilage
The product shows signs of spoilage, altered appearance, odour or consistency, damaged packaging or other defects.
Labelling and shelf life
There is a dispute over the manufacture date, shelf life, storage conditions, the information on the packaging or batch identification.
Returns and claims
The technical aspects of a claim, court action or objections need to be substantiated, and commodity examination questions separated from legal ones.
What a commodity expert can establish
- the submitted product's actual commercial condition;
- the presence of externally detectable defects and damage to packaging and labelling;
- conformity of assessable characteristics with documents and stated information;
- the possible effects of storage, transport and handling — if sufficient source data is available for such a conclusion;
- the market value of the goods or batch as of a specified date, where sufficient information is available.
What document can be obtained
Before a court appointment, a specialist opinion is usually prepared. If the examination is appointed by a court or another competent body, the result is prepared in the procedural form of an expert report.
Before court proceedings
A specialist opinion, consultation, document analysis and assistance with questions.
After appointment
An expert report on the questions and materials specified in the order or decision.
What to read next
Send documents and photographs
Describe the task and attach photographs of the products and labelling, delivery documents, records, the contract, claim, court order or another expert's report.
- we will check whether the question falls within the commodity expert's competence;
- we will determine whether an inspection or laboratory component is needed;
- we will indicate the possible result format, cost and time frame.