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.
The store must indicate a comparison price when possible.
What applies when you buy food in a store
In a store, the price must be displayed on the packaging, on the shelf edge label, or in a price list. If the price is not shown there, the store must provide a price-check terminal where you can look it up.
VAT and other taxes must be included in the price. If there are additional fees or charges, these must be clearly stated.
In smaller stores where staff assist customers with purchases, it is enough for the price to be given verbally. The same applies when you buy a product over the counter.
Unit pricing
Unit prices make it easier to compare prices between different stores, package sizes, and brands. The unit price may, for example, be shown per kilogram, litre, or metre.
Most products must have a unit price, but there are some exceptions. For example, a unit price does not have to be shown for:
- packages containing 50 grams, 50 ml, or less
- packages containing several different products, such as ready-made meals
- packages where the retail price is the same as the unit price.
You cannot demand to buy a product at the price shown on the shelf label or in an advertisement. Mistakes can happen. If you are charged a different price at the checkout, that is the price that applies. In that case, you have the right not to buy the product.
Right to compensation
If a price in an advertisement was incorrect, you may in some cases be entitled to compensation for costs caused by the error, for example an unnecessary trip to the store.
Contact the store, preferably in writing. Explain which costs you want compensation for and why. You will need to show proof of the costs, for example by providing receipts.
When you pay by card, the store may choose whether to charge the exact amount or round the total to the nearest krona.
If you pay in cash, the amount is rounded to the nearest krona.
If the store rounds the amount, the Swedish Act on the Rounding of Certain Öre Amounts applies. This means that amounts ending in 1 to 49 öre are rounded down, while amounts ending in 50 to 99 öre are rounded up.
The rounding is applied to the total amount, not to each individual item.
It is not certain that you have the right to return food products.
Open purchase and exchange rights are voluntary for stores to offer. This means that each store decides its own policies. Some stores may allow returns on certain products, while others offer a 30-day return period or do not offer returns at all.
To find out what applies, you should ask the store before making your purchase.
Certain food products must include information about their country of origin on the packaging.
Some of the food products that must be labelled with their country of origin include fruit, vegetables, fish, and certain types of beef.
No packaging? In that case, the store must provide the information instead.
Inspection of labelling
It is the Swedish Food Agency that handles the rules on how food should be labelled. However, the Swedish Board of Agriculture is responsible for labelling fresh fruit and vegetables.
There are two types of date marking for food products: the best-before date and the use-by date.
The best-before date indicates the date until which the food product is expected to retain its quality, such as its taste and texture. It does not indicate how long a food product is safe to eat.
It is permitted to sell food products that have passed their best-before date. The store is responsible for ensuring that the products it sells are safe to eat.
Food products marked with a use-by date are not safe to eat after that date. They may not be sold or given away. This type of date marking is used for foods that spoil quickly and may make you ill if eaten after the use-by date.
Best before and use by dates 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 injured by a food product, you may be entitled to compensation for the costs resulting from the injury.
For example, you may be entitled to compensation for dental treatment if you damage a tooth on something that should not be present in the food product. The compensation you claim must be reasonable.
You need to be able to show what injury you have suffered. You also need to be able to show what costs you have incurred, for example by providing receipts.
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.
Storing food properly on the Swedish National Food Agency website
When someone intentionally violates food legislation to mislead consumers and businesses for financial gain, it is considered food fraud. Some examples include:
- Intentionally providing incorrect information about a food product, such as its species, composition, quantity, durability, country of origin, or method of production.
- Illegal slaughter and sale of meat from such slaughter.
- Sale of food products with unauthorized substances or ingredients added.
- Sale of stolen food products.
Report to the Food Agency
If you come across something you suspect to be food fraud, you can report it to the Food Agency. Tips are valuable in their work to detect and combat food fraud.
Report to the Swedish Food Agency (in Swedish)
This is not food fraud
Here are some examples:
- Food poisoning
- Unhygienic handling
- Dirty premises
If you have tips of this nature, you should contact the food control department of your municipality directly. Many municipalities have a separate tip function for reporting suspected food poisoning.
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)
If you and the company does not come to an agreement
Do you need help clarifying your rights or want to discuss how to proceed with your case? In that case, you can contact the municipality's consumer guidance or The Swedish Consumer Agency´s information service.
Municipality's consumer guidance
Many municipalities provide consumer guidance where you can seek free information and support. The assistance offered may vary from one municipality to another.
Guidance from the the Swedish Consumer Agency
The Swedish Consumer Agency provides free guidance. We offer information about your rights and the options available to help you move forward. However, We cannot assess your individual case, resolve disputes, or contact companies on your behalf.
If you and the company cannot reach an agreement, you can file a complaint to the public authority The National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN).
ARN will assess your case and make a recommendation on how to resolve the dispute. Most companies follow ARN’s recommendations.
A normal processing time is approximately six months.
What does it cost to file a complaint with ARN?
It costs SEK 150 to file a complaint with ARN. When you submit your complaint, you can request that the company compensates you for the cost if ARN makes a recommendation in your favour.
Requirements for ARN to consider your case
- The company has either rejected your claims or has not responded within a reasonable time.
- The amount you and the company disagree on exceeds the value limit set by ARN. You cannot include the application fee to ARN.
- You file the complaint within one year from the first time you complained to the company.
Submit a complaint on ARN's website
If you need help with your complaint
Sometimes, the municipal consumer advisors can assist you in making a complaint to ARN.
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: 11 May 2026