All food businesses must provide safe and suitable food
Buying food online can be quick and convenient. It's also a way to access a wide variety of foods. But not all sellers follow the same rules.
Whether you’re buying from a local business or an overseas seller, you need to be sure the food is safe and suitable to eat. Food that isn’t safe can make you sick – and you often can’t tell just by looking at it.
Most food businesses must be registered and verified under the Food Act 2014. You can check if a business is registered by searching our public register. The register helps you confirm whether a seller meets New Zealand food safety requirements.
Search the register of food businesses
Some businesses are exempt from registration
Some low-risk food businesses or charities are exempt from having to register but all food businesses are responsible for providing safe and suitable food.
Check our guidance on registration exemptions under the Food Act [PDF, 630 KB]
Why it’s important to buy food from trusted sellers
- Registered food businesses follow food safety rules, are checked regularly, and know how to do food recalls, if necessary.
- Unregulated sellers might not follow any rules.
- Perishable foods (like meat and dairy products) must be kept at the correct temperature during storage and transport to prevent deterioration and spoilage.
- Missing or incomplete food labels can put people with allergies, intolerances, or special diets at risk.
How to shop for food safely online
To minimise the risk of you buying unsafe or unsuitable food, follow our tips – buy from trusted sellers, check product information, know who you're buying from, and ensure the product has been packed and shipped correctly and safely.
Buy from trusted sellers
- Look for trusted food businesses, retailers, or online supermarkets. Are they registered with your local council or MPI?
- To check if a seller is registered, look them up on MPI's public register
- Ask the seller to show their food registration if you’re not sure.
- Be extra careful with overseas sellers – they might not follow New Zealand rules.
Extra tips
- If a parcel from overseas does not comply with biosecurity requirements, it may require further actions at your cost (inspection, treatment, or reshipment), or it may be destroyed.
- Use our online tool to check if you can send an item to New Zealand
Check product information
- See if the product has been recalled in any country. You might need to do an internet search to find out. New Zealand Food Safety is not able to inform you of recalls undertaken overseas if the food is not commercially imported.
- Look for use-by dates, allergen warnings, and storage instructions. Note that overseas rules may differ – for example, not all countries recognise the same allergens.
- Make sure you have enough information about the product to decide if it's safe to buy.
Know who you’re buying from
- Look for clear business details like a company name, physical address, and contact details.
- Avoid sellers who only use social media and aren’t registered.
Check the product meets conditions
- Chilled and frozen products should arrive chilled or frozen and be packaged appropriately to allow for temperature control.
- Foods should be packaged, intact, and sealed to prevent the risk of contamination.
Trust your senses when the food is delivered
If the food smells off, looks discoloured, or you notice anything unusual – don’t consume it. Take a photo as evidence for when you contact the seller or report the issue.
Make a report if you suspect the food is unsafe
If you suspect that the food is unsafe, contact the seller. Reporting the issue to the seller helps improve food safety and prevents future harm.
You can also report unsafe food to New Zealand Food Safety by making a food complaint.
