A local authority may use a variety of means to ensure businesses meet their responsibilities under the Food Safety Act 1990 (FSA 1990) and Codes of Practice including education, advice, guidance, warning letters, improvement and emergency prohibition notices, formal cautions and prosecution. For information on the key offences under the FSA 1990, see Practice Note: Food Safety Act 1990 offences. For information on out of court disposals, see Practice Note: Alternatives to prosecution for adults. As made clear in the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Food Law Code of Practice and Food Law Practice Guidance, which enforcement option is used will depend on the risk to public health. Prohibition notices and prosecution will be reserved for those cases where there is imminent risk of injury to health in respect of premises, a piece of equipment or a process, or where there has otherwise been a serious breach of the food business’s obligations. Factors influencing the decision to prosecute Prosecution