NINE months elapsed since placenta encapsulation specialist Kathryn Beale registered as a food business before food safety teams launched an investigation.

Although birth partner Kathryn registered as a food operator with environmental health at Swindon Council in June last year, no inspections were carried out until new information led public protection officers to apply to the courts for a hygiene emergency prohibition order on March 10.

National guidelines state all new businesses must be inspected within 28 days.

Optimum Doula first registered as a food business with Swindon Borough Council on June 11, and the council says a food hygiene inspection was not conducted because it was not fully operational by the beginning of July.

A spokesperson for Swindon Borough Council said: "When a new food business opens and registers with the council, national policy sets out that the premises should be inspected within 28 days. This timescale applies to all local authorities."

The Food Safety Team are now conducting an investigation into Kathryn's business after their application for an emergency prohibition order was rejected by the courts as there was seen to be no immediate health risk..

Kathryn has said her business follows correct procedure, with raw human placentas tracked from birth and dehydrated thoroughly before being fed to the mother.

Averaging two clients per month, she will collect placentas on ice from the hospital within 24 hours before grinding them into capsules or smoothies made with berries.

"I do think they are being a bit heavy-handed, and they did not even offer me voluntary closure," Kathryn said.

“I have voluntarily stopped taking bookings until they approve everything. I am assuming I will get a food hygiene rating, provided they do not decide to close me down.

“I do not believe I am doing anything that puts myself or the public in any danger. There are more than 50 people around the UK doing the same thing."

A council spokesperson said: “Optimum Doula registered as a new food business with the council on 11th June. Officers visited the premises on 1st July and were advised by Kathryn Beale that the business was not currently operational so a full inspection was not possible.

"In recent weeks information came to light indicating that the business was operating, resulting in the investigation which is still underway. For legal reasons, we are therefore unable to comment further at this stage.”