Dining Report: Food Safety & The FSA Survey

Here at Kate Underwood HR, we now have quite a few clients on our books who are in the ‘food trade’. So, to go hand in hand her blog on food allergies, I thought I’d ask our friend Ruth from Simply Safer to be this month’s guest blogger and share some handy food safety advice!

Simply Safer provides help and support to businesses so they comply with the legal safety requirements for both food safety and Health and Safety. They provide food safety advice to businesses across the UK with most of their customers on the south coast.

What Are Your Customers Thoughts On Food Safety?

Twice a year, the Food Standards Agency carries out a survey of the public to discover their attitudes and concerns regarding food safety.

When questioned about food safety issues, 36% of people asked were concerned about hygiene when eating out and 30% were concerned about food poisoning.

45% of respondents reported concerns about food safety in restaurants, pubs, cafés and takeaways. But 42% were also concerned about UK shops and supermarkets.

These results show that there are some real concerns about eating out. This is reflected by the fact that 84% of respondents said that they were aware of the hygiene rating in places they eat out or buy food.

It is becoming more and more important to have a Very Good 5, or Good 4 Food Hygiene Rating.

Reputation is so important when running a food business and bad news travels and, unfortunately, sticks so much longer than the good stuff.

You should always make sure that you are ready for an inspection and that your staff are also prepared in case the owner or manager are having a day off when it happens.

The Food Hygiene Rating is given based on what is found at that time. You will not get away with an excuse like: “The chef has taken the paperwork home”, so any paperwork needs to be on the premises and whoever is in charge at that time needs to know where to find it.

If you’d like help with food safety, to make sure you are in the best position for your inspection email [email protected] to request an Inspection Self-Assessment checklist.

Ruth Baker, Simply Safer