According to a YouGov for BSI survey, consumers are more conscious of food safety and hygiene in the food and beverage business. The shift in customers’ confidence around food safety is due to the pandemic. In the survey, 65% of consumers avoid eating out if they lack confidence in an outlet’s food and safety standards.

Before the pandemic, food safety and hygiene were a concern since the UK has 2.4 million food poisoning cases yearly. Hence, food hygiene in restaurants and hotels should not be overlooked. The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has a scheme to encourage compliance by food handlers and improve public awareness of the standards in individual establishments.

Critical Elements of Food Safety and Hygiene

When running a food and beverage business, you need to ensure the food is safe to eat. Critical considerations to ensure food is handled hygienically include:

Cleaning

If you manage or run a hotel or restaurant, your business area needs to be clean. All the kitchen and restaurant utensils and equipment should be meticulously clean. The surfaces need to be regularly disinfected.

Cooking

Food served in restaurant environments should be thoroughly cooked and served at the correct temperatures. You need to avoid serving cold food since it can spread potentially harmful bacteria.

Chilling

Ensure your food storage equipment works properly to store food at the right temperatures. All food should be labelled before storage.

Cross-contamination

It is crucial to separate raw food from cooked and ready to eat foods. During food preparation, use separate utensils and ensure staff wash their hands before touching food.

Why F&B Businesses Should Comply With Food Hygiene Standards

Minimising food hazards and poisoning

Food poisoning and ill health are major concerns arising from contaminated food. Restaurant employees need to understand contamination causes during food preparation and precautions to avoid them. Even minimal amounts of contamination result in allergic reactions and food poisoning. You need to train employees on potential food preparation hazards and how to prevent contamination.

Improving reputation and preventing penalty notices

Research shows that 33% of customers share positive experiences while 54% share negative experiences. That means reputation can make or break your business. Your customer always recognises your efforts in providing outstanding food hygiene practices. It also helps to have food safety and hygiene ratings since it builds your customers’ confidence.

Improves efficiency and quality control

Maintaining food safety and hygienic practices can act as a benchmark for quality control by helping you minimise wastage. Food safety also improves quality control by ensuring employees maintain high hygiene standards. When your restaurant team are trained on hygienic food practices, your kitchen will be cost-effective, and less food will be wasted.

Food Safety and Hygiene for Reputational Success

Food safety and hygiene practices can prevent contamination and food poisoning among customers and staff. You will also uphold your reputation as an excellent food services provider.

If you want to improve your business efficiency, we are here to help. Reach us through 1800 778 340 or email [email protected].