Food Inspector / EHO / Health Inspector
A food inspection can feel daunting, but remember that the inspection is extremely important, and the inspector is trying to work with you to ensure your food business is safe. They’ll be looking at food hygiene, structure and cleanliness, and confidence in management. In reality, if your business is serious about food safety, standards and hygiene, then you should be doing everything necessary that is required of you. The inspection is just about explaining this to someone else.
With this in mind, what can you do to keep a food inspector calm and happy? Here are five things:
1. Prepare: Ensure all required paperwork, certificates, pest control folders etc. are to hand and available for inspection. Being organised and prepared will show that you are engaged with the process and are committed to following food safety regulations including proper waste disposal and food safety practices.
2. Clean: It’s not only your paperwork that needs to be prepared. You should have a thorough cleaning routine and a written cleaning schedule in place and ensure every day, that your food storage area, kitchen and facilities are kept clean, well-maintained, tidy and organised. Ensure all food surfaces, equipment, and utensils are clean and disinfected to reduce the risk of contamination and the spread of disease. Also, check that all food in the kitchen is in date. Food past its Use By date (high risk food) is an offence. Past its Best Before isn’t but it still needs to be useable.
3. Don’t Try To Hide Anything: Always be open and honest regarding your processes and procedures, and highlight any areas where you know you need to improve, stating how you’ll be making changes (and that you’re open to their advice). This shows professionalism. Don’t try to cover up mistakes.
4. Work With The Inspector: Be respectful and courteous and answer their questions honestly. They are there to help keep your business safe, by ensuring that you are following food safety guidelines and regulations. If there is anything you don’t understand or if you have a concern, ask for clarification.
5. Improve: Maintain detailed and accurate records of all inspections, any changes required, and improvements made. Communicate this to the inspector, to again show your commitment.
Sounds simple doesn’t it? Once you have a process set up, you just need to ensure it’s followed. However, if you are a start up, are feeling a little overwhelmed and need some help preparing, get in touch.
Thank you for reading
Karen Meadows of Safety in Action Ltd.
More information can be found here: https://safetyinaction.co.uk/services/food-safety/
If you think I can help your business do call on 07786622741or email on info@safetyinaction.co.uk
You can also find us on twitter @safety_inaction or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SafetyInAction
This blog has been written in collaboration with the AI tool, Chat-GTP.
Food Safety Consultant | Worcestershire | West Midlands | Hospitality | Food business