Food Safety is a Critical Aspect of Any Food Business
In this article, we outline 10 reasons why the services of a food safety consultant are likely to be sought and the benefits of doing so. Using a food safety consultant can be invaluable. Let’s look at the 10 reasons why your business may need to hire a food safety consultant.
1. To Undertake A Gap Analysis
Identifying and assessing gaps between current and expected food hygiene standards is a key reason why a food safety consultant is likely to be sought. A low food hygiene rating can be the driver for a business owner to seek out support from an expert. It could be argued that the motivation to do so may be stronger in Wales, because of the stigma and shame associated with having to display a low rating. The result of which may lead to customers switching to a premises with a better rating – a concept coined the Switch Effect in a recent study. How could a food safety consultant help a business with a low food hygiene rating? Read on and I’ll explain.
If a business is to meet current food safety legal requirements, assessing where any non-conformance gaps exist is critical. If you were the owner, this would be the starting point to improve your Food Hygiene Rating. The consultant will see things that are invisible to you in the business. Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable as they are specialists in their field.
2. To Train & Educate Food Handlers
A food safety consultant may be sought to design a comprehensive training programme for your staff. The programme is likely to include, for example, proper food handling procedures, hygienic practices, the management of food allergens, and preventing cross-contamination prevention.
Consultants are likely to have experience and skills in teaching and learning. They will know how to make training sessions engaging, and how to make knowledge stick. A good consultant will focus on setting the right conditions, so that food safety rules can be embedded into work routines.
A consultant will be able to help staff apply knowledge into their current work environment. It is not enough for employees to have the right knowledge alone. If staff fail to put new knowledge into practice, the business will have wasted valuable resources on this training. Moreover, poor staff practices can have a detrimental effect on your Food Hygiene Rating, and could result in enforcement action.
3. To Develop A Food Safety Management System
A food safety consultant may be sought to develop a robust Food Safety Management System for a business. In the UK, the Food Safety Act 1990 makes it is a legal requirement for a business to have a documented Food Safety Management System. This allows the business owner to demonstrate how food safety hazards are being managed. Staff need clear, consistent, easy to follow rules (procedures) if they are to manage hazards safely. These rules must be relevant to the tasks they are completing. If staff do not feel that rules are easy to follow and relevant to their job, the rules are likely to be worked around and ignored.
4. To Perform Regular Audits and Inspections
When you are busy working in your business, it is easy to get too close to things. This means it can be difficult to monitor practice objectively. With a food safety consultant working with your business, you will get a Birds Eye view.
If the consultant performs regular audits and inspections on your behalf, this will highlight problems before the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) finds them. If you are unsure what to expect during an EHO inspection, an Environmental Health Officer explains here.
5. To Verify The HACCP Plan
A food safety consultant plays a crucial role in verifying the HACCP Plan. This is needed to provide insight into whether the food safety management system is being implemented as planned. From this, the consultant will be able to create an action plan to drive further improvement.
6. To Keep The Business Up To Date With Regulatory Compliance
Specialist food safety consultants stay updated with the latest food safety and hygiene regulations and requirements. Food businesses find it hard to navigate through the regulatory landscape. This is even more important following the recent general election and reforms as the UK detaches from the EU. Food safety regulation is an area where we can expect rapid change with new food laws coming into force.
Larger companies are more likely to have the resources to employ one or more knowledgeable food safety experts on their team to deal with this complexity. Smaller businesses can benefit from hiring a food safety consultant on an ad hoc or retainer basis. Knowing that the business is staying up to date with legal requirements will allow you as the owner to relax (and sleep at night). You’ll be able to focus on other areas of the business that require your attention.
7. To Improve The Food Hygiene Rating
A food safety consultant can help your business to address issues that were raised in the last EHO report. The consultant can work with you to ensure problem areas are corrected. He/she can get your business ready for a re-score. This includes coaching you and your staff in how to prepare for the inspector’s visit. Knowing how to react when the inspector arrives, how to stay calm, and what to do or say in certain circumstances is invaluable.
8. To Negotiate With The Enforcing Authorities
Sometimes, complaints of food poisoning or foreign objects in food happen. This is where the expertise of a food safety consultant can really benefit your business. Some food consultants, may have trained as an EHO, and so will be able to liaise on your behalf with the Environmental Health Officer. They will be able to speak their language. This training, experience and familiarity with the regulatory environment can assist in negotiating your position in difficult situations. The consultant may be able to mitigate the impact of the consequences to protect your business reputation.
9. To Identify Trends & Business Opportunities
By staying up-to-date with emerging industry trends, consumer preferences, and market demands, a good food consultant can identify new ways for your business to make money. A good consultant is likely to be able to offer suggestions for incorporating up and coming food trends into your business offerings. This proactive approach will help you stay ahead of the competition, attract a broader customer base, and tap into new revenue streams.
10. To Ensure The Business Survives and Thrives
Using a food safety consultant to transform your food safety compliance can be an investment. So don’t just think of it merely in terms of a business cost. Having robust systems in place will help your business to reduce cost and risk. And of course, this is needed if any business is to survive and grow. You only need to read about the recent E.coli outbreak (2024) in the UK. It is a reminder of the severe consequences of poor food safety and what can go wrong. Preventative food safety is key. Compliance works and can far outweigh the costs.
