Do you ever worry your food safety question might sound silly?
And so… you don’t ask it 🤐
If this sounds like you – you’re not alone.
Your question may seem stupid to you because it’s something you don’t know — but in reality, it’s probably a pretty good question.
Not just that — other team members may want to know the answer too.
Because let’s be honest – nobody knows everything.
That being said, staying silent can be risky.
Someone once said to me:
“If you’re in a group of people, chances are you aren’t the only one with that question. But you might just be the only one brave enough to ask it.”
A little bit more courage is something we all need 💪
Table of Contents
Why Your Food Safety Question Matters
Remember – asking a food safety question isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a strength.
It shows awareness, curiosity, and a concern for getting things right.
These are important traits that staff should demonstrate if we are to protect customer safety.
So let’s be clear – there is no such thing as a stupid food safety question.
⚠️ The only danger is not asking.
Even so, it might not feel safe to do so.
Create a Supportive Work Culture Where Questions Are Safe to Ask
Creating a culture where staff feel confident to speak up about food safety means building a supportive environment. An atmosphere where questions are genuinely welcomed — not just tolerated.
It takes more than individual confidence to expect staff to ask questions.
Jump into their shoes for a moment. Then think about how those questions are received.
A quiet eye-roll 🙄, a rushed answer, or a sarcastic comment can shut someone down for good.
But a calm, respectful response — even to something that seems basic — sends a clear message: It’s ok to ask 😌
Consequences of Not Asking a Food Safety Question
Mistakes don’t just cause a low food hygiene rating.
Poorly communicating your questions and concerns can lead to customer complaints. And food illness — or worse, loss of life (seriously!).
Whether you’ve ever held back from asking, or just weren’t sure what to say — it’s time to find out if you’re committing a kitchen crime 😲
But don’t be discouraged – even expert Michelin chefs get things wrong.
The Key Is To Keep Learning
It’s important to continually learn from errors and misunderstandings.
Therefore, to learn and grow – you must ask more questions.
Which means, you can’t afford to be too afraid to ask – whether your food safety question is:
- Can you reheat rice or prawns safely?
- Does pre-washed salad need to be washed again? Or,
- How long can cooked food be left out?
Because every food safety question deserves a clear answer — not a guess 😕
Still Too Afraid To Ask Your Food Safety Question?
Speaking up at work matters across all industries.
But having studied workplace culture for decades, we understand why people often don’t speak up 🤫
That is, the right conditions need to be there to allow employees to feel safe to ask questions in the first place.
It’s a fact that more food businesses need to be educated on how to build a culture at work where employees feel able to speak up.
And that’s exactly why the Ask an Expert service was created – so you can get trusted answers to your food safety questions – in a place that feels safe.
We guarantee that every question you ask us will be without judgement – and definitely without fear. That’s our promise.
Our Ask an Expert Service
Next time you have a food safety question, why not give our new service a try?
💡 Ask an Expert
While other services charge for food safety advice, ours is completely free.
No subscriptions. No sign-ups. No contract.
It’s easy to use and confidential.
Approachable experts too ❤️
🔒 100% confidential. No obligation. Just a safe space to ask your question.
Get clarity — from specialists you can trust 🤝
As someone recently said:
“Feeling like your question is stupid is a very human thing. We all do it.”
But in food safety, the cost of silence is too high.
If something feels off — even slightly — just ask.
Find out more about us on our About Us page.
Prefer to find the answer yourself?
Visit our Food Safety Help Centre — it’s full of practical advice.
