As you prepare for a food hygiene inspection, it’s normal to feel a bit of dread. If this is your first food hygiene inspection, you may be unsure what to expect. When talking to clients, fear of the EHO visit comes up time and again. Surprisingly, when you search for how to prepare for a food hygiene inspection, there is no shortage of advice on the topic. Yet, little is mentioned about mindset.
“After spotting this gap, we introduced the phrase ‘Reframing EHO Inspections’ here at Infinitas — to help shift anxiety into positive action before a food hygiene rating visit”
When preparing for your EHO inspection, controlling fear is just as important as knowing the rules. The right mindset is critical to your success. It helps you look and sound confident — even when you’re trembling inside.
This post will help you reframe fear and use it to power forwards, instead of holding you back. We’ll start with a story to explain what “reframing EHO inspections” really means — and how to make it work for you.
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My Fear Story
A few years ago, I was deep into the final year of my PhD. Some days I’d hit a brick wall and get stuck. To clear brain fog, I’d jump on my bike and cycle into the hills. I’d always pedal home fast, eager to continue writing, once my confusion had lifted.
One day, my neighbour joined me. As we reached the foot of one of the steepest climbs – a five-mile incline that started almost vertical – I froze.
He asked, “You alright?”
I said, “No. I’m frightened to death. I hate this hill.”
He grinned. “That’s the difference between us. You get all scared in your shell. I look at that hill and think bring it on… here I come!’’ 🚀
Change The Script In Your Head
💡 This was a light bulb moment for me. I thought he’s absolutely right. So I reframed the fear into something positive and exciting. And guess what? Me and that hill – we became one. From that day on, I was never afraid of it again.
I pull-out this story of reframing whenever I work with food business owners preparing for their food hygiene inspection. I see that same fear in their eyes. That steep hill. That voice in their head saying ‘What if I fail?
Fear Of The Food Hygiene Inspection
We need fear. It’s a natural defence mechanism against things that can harm us. Whilst fear can come on quickly, it can disappear quickly too. Take, for example, a person having a panic attack. They can be brought out of the panic state by using distraction.
Fear exists solely in the mind. We can only be afraid of something that we perceive to be dangerous.
But just because we think something is dangerous, doesn’t make it so. Nevertheless, fear can be as real as the perceived threat.
Putting A Spin On Things
Fear is the invisible force that keeps people stuck. Perhaps this explains why some business owners put their head in the sand after receiving a poor food hygiene rating.
However, I learnt something new the other day. I heard that:
‘’Fear and excitement feel exactly the same in the body. The only difference is the story we tell ourselves about the outcome. ‘’
That line meant something to me. Because when I feel anxious I hear myself say “I don’t want to feel like this….I need to put a spin on things.”
Fear Can Be Excitement In Disguise
So I looked up the science. And yes – there’s research to back it up.
Harvard Business School published a study called Reappraising Anxiety as Excitement (Brooks, 2014). This study showed that when deliberately reframing anxiety as excitement, compared to calming oneself down, people performed better, felt more confident, and even spoke more persuasively. Same heart rate. Same butterflies. Just a different mindset.
The problem is – our brain doesn’t always attach the right meaning to an experience. The chemical reactions in your body – whether fear or excitement – can be felt the same.
But it’s the meaning that changes the experience – whether good or bad. Let’s consider an example.
The Consequences of Fearing The Consequences
Years ago, I was given a small restaurant chain to support. Every few months I would carry out unannounced food hygiene inspections. I remember turning up unannounced at their Cardiff site at 9am.
A nervous young woman opened the door and let me in. Within ten minutes of starting the inspection, the fire alarm went off and we were evacuated.
The fire brigade arrived quickly and I asked one of the firemen what had happened. The young woman had been so frightened by my arrival, that she’d run downstairs to put out her cigarette. In her panic she had accidentally started a bin fire.
She told me afterwards, “I just wasn’t prepared. I thought – if we fail this inspection, my boss will kill me.”
I’ve never forgotten that. It wasn’t me she feared – it was what she thought the food hygiene inspection meant for her. She feared the emotional consequences. Shame. Disappointment of letting her boss down.
Reframe Your Thinking As You Prepare For A Food Hygiene Inspection
Sometimes, I deal with difficult staff in a client food business. It’s my job to get people pulling together to achieve a successful outcome. That outcome is a 5-star food hygiene inspection rating. And so, if I feel someone is resisting me, I will ask them:
“What if you think of me as someone on your side, not against you? Isn’t it better that I find the problems now, so that we can fix issues together, before the EHO walks through the door?” And they pause… and say, “I didn’t think of it like that.”
Russell Brunson says: “Fear grows when you are focused on yourself.”
When you focus your thoughts on the consequences for the people you are serving, such as your customers, fear will dissolve.
Think Differently About Your Food Hygiene Inspection
Fear does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your first food hygiene inspection or your tenth – if your mind is not in a good place, fear can mess with your brain.
So let’s reframe fear by focusing on excitement. Instead of thinking “I’m dreading this food hygiene inspection”, you could say “This is part of the adventure of building a great business”. Try asking your team what statements would work for them.
This is how Ali Abdaal talks about his 90-day sprints ⏱️ – he treats each day as an adventure. And I love that. It’s not about pushing harder or working smarter. It’s about thinking differently.
Create Momentum
Think of preparing for a food hygiene inspection compared to cycling a bike up a steep hill. It will feel like a slog at first – slow, awkward, uncomfortable. But once you gain momentum, it gets easier. Then the downhill kicks in and you fly.
You’ve created momentum. It starts with mindset.
I’ve seen it so many times with clients.
They’re pushing their way up the hill of paperwork, training, inspections, and systems. And then – one day – they’re on the other side, gliding with confidence.
But it always starts with mindset.
Prepare For A Food Hygiene Inspection As A Shared Goal
Nevertheless, someone has to lead this. So if you are a small business, preparing for a food hygiene inspection, it will be the business owner’s responsibility.
Get people pulling together. Talk to your team about working towards the same goal 🎯 – to achieve a successful food hygiene inspection. Talk openly about the food hygiene rating you want to achieve. Read our EHO Inspection Survival Guide.
Emphasise that when you reach your goal – success will be shared. Pride too 😊. Help your staff to imagine the outcome. Once you are all sharing the same mindset and working towards the same goal, you must practice. Because fear comes from unfamiliarity. The more you practice facing what you are anxious or worried about, the more familiar it will become. And this is when fear loses its intense grip. So the trick is to turn the unfamiliar into the familiar. Practice, practice, and then practice some more.
Exercise: How To Turn Fear Into Focus?
So how do you do this? How do you turn fear into focus? Here’s an exercise to do just that:
1. Grab a piece of paper and a pen.
2. Make 2 columns.
3. Label one column with the heading Fear.
4. Label the other column with the heading Passion (this is the excitement that fuels your momentum).
5. Start by asking yourself “What’s the worst thing that can happen?”
6. Now write down any thoughts in the column headed Fear. Be honest with yourself. If you fail the inspection – what could happen?
What are you afraid of? Is it:
- Fear of customers leaving?
- Shame of competitors finding out your hygiene rating was poor?
- Staff losing faith in you?
7. Write your answers down. Then once you have exhausted all thoughts about fear, write the opposite for each sentence under the column heading Passion. Think of the exciting possibilities if you did achieve a 5-Food Hygiene Rating. What could it do for your business?
Imagine how you could use a 5 food hygiene rating in your marketing. It could bring in more clients – more revenue.
Now it’s your turn. Think what it could this do for your business. You could use this exercise with other co-owners, or managers. Or use it with the rest of your team in groups, as a team building exercise.
8. Now look at those thoughts under Passion, and then Fear.
9. Seeing the answers on paper is the start of the shift in your thinking.
10. Once you face the worst-case scenario, fear stops holding its power over you.
Choose How You Want To Feel
If you’re a food business owner preparing for a food hygiene inspection, it’s easy to feel like you’re not ready. To let the nerves take over. But before you go down that rabbit hole, try this:
Ask yourself – what if this isn’t fear you’re feeling? What if it’s excitement in disguise? Remind yourself of the passion list you prepared. Use the excitement to propel your business forwards.
None of us are immune to fear. We just need to get better at attaching the right meaning to our thinking. That’s the difference between staying stuck and stepping forwards. And remember, don’t let fear stop you from asking the EHO lots of questions. No question is silly to ask.
Get Your Crisis Action Plan
💬 Want help putting a plan in place to deal with the worst-case scenario?
Start with the Crisis Comms Kit — it’s free, it’s practical, and it’s designed for moments just like this. It gives you the action to take when dealing with your worst case scenario (failing a food hygiene inspection).
Remember to put a spin on things: the best case scenario would be shouting a 5 hygiene rating from the roof tops.
💡 Turn fear into a force for good. You’ve got this. And if you need a hand, we are only a message away. 💛
What Is Included in the Crisis Comms Kit?
This FREE Reputation Rescue toolkit will give you:
Step-by-Step Guidance: Emergency guidance in bite-sized easy-to-follow steps to move you from feeling in chaos, to back in-control. Use immediately after receiving the EHO letter IF you receive a dismal hygiene rating.
Done-for-You Social Media Calendar: 5-days of pre-planned content ideas and example social media posts – just copy, tweak and share on Instagram or Facebook. Then rinse and repeat until you feel on top of the crisis! Use to stay visible and credible to your customers.
Journalist Handling Protocol: Handle media enquiries like a pro with a ready-made journalist-friendly statement. Because we all know the Press loves to name and shame businesses with a low hygiene rating! 😉
Tips and Advice On How To Deal With Customer Criticism: Handle customer complaints and negative feedback like a pro and avoid common mistakes.
This kit is designed to protect your business reputation fast, if you receive a bad food hygiene rating.
If you’re looking for practical tools to help you prepare for a food hygiene inspection, the Food Safety Help Centre is a great place to start.