Food laws may not be the most stimulating subject but they are imperative to the safe and successful conduct of a food retail or manufacturing business.
Key food laws:
- Food Safety Act 1990.
- Regulation (EC) 852/2004 on the Hygiene of Foodstuffs.
- The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
- Food should not be treated in any way that endangers consumers.
- Food should always meet the quality standards as advertised.
- Items must be labelled correctly and include details of allergens.
- Learn where the food and ingredients came from. Traceability is vital. Consumers are increasingly interested in this.
- Are you aware of HACCP – Hazards Analysis Critical Control Points?
- Do you have a food safety management system in operation?
- Are you confident that your team correctly labels items, including ingredients which pose allergen risks?
- If they were told to place raw meat on the top shelf of the fridge would your employees do this or question it?
- Is every member of the team knowledgeable about why the way they carry out a task has ramifications?
- Are your premises spotlessly clean and are bins emptied routinely?
- Are the worktops, splashbacks and sinks as hygienic as they should be?
- Is your Food Hygiene Ratings Scheme score at the top level, number 5?
HACCP is a preventative food safety management tool which conforms to UK and EU food safety standards. Many businesses won’t trade with non-HACCP compliant firms.
A significant risk is presented by bad personal hygiene practices which can easily result in a food hygiene incident. You can’t watch each member of the team every moment of the day so if you have doubts about your team and business’ compliance or feel concerned that you have much to achieve in food safety then please seek food safety training from an industry leader like Food Alert.
Study online, in a classroom environment or in the workplace to maximise potential and minimise risks.
The majority of food safety courses are accredited through the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health or the Royal Society for the Protection of Health. Management and owners may not welcome the outlay on educating the team regularly but it prevents food hygiene incidents and their negative consequences.
Food safety laws are at the core of every task carried out, knowing about them delivers power and managing practices allows smooth operation and peace of mind.
Food safety training courses available include:
- CIEH Food Safety Awareness.
- Food Safety Induction Training.
- CIEH level 1 Food Safety training.
- CIEH level 2 Food Safety training.
- CIEH level 3 Food Safety training.
- RSPH level 4 Managing Food Safety.
- CIEH level 2 Food Safety in Manufacturing.
- CIEH level 3 Supervising Food Safety in Manufacturing.
- CIEH level 4 Managing Food Safety in Manufacturing.
- Level 2 Award in Principles of HACCP.
- Level 3 Award in HACCP in Catering.
- Personalising HACCP plans.
- Training companies have online management software packages for everyday use. Food Alert’s is called FACT.
Food laws are non-negotiable. Education and adherence are vital so contact a training company today.
See the infographic below for more information on safe food preparation!
Infographic provided by Sunline Supply, a PPE supply company