According to the UK Food Security Report 2021 (chapter, Food Safety and Consumer Confidence), most consumers in the UK trust the food they buy and eat to be safe and accurately labelled. Indeed, the level of food business compliance with food safety regulations remains generally high.

Reports of food safety incidents have increased since 2010. Although this is largely due to better detection rates and reporting, it does highlight the need for food practitioners to constantly be aware that incidents of food poisoning, outbreaks and allergic reactions are always a real risk. With this in mind, restauranteurs and caterers should make it their business to regularly update themselves and their teams on the importance of temperature monitoring for food and how bad practices can affect their customers and their business.

Implications of poor food safety

Poor food safety practices can damage your business reputation and brand. If your food is contaminated due to poor food safety practices, you will have to:

• withdraw contaminated food products,
• stop individuals from consuming them, and
• your business will potentially suffer from reputational damage.

Damage to your reputation, even when repaired, can create a dent in the perceived credibility of your business. By following proper food safety practices, you can help prevent reputational risk and protect yourself against potential litigation, bad social media reviews, and more.

Temperature control

Maintaining the correct temperature of food is crucial for ensuring food safety. Food that is not stored or cooked at the right temperature can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria, which can cause foodborne illnesses. This can be particularly dangerous for new businesses if they do not have staff with the experience or knowledge to implement proper food safety practices.

According to the Food Standards Agency of the UK, it is important to use a calibrated probe thermometer to check and monitor the temperature of food as part of your food safety HACCP management system.

Remember to ensure that temperatures measured are also recorded. To simplify the process, use a digital temperature monitoring system that allows you to take temperature readings across multiple locations if necessary, and which also allows you to record data and retrieve reports whenever these are required for audits and inspections.

 Keeping records

How many times have you tried to retrieve information of any kind, only to find that the information you need can’t be found? Maybe it was filed incorrectly, maybe it was deleted in error, or maybe the ‘correct’ file was incomplete or contained bad data. Keeping accurate, reliable and accessible records is critical in a highly regulated food safety environment.

Reduce the risks of manual processes by using a digital HACCP system that can provide your HACCP records automatically. As well as providing real-time reporting, a digital system provides data analysis and insights that can highlight trends at sites, allowing you to make data-driven decisions to help improve the business.

Securing your data

Finally, remember to always ensure that your data, particularly data kept digitally, is secure. Losing your data or being a victim of a cyber attack not only inconveniences your business, but risks losing data that you need for EHO inspections and audits. Whatever the food safety system you employ, make sure it gives you the flexibility to assign roles and permissions only to staff members as required. Opt for a system that has been developed for GDPR compliance, with vulnerability management and threat modelling incorporated into its security testing. Any system should also includes controls such as multi-factor authentication.

Food safety in always the number one priority in the hospitality industry. Poor food safety practices can risk your customers’ health and damage your business reputation and brand. Use digital technologies to improve food safety processes and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. By adopting best practices both in food safety and your digital technology, you can help protect your customers, your business, and your brand.

For more on digital HACCP for hospitality, contact Kelsius.

Throughout the UK and Ireland food retailers, brands and service providers consistently strive towards the highest standards when it comes to the food products and services they provide on a daily basis. The grocery trade here is characterised not only by a level of service second to none, but also by the care and attention paid to the quality of food delivered to every customer at every interaction.  

This doesn’t happen by chance. Food retailers must invest time, effort and earnings on regulatory compliance, training, audits and inspections to ensure that they meet food safety requirements. safefood’s latest research has shown that this is very much front of mind for many food businesses. Their research has found that just under half of all small food businesses surveyed (45%) claimed that ‘food safety and ensuring compliance with regulations’ is their top priority. But almost two-thirds (64%) said they are extremely concerned about the impact of a poor food safety audit or enforcement on their business.  

This should be no surprise in a sector dominated by such high standards, but the concern is reflective of an environment that is growing in terms of greater demands. Today’s customers have higher expectations with more diverse dietary needs and a wider range of health and lifestyle preferences. In food retail increasing competitiveness, higher costs, and labour shortages all merge to present a multitude of challenges for management.  

Savvy store managers will be familiar with various tools of digital transformation that help to improve store efficiencies. One tool however that addresses these multiple challenges while maintaining compliance and food safety standards is digital HACCP.  

Whether across one or many stores, a digital HACCP system saves store managers and food handlers time by automating what are otherwise time-consuming, manual processes. A robust digital HACCP system uses a wireless temperature monitoring system to significantly reduce the time staff spend recording temperatures and completed food safety tasks.  

The system removes the need for paper folders and manual paper records and eliminates the risk of stock loss due to fridge or freezer temperature excursions using automated real-time alerts via SMS, email or voice message. Such a system will also make audits and inspections easier, as data and records are available at one touch using a touchscreen device.  

For operations across multiple locations, this is particularly useful for management to remotely access live or historical records for any store. Companies such as Kelsius (www.kelsius.com) deliver digital HACCP systems to food retailers large and small and can customise a system to suit the size and needs of any retailer.  

The food sector is constantly changing and growing. Store managers who look to grow their business should look to technologies such as digital HACCP to ensure that as their operations grow, they can rest assured that this is not at the cost of maintaining high levels of compliance and excellence in customer service.

Click here to learn how wireless temperature monitoring can help your food retail business.

Thinking of opening a food business? Make sure you’re HACCP compliant to protect your clients and your reputation right from the start.

What is HACCP?

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, and controlling food safety hazards. As a food service owner it’s vital to understand HACCP principles and implement the required regulations across business operations constantly and consistently. This includes conducting a hazard analysis, establishing critical control points, setting critical limits, implementing monitoring procedures, and maintaining proper record-keeping. By adhering to HACCP guidelines, you can proactively prevent and address potential risks in your food business processes; protecting you, your reputation and your customers’ well-being.

Local compliance

Regardless of the scale of your business or your market location, you must ensure that you comply with all local food safety regulations. While there are universal standards and guidelines, contact the food safety regulator for your market for information and advice on the regulations regarding food handling, food storage, hygiene practices and labelling. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the agency responsible for the system that regulate food businesses in the UK. In Ireland the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) provides new businesses with a comprehensive range of information on how to achieve good hygiene standards and how to comply with the law.

Make food safety your number one priority

The best way to ensure consistent adherence to food safety regulations is to instil among staff from the start that food safety is their number one priority at every stage of the food supply and delivery process. Management and staff responsible for the business’s HACCP system must undertake adequate training in the application of HACCP principles. All food handlers must be instructed on food safety and hygiene and should be trained based on the level of activity they are involved in. Companies such as Kelsius can help in the delivery of food safety training for your staff.

Set the standard

Consistency is key when it comes to food safety management. Processes that can help you adhere to the regulations include standardising your products, developing comprehensive and easy-to-understand processes, applying consistent quality control measures, and always using reliable suppliers who you can trust to provide quality ingredients and products. This makes it easier for you to implement a robust traceability system should you need to quickly identify and recall any potentially contaminated products.

Protecting your brand

Successful food businesses are as much about the service provided as they are about the food, and good service leads to a trusted brand that customers will come back for again and again.

Use technology to help you save time and money on meeting food safety regulations – time and money that you can redirect to providing a high level of customer service and developing a product range that your customers will love. Get the balance right for your customers, your reputation and your business, and you’ll have the right ingredients for long-term success.

Want to learn more? Click here to find out about FoodCheck 2.0 from Kelsius – a digital HACCP system that provides wireless temperature monitoring, traceability, checklists and more for food businesses large and small.

Food safety has become increasingly important and over the last decade has become a sub-industry of the food service industry.

The importance of food safety does not just affect your immediate income. If a food safety outbreak occurred on your premises if would have a negative impact on the long term public perception of your brand. It can be very difficult to recover from an association of food poisoning. Each Food Service outlet has a responsibility, not only to their customers, but to their brand and employees to ensure the highest standards are maintained, as the consequences can impact a great number of people. People’s health, first and foremost is at risk, and needs to be protected. But employment and income can also be affected by the fallout from a food poisoning outbreak.

Today we outline the essential dos and don’ts for complete compliance.

Don’t

• Keep it in your head – This is a recipe for disaster. It is impossible to properly communicate your plan to your staff without a documented plan.
• Leave anything to chance – Fail to prepare. Prepare to fail. Ensuring the safety of the product you provide helps ensure the safety of your business.
• Allow standards to drop – Avoid stepping on the slippery slope. Slacking on standards in one area will always lead slacking in other areas.
• Make Excuses – The buck stops with you. Playing innocent will not work in this day and age. It’s your business, protect it.
• Cut corners – The risk of closure and/or negative publicity far outweighs the short term gains to be made. Best practice must be followed by all staff.

Do

• Have a Documented Plan – Ensure your HACCP plan is recorded and staff are fully trained according to the plan. Copies should be available to staff.
• Keep Records – It is imperative that all daily, weekly and monthly actions and tasks are catalogued. This allows for transparent compliance.
• Monitor Temperature – Temperatures should be checked regularly whether it be fridges, freezers, food being cooked or cooked food in hot holding.
• Constant Vigilance – Staff need to be trained and fully aware of all food safety hazards and know how to prevent all types of cross contamination.
• Wash Hands – It’s a simple activity but is vital in the fight to prevent the spread of food borne illnesses. The more the better!

Food Safety experts Kelsius, can help your business protect against some of the dangers and implement the essential actions as outlined above. FoodCheck, by Kelsius, is an automated HACCP Management system using tablet based technology, the first of its kind on the market anywhere in the world.

With your company’s reputation and more significantly your income at stake, can you really afford to take a risk?

Covid-19 has changed the landscape of how we do Business. Online Shopping and Home Deliveries have increased between 200% and 300% depending on the sector.

With this change, many grocery and food delivery providers are now required to monitor and record the temperature of the Goods being transported, both when leaving the store and again at delivery, to be complaint.

Aside from Complaince, this provides Owners and Managers with a tracable record to ensure the Produce they are delivering is safe and of the highest quality.

This option can be purchased as a stand alone option or as part of the entire Kelsius offering.

Kelsius can offer a further range of effective measures to assist you as your business adapts to the current situation:

• Record Cleaning Tasks, Hygiene and Sanitizer Checks
• Reminders to Prompt Staff to carry out Important Cleaning and Hygiene Tasks
• Keep a log of Employees Handwashing
• Reminders to Prompt Staff to wash their hands at regular and pre-determined times
• Access to HSE Handwashing Video

I would like to speak to someone about this Solution.

You can also add the newly Developed Temperature Recording of Staff to your system.

If you have any questions or want to find out more click on the link below or email sales@kelsius.com.

FoodCheck can save you time and money.

FoodCheck Digital HACCP system is installed in over 600 Food Service Outlets throughout Irleand and the UK.

See how the system can fit seamlessly into your operation.

Our Customers experience the many benefits FoodCheck offers including:

• 24/7 Temperature Monitoring
• Protect your brand
• Save money
• Remove Paper
• Reduce risk of non-compliance
• Remove risk of Stock Loss

How FoodCheck works:

Don’t just take our word for it:

“FoodCheck has been invaluable since we installed it. As well as the obvious benefits of removing paper and improving standards, the system saves my business at least 10 hours per week in labour time.

The alert system has helped me save valuable stock on a number of occasions.”

Thomas Ennis, Spar Lower Baggot Street, Dublin

“We have FoodCheck for a few years now. The greatest benefit by far that I have found is that it frees up between 15-20 hours a week for my staff. Roughly 10 hours for my floor staff and 7 for my deli. This equates to a saving of €120 per week. This also means my staff are free to clean and stock and serve my customers. It is like having an extra member of staff for each half day. The system has served me very well and my health inspector is very happy with it. I get text Alerts if there is an issue with my fridges and freezers so I can protect against stock loss- it is like an extra insurance. FoodCheck’s bottom line is that if offers me peace of mind as well as saves me money.”

Liam Glynn, Centra Carnmore, Galway